Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
May 5, 1944
Place of Birth:
Aberystwyth, Wales, UK
Roger Rees (1944-2015) was a Welsh-American actor and director who achieved acclaim across stage, television, and film. Born on May 5, 1944, in Aberystwyth, Wales, he grew up in south London where his father worked as a police officer. He attended Camberwell College of Arts and the Slade School of Fine Art, initially training as a painter before transitioning to theater work. He painted scenery at the Wimbledon Theater in south London before becoming an actor there in 1965. Rees became widely recognized for his stage work, particularly his starring role in the Royal Shakespeare Company's adaptation of Charles Dickens' "Nicholas Nickleby," which brought him both an Olivier Award and a Tony Award. He also received Obie Awards for his role in The End of the Day and as co-director of Peter and the Starcatcher. On television, he joined the hit TV comedy "Cheers" for the 1989-90 season as Kirstie Alley's suitor, the single-minded international financier and corporate raider Robin Colcord, and appeared in various other productions including the sci-fi series "M.A.N.T.I.S." He became an American citizen in 1989 and was married to theatre collaborator Rick Elice since 2011. Roger was subsequently diagnosed with cancer and while performing on Broadway in the musical "The Visit" starring Chita Rivera, he was forced to quit the show in late May of 2015. The 71-year-old actor died on July 10, 2015, leaving behind a distinguished legacy.
Year | Movie | Role |
---|---|---|
2019 | On Broadway | Self (archive footage) |
2016 | The Mayflower Pilgrims: Behind The Myth | William Bradford (Adult) |
2015 | The Pilgrims | William Bradford |
2015 | Survivor | Dr. Emil Balan |
2014 | The Voysey Inheritance | Hugh Voysey |
2014 | Affluenza | Mr. Carson |
2014 | Russian Broadway Shut Down | |
2011 | Almost Perfect | Kai Lee |
2009 | Happy Tears | Antiques Dealer |
2008 | The Narrows | Professor Reyerson |
2007 | The Invasion | Yorish |
2006 | The Prestige | Owens |
2006 | Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties | Mr. Hobbs |
2006 | Falling for Grace | Andrew Barrington Sr |
2006 | Game 6 | Jack Haskins |
2006 | The Pink Panther | Raymmond Laroque |
2005 | A Life in Suitcases | Tulse Luper |
2004 | The Tulse Luper Suitcases, Part 3: From Sark to the Finish | Tulse Luper |
2004 | Going Under | Peter |
2004 | Crazy Like a Fox | Nat Banks |
2004 | The Tulse Luper Suitcases, Part 2: Vaux to the Sea | |
2002 | Frida | Guillermo Kahlo |
2002 | The Scorpion King | King Pheron |
2002 | Return to Never Land | Edward (voice) |
2001 | 3 A.M. | Priest |
2000 | The Crossing | Gen. Hugh Mercer |
2000 | The Bumblebee Flies Anyway | Dr. Croft |
2000 | Blackmale | Bill Fontaine |
1999 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Peter Quince |
1999 | Double Platinum | Marc Reckler |
1998 | Next Stop Wonderland | Ray Thornback |
1997 | Trouble on the Corner | Mr. McMurtry |
1996 | The Substance of Fire | Max |
1996 | Sudden Manhattan | Murphy |
1995 | The Possession of Michael D. | Robin Banks (Hypnotist) |
1993 | Robin Hood: Men in Tights | Sheriff of Rotingham |
1993 | The Tower | Mr. Littlehill |
1993 | 'Robin Hood: Men in Tights' – The Legend Had It Coming | Self |
1992 | Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot | Parnell |
1992 | P.J. Sparkles | Betty (voice) |
1992 | Charles and Diana: Unhappily Ever After | Prince Charles |
1991 | If Looks Could Kill | Augustus Steranko |
1990 | Mountains of the Moon | Papworth |
1990 | Next | Peter (voice) |
1989 | The Return of Sam McCloud | Jason Cross |
1986 | God's Outlaw | William Tyndale |
1984 | A Christmas Carol | Fred Holywell / Narrator |
1984 | The Ebony Tower | David Williams |
1983 | Star 80 | Aram Nicholas |
1983 | Saigon: Year of the Cat | Donald Henderson |
1982 | Imaginary Friends | Douglas Pitblado |
1981 | The Three Sisters | Tusenbach |
1979 | Macbeth | Malcolm |
1978 | The Comedy of Errors | Antipholus of Syracuse |
Year | TV Show | Role |
---|---|---|
2014 | Forever | Priest |
2012 | Elementary | Alistair Moore |
2009 | The Cleveland Show | |
2009 | Warehouse 13 | James MacPherson |
2009 | The Middle | Mr Glover |
2009 | The Good Wife | Dr. Todd Grossman |
2005 | Related | |
2005 | Grey's Anatomy | Colin Marlow |
2003 | Veritas: The Quest | De Molay |
2001 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Duke Deguerin |
1999 | The West Wing | Lord John Marbury |
1997 | Oz | Jack Aldridge |
1997 | Liberty! | Thomas Paine |
1996 | Titanic | Joseph Bruce Ismay |
1996 | Boston Common | Harrison Cross |
1994 | Gargoyles | Prince Malcolm (voice) |
1994 | M.A.N.T.I.S. | John Stonebrake |
1994 | My So-Called Life | Vic Racine |
1991 | The Legend of Prince Valiant | |
1990 | Law & Order | Wyatt Scofield |
1988 | Singles | |
1988 | American Experience | William Bradford |
1988 | The Modern World: Ten Great Writers | Marcel Proust / Marcel |
1984 | Playing Shakespeare | |
1982 | The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby | Nicholas Nickleby |
1982 | Cheers | Robin Colcord |
1979 | Tales of the Unexpected | James Howgill |
1965 | BBC Play of the Month | Hugh Voysey |
1956 | Tony Awards | Self - Nominee |