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Clive Revill

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Clive Revill
Revill as Fagin from the 1963 Broadway production of Oliver!
Born
Clive Selsby Revill

(1930-04-18) 18 April 1930 (age 94)
Wellington, New Zealand
OccupationАctor
Years active1950–2016

Clive Selsby Revill (born 18 April 1930) is a New Zealand actor, best known for his performances in musical theatre and the London stage. A veteran of the Royal Shakespeare Company, he has also starred in numerous films and television programmes, often in character parts.[1] He is a two-time Tony Award nominee; Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Irma La Douce and Best Actor in a Musical for Oliver![2] He was also nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Billy Wilder's Avanti! (1972).

His roles also include voicing the Emperor in the original theatrical edition of The Empire Strikes Back (1980).

Early life

Revill was born on 18 April 1930 in Wellington, the son of Eleanor May (née Neel) and Malet Barford Revill.[3] He attended Rongotai College.[4]

Career

Stage

He originally trained to be an accountant in New Zealand, but decided to change his career path in 1950 when he made his stage debut as Sebastian in Twelfth Night. He moved to London in 1950 and studied acting there at the Old Vic Theatre.[5] He appeared in The Shakespeare Memorial Theatre Company's celebrated 1956–1958 season of productions in Stratford, which included Hamlet, Love's Labour's Lost, The Merchant of Venice, Julius Caesar and The Tempest. He went on to have such varied stage roles as Bob (narrator) in Irma la Douce, Ratty in Toad of Toad Hall and Jean-Paul Marat in Marat/Sade.

He made his Broadway debut in 1952, playing Sam Weller in The Pickwick Papers, and subsequently appeared in Irma La Douce, The Incomparable Max and Oliver!, for which his Fagin was nominated for a Tony Award.[6] He is also known for his roles in the operettas of Gilbert and Sullivan, on both stage and television. He starred in the first national tour of the musical Drood, replacing George Rose, who was murdered during the run.[7]

He also participated in the workshop production of Tom Jones: The Musical, playing the role of Squire Western and reprising it on the cast recording.[8]

Film

His red hair and distinctive Mr. Punch-like features often saw him cast as comic eccentrics in a number of British films of the 1960s and 1970s such as Kaleidoscope (1966), Modesty Blaise (1966), The Double Man (1967), Fathom (1967), The Assassination Bureau (1969), A Severed Head (1970), The Black Windmill (1974) and One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975). He also had notable supporting turns in Otto Preminger's Bunny Lake Is Missing (1965) opposite Laurence Olivier, and his American film debut A Fine Madness (1966), as well as a rare leading role in the horror film The Legend of Hell House (1973).[9]

He was often cast as humorous foreign characters (he has played everything from Chinese to Russian). Two of his highest profile roles of this kind were in two films for Billy Wilder: The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970) and Avanti! (1972), for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his part as put-upon hotel manager Carlo Carlucci.[10]

Television

In the 1978 television miniseries Centennial, he played the Scottish accountant Finlay Perkin. He played both Ko-Ko (the starring role) in The Mikado, and the title character, John Wellington Wells, in The Sorcerer for the Brent Walker television series of Gilbert and Sullivan productions, shown by the BBC in 1983.

After relocating to the United States, he guest-starred in many television series, such as Columbo (1978, "The Conspirators");[5] Hart to Hart; Dynasty; Magnum, P.I.; The Love Boat (S9 E22 as Slade 1986); Remington Steele; Murder, She Wrote; Babylon 5; The Feather and Father Gang; Newhart; MacGyver; Dear John; The Fall Guy; Maude; and Star Trek: The Next Generation.[10] He starred as the wizard Vector in the short-lived series Wizards and Warriors.

Voice work

Revill is known for his proficiency with accents.[5] He is also known for his voice work in feature-length films and animated series, which includes Alfred Pennyworth in the first three episodes of Batman: The Animated Series, the voice of Chico in the seven episodes of Chico the Rainmaker (The Boy with the Two Heads) (1974), the voice of Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious in the original 1980 version of The Empire Strikes Back (he was later replaced by Ian McDiarmid in the 2004 DVD version though Revill is still credited)[a][11] numerous cartoons such as The Transformers and DuckTales and more video games, including Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and Conquest: Frontier Wars.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1956 Reach for the Sky RAF Medical Orderly Uncredited
1958 The Horse's Mouth Art Student
1959 The Headless Ghost Ambrose Dudley
1965 Bunny Lake Is Missing Sgt. Andrews
1966 A Fine Madness Dr. Menken
Italian Secret Service Charles Harrison
Kaleidoscope Inspector McGinnis
Modesty Blaise McWhirter, Sheik Abu Tahir
1967 Fathom Serapkin
The Double Man Frank Wheatly
1968 Nobody Runs Forever Joseph
The Shoes of the Fisherman Tovarich Vucovich
1969 The Assassination Bureau Cesare Spado
1970 The Buttercup Chain George
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes Rogozhin
A Severed Head Alexander Lynch-Gibbon
1972 Avanti! Carlo Carlucci Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
1973 The Legend of Hell House Dr. Barrett
1974 The Black Windmill Alf Chestermann
1975 One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing Quon
1976 The Great Houdini Dundas Slater
1980 The Empire Strikes Back The Emperor[12] Voice; cameo (original theatrical release)
1981 Zorro, The Gay Blade Garcia
1986 The Transformers: The Movie Kickback[12] Voice
The Frog Prince King William
1987 Alice Through the Looking Glass Snark, Goat Voice[12]
1993 The Thief and the Cobbler King Nod[12] Voice; replaced Anthony Quayle
1995 Delta of Venus Radio Announcer Voice
2002 Return to Never Land Elderly Officer, Narrator
2003 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure Additional voices
2004 Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas Narrator[12]
2012 Tom and Jerry: Robin Hood and His Merry Mouse King Richard, Referee[12]
2016 The Queen of Spain John Scott

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1957 The Adventures of Robin Hood Horatio Episode: "Too Many Earls"
1975 Churchill's People King Henry II Episode: "A Sprig of Broom"
1977 The New Avengers Mark Episode: "Dead Men are Dangerous"
1978 Columbo Joe Devlin Episode: "The Conspirators"
Centennial Finlay Perkin 3 episodes
1983 Wizards and Warriors Wizard Vector 8 episodes
1984 George Washington Lord Loudoun 3 episodes
Snorks Dr. Galio Seaworthy Voice, 65 episodes
1985, 1988 Murder, She Wrote Jonathan Hawley, Bert Davies 2 episodes
1984 Alvin and the Chipmunks Additional voices 13 episodes
The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show Additional voices Episode: "Happy Birthday, Scooby-Doo"
Dragon's Lair Storyteller Voice, episode: "Tale of the Enchanted Gift"
1984–1986 The Transformers Kickback Voice, 5 episodes
1986 The Twilight Zone Agent Episode: "Personal Demons"
Magnum PI Walter "Inky" Gilbert Episode: "I Never Wanted To Go to France, Anyway"
Pound Puppies Dumas, Lord Belveshire Voice, 2 episodes
1987 Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures Additional voices 6 episodes
DuckTales Shedlock Jones Voice, episode: "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. McDuck"
The Law & Harry McGraw Oscar Wendell Episode: "She's Not Wild About Harry"
1989–1990 Paddington Bear Additional voices 2 episodes
1990 Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream Zone Potsworth Voice, 13 episodes
Tiny Toon Adventures William Shakespeare Voice, episode: "Weirdest Story Ever Told"[12]
1991 Star Trek: The Next Generation Sir Guy of Gisborne Episode: "Qpid"
1991–1993 The Legend of Prince Valiant The Mighty Om Voice, 3 episodes
1992 Batman: The Animated Series Alfred Pennyworth Voice, 3 episodes[12]
1993 The Little Mermaid Sorcerer Blowfish Voice, 2 episodes
1994 Babylon 5 Trakis Episode: "Born to the Purple"
1995 Freakazoid! Spanger, Baffeardin, Hermil Sioro Voice, 3 episodes[12]
1996 Murphy Brown Hendricks Episode: “When a Lansing Loves a Woman”; Season 8, Episode 21
Adventures from the Book of Virtues King Midas, Minister Voice, episode: "Self-Discipline"
The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest Hunter No. 1, Trench Harpooner, Medical Officer Voice, 2 episodes
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman Sorcerer Episode: "Soul Mates"
1997 Step by Step Professor Robert Nesler Episode: "Talking Trash"
Johnny Bravo W Voice, episode: "Bravo, James Bravo"[12]
1998 Pinky and the Brain King Claudius Episode: "Melancholy Brain"[12]
Godzilla: The Series Hustus McPhil Voice, episode: "DeadLoch"
1999 Oh Yeah! Cartoons Herb Voice, episode: "Herb"[12]
2002 Fillmore! Shop Owner 1 episode[12]
2004 All Grown Up! Moderator Voice, episode: "Susie's Choice"
2011–2012 Secret Mountain Fort Awesome Helmet Head, Wise One Voice, 3 episodes

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
1993 Star Wars: X-Wing General Dodonna [12]
1995 The Jungle Book Bagheera
1996 Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter Imperial Officer #2 Credited as Clive Revel
2001 Conquest: Frontier Wars Hawkes
2003 The Hobbit Thorin Oakenshield [12]
2004 The Bard's Tale
2006 Gothic 3 Rhobar English dub
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Doctor Doom [12]
2007 Jeanne d'Arc Duke of Bedford English dub[12]
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End British Officers
2009 Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Jetfire [12]
2011 Star Wars: The Old Republic Admiral Davos, Admiral Riserre, Darth Gravus

Other

Stage credits (partial)

Year Title Role Theatre Notes
1950 Twelfth Night Sebastian
1952 Mr. Pickwick Sam Weller Plymouth Theatre
1955 Listen to the Wind Pearson Arts Theatre
1957 The Tempest Trinculo Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
Toad of Toad Hall Ratty
1958–1960 Irma La Douce Bob-Le-Hotu Lyric Theatre
1960–1961 Plymouth Theatre Nominated – Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical
1962 The Mikado Ko-Ko Sadler's Wells Theatre
1963–1964 Oliver! Fagin Imperial Theatre Nominated – Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical
1964 Marat/Sade Jean-Paul Marat Royal Shakespeare Company
The Jew of Malta Barabas
1967 Sherry! Sheridan Whiteside Alvin Theatre
1968–1969 The Unknown Soldier and His Wife The General Chichester Festival Theatre
The Tempest Caliban
1969 A Who's Who of Flapland Royal Court Theatre
Theatre Upstairs
1971 The Incomparable Max Max Beerbohm Royale Theatre
1974–1976 Sherlock Holmes Professor James Moriarty Broadhurst Theatre Replacement
1981 Lolita Clare Quilty Brooks Atkinson Theatre
1981–1982 The Pirates of Penzance Major-General Stanley Tour
1988 Drood William Cartwright, Your Chairman

Notes

  1. ^ This editing decision was done to maintain continuity with Return of the Jedi and the prequel trilogy.

References

  1. ^ "Clive Revill". The Official Masterworks Broadway Site. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Clive Revill". Playbill. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  3. ^ Who's who in theatre. University of California. 1981. p. 572. ISBN 9780810302341.
  4. ^ "Overview for Clive Revill". TCM.com. 18 April 1930. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  5. ^ a b c Thomas, Nick (4 December 2015). "Clive Revill's voice talent led to a minute as 'Star Wars' first Emperor". The Oklahoman. newsok.com. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  6. ^ "Clive Revill Tony Awards Info". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  7. ^ "A little more than luck colors Clive Revill's career". The Baltimore Sun. 13 November 1991. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  8. ^ "Various – Tom Jones: Original Musical Cast Recording (Vinyl, LP)". discogs. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  9. ^ "The Legend of Hell House (1973)". IMDb. 15 June 1973. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  10. ^ a b "Clive Revill". MasterworksBroadway.com. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  11. ^ "Star Wars Trilogy – 2004 DVD Changes". Digital Bits. Retrieved 16 February 2007.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "Clive Revill (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
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