James Laurenson

New Zealand stage and screen actor (1940–2024)

James Laurenson
Born	(1940-02-17)17 February 1940 Marton, North Island, New Zealand
Died	18 April 2024(2024-04-18) (aged 84)
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1960s–2020s

James Laurenson (17 February 1940 – 18 April 2024) was a New Zealand stage and screen actor, based in the UK.

Early life

Laurenson was born in Marton, North Island, New Zealand. He was a student at Canterbury University College in Christchurch (now University of Canterbury) where he was directed by Dame Ngaio Marsh,^[1] notably in the title role in Macbeth at the Civic Theatre Christchurch in 1962.^[2]

During the mid-1960s, he moved to the United Kingdom and made his film debut in 1969 with a small part in Women in Love, although he also had an uncredited part (as an Oxford rower, playing alongside Graham Chapman) in The Magic Christian.

Career

Laurenson appeared in numerous British Shakespearean productions, notably Richard II, as Rosencrantz in Hamlet, and on radio in the marathon series, Vivat Rex. He also appeared as Piers Gaveston in the 1970 production of Christopher Marlowe's Edward II, opposite Ian McKellen who later recalled that kissing Laurenson "was a bonus throughout the run".^[3] Other costume roles included a French courtier in Elizabeth R and the Earl of Lincoln in Shadow of the Tower (1972).

That same year (1972), he took on a more modern role starring as Det. Inspector Napoleon "Boney" Bonaparte in the Australian TV drama series Boney, playing a half-Aboriginal detective. That was his most high-profile part. The casting of a non-Aboriginal in the role was attacked by some Australian critics.

In 1974, he took the lead role in the TV film The Prison, based on the novel by Georges Simenon, the first instalment in the Thames Television/Euston Films series Armchair Cinema. He also starred as Pink's Father in the 1982 film, Pink Floyd—The Wall.

Laurenson took the lead role of Julian Marsh in the West End production of Gower Champion's musical 42nd Street at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in 1984, his only role in a musical.^[4] He made another notable stage appearance at Greenwich Theatre in Falling Over England with Charlotte Cornwell.

Throughout his career, Laurenson had guest roles in numerous popular TV series such as Z-Cars, Space: 1999, The Professionals, Armchair Thriller, Hammer House of Horror, Remington Steele, Cagney and Lacey, Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense, Inspector Morse, Bergerac, Boon, Lovejoy, Prime Suspect, Sharpe, A Touch of Frost, Heartbeat, Silent Witness, Taggart, Midsomer Murders, State of Play, Hustle, Endeavour and Spooks.

Laurenson had many appearances on BBC Radio, including the role of the Squire of Altarnun in the 1991 adaptation of Daphne Du Maurier's Jamaica Inn.

In 2012, he played the Earl of Westmoreland in the BBC Two adaptations of Henry IV, Parts I and II,^[5] and in 2013 he appeared as Professor Hilary Ambrose in Season 2, Episode 5 of the BBC One's Father Brown series. In 2016, he played the role of John Weir in the Netflix series The Crown.

Personal life and death

As of 2006^[update] Laurenson had made his long-term home in the English market-town of Frome in Somerset.^[6] He died on 18 April 2024, at the age of 84.^[7]

Acting roles

Women in Love (1969) – Minister
The Magic Christian (1969) – Oxford crewman, uncredited
Elizabeth R (1971, TV) – Jean de Simier
Assault (1971) – Greg Lomax
Boney (1971–72, TV series) – Detective Inspector Bonaparte (Boney)
The Shadow of the Tower (1972, TV) – Earl of Lincoln
Space: 1999 (1976, TV), "Catacombs of the Moon" – Patrick Osgood
Esther Waters (1977, TV) – William Latch
Hammer House of Horror (1980, TV), "Rude Awakening" – Mr. Rayburn
The Monster Club (1980) – Raven (The Shadmock)
Pink Floyd – The Wall (1982) – Pink's Father
Heartbreakers (1984) – Terry Ray
Inspector Morse: The Dead of Jericho (1987, TV) – Tony Richards
The Man Who Fell to Earth (1987, TV movie) – Felix Hawthorne
The Bourne Identity (1988, TV) – Gillette (2 episodes)
Countdown to War (1989, TV) – Count Ciano
The Man Inside (1990) – Mueller
Sharpe (1993, TV) – Hector Ross (5 episodes)
A House in the Hills (1993) – Ronald Rankin
Midsomer Murders (2000, TV), “Beyond the Grave” – James Tate
This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper (2000, TV) – Chief Constable Ronald Gregory
Silent Witness: Beyond Guilt (2003, TV) – Professor Peter Sachs
Dalziel and Pascoe: Soft Touch (2004, TV) – Richard Mattis
Henry IV, Parts I and II (2012, TV) – Earl of Westmoreland
Wolf Hall (2015 TV) ep. 1: "Three Card Trick" – Earl of Shrewsbury
The Crown (2016, TV) – Doctor Weir, recurring role, 5 episodes
Father Brown (2014, 2017, TV), S2E6 “The Mystery Of The Rosary” (2014) – Professor Hilary Ambrose, S5E10 "The Alchemist's Secret" (2017) Professor Hilary Ambrose
Endeavour: Game (2017, TV) – Professor George Amory
Quacks (2017, TV), “The Bishop’s Appendix” – Mr. Agar
The Terror (2018, TV) – Episode: “Go for Broke”, “Punished as a Boy” – Sir John Barrow

References

^ Chamber, Colin (14 May 2006). Continuum Companion to Twentieth Century Theatre. A&C Black. p. 179. ISBN 0-8264-4959-X.
^ McNeill, Brian (Spring 1979). The Theatre of Ngaio Marsh. (with Photograph) {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^ Ian McKellen's homepage Edward II
^ "It was 15 years ago today: 42nd Street opens in London". The Independent. 8 August 1999. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
^ "Cast confirmed for BBC Two's cycle of Shakespeare films" (Press release). BBC Drama Publicity. 24 November 2011. Archived from the original on 1 January 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
^ BBC Interview with Helen Otter in June 2006
^ "James Laurenson, top-class stage actor who was also a memorable screen supporting player – obituary". The Telegraph. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.