Classical actor Tony Church dies aged 77

Published Wednesday 26 March 2008 at 13:30 by Patrick Newley

Leading Shakespearean actor Tony Church, a founder member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and founder director of the Northcott Theatre in Exeter, has died at the age of 77.

A professional actor since 1953, Church spent seven years in TV, radio and repertory before becoming a founder member of the RSC in 1960, where he remained an associate artist until 1987. Parts played included King Lear, Henry IV, Polonius, Friar Lawrence and Gloucester.

In 1988, Sir Peter Hall asked him to join the National Theatre company, where he took leading parts in The Winter’s Tale, The Tempest and Cymbeline.

In 1982, Church was appointed director of drama at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, later leaving to move to Denver, Colorado where he became the dean of the National Theatre Conservatory.

He appeared in many TV series, including Lillie, Edward and Mrs Simpson, and starred as Turold in the 1983 film Krull.

He died in a London nursing home on March 25. A full obituary will appear in The Stage newspaper.