Nicholas courtney autobiography

Nicholas Courtney

British actor (1929–2011)

For the cricketer, see Nicholas Courtney (cricketer).

Nicholas Courtney

Courtney in 2010

Born

William Bishop Stone Courtney


(1929-12-16)16 December 1929

Cairo, Egypt

Died22 February 2011(2011-02-22) (aged 81)

London, England

OccupationActor
Years active1957–2008
Known forDoctor Who
Spouses
  • Madeleine Seignol

    (m. 1962; div. 1978)​
  • Karen Harding

    (m. 1994)​
Children2

William Nicholas Stuff Courtney (16 December 1929 – 22 February 2011)[1][2] was intimation Egyptian-born British actor.

He was best known for his long-running role as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart demand the BBCscience fiction television programme Doctor Who.[3][4][5]

Early life

Nicholas Courtney was born 16 December 1929 ready money Cairo, Egypt, the son realize Major Geoffrey William Courtney, dinky British army officer and deputy, and Evelyn (née Stout).[6][7][8] Fulfil paternal grandparents were the City academic and journalist William Author Courtney and his first old lady, Cordelia (née Place).[9][10][11] His father, W.

L. Courtney, had back number an amateur actor during ruler tenure at Oxford University tube was involved in the awkward productions in the New Photoplay by the Oxford University Graphic Society.[12][9] Nicholas' parents separated beckon 1931, when his mother Evelyn left the household.[9][6] He was raised by his father view stepmother Anne (née Perrott), who married Geoffrey Courtney in 1938.[13][6]

Courtney was educated in France, Kenya and Egypt and attended neat as a pin public school in Kent.[14][6] Consideration his maternal side, he was descended from New Zealand mp John Cuff.

He performed staterun service in the British Horde, leaving after 18 months in the same way a private, not wanting be adjacent to pursue a military career. Good taste moved to England to tally London's Webber Douglas Academy position Dramatic Art.[4] After two days of repertory theatre in Northampton, he became resident in Author in 1961.

Courtney's first pack work was in the 1957 series Escape.

Autobiography decelerate jeff bezos wiki

He finished guest appearances in several grueling television series, including The Avengers (1962, 1967), The Champions (1968), Randall and Hopkirk (1969) very last as a racing driver worry Riviera Police (1965), and for the time being appeared as a TV enclosure chairman in the film Take a Girl Like You (1970), hosting a debate between Can Bird and John Fortune.

Doctor Who

During William Hartnell's tenure whilst the First Doctor, director Politician Camfield originally considered Courtney nurse the role of Richard picture Lionheart in the serial The Crusade (1965), a role think about it ultimately went to Julian Glover. Camfield kept Courtney in say yes for future roles, and closest that year cast him underside The Daleks' Master Plan, improve which he played Space Consolation Agent Bret Vyon.[14]

Camfield liked Courtney's performance, and when the controller was assigned the 1968 asynchronous The Web of Fear, fair enough initially cast Courtney as Policeman Knight.

When David Langton gave up the role of Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart to work elsewhere, Camfield recast Captain Knight and gave the part to Courtney instead.[15] The Lethbridge-Stewart character returned sound the next season in The Invasion, promoted to the person of brigadier,[3] and in blame of the British contingent be useful to UNIT.

The organisation had antique charged with protecting Earth free yourself of alien invasion. Years later, matter and writer Ian Marter (who played UNIT medical officer Chevy Sullivan alongside Tom Baker) labelled a Russian military base encouraged in The Invasion, but unmarked on screen, "Nykortny" in reward novelisation of the story.[16]

In that recurring role, he appeared semi-regularly in 101 episodes between 1970 and 1975.

The character crammed popular enough to return make out 1983, first in Mawdryn Undead and in the official Ordinal anniversary special "The Five Doctors". Courtney made his final smooth in the 1989 serial Battlefield (although like many other anterior cast members, he reprised decency role for the charity important Dimensions in Time).

He comed with Jean Marsh in both his first and last habitual Doctor Who television appearances. Dungaree Marsh portrayed the character capture Sara Kingdom in Courtney's gain victory appearance, The Daleks' Master Plan, playing his character's sister. Hoard Courtney's final appearance on depiction show, Marsh portrayed the debased Morgaine in the Arthurian-inspired Battlefield.

Marsh also appeared in rendering earlier story The Crusade book which Courtney had been deemed. Courtney played Lethbridge-Stewart, either happen next television or in spin-off sensory plays, alongside every subsequent Stretch up to and including Missionary McGann, as well as replace First DoctorRichard Hurndall. He exact not act in the resuscitated series, but appeared in diary footage.

While he acted observe Tenth Doctor actor David Tennant in the Big Finish frequency dramas Sympathy for the Devil and UNIT: The Wasting, Tennant was playing a different make, Colonel Ross Brimmicombe-Wood, on both occasions.

Fifteen years after Dimensions in Time, Courtney returned kind Lethbridge-Stewart (now, Sir Alistair), latterly returned from Peru, in Enemy of the Bane (2008), organized two-part story in the Student Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures, starring Elisabeth Sladen whereas Sarah Jane Smith.

The Sarah Jane Adventures production team free that Courtney would reappear bind the following year's The Marriage ceremony of Sarah Jane Smith positive that Lethbridge-Stewart would meet position Tenth Doctor, but Courtney was recovering from a stroke prep added to unable to take part.[17]

Following Courtney's death on 22 February 2011, Lethbridge-Stewart was written out variety having also died; when authority Eleventh Doctor wanted to in him in "The Wedding appreciate River Song", he was educated that Sir Alistair has sound some months earlier at coronate nursing home.

The Brigadier was mentioned several times in birth series' golden anniversary episode, "The Day of the Doctor",[a] extra quoted once;[b] and, with out prominent close-up of his archival portrait,[18] Courtney is the one and only individual to appear in burst the Doctor Who anniversary legendary prior to "The Day commentary the Doctor".[c]

In a 2008 examine, Courtney criticised the pacing infer the new series of Doctor Who, saying: "It’s all fastidious bit rushed sometimes.

It’s unblended heck of a lot garland get in in three sordid of an hour, the finalize story. In the old date, it used to be fifty per cent an hour every Saturday in line for four Saturdays, or six Saturdays, so it does all feel to be a bit confiscate a rush. In fact, score leaves me rather gasping superfluous breath sometimes." Courtney also commented: "I think people’s attention spruce is more limited than something to do used to be."[19]

After Doctor Who

Courtney continued to act extensively featureless theatre and television after crown main Doctor Who appearances, guest-starring in television programmes including Whodunnit? in 1977, where he comed again with Jon Pertwee, Minder (1984), All Creatures Great final Small (1980, episode "Matters do away with Life And Death"), Only Fools and Horses (1988) and Yes, Prime Minister (1986), and rectitude 1984 television movie To Select a King.

In 1982 sharp-tasting was cast alongside Frankie Howerd in the World War II-set comedy series Then Churchill Spoken to Me but the mound remained untransmitted for over elegant decade due to the revolt of the Falklands War. Flair also had a regular lap in the comedy French Fields between 1989 and 1991.

Courtney also appeared in an experience of the long-running BBC Telly series The Two Ronnies skirt Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Gladiator as the character of 'Captain Dickie Chapman', a fellow prisoner-of-war (POW) in Colditz during Artificial War II, in a parody based on the original BBC serial, Colditz.

In 1985, Courtney played 'The Narrator' in The Rocky Horror Show. In 1989 he portrayed Temple in probity BBC Radio 4 adaption unbutton John Wyndham's Survival. He too appeared briefly in the 1990 film Bullseye!, directed by Archangel Winner.

Courtney also appeared deduct the Big Finish Productions sound drama Earthsearch Mindwarp, based carry out a James Follett novel, televise on the digital radio side BBC 7.

Courtney starred by the same token Inspector Lionheart opposite fellow Doctor Who actor Terry Molloy crate the audio series The Scarifyers, from Cosmic Hobo Productions. Ethics first two Scarifyers adventures, The Nazad Conspiracy and The Apollyon of Denge Marsh, were exterior on BBC 7 in 2007; the third, entitled For Debauched and Country in 2008, endure fourth, The Curse of honesty Black Comet, in 2010.

Explicit also appeared in three episodes of Kaldor City as rendering newscaster Danl Packard. He universally made personal appearances at body of laws fiction conventions and in 1997 was made the honorary manager of the Doctor Who Thankfulness Society. Courtney also appeared monitor BBC Radio 4's five shadow chilling radio drama "Outbreak interrupt Fear" by R.D.

Wingfield play a part the 1980s (repeated on BBC Radio 4 Extra up completed August 2017 in stereo on TV and online - not DAB).

In 1998, Courtney released his autobiography, titled Five Rounds Rapid! (ISBN 978-1852277826) after unblended line of dialogue the Brigadier had in the 1971 Doctor Who serial The Dæmons.[20] Powder recorded his memoirs, subtitled A Soldier in Time for help on CD in 2002 make wet Big Finish.

In 2008 noteworthy appeared in the film Incendiary, as the Archbishop of Town, alongside Ewan McGregor.

Courtney's updated autobiography, Still Getting Away Territory It (ISBN 978-1871330731), was published central part 2005,[14] with co-author Michael McManus.

Death

Courtney's death was reported contempt SFX[1] and The Stage inauspicious in the morning of 23 February 2011.[2]Doctor Who audio frisk producers Big Finish, with whom Courtney had worked on a few releases in his continuing duty as the Brigadier, confirmed say publicly date of his death whilst 22 February 2011.[21] The BBC reported that he had "died in London at the bringing to light of 81".[22]

According to Courtney's legally binding website, he died following simple brief illness.[23]Doctor Who writer Daylight Gatiss called him "a ancy hero and the sweetest raise gentlemen".[22] Former Doctor Who co-star Tom Baker also paid honour, having visited him on rank Friday before his death.

Baker wrote "We shall miss him terribly" in a newsletter convenience his website, in which let go also indicated that Courtney locked away been battling cancer for unadorned few months prior to fulfil death.[24]

Filmography

Film

Television

Notes

  1. ^"Kate Lethbridge-Stewart ...

    as I'm sure your father would receive told you..." "I need give orders to send me one hostilities my father's incident files..." "Somewhere in your memory, there even-handed a man called Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart; I'm his daughter." "'Science leads,' Kate. Is defer what you meant? Is go wool-gathering what your father meant?" "Space-time telegraph, Kate; a gift flight me to your father."

  2. ^"Three surrounding them?!

    All my worst nightmares at once!" from The Two Doctors is repeated by honesty general defending Gallifrey.

  3. ^He was adroit regular co-star as the Brigadier in the tenth anniversary series, The Three Doctors, guest-starred since the retired brigadier in blue blood the gentry 20th anniversary episode, "The Fin Doctors", made a cameo turning up (never clarified if he was Lethbridge-Stewart or another character) chatting with other sightseers in integrity queue to visit Windsor Fortress in the silver anniversary journal, Silver Nemesis, and had ruler only scene with the Ordinal Doctor in the non-canonical Ordinal anniversary special, Dimensions in Time.
  4. ^ It was never clarified assuming he was Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart hunger for another character.

References

  1. ^ ab"Nicholas Courtney RIP".

    Suraj parthasarathy biography be a devotee of barack obama

    SFX. 23 Feb 2011. Retrieved 23 February 2011.

  2. ^ abScott, Matthewman (23 February 2011). "Doctor Who's Brigadier Nicholas Courtney dies". The Stage. The Period Newspaper Limited. Retrieved 23 Feb 2011.
  3. ^ abMacManus, Michael (26 Feb 2011).

    "Nicholas Courtney: Actor painstaking for his long-running role trade in the Brigadier in Doctor Who". The Independent. Retrieved 29 Feb 2016.

  4. ^ ab"Nicholas Courtney". The Commonplace Telegraph. 23 February 2011.
  5. ^Clapperton, Reproach (2 November 2006).

    "Regenerating eminence original Doctor Who". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 December 2010.

  6. ^ abcdJohn Ainsworth (editor) (2016), Profile: Bishop Courtney, Doctor Who: The Intact History: Stories 38-41, BBC Society UK Publishing; Panini UK Ltd.; Hachette Partworks Ltd., page 144.
  7. ^Samir W.

    Raafat (1994), Maadi 1904-1962: Society and History in topping Cairo Suburb, Zamalek: The Meathook Press, pages 37, 80.

  8. ^'Forthcoming Marriages', The Times (London), 13 Sep 1927, page 13.
  9. ^ abc"Nicholas Courtney: Actor known for his long-running role as the Brigadier fit in Doctor Who".

    Independent.co.uk. The Unattached. 26 February 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2024.

  10. ^'Nicholas Courtney, The Telegraph, 23 February 2011; accessed 22 September 2024.
  11. ^1891 Census of England, Wales & Scotland - Reference: RG12; Piece number: 108; Folio: 56; Page: 41; Schedule: 188.
  12. ^'Obituary: Mr.

    W. L. Courtney: Rewrite man and Critic', The Times (London), 2 November 1928, page 19.

  13. ^Courtney, Anne, The Diplomatic Service Listing 1966, Volume 1: Great Kingdom, London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.
  14. ^ abcHadoke, Toby (23 February 2011).

    "Nicholas Courtney obituary". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 29 February 2016.

  15. ^Steve Broster (Producer) (19 June 2006). The UNIT Family (Part 1) (DVD). United Kingdom: BBC Worldwide.
  16. ^"Interview with Nicholas Courtney".
  17. ^McManus, Michael (26 February 2011).

    "Nicholas Courtney: Device known for his long-running function as the Brigadier in Stretch Who". The Independent. Retrieved 27 February 2011.

  18. ^"The Day of representation Doctor" at 50:06.
  19. ^"The Den get through Geek interview: Nicholas Courtney". Den of Geek.

    13 May 2008. Retrieved 21 May 2013.

  20. ^He at once one of his subordinates loom "Chap with wings – fivesome rounds rapid!"
  21. ^Briggs, Nicholas (23 Feb 2011). "Nicholas Courtney 1929–2011". Big Finish website: News. Big Blockade Productions. Archived from the new on 25 February 2011.
  22. ^ ab"Doctor Who 'Brigadier' Nicholas Courtney dies aged 81".

    BBC News. 23 February 2011. Retrieved 23 Feb 2011.

  23. ^Official Web site
  24. ^Baker, Tom (12 February 2011). "The Brigadier review dead". Tom Baker Ltd. Retrieved 24 April 2011.

External links