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Ken Campbell
Actor

Ken Campbell

10 Dec 1941Born
31 Aug 2008Died
66Age at death
63Credits

Biography

Kenneth Victor Campbell (10 December 1941 – 31 August 2008) was an English writer, actor, director and comedian known for his work in experimental theatre.He has been called "a one-man dynamo of British theatre."  

Campbell achieved notoriety in the 1970s for his nine-hour adaptation of the science-fiction trilogy Illuminatus! and his 22-hour staging of Neil Oram's play cycle The Warp. The Guinness Book of Records listed the latter as the longest play in the world.

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The Independent said that, "In the 1990s, through a series of sprawling monologues packed with arcane information and freakish speculations on the nature of reality, he became something approaching a grand old man of the fringe, though without ever discarding his inner enfant terrible."  The Times labelled Campbell a one-man whirlwind of comic and surreal performance. The Guardian, in a posthumous tribute, judged him to be "one of the most original and unclassifiable talents in the British theatre of the past half-century. A genius at producing shows on a shoestring and honing the improvisational capabilities of the actors who were brave enough to work with him."   The artistic director of the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse said, "He was the door through which many hundreds of kindred souls entered a madder, braver, brighter, funnier and more complex universe."  

Known for

Filmography

  1. 2005Friends ReunitedFilm: Zero
  2. 2004Agatha Christie's MarpleSeries: Crump (1 episode)
  3. 2004CreepFilm: Arthur
  4. 2004Ken Campbell's Meaning of LifeFilm: Writer
  5. 2000Saving GraceFilm: Sgt. Alfred Masely
  6. 1999Six Experiments that Changed the WorldSeries (6 episodes)
  7. 1999Dooley GardensSeries (6 episodes)
  8. 1999Alice in WonderlandFilm: Mr. Duck
  9. 1998Extraordinary VisitorFilm: Rodney
  10. 1996Hard MenFilm: Mr Ross
  11. 1996Local HeroesSeries (10 episodes)
  12. 1995Reality on the RocksSeries (3 episodes)
  13. 1994MiddlemarchSeries: Mr Mawmsey (6 episodes)
  14. 1992HeartbeatSeries: Hector Plumpton (1 episode)
  15. 1992A Different HandFilm: The Doctor
  16. 1992Secret NationFilm: Parkinson
  17. 1990CrimestrikeFilm: Julius Caesar
  18. 1990Wings of FameFilm: Head Waiter
  19. 1989The Nineteenth HoleSeries: Johnson (2 episodes)
  20. 1989ScandalFilm: Editor of Pictorial
  21. 1988A Fish Called WandaFilm: Bartlett
  22. 1988Darkest EnglandFilm
  23. 1988Erasmus MicromanSeries: Erasmus Microman (14 episodes)
  24. 1986Smart MoneyFilm: Mr. Sayles
  25. 1986LovejoySeries: Ted Goat (1 episode)
  26. 1985Letter to BrezhnevFilm: Newspaper Reporter
  27. 1985DreamchildFilm: Radio Sound Effects Man/March Hare (voice)
  28. 1985A Zed & Two NoughtsFilm: Stephen Pipe
  29. 1985Joshua Then and NowFilm: Sidney Murdoch
  30. 1985In Sickness and in HealthSeries: The Irate Driver, Fred Johnson (1 episode)
  31. 1985The Moon Over SohoFilm: Geoffrey Hargreaves
  32. 1985The BrideFilm: Pedlar
  33. 1985Home to RoostSeries: Mr Prendergast (1 episode)
  34. 1985Ligmalion: Or How to Help Yourself in Self-Help BritainFilm: Samuel Smiles
  35. 1985In the Secret StateFilm: Hoskins
  36. 1985Super GranSeries: Unlucky Luciano (1 episode)
  37. 1985Screen TwoSeries: Tim Rickett, Writer (1 episode)
  38. 1984Unfair ExchangesFilm: Tim Rickett, Writer
  39. 1984The BillSeries (2 episodes)
  40. 1984Sherlock HolmesSeries: James Ryder (1 episode)
  41. 1984The Adventures of Sherlock HolmesSeries: James Ryder (1 episode)
  42. 1981Towers of BabelFilm: Alfie
  43. 1981Private SchulzSeries: Krauss (2 episodes)
  44. 1980Breaking GlassFilm: Publican
  45. 1980The Gentle TouchSeries (1 episode)
  46. 1979The Secret Policeman's BallFilm: Various Roles
  47. 1979MinderSeries: Seedy Customer (1 episode)
  48. 1979The TempestFilm: Gonzalo, an honest councillor
  49. 1979PhoelixFilm
  50. 1979The Last Window CleanerFilm: DC Denis Deacey
  51. 1978Dinner at the Sporting ClubFilm: Neville
  52. 1978Law & OrderSeries: Alex Gladwell (4 episodes)
  53. 1977The ProfessionalsSeries: Parker (1 episode)
  54. 1976The Mound BuildersFilm: Director
  55. 1976JustineFilm: Dubourg
  56. 1975Fawlty TowersSeries: Roger (1 episode)
  57. 1969The Big FlameFilm: Journalist
  58. 1968Uncle SilasFilm: Crabbe
  59. 1968Inspector ClouseauFilm: Reporter
  60. 1967Poor CowFilm: Mr. Jacks
  61. 1967The Heroism of Thomas ChadwickFilm: Thomas Chadwick
  62. 1966Mystery and ImaginationSeries: Crabbe (1 episode)
  63. 1956Armchair TheatreSeries: Thomas Chadwick, Writer (1 episode)

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.