John Normington

John Normington (28 January 1937 – 26 July 2007) was an English actor primary known for his work on television. Normington was also a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company performing in more than 20 RSC productions.[1] He performed widely in the West End and at the National Theatre.[2]

Early life

Normington was born in Dukinfield, Cheshire, in 1937 where he resided in Montrose Avenue with his parents and two younger sisters Judith and Joan. He originally attended Victoria Road Infants School before transferring to Globe Lane County Primary then on to Crescent Road Boys School.[3] He trained as an opera singer at the Northern School of Music.[2] Following this, he did his national service and while stationed in Aldershot joined Farnham rep.[2] Normington joined the Repertory Theatre in Oldham in 1950, and from 1959 to 1962 he worked at the Library Theatre in Manchester.[2] After a short spell at the Oxford Playhouse, John Normington joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1963 and played many Shakespearean roles.[2] He continued on stage for the rest of his life, with many memorable roles.[2]

Acting career

In 1963, he made his first appearance on television. In the 1960s and 1970s, he appeared in programmes such as Murder Most English; The Caesars; Softly, Softly; Nearest and Dearest; The Edwardians; Crown Court; Upstairs, Downstairs (in the episode "Such A Lovely Man"), and ITV Playhouse.[1] His film credits included roles in Inadmissible Evidence (1968), A Midsummer Night's Dream (1968), The Reckoning (1969), Stardust (1974), Rollerball (1975), The Medusa Touch (1978), The Thirty Nine Steps (1978), A Private Function (1984), Hitler's S.S.: Portrait in Evil (1985) as Himmler, My Family and Other Animals (1987), Jack the Ripper (1988) and Wilt (1989).[4]

During the 1980s, he appeared in Play for Today; Yes, Prime Minister (in the episode "One of Us"); Inspector Morse; and Agatha Christie's Poirot.[5] Normington played Morgus in the 1984 Doctor Who serial The Caves of Androzani and Trevor Sigma in the 1988 serial The Happiness Patrol.[6][7] The following decade, Normington played roles in programmes such as The New Statesman; Peak Practice; Hetty Wainthropp Investigates; Coronation Street; The Bill, and David Copperfield. In 2001 John Normington appeared in Love in a Cold Climate.[1]

Later life

In 2004, Normington appeared in King Lear in Stratford. Before the production moved to the West End, he had to withdraw after developing pancreatic cancer.[2] He recovered to an extent that he took on further roles on stage and screen. On stage he appeared in The Voysey Inheritance in 2006 and The Entertainer from March to April 2007, before he pulled out due to ill health.[2][8] On screen, he appeared in the 2004 Midsomer Murders episode; "Bad Tidings"; the Torchwood episode "Ghost Machine"; Trial & Retribution XIV, and Casualty in 2007—his final TV appearance.[9] John Normington died, of pancreatic cancer, on 26 July 2007 in the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London aged 70.[1] His partner was John Anderson.[1][2]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1968Inadmissible EvidenceMaples
1968A Midsummer Night's DreamFlute
1970The ReckoningBenham
1974StardustHarrap
1975RollerballExecutive
1978The Medusa TouchMr. Copley - John's schoolmaster
1978The Thirty Nine StepsFletcher
1981The Monster ClubNarrator: Ghoul SegmentVoice, Uncredited
1983Aeschylus' Oresteia (Tony Harrison Adaptation), the National TheatreCassandra
1984A Private FunctionLockwood
1989WiltTreadaway
2007AtonementVicar(final film role)
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References
  1. Paddock, Terri (30 July 2007). "Entertainer Actor John Normington Dies, Aged 70". Whatsonstage.com. Archived from the original on 11 November 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2007.
  2. "Obituary - John Normington". The Times. London. 22 August 2007.
  3. Globe Lane Pals
  4. "John Normington". BFI.
  5. "John Normington". www.aveleyman.com.
  6. "BBC - Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide - The Caves of Androzani - Details". www.bbc.co.uk.
  7. "The Happiness Patrol ★★★★★". Radio Times.
  8. "David Baron Steps in for Ailing John Normington in The Entertainer". Theatre.com. 13 April 2007. Retrieved 29 July 2007.
  9. "Tribute to John Normington". Lastingtribute.com. 2007. Archived from the original on 18 August 2007.
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