Excalibur star Nicol Williamson dies aged 73

Daily Telegraph ^ | 25th January 2012 | Tim Walker

[the scotsman]

'Nicol Williamson, the star of Excalibur, who was described as 'the greatest actor since Marlon Brando', has died at the age of 73.

Barely three months after Inadmissible Evidence, the John Osborne play that made his name, was revived in London, Nicol Williamson has died, aged 73, in Holland.

The colourful Scot – who was described by Osborne as the greatest actor since Marlon Brando, and, by Samuel Beckett, as “touched by genius” – had not made a film since 1997’s superhero picture Spawn. He had, in recent years, been concentrating on music.

His son, Luke, by his former wife Jill Townsend, tells Mandrake that he died just before Christmas after a two-year fight with oesophageal cancer and was eager that no fuss should be made about his passing. To modern filmgoers, he is probably best known for The Exorcist III and for playing Merlin in Excalibur.'

[Erasmus]

IIRC, that was Terence Stamp, who resembles Williamson, especially with the similar facial hair.

[al_c]

Best. Merlin. Ever.

[JoeDetweiler]

Well, I kinda hate to say it, but every dark cloud etc....

I saw a great movie many years ago and since then I’ve been trying for years to remember what it was, but I couldn’t remember the title or the cast and there was very little plot to speak of.

I’m 99% sure it was “The Bofors Gun.” Now if I can just find a copy.....

[GOPJ]

Looking at the cake is like looking at the future, until you’ve tasted it what do you really know? And then, of course, it’s too late.

Great movie...

[Rummyfan]

Robert Duvall: in his eighties now and still doing movies. What happened to Nicol Williamson?

[Conan the Librarian]

Another vote for his Holmes. Always one of my favorite portrayals.

He wasn’t bad as MacBeth either.

I have a vinyl record of him reading “The Hobbit” It is magical.

Did you ever see “The Cheap Detective”? “Qvicker Qvicker Schnell Schnell!!!”

[GOPJ]

,,, was described by English playwright John Osborne as "the greatest actor since Marlon Brando". On 25 January 2012, it was reported by The Daily Telegraph that he had died in relative poverty in Amsterdam aged 73.[2]

wikipedia...

[MotorCityBuck]

Thanks for jogging my memory! Great movie.

[massgopguy]

“You can’t expect to wield supreme executive power because some moistened bink lobbed a scimitar at you”.

[Paradox]

I loved that Merlin. And although it was cheesy in many ways, I have always liked that version of the King Arthur myth the best. Boorman has a certain style..

[EveningStar]

ping

[redangus]

And one of the most erotic scene I have ever watched in a movie, the Arthur-Morgana scene. A great movie.

[MotorCityBuck]

Bloody peasant!

[chemicalman]

Excalibur was my favorite. Wore the VHS out.

[SDShack]

Excalibur - best movie telling the complete story of King Arthur ever. Excellent story and dialog, character portrayals, cinematography, battle scenes, costumes, and musical score.

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[KevinDavis]

Best Merlin ever...

[Boogieman]

I must have watched that film 10,000 times as a child because it was one of three movies that we owned on VHS. Great movie, and great performance by a fine actor.