'Baron Münchhausen' star John Neville dies aged 86

Playbill ^ | 20th November 2011 | Kenneth Jones

[the scotsman]

'John Neville, the respected British-born actor and director who was artistic director of Canada's Stratford Shakespeare Festival 1985-89, died in Toronto on Nov. 19, surrounded by family, the festival announced Nov. 20. He was 86. A private funeral will take place immediately. Plans for a memorial will be announced in the New Year.

Late in his career, Mr. Neville, who received the Order of the British Empire in the 1960s, starred in the motion picture "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen," and he played The Well-Manicured-Man in TV's "The X-Files."

Mr. Neville, however, was a man of theatre first. In the 1950s, he was a major player in the Old Vic company in London. Richard Burton was his contemporary there, and they played the roles of Iago and Othello in rep. He moved to Canada in 1972 and became artistic director of the Citadel Theatre in Alberta.'

[South40]

Jogn Neville was a gifted actor. I enjoyed his work.

RIP

[ontap]

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks the scotsman.

[ejonesie22]

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen was a great piece of entertainment.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Talented actor. RIP.

[reagan_fanatic]

Wasn’t he also in some of the X-Files shows?

[miss marmelstein]

John Neville! He was a handsome man in his youth. I remember him from the excellent movie “Billy Budd.” One of my closest friends worked in his Old Vic Company back in the 60s...RIP.

[GreyFriar]

I most remember him from the 1969 tv mini-series, “The First Churchills.” He portrayed John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough. Co-starring was Susan Hampshire as Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough.

[Las Vegas Dave]

Thanks for the ping..

RIP Sir John Neville

[Las Vegas Dave]

Baron Munchausen

Mini Biography

When he was in his early sixties, Terry Gilliam cast him in the title role of The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988). Although the film was a financial failure, his starring role in this major production, as well as his fine performance, led to an explosion in his career. He has since had numerous roles in feature films and television. A new generation has come to know him from his recurring role in the hit television series "The X-Files" (1993) and later feature film The X Files (1998), where he played a mysterious character known only as "The Well-Manicured Man". This flurry of activity in his career continues into 2004.

He emigrated to Canada in 1972. Has Canadian citizenship and was artistic director of the Stratford Festival (Ontario, Canada) from 1984-1989.

Spouse:
Caroline Neville
(9 December 1949 - present) 6 children

[Sans-Culotte]

I wish they could have filmed those famous Burton/Neville performances at the Old Vic! I always like Neville as an actor. I didn't care for Munchausen (though I liked Neville in it), or most of Terry Gilliam's films. I think the role I most remember Neville for is Sherlock Holmes from A Study in Terror in the 60's.

[EveningStar]

Wasn’t he also in some of the X-Files shows?

Yes, indeed!

[Artemis Webb]

Oh man this bites.
I loved Baron Munchausen.
Just damn.

[Dajjal]

Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei. Requiescat in pace. Amen.

Anima eius, et animæ omnium fidelium defunctorum, per misericordiam Dei, requiescant in pace. Amen.