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Nickolas Grace

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Nickolas Grace
Born
Nickolas Andrew Halliwell Grace

(1947-11-21) 21 November 1947 (age 76)
Alma materRoyal Central School of Speech and Drama
OccupationActor
Years active1960–present
Known forBrideshead Revisited (1981)
Robin of Sherwood (1984-86)

Nickolas Andrew Halliwell Grace (born 21 November 1947) is an English actor known for his roles on television, including Anthony Blanche in the acclaimed ITV adaptation of Brideshead Revisited, and the Sheriff of Nottingham in the 1980s series Robin of Sherwood. Grace also played Dorien Green's husband Marcus Green in the 1990s British comedy series Birds of a Feather.

Early life and career

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Grace was educated at the King's School, Chester[1] and Forest School, Walthamstow. He trained as an actor at the Central School of Speech and Drama,[2] where he still teaches.

He made his theatrical debut in weekly rep in Frinton-on-Sea, Essex in 1969, and appeared in Trevor Peacock's Erb later that year, which transferred to the Strand Theatre in spring 1970, his first appearance in the West End. He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1972,[3] and in 1973 played Aumerle there in the Ian Richardson/Richard Pasco Richard II, which transferred to Broadway.

Grace then played Hamlet for the opening of the Playhouse, Derby in 1975.[3] Back at the RSC, from 1976 to 1978 he appeared as Dromio of Ephesus in Trevor Nunn's first ever musical, The Comedy of Errors[3] (with Judi Dench, Michael Williams and Roger Rees), Hitler in Schweik and Witwoud in The Way of the World, directed by John Barton.[4]

Brideshead Revisited

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Grace secured the part of the flamboyant aesthete Anthony Blanche in Brideshead Revisited,[3][2] which filmed off and on from 1979 to 1981. Following the success of Brideshead Revisited on television, he played Richard II at the Young Vic in 1981, and Mozart in Amadeus[2] with Frank Finlay at Her Majesty's Theatre in 1982. He then began working in operetta, playing Koko in The Mikado[2] and Joseph Porter in HMS Pinafore for Sadler's Wells Opera in repertoire from 1982 until 1986.

Grace was Harry Hamilton-Paul in the film Heat and Dust (1983).[3][2] It was around this time that he took the role of Robert de Rainault, the Sheriff of Nottingham, in ITV's Robin of Sherwood (1984–86).[3][2][5][6]

Grace's theatre work in the late 1980s and early 1990s included Jenkins' Ear by Dusty Hughes at the Royal Court in 1986, Bernstein's Candide (Old Vic/Scottish Opera/BBC) in 1988–89[7] and The Mystery of Irma Vep at the Haymarket Theatre, Leicester (1990), which transferred to the Ambassadors Theatre.[7] He played Cole Porter in A Swell Party[2] at the Vaudeville in 1991–92 and appeared as King Gama in Ken Russell's production of Princess Ida for ENO at the Coliseum Theatre in 1992.[8]

1993–present

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Following a recurring role in 1993 as the unnamed 'Consultant' on Victor Lewis-Smith's loosely hospital-based sketch show Inside Victor Lewis-Smith, Grace played Marcus Green, the long-suffering husband of Dorien in Birds of a Feather,[9] in a couple of episodes between 1989 and 1997. He has also appeared three times as Mr Casey in the BBC Sitcom My Family.[10][11][12]

Grace played Underling the Butler in The Drowsy Chaperone with Elaine Paige at the Novello Theatre,[13] which ended its run on 4 August 2007.[7] On 29 July 2009 he appeared on the UK version of Dragons Den as the proposed director of a new touring musical based around the life of Dusty Springfield.

He had a recurring role in some Doctor Who audio stories, produced by Big Finish as a Time Lord ally; Straxus, of the Eighth Doctor and Lucie Miller, (Paul McGann and Sheridan Smith) in the stories Human Resources, Sisters of the Flame and Vengeance of Morbius.[14]

He portrayed Albert Einstein in the Doctor Who short "Death is the Only Answer".

In 2012, Grace starred in Chariots of Fire,[3] the stage adaptation of the film of the same title. In it he played the Master of Trinity College[3][13] at Cambridge University, the role originated on screen by John Gielgud.

Grace is President of the Vic-Wells Association.[15]

TV and filmography

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Genre Year Title Episode Role Notes
Film 1960 The City of the Dead uncredited
TV series 1970 Z-Cars "A Couple of Comic Turns: Part 2" Private Jefferson
TV series 1971 The Fenn Street Gang "A Fair Swap" Bernard
TV series 1971 Kate "A Good Meddle" David Burwood
TV series 1971 The Onedin Line "When My Ship Comes Home" Arab
TV series 1972 Z-Cars "Sweet Girl" Boy
TV series 1975 Churchill's People "True Patriots All" James Loveless historical drama series
TV series 1975 The Love School "The Brotherhood" William Rossetti
TV series 1975 Survivors "Gone to the Angels" Matthew
TV series 1975 Ten from the Twenties "The Anarchist" Joe Manders
Documentary film 1978 Europe After the Rain Tristan Tzara
TV series 1978 BBC Television Shakespeare "The Comedy of Errors" Dromio of Ephesus
TV series 1978 The Pink Medicine Show
TV miniseries 1979 Oresteia "Agamemnon" Messenger
TV series 1980 The Professionals "Mixed Doubles" Joe
TV film 1981 BBC Television Shakespeare "All's Well That Ends Well" The Soldier
TV miniseries 1981 Brideshead Revisited Anthony Blanche
TV series 1983 Bergerac "Prime Target" Inspector Chazottes
Film 1983 Heat and Dust Harry Hamilton-Paul
TV film 1984 Lace Sir Christopher Swann
TV film 1984 The Master of Ballantrae Secundra Dass part of the Hallmark Hall of Fame
TV film 1984 Morte d'Arthur Sir Mordred
TV series 1984 Robin of Sherwood "Robin Hood and the Sorcerer"
"The Witch of Elsdon"
"The King's Fool"
"Seven Poor Knights from Acre"
"Alan a Dale"
"The Children of Israel"
"The Betrayal"
Robert de Rainault, Sheriff of Nottingham 17 episodes total
TV miniseries 1985 The Last Place on Earth Lord Howard De Walden
TV film 1985 Max Headroom: 20 Minutes into the Future Grossman
TV series 1985 Robin of Sherwood "The Enchantment"
"The Greatest Enemy"
Robert de Rainault, Sheriff of Nottingham 17 episodes total
TV play 1985 Vicious Circle The Waiter [16]
TV series 1986 C.A.T.S. Eyes "Powerline" Jamie Leydon
TV series 1986 Robin of Sherwood "Herne's Son: Part 1"
"Herne's Son: Part 2"
"The Power of Albion"
"The Sheriff of Nottingham"
"The Betrayal"
"Adam Bell"
"The Pretender"
"The Time of the Wolf: Part 1"
"The Time of the Wolf: Part 2"
Robert de Rainault, Sheriff of Nottingham 17 episodes total
TV miniseries 1987 Lorca, muerte de un poeta "Impresiones y paisajes (1903–1918)"
"La residencia (1918–1923)"
"El amor oscuro (1925–1928)"
"El llanto (1929–1935)"
"Una guerra civil (1935–1936)"
Federico García Lorca 6 episodes total
TV miniseries 1987 Napoleon and Josephine: A Love Story Lord Nelson
Film 1988 Dream Demon Jenny's Father
Film 1988 Just Ask for Diamond Himmell
TV miniseries 1988 Lorca, muerte de un poeta "La muerte (1936)" Federico García Lorca 6 episodes total
Film 1988 Salome's Last Dance Oscar Wilde
TV series 1989 Birds of a Feather "Cheat!" Marcus Green 3 episodes total
TV film 1989 The Man in the Brown Suit Guy Underhill
TV miniseries 1989 Twist of Fate Wolf
TV series 1990 Cluedo "Going, Going, Goner" Peregrine Talbot-Wheeler
TV serial 1990 The Green Man Rev. Tommy Sonnenscheim
TV film 1990 Hands of a Murderer Oberstein
TV series 1990 House of Cards "The Final Cut" Geoffrey Booza-Pitt
TV series 1991 Tonight at 8.30 "Hands Across the Sea" Bogie Gosling
TV series 1992 Absolutely Fabulous "Fashion" Jonny
TV series 1992 Alas Smith and Jones "Episode #7.4"
TV series 1992 The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes "The Master Blackmailer" Bertrand
TV series 1992 Lovejoy "Angel Trousers" Jeremy Prince
TV series 1993 Birds of a Feather "Suspicious Minds" Marcus Green 3 episodes total
TV series 1993 Inside Victor Lewis-Smith The Consultant
TV series 1993 The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries "A Man Lay Dead" Dr. Hans Hoffner
TV series 1993 The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles "Prague, August 1917" The Prague Spy/Clouseau
TV series 1994 The Chief "Episode #4.8" Sir Oliver Creighton
Short film 1994 Ole 31 minutes; directed by Dennis Iliadis
TV film 1994 Sharpe's Honour Father Hacha
TV series 1994 Space Precinct "Double Duty" Oturi Nissim
Film 1994 Tom & Viv Bertrand Russell
TV series 1995 Bugs "Hot Metal" Raymond Charlesworth
TV serial 1995 The Final Cut Geoffrey Booza Pitt
Animated film 1995 Pocahontas voice actor
TV film 1995 Solomon & Sheba Jeroboam
Film 1995 Two Deaths Marius Vernescu
TV series 1996 Delta Wave "A Glitch in Time: Part 1"
"A Glitch in Time: Part 2"
"Dodgy Jammers: Part 1"
"Dodgy Jammers: Part 2"
Stump 4 episodes
Film 1996 Evita Tailor cameo
TV series 1996 Tales from the Crypt "Escape" Albert Frye/Lieutenant Forsyth
Video 1997 Absolutely Fabulous "Absolutely Not!" Jonny
TV series 1997 Birds of a Feather "Rising Damp" Marcus Green 3 episodes total
Video 1997 Caught in the Act Melvin (Ventriloquist) produced by Barrie Goulding
TV film 1997 The Hunchback Gauchére
Film 1997 Shooting Fish Mr. Stratton-Luce
TV series 1998 Britain's Richest People Narrator
TV miniseries 1998 Merlin Sir Egbert
Film 1999 An Ideal Husband Vicomte de Nanjac
TV film 2000 Cinderella First Minister
Film 2000 The Golden Bowl Lecturer
TV series 2000 Midsomer Murders "Judgement Day" Frank Mannion 2 episodes total
Video game 2001 In Cold Blood John Cord / Technicians voice actor
TV series 2001 My Family "Driving Miss Crazy" Mr. Casey 3 episodes total
TV serial 2002 Daniel Deronda Vandernoodt
Film 2002 Puckoon Foggerty
Short film 2002 Putting Down the King
TV film 2006 Agatha Christie's Marple "Sleeping Murder" Lionel Luff Agatha Christie's Marple TV series
TV serial 2005 Casanova French Chancellor
TV series 2005 Egypt "The Search for Tutankhamun" Anton Badrutt
TV film 2005 Ian Fleming: Bondmaker William Plomer docudrama about Ian Fleming
Film 2005 Splinter Glasses
TV film 2006 The Commander "Blacklight" Reginald Aitken The Commander TV series
Film 2006 Confetti Judge
TV film 2006 The Shell Seekers Mundy
Film 2006 These Foolish Things Nathaniel Meadowsweet
Short film 2007 Mr Thornton's Change of Heart Cupid 12 minutes
Film 2008 Affinity Mr. Hither
TV series 2008 The Bill "Body of Evidence" Richard Stirling
TV series 2008 My Family "Neighbour Wars" Mr. Casey 3 episodes total
TV series 2009 Minder "The Art of the Matter" Tasty Tim
TV series 2009 Casual+y "The Trap" Dennis
TV series 2010 Midsomer Murders "The Creeper" Hugo Greening 2 episodes total
Short film 2010 The Hardest Part Victor 14 minutes
TV series 2010 My Family "Mary Christmas" Mr. Casey 3 episodes total
TV series 2010 Piers Morgan's Life Stories "Joan Collins" Himself
TV series 2011 Doctor Who "Death Is the Only Answer" Albert Einstein
TV series 2011 Doctor Who Confidential "About a Boy"
"Heartbreak Hotel"
Himself / Albert Einstein documentary series
TV series 2017 Decline and Fall Episode 1 Prostlethwaite BBC1 TV drama
TV series 2019 Killing Eve "The Hungry Caterpillar" Larry BBC America drama

References

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  1. ^ "Inspirational Alumni Members". The King's School Chester. Archived from the original on 15 December 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Nickolas Grace". npg.org.uk. National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Our Team". vic-wells.co.uk. Vic-Wells Association. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  4. ^ "The Way of the World". michaelpennington.me.uk. Michael Pennington. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  5. ^ Stuart Jeffries (28 November 2013). "Lewis Collins obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 February 2023. Robert de Rainault, the longstanding sheriff played by Nickolas Grace.
  6. ^ Patrick Mulkern (6 September 2014). "Doctor Who: Robot of Sherwood". radiotimes.com. Radio Times. Retrieved 3 February 2023. For me, the definitive Sheriff will always be Robin of Sherwood's lascivious, blackly camp Nickolas Grace.
  7. ^ a b c "Nickolas Grace". theatricalia.com. Theatricalia. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  8. ^ Jacobs, Arthur. Princess Ida - English National Opera at the London Coliseum, November 14. Opera, January 1993, Vol.44 No.1, p107-110.
  9. ^ "Birds of a Feather". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  10. ^ "My Family, Series 8, Neighbour Wars". bbc.co.uk. BBC One. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  11. ^ "My Family Episode Guides Series Two Episode Six". bbc.co.uk. BBC. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  12. ^ "My Family, Series 8, Can't Get No Satisfaction". bbc.co.uk. BBC One. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  13. ^ a b Steve Stubbs (2012). "Edward Hall's Hampstead Theatre production of CHARIOTS OF FIRE will transfer to the Gielgud Theatre from 22 June 2012". backstagepass.biz. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  14. ^ "Nickolas Grace Contributions". bigfinish.com. Big Finish. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  15. ^ "Vic-Wells Association".
  16. ^ Vicious Circle – BBC – Radio Times
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