Michael Dennis Bryant (5 April 192825 April 2002) was a British stage and television actor. An eight-time

Olivier Award The Laurence Olivier Awards, or simply The Olivier Awards, are presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognize excellence in professional theatre in London. The awards were originally known as the Society of West End Theatre Aw ...

nominee, Bryant won three. He was also a three-time

British Academy Television Award The BAFTA TV Awards, or British Academy Television Awards, are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. They have been awarded annually since 1955. Background The first-ever Awards, given in 1 ...

nominee for Best Actor.

Biography

Bryant attended Battersea Grammar School and, after service in the Merchant Navy and the Army, attended drama school and appeared in many productions on the London stage. He made his film debut in 1955. He had a role as Mathieu in the

BBC2 BBC Two is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's second flagship channel, and it covers a wide range of subject matter, incorporating genres such as comedy, drama and ...

serial '' The Roads to Freedom'', a 1970 adaptation of

Jean-Paul Sartre Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre (, ; ; 21 June 1905 – 15 April 1980) was a French philosopher, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and literary criticism, literary critic, considered a leading figure in 20th ...

trilogy A trilogy is a set of three distinct works that are connected and can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, and video games. Three-part works that are considered components of ...

of the same name. His guest star appearance as Wing Commander Marsh, who feigns insanity in the 'Tweedledum' episode of the BBC drama series ''

Colditz Colditz () is a small town in the district of Leipzig (district), Leipzig, in Saxony, Germany. It is best known for Colditz Castle, the site of the Oflag IV-C prisoner-of-war camp, POW camp for officers in World War II. Geography Colditz is situa ...

'' (1972), is still widely remembered. Bryant was chosen by

Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American director, actor, writer, producer, and magician who is remembered for his innovative work in film, radio, and theatre. He is among the greatest and most influential film ...

to play the lead role in '' The Deep'', Welles's adaptation of the Charles Williams novel '' Dead Calm''. The production frequently ran out of money, and following the death of actor

Laurence Harvey Laurence Harvey (born Zvi Mosheh Skikne; 1 October 192825 November 1973) was a Lithuanian-born British actor and film director. He was born to Lithuanian Jewish parents and emigrated to Union of South Africa, South Africa at an early age, before ...

in 1973, Welles stopped production and announced the movie – which had been completed except for one special effects shot of a ship exploding – would not be released. (The novel was finally adapted to film in 1989.) In 1969 Bryant took his love of the stage on a strange trip into the realm of

cult film A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a cult following. Cult films are known for their dedicated, passionate fanbase, which forms an elaborate subculture, members of which engage in repeated ...

s, playing a clever male prostitute who outwits a delusional family of killers in the dark comedy '' Mumsy, Nanny, Sonny and Girly'', an adaptation of a play by Maisie Mosco. Due to poor marketing and a lack of faith in the project by the distributor, the film quickly sank into obscurity. One of Bryant's most memorable performances was in the classic BBC television play ''

The Stone Tape ''The Stone Tape'' is a 1972 British television horror drama film written by Nigel Kneale and directed by Peter Sasdy and starring Michael Bryant, Jane Asher, Michael Bates and Iain Cuthbertson. It was broadcast on BBC Two as a Christmas ...

'' (1972), in which he plays the leader of a team of scientists who investigate ghost sightings in a brooding Gothic mansion. Equally memorable is his later performance in an adaptation of

M. R. James Montague Rhodes James (1 August 1862 – 12 June 1936) was an English medievalist scholar and author who served as provost of King's College, Cambridge (1905–1918), and of Eton College (1918–1936) as well as Vice-Chancellor of the Univers ...

's '' The Treasure of Abbot Thomas'' (1974). Bryant also had a supporting role as a sadistic psychiatrist in the cult classic black comedy '' The Ruling Class'', with

Peter O'Toole Peter Seamus O'Toole (; 2 August 1932 – 14 December 2013) was an English actor known for his leading roles on stage and screen. His numerous accolades include the Academy Honorary Award, a BAFTA Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and four Golde ...

and Alastair Sim. He also appeared in

Richard Attenborough Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough (; 29 August 192324 August 2014) was an English actor, film director, and Film producer, producer. Attenborough was the president of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and the British Acade ...

's ''

Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India's independence from British ...

'' (1982) as a British diplomat. Having played

Vladimir Lenin Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov ( 187021 January 1924), better known as Vladimir Lenin, was a Russian revolutionary, politician and political theorist. He was the first head of government of Soviet Russia from 1917 until Death and state funeral of ...

in the film '' Nicholas and Alexandra'', Bryant later reprised the role in

Robert Bolt Robert Oxton Bolt (15 August 1924 – 20 February 1995) was an English playwright and a screenwriter, known for writing the screenplays for '' Lawrence of Arabia'', '' Doctor Zhivago'', and '' A Man for All Seasons'', the latter two of which w ...

's play '' State of Revolution'' (1977), having previously co-starred in Bolt's unsuccessful ''Gentle Jack''. ''State of Revolution'' was significant for featuring the first role Bryant performed at the National Theatre, where he went on to be a constant presence for a quarter of a century. Described by Michael Billington as a "rock-solid company man", he had earlier performed with the

Royal Shakespeare Company The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs over 1,000 staff and opens around 20 productions a year. The RSC plays regularly in London, Stratf ...

from 1964, including the premiere production of

Harold Pinter Harold Pinter (; 10 October 1930 – 24 December 2008) was a British playwright, screenwriter, director and actor. A List of Nobel laureates in Literature, Nobel Prize winner, Pinter was one of the most influential modern British dramat ...

's ''

The Homecoming ''The Homecoming'' is a two-act play written in 1964 and published in 1965 by Harold Pinter. Its premières in London (1965) and New York (1967) were both directed by Sir Peter Hall. The original Broadway production won the 1967 Tony Award ...

'' (1965), in which he played Teddy, the returning academic. In 1980, Bryant won the London Drama Critics Circle Theatre Award for Best Actor, and his other theatrical performances were equally well-thought-of. He won

Laurence Olivier Award The Laurence Olivier Awards, or simply The Olivier Awards, are presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognize excellence in West End theatre, professional theatre in London. The awards were originally known as the Society of We ...

s in 1988 and 1990 and was nominated twice more.

Filmography

Stage credits

This table contains selected known professional theatrical roles for Bryant. {, class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;" , - ! scope="col" , Production ! scope="col" , Date ! scope="col" , Theatre
(London, unless otherwise noted) ! scope="col" , Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" , Notes , - ! scope="row" , ''

'' , , {{sort,

Aldwych Theatre The Aldwych Theatre is a West End theatre, located in Aldwych in the City of Westminster, central London. It was listed Grade II on 20 July 1971. Its seating capacity is 1,200 on three levels. History Origins The theatre was constructed in th ...

, Teddy , , - ! scope="row" , '' The Return of A.J.Raffles'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1975, December , {{sort,

, Captain von Blixen , , - ! scope="row" , '' State of Revolution'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1977, May , {{sort, Lyttleton Theatre , Vladimir Lenin , , - ! scope="row" , ''

Brand A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that distinguishes one seller's goods or service from those of other sellers. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for recognition and, importantly, to create and ...

'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1978, April , {{sort, Olivier Theatre , Pastor Brand , , - ! scope="row" , '' Strife'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1978, November , {{sort, Olivier Theatre , David Roberts , , - ! scope="row" , ''

As You Like It ''As You Like It'' is a pastoral Shakespearean comedy, comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 and first published in the First Folio in 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wil ...

'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1979, July , {{sort, Olivier Theatre , Jacques , , - ! scope="row" , ''

The Wild Duck ''The Wild Duck'' (original Norwegian title: ''Vildanden'') is an 1884 play by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It explores the complexities of truth and illusion through the story of a family torn apart by secrets and the intrusion of a ...

'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1979, December , {{sort, Olivier Theatre , Gregers Werle , , - ! scope="row" , ''

Othello ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'', often shortened to ''Othello'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare around 1603. Set in Venice and Cyprus, the play depicts the Moorish military commander Othello as he is manipulat ...

'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1980, March , {{sort, Olivier Theatre , Iago , , - ! scope="row" , '' The Mayor of Zalamea'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1981, August , {{sort, Cottesloe Theatre , Pedro Crespo , , - ! scope="row" , ''

Uncle Vanya ''Uncle Vanya'' ( rus, Дя́дя Ва́ня, r=Dyádya Ványa, p=ˈdʲædʲə ˈvanʲə) is a play by the Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. It was first published in 1897, and first produced in 1899 by the Moscow Art Theatre, directed by Konstan ...

'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1982, May , {{sort, Lyttleton Theatre , Vanya , , - ! scope="row" , '' The Ancient Mariner'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1984, October , {{sort, Olivier Theatre , Ancient Mariner , , - ! scope="row" , ''

Love for Love ''Love for Love'' is a Restoration comedy written by English playwright William Congreve. It premiered on 30 April 1695 at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre. Staged by Thomas Betterton's company the original cast included Betterton as Valenti ...

'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1985, November , {{sort, Lyttleton Theatre , Sir Sampson Legend , , - ! scope="row" , ''

The American Clock ''The American Clock'' is a play by Arthur Miller. The play is about 1930s America during The Great Depression. It is based in part on Studs Terkel's '' Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression''. Plot The Baum family—father Moe, mot ...

'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1986, July , {{sort, Cottesloe Theatre , Moe Baum , , - ! scope="row" , ''

King Lear ''The Tragedy of King Lear'', often shortened to ''King Lear'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is loosely based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his ...

'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1986, December , {{sort, Olivier Theatre , Earl of Gloucester , , - ! scope="row" , ''

Antony and Cleopatra ''Antony and Cleopatra'' is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The play was first performed around 1607, by the King's Men at either the Blackfriars Theatre or the Globe Theatre. Its first appearance in print was in the First Folio published ...

'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1987, April , {{sort, Olivier Theatre , Enobarbus , , - ! Scope="row" , ''

The Tempest ''The Tempest'' is a Shakespeare's plays, play by William Shakespeare, probably written in 1610–1611, and thought to be one of the last plays that he wrote alone. After the first scene, which takes place on a ship at sea during a tempest, th ...

'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1988, April , {{sort, Cottesloe Theatre , Prospero , , - , scope="row" , ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...

'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1989, March , {{sort, Olivier Theatre , Polonius , , - ! scope="row" , '' The Voysey Inheritance'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1989, June , {{sort, Cottlesloe Theatre , Peacey , , - , scope="row" , '' Racing Demon'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1990, February , {{sort, Cottesloe Theatre , Reverend Henderson , , - ! scope="row" , ''

The Crucible ''The Crucible'' is a 1953 play by the American playwright Arthur Miller. It is a dramatized and partially fictionalized story of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Province of Massachusetts Bay from 1692 to 1693. Miller wrote ...

'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1990, May , {{sort, Olivier Theatre , Giles Corey , , - ! scope="row" , ''

The Wind in the Willows ''The Wind in the Willows'' is a children's novel by the British novelist Kenneth Grahame, first published in 1908. It details the story of Mole, Ratty, and Badger as they try to help Mr. Toad, after he becomes obsessed with motorcars and get ...

'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1990, December , {{sort, Olivier Theatre , Badger , , - ! scope="row" , '' Pygmalion'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1992, April , {{sort, Olivier Theatre , Alfred Doolittle , , - ! scope="row" , ''

Richard II Richard II (6 January 1367 – ), also known as Richard of Bordeaux, was King of England from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. He was the son of Edward, Prince of Wales (later known as the Black Prince), and Joan, Countess of Kent. R ...

'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1995, May , {{sort, Cottesloe Theatre , Duke of York , , - ! scope="row" , ''

John Gabriel Borkman ''John Gabriel Borkman'' is a 1896 play by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It was his penultimate work. Plot The Borkman family fortunes have been brought low by the imprisonment of John Gabriel who used his position as a bank manager to ...

'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1996, July , {{sort, Lyttleton Theatre , Vilhelm Foldal , , - ! scope="row" , ''

'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1997, March , {{sort, Cottesloe Theatre , Fool , , - ! scope="row" , ''

The Invention of Love ''The Invention of Love'' is a 1997 British play by Tom Stoppard portraying the life of poet A. E. Housman, focusing specifically on his personal life and love for a college classmate. The play is written from the viewpoint of Housman, dealing w ...

'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1997, September , {{sort, Cottesloe Theatre , Charon , , - ! scope="row" , ''

Money Money is any item or verifiable record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts, such as taxes, in a particular country or socio-economic context. The primary functions which distinguish money are: m ...

'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1999, May , {{sort, Olivier Theatre , Old Member , , - ! scope="row" , '' Summerfolk'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 1999, August , {{sort, Olivier Theatre , Semyon Dvoetochie , , - ! scope="row" , ''

The Cherry Orchard ''The Cherry Orchard'' () is the last play by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. Written in 1903, it was first published by '' Znaniye'' (Book Two, 1904), and came out as a separate edition later that year in Saint Petersburg, via A.F. Marks Pu ...

'' , {{dts, format=dmy, 2000, September , {{sort, Cottesloe Theatre , Firs , , -

Awards and nominations

{, class="wikitable" , + !Year !Awards !Category !Nominated work !Result !Ref. , - , 1971 , rowspan="3" ,

British Academy Television Awards The BAFTA TV Awards, or British Academy Television Awards, are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. They have been awarded annually since 1955. Background The first-ever Awards, given in ...

, rowspan="3" , Best Actor , ''The Roads to Freedom (TV serial)'' , {{nom , rowspan="3" , , - , 1973 , ''Stage 2'': ''The Duchess of Malfi'' / ''Colditz'' , {{nom , - , 1975 , ''ITV Playhouse: Mr Axelford's Angel'' , {{nom , - , 1977 , rowspan="8" ,

Laurence Olivier Awards The Laurence Olivier Awards, or simply The Olivier Awards, are presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognize excellence in professional theatre in London. The awards were originally known as the Society of West End Theatre Aw ...

, Actor of the Year in a New Play , ''State of Revolution'' , {{won , , - , 1978 , Best Actor in a Supporting Role , ''The Double Dealer'' , {{nom , , - , rowspan="2" , 1979 , Actor of the Year in a Revival , ''Strife'' , {{nom , rowspan="2" , , - , Best Actor in a Supporting Role , ''Undiscovered Country'' , {{nom , - , 1987 , rowspan="3" , Best Performance in a Supporting Role , ''King Lear'' / ''Antony and Cleopatra'' , {{won , , - , 1990 , ''

'' / ''The Voysey Inheritance'' / ''Racing Demon'' , {{won , , - , 1998 , ''King Lear'' , {{nom , , - , 2000 , Best Actor in a Supporting Role , '' Summerfolk'' , {{nom , {{Cite web , title=Olivier Winners 2000 , url=https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/winners/olivier-winners-2000/ , access-date=2025-02-16 , website=Olivier Awards , language=en-GB

References

{{reflist, refs= {{cite web, last=Billington, first=Michael, author-link=Michael Billington (critic), date=30 April 2002, title=Michael Bryant, url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/apr/30/guardianobituaries.michaelbillington, website=

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122081453/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2002/apr/30/guardianobituaries.michaelbillington, archive-date=22 November 2021, url-status=live

External links

* {{IMDb name, id=0117188, name=Michael Bryant * {{IBDB name, 100373 {{OlivierAward PlayActor {{OlivierAward PlaySupportingPerformance 1976–2000 {{Authority control {{DEFAULTSORT:Bryant, Michael 1928 births 2002 deaths English male film actors English male stage actors 20th-century English male actors People educated at Battersea Grammar School Male actors from London Laurence Olivier Award winners Commanders of the Order of the British Empire