Nigel Green


Nigel McGown Green was an English character actor. Because of his strapping build, commanding height and regimental demeanour he would often be found playing military types and men of action in such classic 1960s films as Jason and the Argonauts, Zulu, Tobruk and The Ipcress File.

Early life and stage career

The son of a professor, Green attended King's College School, Wimbledon and the University of London, followed by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. During the Second World War he trained as an Observer in the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm.
Among early stage appearances, he was at London's New Theatre in October 1948, playing multiple roles in John Burrell's Old Vic company revival of The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus. At the Stratford Memorial Theatre in 1950, he was cast as Sir Thomas Lovell in Henry VIII, Abhorson in Peter Brook's production of Measure for Measure, Decius Brutus in Julius Caesar, and - most notably - Edmund in King Lear, starring and co-directed by John Gielgud.
Subsequent West End appearances included Come Live With Me, Heloise, Vernon Sylvaine's As Long as They're Happy, opposite Jack Buchanan, Félicien Marceau's The Egg ) and Agatha Christie's Go Back for Murder.
In his second volume of autobiography, Michael Powell pointed out that, though the play they collaborated on was a failure, "Nigel Green, with his great face and towering figure, would soon make a name for himself in movies. Who could ever forget him in Zulu? He was an almost mythical figure, like Harry Andrews and Victor McLaglen, and later John Wayne, all of them genuine and generous artists. Among other men they were like Norse gods, mythical, large and gentle, suddenly exploding into rage and performing fabulous feats of strength."

Screen career

Early film roles included Reach for the Sky, The Criminal, The League of Gentlemen and Beat Girl. His large physique led to his being cast as Little John in the film Sword of Sherwood Forest.
He had one of his most memorable roles as Hercules in Jason and the Argonauts, followed by his co-starring role as Colour Sergeant Frank Bourne in Zulu. He had a leading role as Inspector Sir Denis Nayland Smith in The Face of Fu Manchu and the supporting role of Major Dalby in The Ipcress File. Other roles include Carl Petersen in the Bulldog Drummond film Deadlier Than the Male, as McCune, a devious Australian in the 1967 comedy-adventure The Pink Jungle, Count Contini in the Matt Helm film The Wrecking Crew, and 'Lord Ashley's Whore' in John Huston's The Kremlin Letter. His many military roles included parts in Khartoum, Tobruk, Fräulein Doktor and Play Dirty.
Green also appeared in a number of horror films, including Corridors of Blood, The Masque of the Red Death, The Skull, Let's Kill Uncle and Countess Dracula. His penultimate role was as McKyle the 'Electric Messiah', a mental patient believing himself to be God, in The Ruling Class.
His television appearances included The Adventures of Sir Lancelot, The Adventures of William Tell, The Other Man, Danger Man, The Power Game, The Avengers, Sherlock Holmes, Jason King, The Protectors and The Persuaders!.

Personal life

Green's first wife was the actress Patricia Marmont. His second wife was the actress Pamela Gordon, with whom he had one daughter.

Death

Green died following an overdose of sleeping pills in 1972, aged 47. It is unknown if his death was intentional. Peter O'Toole said on his commentary on The Ruling Class that he believed Green was very depressed, and that his death shortly after filming ended was a suicide, although Green's family believed it to be accidental. He was separated from Gordon at the time.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1954Meet Mr. Malcolm
1954Stranger from VenusSecond Police Officer
1954The Sea Shall Not Have ThemMet Officer Howard
1955As Long as They're HappyPeter Pember
1956Reach for the SkyStreatfield
1956Find the LadyPhotographerUncredited
1957Bitter VictoryPrivate Wilkins
1958The Gypsy and the GentlemanGame Pup
1958Corridors of BloodInspector Donovan
1959Witness in the DarkThe Intruder
1960League of GentlemenKissing man in truckUncredited
1960Beat GirlSimon
1960Sword of Sherwood ForestLittle John
1960The CriminalTed
1961Man at the Carlton TowerLew DaneyEdgar Wallace Mysteries
1961GorgoBulletin AnnouncerUncredited
1961Pit of DarknessJonathan
1961The Queen's GuardsAbu Sibdar
1962The Spanish SwordBaron Breaute
1962PlaybackRalph MonkEdgar Wallace Mysteries
1962The Durant AffairSir Patrick
1963Mystery SubmarineChief ERA Lovejoy
1963Jason and the ArgonautsHercules
1963The Man Who Finally DiedSergeant Hirsch
1964ZuluColour Sergeant Bourne
1964Saturday Night OutPaddy
1964The Masque of the Red DeathLudovico
1965The Ipcress FileMajor Dalby
1965The Face of Fu ManchuSir Denis Nayland Smith
1965The SkullInspector Wilson
1966KhartoumGeneral Wolseley
1966Let's Kill UncleThe Uncle-Major Kevin Harrison
1967TobrukLieutenant-Colonel John Harker
1967Deadlier Than the MaleCarl Petersen
1967The Queen's TraitorJohn Hawkins
1967Africa Texas StyleKarl Bekker
1968The Pink JungleCrowley
1968The Wrecking CrewCount Massimo Contini
1969Play DirtyColonel Masters
1969Fräulein DoktorColonel Mathesius
1970The Kremlin LetterThe Whore
1971Countess DraculaCaptain Dobi the Castle Steward
1972The Ruling ClassMcKyle
1973Gawain and the Green KnightGreen Knight

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1952SuspenseMr Williams
1953Broadway Television TheatrePrince Sirki of Vitalba Alexa
1956The Adventure of Robin HoodPrival
1956-1957The Adventures of Sir LauncelotJailer / 2nd thief / farmer
1958IvanhoeTimon
1958-1959William TellFertog
1959The Flying DoctorHaggerty
1959World TheatreRecruiting officermini series
1967The AvengersSir Lexius CrayEpisode: The Winged Avenger