British thespian Alan Badel came to prominence after graduating from
RADA a Gold Medal winner. He made an almost instant impact on the stage
in both modern and classical roles. One of his first critically
acclaimed performances was as Romeo, opposite
Claire Bloom's Juliet at the Old
Vic. Despite his velvety, resonant voice and commanding personality,
Badel never quite made the first rank on screen. In the theatre,
however, he was never less than a star, particularly after his
tour-de-force impersonation of 19th century actor Edmund Kean in
Jean-Paul Sartre's 1971 play.
His motion picture career took in parts as John the Baptist in
Salome (1953),
Richard Wagner in
Magic Fire (1956) and as the corrupt
manager of a rugby club in
This Sporting Life (1963). On
the small screen he was excellent as Edmund Dantes, the
The Count of Monte Cristo (1964),
and as the eccentric, enigmatic Count Fosco in
The Woman in White (1982).
Badel, who died unexpectedly in 1982 at the age of 58, had a
distinguished military record dating back to his wartime service with
the 13th Parachute Battalion. He took part in Operation Overlord, the
D-Day landings in 1944. He fought with distinction as a platoon
sergeant and saw action in the Normandy and Ardennes Campaigns and the
subsequent advance through northern Germany. After VE Day, he was
posted to the Far East as part of the 6th Airborne Division for a
projected invasion of Japan, which never took place due to the bombing
of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Badel spent some time in Palestine, until he
was demobbed in June 1947.
The Agatha Christie Hour(1982)as Sir Alington West
BBC Play of the Month(1965)as Father, General Gordon, Sir Fretful Plagiary, Sir Robert Morton, Svengali
The Woman in White(1982)as Count Fosco
Shogun(1980)as Father Dell'Aqua
Shogun(1980)as Father Dell'Aqua
Salome(1953)
Welcome to the Basement(2012)
Churchill: A Nation's Homage(1965)as Commentator
