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Oliver Reed, a British actor whose name will live on in movie history, was renowned for his extraordinary talent and magnetic presence on screen. Reed charmed audiences all around the world with his diverse acting skills, towering physique, and raw good looks throughout his career. He left a legacy of outstanding achievements behind him, but his life was also marred by controversy and an early passing.
Early Life
Oliver Reed was born on February 13, 1938, to sports journalist Peter Reed and Marcia Napier-Andrews in Wimbledon, southwest London. Being the grandson of actor-manager Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and the nephew of renowned film director Sir Carol Reed, he comes from a family with significant ties to the entertainment industry.
Career
Reed began his acting career by playing uncredited roles on television and as an extra in several movies. He played the title role in Hammer Films’ “The Curse of the Werewolf” (1961), which marked his debut. This part paved the way for several other standout performances in movies including “Women in Love” (1969), “The Three Musketeers” (1973), “The Four Musketeers” (1974), and “Gladiator” (2000), which served as his last movie.
Reed’s career path did not, however, come without its share of difficulties. His struggle with alcoholism started to impact his personal and professional life in the middle of the 1970s.
He was reportedly considered for the part of James Bond but was eventually rejected, according to anecdotes from his life. Reed was a substitute option for Sean Connery that producers Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli were contemplating. Regrettably, this never happened, and Roger Moore was cast in the part instead, leaving many to wonder what could have been.
Personal Life
In his lifetime, Reed had three marriages. Before their divorce in 1969, he married Kate Byrne, with whom he had a son they called Mark. In 1968, he met Jacquie Daryl while filming “Oliver!”; they fell in love and eventually had a daughter together, Sarah. Later in life, in 1985, Reed wed Josephine Burge; they stayed together until his passing.
In a revealing interview on BBC Radio 4’s “Desert Island Discs” in December 1974, Reed shared some personal insights. His choice of a desert island book was “Winnie-the-Pooh” by A. A. Milne, and he opted for an inflatable rubber woman as his luxury item, reflecting his jovial and unpredictable nature.
What was Oliver Reed’s Cause of Death?
Reed’s life came to a tragic end when he suffered a heart attack on the afternoon of May 2, 1999, while taking a break from filming “Gladiator” in Valletta, Malta. According to the movie’s screenwriter, David Franzoni, Reed had a chance encounter with a group of sailors from the British frigate HMS Cumberland who were on shore leave in a local bar. During this encounter, he playfully challenged them to a drinking contest.
