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Photo of Eric Porter

Eric Porter

Actor
Died May 15, 1995 (67 years)
A highly respected Shakespearean for five decades until his death of colon cancer in 1995, classical actor Eric Porter's claim to international fame would, ironically, be outside of that realm, with one superb portrayal in one superb miniseries, The Forsyte Saga(1967), in which he won the BAFTA award. The son of Richard John Porter and Phoebe Elizabeth Spall, Porter first attended Wimbledon Technical College before stepping onto the stage as a walk-on in a production of William Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" in February 1945 at the Arts Theatre in Cambridge. He continued in repertory until joining the National Service with the RAF during the war years. Early post-war credits would include touring with Sir Donald Wolfit and Sir Barry Jackson in their prestigious companies. Favorite roles in his repertoire would eventually include "Macbeth", "King Lear" and "Uncle Vanya". He won London's Evening Standard Award for "Rosmersholm" in 1959. Joining the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1960, he became a prime, esteemed resident for decades. Porter made his film debut in mid-career with The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964) at age 36, but it was the BBC that made him an international favorite as the ever-proper but intensely emotional and unhinged "Soames Forsyte". Taboos were broken on that series with a violent rape scene that had people talking for months. Along with the newly acquired fame came leads in lesser films such as The Lost Continent(1968) and Hands of the Ripper (1971), adding class to both those atmospheric horrors. On the plus side, Porter engaged himself frequently in quality TV miniseries fare includingAnna Karenina (1977), The Jewel in the Crown (1984) and Oliver Twist (1985) (as Fagin), while transferring many classics to TV as well, with "Cyrano de Bergerac", "Man and Superman" and "Macbeth" being but a few.
Movies & Shows on Plex
  • Sherlock Holmes (1984)
  • Hands of the Ripper
  • The Thirty Nine Steps
  • Antony and Cleopatra
  • The Belstone Fox
Known For
  • Sherlock Holmes (1984)
  • Hands of the Ripper
  • The Lost Continent
  • Little Lord Fauntleroy
  • The Forsyte Saga
  • The Fall of the Roman Empire
  • The Thirty Nine Steps
  • Callan
  • Antony and Cleopatra
  • The Belstone Fox
  • Hitler: The Last Ten Days
  • The Pumpkin Eater
  • The Jewel in the Crown
  • Why Didn't They Ask Evans?
  • Kaleidoscope
  • Civilisation
  • Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years
  • Hennessy
  • Oliver Twist (1985)
  • Anna Karenina
  • Churchill and the Generals

Filmography

2007
Stupid Mario Brothers (TV Series) · as Ken
2005
1991
Performance (TV Series) · as James Player
1985
Oliver Twist (1985) (TV Series) · as Fagin
1984
Sherlock Holmes (1984) (TV Series) · as Professor Moriarty
1984
The Jewel in the Crown (TV Series) · as Dimitri Bronowsky
1981
1981
The Crucible · as Deputy Governor Danforth
1980
Little Lord Fauntleroy · as Mr. Havisham
1980
Hamlet · as Polonius
1980
Why Didn't They Ask Evans? · as Dr. Nicholson
1979
Churchill and the Generals · as Gen. Sir Alan Brooke
1978
1978
The Thirty Nine Steps · as Chief Superintendent Lomas
1977
Anna Karenina (TV Series) · as Karenin
1976
The Glittering Prizes (TV Series) · as Stephen Taylor
1975
Hennessy · as Tobin
1974
Callan · as Hunter
1973
Playhouse (TV Series) · as Petersham
1973
The Day of the Jackal · as Colonel Rodin
1973
Hitler: The Last Ten Days · as Generalfeldmarschall Robert Ritter Von Greim
1973
The Belstone Fox · as Asher Smith
1972
1972
Moods of Love · as Cast
1971
Nicholas and Alexandra · as Stolypin
1971
Hands of the Ripper · as Dr. John Pritchard
1970
Play for Today (TV Series) · as Stanley Wilkinson
1970
Separate Tables · as Major Pollock / John Malcolm
1969
Civilisation (TV Series) · as Macbeth (voice)
1968
The Lost Continent · as Lansen
1967
The Forsyte Saga (TV Series) · as Soames Forsyte
1966
Kaleidoscope · as Harry Dominion
1965
The Power Game (TV Series) · as Dr. Vrieling
1965
The Heroes of Telemark · as Terboven
1965
Play of the Month (TV Series) · as Arthur Winslow
1965
The Wars of the Roses (TV Series) · as Richmond
1964
The Pumpkin Eater · as Psychiatrist
1964
1963
Love Story (1963) (TV Series) · as Richard Ciddle
1957
Town on Trial · as Hospital Secretary
1950
Sunday Night Theatre (TV Series) · as Jock Robinson
1948

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