Alan Fernand Badel (; 11 September 1923 – 19 March 1982) was an English stage actor who also appeared frequently in the cinema, radio and television and was noted for his richly textured voice which was once described as "the sound of tears".

Early life

Badel was born in Rusholme, Manchester, and educated at Burnage High School. He fought in France and Germany during the Second World War, serving as a paratrooper on D-Day. He partially lost his hearing when a shell exploded near him.

Career

In his early career, he played leading parts, including Romeo and Hamlet, with the Old Vic and Stratford companies. Badel's earliest film role was as John the Baptist in the Rita Hayworth version of '' Salome'' (1953), a version in which the story was altered to make Salome a Christian convert who dances for Herod in order to save John rather than have him condemned to death. He portrayed

Richard Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, polemicist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most o ...

in '' Magic Fire'' (1955), a biopic about the composer. He also played the role of Karl Denny, the impresario, in the film '' Bitter Harvest'' (1963). Around the same time, he played opposite Vivien Merchant in a television version of Harold Pinter's play '' The Lover'' (also 1963) and as Edmond Dantès in a BBC television adaptation of

Alexandre Dumas Alexandre Dumas (, ; ; born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie (), 24 July 1802 – 5 December 1870), also known as Alexandre Dumas père (where '' '' is French for 'father', to distinguish him from his son Alexandre Dumas fils), was a French writer. ...

' '' The Count of Monte Cristo'' (1964). Badel also played the villainous sunglasses-wearing Najim Beshraavi in ''

Arabesque The arabesque is a form of artistic decoration consisting of "surface decorations based on rhythmic linear patterns of scrolling and interlacing foliage, tendrils" or plain lines, often combined with other elements. Another definition is "Foli ...

'' (1966) with

Gregory Peck Eldred Gregory Peck (April 5, 1916 – June 12, 2003) was an American actor and one of the most popular film stars from the 1940s to the 1970s. In 1999, the American Film Institute named Peck the 12th-greatest male star of Classic Hollywood ...

and

Sophia Loren Sofia Costanza Brigida Villani Scicolone (; born 20 September 1934), known professionally as Sophia Loren ( , ), is an Italian actress. She was named by the American Film Institute as one of the greatest female stars of Classical Hollywood ci ...

. He played the French Interior Minister in '' The Day of the Jackal'' (1973), a political thriller about the attempted assassination of President Charles de Gaulle. In the political television drama '' Bill Brand'' (1976) he played David Last, the government's Employment Minister, a left-wing former backbench MP who had recently joined the front bench after 30 years in the

House of Commons The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. ...

. One of his last roles was that of Baron Nicolas de Gunzburg in the Paramount film '' Nijinsky'' (1980). A television adaptation for the BBC of '' The Woman in White'' (1982) by Wilkie Collins, in which Badel played the role of Count Fosco, was shown posthumously.

Personal life

Badel married the actress Yvonne Owen in 1942 and they remained married until his death from a heart attack in

Chichester Chichester () is a cathedral city and civil parish in West Sussex, England.OS Explorer map 120: Chichester, South Harting and Selsey Scale: 1:25 000. Publisher:Ordnance Survey – Southampton B2 edition. Publishing Date:2009. It is the only ...

, aged 58. Their daughter

Sarah Badel Sarah M. Badel (born 30 March 1943) is a retired British stage and film actress. She is the daughter of actors Alan Badel and Yvonne Owen. Life and career Badel was born in London to actor, Alan Badel and actress, Yvonne Owen. She was educated ...

is an actress.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Badel, Alan 1923 births 1982 deaths Military personnel from Manchester English male film actors English male stage actors People from Rusholme British Army personnel of World War II 20th-century English male actors Male actors from Manchester Best Actor BAFTA Award (television) winners British Parachute Regiment soldiers