Known for movies

Short Info

DiedNovember 20, 2015, Hampstead, United Kingdom
SpouseJeanette Sterke
FactThe Keith Michell Theatre in Port Pirie, South Australia, was named after him, as he grew up in the area.


Keith Michell was born in Adelaide, South Australia, on the 24th of December, 1926. His parents were both of English descent; his father, Albert, was an accountant, and his mother, Edith (née Pearce), was a dressmaker. He had two younger sisters, Joan and Jean.

Michell was educated at St Peter’s College, Adelaide, and then at the University of Adelaide, where he studied architecture. However, he did not complete his studies, instead opting to pursue a career in acting.

He made his professional debut in 1947, appearing in a production of “Twelfth Night” at the Adelaide Arts Theatre. He then moved to England, where he appeared in a number of stage productions, including “The Importance of Being Earnest” (1952) and “The Mousetrap” (1952).

In 1953, he made his film debut in “The Cruel Sea”. He went on to appear in a number of British films, including “The Battle of the River Plate” (1956), “The Prince and the Showgirl” (1957), and “The Devil’s Disciple” (1959).

In 1960, Michell moved to the United States, where he appeared in the film “The Sundowners” (1960). He also appeared in the television series “The DuPont Show with June Allyson” (1960-1961).

In 1962, Michell returned to England, where he appeared in the film “The Chalk Garden”. He also appeared in the television series “Doctor Who” (1963-1966), “The Avengers” (1966-1967), and “The Saint” (1967-1969).

In 1970, Michell appeared in the film “Patton”. He also appeared in the television series “Upstairs, Downstairs” (1971-1975), “Rumpole of the Bailey” (1978-1992), and “Lovejoy” (1986-1994).

Michell’s last film appearance was in the 2001 film “Enigma”. He died on the 20th of November, 2015, at the age of 88.

Michell was married three times: first to actress Jeanette Sterke from 1951 to 1957; then to actress Elizabeth Harris from 1962 to 1982; and finally to actress Daphne Anderson from 1988 until his death. He had four children: two with Sterke, one with Harris, and one with Anderson.

General Info

Full NameKeith Michell
DiedNovember 20, 2015, Hampstead, United Kingdom
Height1.88 m
ProfessionActor, Writer, Painter, Illustrator
NationalityAustralian

Family

SpouseJeanette Sterke
ChildrenHelena Michell, Paul Michell

Accomplishments

AwardsBritish Academy Television Award for Best Actor, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role
NominationsPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles, Australian Film Institute Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series
MoviesHenry VIII and His Six Wives, Dangerous Exile, Seven Seas to Calais, The Deceivers, All Night Long, Prudence and the Pill, The Hellfire Club, The Story of Jacob and Joseph, The Executioner, Grendel Grendel Grendel, The Story of David, The Tenth Month, Memorial Day, Cross Creek, House of Cards, The D...
TV ShowsThe Six Wives of Henry VIII, Captain James Cook, My Brother Tom, The Story of David, The Prince and the Pauper

Social profile links

Facts

#Fact
1Played "Henry VIII" in four separate productions, the most famous is the 1970 miniseries The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970).
2He has a son, Paul Michell, and a daughter, Helena Michell.
3Was considered for the role of "Captain Von Trapp" in The Sound of Music (1965).
4The Keith Michell Theatre in Port Pirie, South Australia, was named after him, as he grew up in the area.

Movies

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
'Wiltons' - The Handsomest Hall in Town1970TV MovieGeorge Leybourne
The Executioner1970Adam Booth
The Six Wives of Henry VIII1970TV Mini-SeriesHenry VIII
BBC Play of the Month1968-1969TV SeriesSir Robert Chiltern Caliban
House of Cards1968Général Sébastien Henri René de Villemont / Dr Morillon
Prudence and the Pill1968Dr. Alan Huart
Thirty-Minute Theatre1968TV SeriesGeoffrey
Love Story1967TV SeriesBilly Hughes
ITV Play of the Week1959-1967TV SeriesMike Granville Prince Hector Gaston
Soldier in Love1967TV MovieJohn Churchill
Theatre 6251967TV SeriesKain
Robert and Elizabeth1965TV MovieRobert Browning
This Is It!1964TV Movie
Festival1964TV SeriesFrederic / Hugo
The Spread of the Eagle1963TV Mini-SeriesMark Antony
BBC Sunday-Night Play1962-1963TV Mini-SeriesGabriel Cordiner / Captain Ronald Dancy, D.S.O.
Seven Seas to Calais1962Malcolm Marsh
Wuthering Heights1962TV MovieHeathcliff
All Night Long1962Cass Michaels
Drama Into Opera: Oedipus Rex1961TV MovieOedipus (in play "Oedipus Rex")
The Hellfire Club1961Jason Caldwell
Dow Hour of Great Mysteries1960TV SeriesBaron Von Ragastein / Sir Edward Dominey
Armchair Theatre1960TV SeriesPaul de Lussac
The Gypsy and the Gentleman1958Sir Paul Deverill
Dangerous Exile1957Colonel St. Gerard
True as a Turtle1957Harry Bell
BBC Sunday-Night Theatre1956TV SeriesCrown Prince Rudolf Prof. Henry Higgins
Act of Violence1956TV MovieThe Man
The Merry Wives of Windsor1955TV MovieMaster Ford
The Black Arrow1951TV SeriesEllis Duckworth
Love/Loss2010Joe
The Prince and the Pauper1996TV Mini-SeriesKing Henry VIII
Murder, She Wrote1988-1993TV SeriesDennis Stanton
The Deceivers1988Colonel Wilson
Captain James Cook1988TV Mini-SeriesCook
My Brother Tom1986TV Mini-SeriesEdward Quayle
The Miracle1985TV Movie
Memorial Day1983TV MovieMarsh
Ruddigore1982TV MovieRobin Oakapple Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd
The Gondoliers1982TV MovieDon Alhambra del Bolero
The Pirates of Penzance1982TV MovieMaj. Gen. Stanley
Grendel Grendel Grendel1981The Shaper (voice)
The Day Christ Died1980TV MoviePontius Pilate
The Tenth Month1979TV MovieMatthew Poole
Julius Caesar1979TV MovieMarc Antony
The Story of David1976TV MovieOlder David
Moments1974Peter Samuelson
Late Night Theatre1974TV SeriesRobert Browning
The Story of Jacob and Joseph1974TV MovieJacob
Henry VIII and His Six Wives1972King Henry VIII
Elizabeth R1971TV Mini-SeriesHenry VIII

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Ruddigore1982TV Movie performer: "My Eyes Are Fully Open"
Top of the Pops1980TV Series performer - 2 episodes

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Rod Taylor: Pulling No Punches2016DocumentaryHimself
Nature2011TV Series documentaryGeorge Adamson
Top of the Pops 22002TV SeriesHimself
The Tales of Helpmann1990DocumentaryHimself
The Making of 'The Pirates of Penzance'1982Video documentary shortHimself
Night of One Hundred Stars1980TV MovieHimself
Top of the Pops1971-1980TV SeriesHimself
The 17th Annual TV Week Logie Awards1975TV SpecialHimself
Nana Mouskouri1973TV SeriesHimself
The Julie Andrews Hour1972TV SeriesHimself
BBC Show of the Week1972TV SeriesHimself
Film '721972TV SeriesHimself
This Is Your Life1971-1972TV Series documentaryHimself
The Morecambe & Wise Show1971TV SeriesHimself
Stars on Sunday1971TV SeriesHimself - Guest
The David Frost Show1971TV SeriesHimself
Presenting Keith Michell1971TV MovieHimself
The Merv Griffin Show1971TV SeriesHimself
Mantovani and His Concert Orchestra1970TV SeriesHimself
The Australian Londoners1965TV Movie documentaryHimself
The Eamonn Andrews Show1965TV SeriesHimself

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Brontes at the BBC2016TV Movie documentaryHeathcliff
Hollywood Screen Tests: Take 11999TV Movie documentaryHimself (uncredited)
The Story of English1986TV Mini-Series documentaryMarc Antony

Awards

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1974Evening Standard British Film AwardEvening Standard British Film AwardsBest ActorHenry VIII and His Six Wives (1972)
1972Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading RoleThe Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970)
1971BAFTA TV AwardBAFTA AwardsBest ActorThe Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970)

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1972Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic SeriesThe Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970)
1958BAFTA Film AwardBAFTA AwardsMost Promising Newcomer to FilmTrue as a Turtle (1957)

Source: IMDb, Wikipedia

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