Denis Quilley

Noted British classical theatre actor Denis Quilley distinguished himself on the Shakespearean stage alongside Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud, among others. His sturdy handsomeness was slightly offset by a relatively prominent proboscis. As in the case of Jeremy Northam and Liam Neeson, it only accentuated his individuality and added a decided uniqueness of his characters. Born in London on December 26, 1927, Denis was educated at Bancroft's School in Essex. He made his London debut stage appearance in 1945 with the Birmingham Repertory Company and replaced Richard Burton in "The Lady's Not for Burning" in 1950. He followed this with roles in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" and "The Merchant of Venice." Quilley then took a marked departure from his classical reputation and made a resounding hit for himself in musicals and satirical revues, notably "Airs on a Shoestring" (1953) and "Grab Me a Gondola."(1956). In the early 60s Denis took his London role in "Irma La Douce" to Broadway a