Well, we can't very well let him go unmentioned. This is a good one from Melvyn Bragg:
"Life was encircled around that place in Turville and he was the monarch of that," Lord Bragg said. "We went to pay court to him and, to be honest, you went just to laugh and to hear the latest gossip and the latest book he'd read and 'what do you think of this and what do you think of that?' "There was a whiff of erudition and scandal always around John and it was completely seductive and he'll be badly, badly missed."
You can't replace people like that. He was unique.Tangentially, how certain actors have become their fictional characters. Could you imagine anyone except Leo McKern in the role of Rumpole? How about Joan Hickson as Miss Marple or David Suchet as Poirot, Basil Rathbone as Holmes or Fry and Laurie as Jeeves and Wooster?
Could you add some others?
The wonderful overacting of Holmes by, um, the chap who, when young, played Freddie in the film of, er, that musical based on,eh,that play by George Bernard Stalinworshipper. That chap - unforgettable: Jeremy someone.
ReplyDeleteYou have picked some good ones there!
ReplyDeleteRumpole on the radio is played by a different actor and it's just not right.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago John Mortimer appeared at our theatre in an evening of music and words he'd chosen. The words were mostly read by the two women he had with him but he introduced the words with explanations and told the occasional story. Even though he had to be helped onto the stage he was wonderful.
Yes, I will miss him. A self-effacing, kindly man and very sexy in his way. As for actors who become the character, I think they all have on the "Archers"!
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