On 19th February 2011, at Martin Humphries conducted a wonderful interview with the actor, Murray Melvin, who sadly passed away this month. Sharing the stage with his dear friend, Georgina Hale, Murray entertained a delighted audience with delicious tales of Kubrick, Ken (Russell) and The Kray twins, illustrated with clips from some of his finest film and TV appearances.
Having cut his teeth with Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop, Murray’s award-winning performance as Geoffrey in A Taste of Honey (on stage and in the subsequent 1961 film) was ground-breaking. Other memorable roles followed – in Alfie (1966), The Devils (1971) Barry Lyndon (1975), and Phantom of the Opera (2004).
His TV appearances ranged from the Dr Who spinoff, Torchwood, to a sublime performance as Ignatius, an artistic and peace-loving cavemen, in the kid’s TV series T.Bag.
As a long-standing archivist for The Theatre Royal Stratford Murray had recently donated his vast archive – 140 boxes of scripts, letters, photographs and press cuttings – to The British Library.
Archivist, actor, director, writer – Murray was as entertaining on screen as he was in person. He had great style – excellent poise and deportment (from his days training as a dancer), was always elegantly attired, and will be missed by many who loved this charming, mischievous, and extremely talented man.
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