Roger Rees
Roger Rees (5 May 1944 – 10 July 2015) was a Welsh-born British-American actor and director, best known for his Tony Award-winning portrayal of the title character in the Royal Shakespeare Company's (RSC) epic stage adaptation of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.[1] Born in Aberystwyth, Wales, to a policeman father and homemaker mother, Rees grew up in south London after his family relocated there early in his life.[1] He attended Balham secondary modern school and later studied at the Camberwell School of Art and the Slade School of Fine Art, before beginning his acting career with amateur productions like the Gang Show in 1963 and a professional debut in Hindle Wakes in 1964.[1] Joining the RSC in 1967, Rees quickly rose to prominence with roles such as Tuzenbach in Three Sisters (1978) and Hamlet (1984), but his breakthrough came in 1980 as Nicholas Nickleby, a marathon eight-and-a-half-hour production that earned him the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a New Play and, upon its Broadway transfer, the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play.[1] Rees's career spanned theater, television, and film, showcasing his versatile baritone voice and commanding presence.[1] On Broadway, he starred in revivals like London Assurance (1974), The Real Thing (1982), and Indiscretions (1995), and later took on roles such as Gomez Addams in The Addams Family (2010) and directed or co-directed productions including The End of the Day (Obie Award, 1992) and Peter and the Starcatcher (2012).[1] In television, he gained widespread recognition as the suave tycoon Robin Colcord on Cheers (1990–1993) and as the eccentric British ambassador Lord John Marbury on The West Wing (1999–2005).[1] His film credits included supporting roles in Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993), Frida (2002), and The Prestige (2006), often playing authoritative or quirky characters.[1] Rees also served as artistic director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival from 2004 to 2007, nurturing new talent and productions.[1] In his personal life, Rees became a U.S. citizen in 1989 and converted to Judaism in the 1980s; he married writer Rick Elice in 2011 after a long partnership, and the couple resided in New York City.[1] He continued performing until shortly before his death from cancer at age 71 in New York.[1] Rees's legacy endures through his contributions to classical and contemporary theater, earning him induction into the American Theater Hall of Fame posthumously.[2]Early life and education
Birth and family
Roger Rees was born on 5 May 1944 in Aberystwyth, Wales, to a Welsh father from Aberystwyth and an English mother.[3] His father, William John Rees, worked as a police officer, and his mother, Doris Louise (née Smith), was a shop clerk; the family relocated to South London during his early childhood, where he spent most of his youth in a modest, working-class household unconnected to the entertainment industry.[4][5] This environment provided Rees with his initial artistic sparks through participation in local community endeavors, including church plays and Boy Scouts productions.[3]Training and early influences
Attending Balham Secondary Modern School, a challenging secondary school in South London, Rees excelled in the arts from a young age, particularly in painting and drawing, which shaped his initial career aspirations. He pursued formal training in visual arts at Camberwell School of Art, followed by studies in painting and lithography at the Slade School of Fine Art, reflecting his early passion for artistic expression rather than performance.[1][6][7] Rees's interest in acting emerged during his youth through informal stage activities in church productions and Boy Scouts events, where he first experienced performing, though these were not his primary focus at the time. He also participated in amateur productions, including the Gang Show in 1963. In his late teens, following his father's death, he left art school to support his family and took a job painting scenery at the Wimbledon Theatre in south London. While working there, in 1964, Rees was asked to understudy a role and ultimately assumed the lead as Alan Jeffcote in Stanley Houghton's Hindle Wakes, an experience that ignited his passion for acting and prompted his transition away from visual arts. This marked his professional debut without prior formal drama training.[3][6][7][1][8] His early exposure to stage work through these youth and ad hoc opportunities, combined with his artistic background, fostered a versatile approach to the craft before he sought further professional opportunities.[6][7]Acting career
Royal Shakespeare Company tenure
Roger Rees joined the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in 1967, initially taking on small non-speaking roles such as a spear carrier in productions like The Taming of the Shrew, alongside future stars like Ben Kingsley.[9][1] By the early 1970s, he had transitioned to speaking parts, marking the beginning of his development as a classical actor within the ensemble.[10] This period laid the foundation for his reputation in Shakespearean theatre, where he contributed to the company's innovative interpretations under directors like Trevor Nunn.[8] Among his notable early roles, Rees portrayed Claudio in Ronald Eyre's 1971 production of Much Ado About Nothing at the Aldwych Theatre, bringing a youthful earnestness to the character amid the play's witty romantic entanglements.[1][11] He followed this with Roderigo in the 1972 touring production of Othello, directed by Barton, where his portrayal of the gullible Venetian highlighted the tragic manipulations central to the drama.[12] In 1976, Rees took on the role of a Lord in John Barton and Trevor Nunn's The Winter's Tale, supporting the ensemble's exploration of themes of jealousy and redemption in this late Shakespeare romance.[13] Rees's breakthrough within the RSC came in Nunn's acclaimed 1976 musical adaptation of The Comedy of Errors, where he starred as Antipholus of Syracuse, delivering a charismatic performance that captured the farce's chaotic mistaken identities and earned praise for its energy and precision.[14] The same year, he played Malcolm in Nunn's intimate production of Macbeth at The Other Place, offering a poised depiction of the prince's moral resolve opposite Ian McKellen and Judi Dench, which was later adapted for television in 1978.[15] From 1967 to 1980, Rees built a solid foundation in classical theatre through these ensemble contributions, occasionally assisting in smaller directorial capacities that honed his understanding of staging Shakespearean works.[1]Breakthrough roles in theatre
Rees achieved international prominence with his lead performance as the titular character in the Royal Shakespeare Company's (RSC) ambitious eight-and-a-half-hour, two-part adaptation of Charles Dickens's novel, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird, which premiered at the Aldwych Theatre in London on 24 June 1980.[16][17] In this ensemble production, Rees portrayed Nicholas as a resilient young man navigating poverty and adversity, while the company of 39 actors collectively embodied over 150 characters across the sprawling narrative, blending narration, physical theatre, and direct audience address to capture Dickens's social critique.[18][1] The production's innovative staging and Rees's nuanced depiction of Nicholas's moral evolution from impulsive youth to steadfast hero marked a pivotal moment, propelling the show to a successful transfer to Broadway's Plymouth Theatre, where it opened on 4 October 1981 and contributed to its overall run spanning approximately 18 months between London and New York.[19][20] Building on this success, Rees took on the role of Hamlet in Ron Daniels's 1984 RSC production at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, where his interpretation emphasized the prince's intellectual fervor and emotional turmoil, performed alongside emerging talents like Kenneth Branagh as Laertes.[21] This portrayal, delivered in a stark, modern-dress staging that highlighted psychological depth over Elizabethan pomp, further solidified Rees's reputation as a versatile leading man capable of anchoring complex Shakespearean tragedies.[1][22] These breakthrough performances at the RSC, honed through years of ensemble work, transitioned Rees into freelance opportunities on Broadway and beyond during the 1980s, allowing him to explore a broader range of classical and contemporary roles outside the company's structure.[1][7]Later stage and screen work
Following his breakthrough in theater during the 1980s, Rees expanded into film and television, leveraging his stage-honed versatility to portray a range of characters across media. His screen debut came in the 1983 biographical drama Star 80, where he played Aram Nicholas, a supporting role in Bob Fosse's exploration of the tragic life of Playboy model Dorothy Stratten.[23] This marked the beginning of sporadic but notable film appearances, including the comedic villainy of the Sheriff of Rottingham in Mel Brooks' parody Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993), a smaller yet memorable part that showcased his dry wit and physical comedy. On stage, Rees continued to thrive in the 1990s and beyond, balancing high-profile Broadway productions with his growing screen commitments. In 1995, he starred as George in the Broadway adaptation of Jean Cocteau's Les Parents Terribles, retitled Indiscretions, opposite Kathleen Turner, Eileen Atkins, and a young Jude Law; the play ran for seven months at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, earning praise for Rees's portrayal of a conflicted patriarch in a dysfunctional family.[24] He later succeeded Nathan Lane as Gomez Addams in the musical The Addams Family on Broadway in 2011, bringing his charismatic energy to the role from March through December at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, infusing the eccentric husband with a blend of passion and mischief that delighted audiences.[25] Television provided Rees with some of his most enduring roles in the 1990s and 2000s, highlighting his knack for sophisticated, often aristocratic characters. He gained widespread recognition as the suave British millionaire Robin Colcord, a recurring love interest for Rebecca Howe (Kirstie Alley), on the sitcom Cheers from 1990 to 1993, appearing in 17 episodes and adding a layer of transatlantic tension to the Boston bar's ensemble.[26][27] In animation, he voiced Prince Malcolm on Gargoyles in 1995, contributing to the Disney series' rich mythological narrative in two episodes.[26][28] Rees also made recurring guest appearances as the eccentric British ambassador Lord John Marbury on The West Wing starting in 1999, delivering five episodes of sharp diplomatic satire that underscored his command of nuanced, humorous authority.[1] Throughout the 1990s and 2010s, Rees adeptly balanced stage revivals—such as his Obie-winning turn as a narcissistic doctor in the off-Broadway The End of the Day (1992)—with episodic television and voice work, maintaining a career that spanned intimate theater and mainstream media without favoring one over the other.[1]Directing and collaborations
Theatrical directing credits
Roger Rees's directing career, though not as prolific as his acting endeavors, demonstrated a keen eye for ensemble-driven storytelling and innovative adaptations, drawing from his extensive stage experience. His work often highlighted collaborative physicality and narrative invention, particularly in productions that reimagined classic tales or introduced fresh voices to the theatre. Rees transitioned into directing in the late 1990s, beginning with regional and off-Broadway projects before achieving prominence on Broadway.[29] One of Rees's most notable achievements was co-directing Peter and the Starcatcher with Alex Timbers, a whimsical adaptation of Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson's novel that originated at New York Theatre Workshop in 2011 before transferring to Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre in 2012, where it ran until 2013. The production, conceived by Rees and Timbers as a play with music by Wayne Barker, earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Direction of a Play and celebrated the origins of Peter Pan through inventive staging and a large ensemble cast. Rees later helmed the national tour of the show in 2013–2014, extending its reach to audiences across the United States.[30][31][32] Earlier, during his tenure as artistic director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival from 2004 to 2007, Rees directed several key productions that showcased his affinity for both classic revivals and contemporary plays. In 1997, prior to his leadership role, he staged Jon Robin Baitz's The Film Society at the festival, exploring themes of apartheid-era South Africa through intimate character dynamics. He directed Sheridan’s The Rivals in 1998, focusing on sharp ensemble interplay in the comedy of manners, and in 2006, he helmed Cole Porter's Anything Goes, infusing the musical with buoyant energy and precise choreography. Off-Broadway, Rees directed Rufus Wainwright's Here Lies Jenny in 2004 at the Zipper Factory, blending cabaret elements with dramatic narrative in a tribute to Lotte Lenya. His final major credit was directing the world premiere of the musical Dog and Pony by Rick Elice and Michael Patrick Walker at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre in 2014, a new work that reflected his commitment to nurturing emerging musical theatre.[29][33][34] Rees's directorial style emphasized ensemble dynamics and physical theatre, hallmarks evident in Peter and the Starcatcher's use of minimal sets, mime, and group movement to conjure magical worlds—techniques reminiscent of his starring role in the Royal Shakespeare Company's epic The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1980), where he first experienced large-scale, physically demanding ensemble work. This background informed his choices, prioritizing actor collaboration and imaginative staging over elaborate production values to heighten narrative impact. Though his directing output was selective, it left a lasting mark on American theatre through these focused, high-profile contributions to new adaptations and revivals.[35][36][29]Partnerships and producing
Rees collaborated with playwright Rick Elice on the comedic thriller Double Double, which they co-wrote. The play originally premiered at London's West End in 1986, with Rees starring, before receiving a revival that Rees directed at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in 2006. The play centers on a scheme involving a down-and-out man impersonating a deceased husband to secure an inheritance, blending elements of romance, deception, and suspense.[37][38][39] From 2004 to 2007, Rees served as artistic director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival, succeeding Michael Ritchie and becoming only the fourth person to hold the position in the organization's history.[40][41] In this role, he oversaw three seasons that emphasized a mix of new works and classic revivals, including productions like Anything Goes (2006) and Double Double (2006), alongside works such as The Opposite Sex (2006).[42][43] Rees prioritized nurturing emerging artists, acting as a mentor to young talent through the festival's acting intern program and workshops, fostering an environment that supported innovative theatre development.[44][45] Rees contributed to the development and production of Peter and the Starcatcher, co-conceiving the adaptation with Alex Timbers and serving as co-director for its Off-Broadway premiere at New York Theatre Workshop in 2011 and subsequent Broadway transfer in 2012.[31][32] His involvement extended to broader collaborative efforts in theatre education, leaving a legacy through the posthumously renamed Roger Rees Awards for Excellence in Student Performance, established in 2016 by the Broadway Education Alliance to honor his commitment to mentoring high school musical theatre talent across Greater New York City.[46][47] The awards program, which selects outstanding student performers and feeds into the national Jimmy Awards, continues to promote artistic excellence and access to professional theatre opportunities in his name.[48]Personal life
Relationships and marriage
Rees was openly gay and maintained a private personal life regarding earlier relationships, with little public information available about them prior to the 1980s.[49] He began a committed long-term partnership with American playwright and producer Rick Elice in 1982, which lasted over three decades.[50] Rees converted to Judaism in the 1980s following his meeting with Elice.[51] Rees and Elice shared a home in a book-filled apartment in the Beresford building on Manhattan's Upper West Side, where they built a life together centered on mutual support and creative synergy.[52] Their relationship, which began during a period of long-distance dating due to Rees's work in London, evolved into a profound partnership that influenced both their personal stability and professional endeavors, including occasional collaborations.[52] The couple married in 2011 in New York City shortly after the legalization of same-sex marriage in the state, formalizing their bond; they had no children.[53] In his later years, Rees focused on this enduring commitment, often describing Elice as a central figure in his life.[54]Health challenges and death
In October 2014, Rees was diagnosed with brain cancer.[53] Despite the diagnosis, he underwent treatment and remained committed to his professional obligations, including starring in the Broadway revival of The Visit opposite Chita Rivera.[6] His husband, playwright Rick Elice, provided crucial support during this period.[55] Rees's final public appearance was in The Visit, where he performed as Anton Schell until late May 2015, when he was forced to withdraw due to his deteriorating health.[1] He died on July 10, 2015, at his home in New York City at the age of 71, from complications related to brain cancer.[56][57] In tribute to Rees's contributions to the theater, the marquees of all Broadway theaters were dimmed for one minute on July 15, 2015, at 7:45 p.m.[58]Awards and honors
Theatre awards
Roger Rees achieved significant recognition for his stage performances, particularly through prestigious awards highlighting his lead role in the Royal Shakespeare Company's adaptation of Charles Dickens's The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. In 1980, he won the Laurence Olivier Award for Actor of the Year in a New Play for portraying Nicholas Nickleby in the original London production at the Aldwych Theatre.[59] Following the play's transfer to Broadway in 1981, Rees reprised the role and earned the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play in 1982, solidifying his reputation as a versatile and commanding stage presence.[60] This accolade, presented by the American Theatre Wing, underscored the production's innovative storytelling and Rees's nuanced embodiment of the resilient protagonist amid a sprawling ensemble narrative.[61] Rees also received the Obie Award for Performance in 1992 for his role in the Off-Broadway production of The End of the Day.[62]Nominations and other recognitions
Rees received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Play in 1995 for his performance in the Broadway production of Indiscretions.[63] In recognition of his directing work, Rees was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play in 2012, shared with Alex Timbers, for Peter and the Starcatcher. He also shared the Obie Award for Directing in 2011 for the Off-Broadway production of the play.[64][65] For his portrayal of the title character in the 1982 television adaptation of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Rees earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special in 1983.[66] Following his death in 2015, the Broadway Education Alliance established the Roger Rees Awards for Excellence in Student Performance in 2016, an annual honor for outstanding high school theatre performers in the Greater New York area, celebrating Rees's lifelong dedication to the arts.[67] Rees was posthumously inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2015.[68]Filmography
Film roles
Rees made his feature film debut in 1983 and continued appearing in supporting roles across various genres until 2015. His filmography includes over 20 credits, often portraying eccentric or authoritative characters. The following table lists his feature film roles chronologically, including the title, release year, and character name.[69]| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Star 80 | Aram Nicholas |
| 1986 | Half Moon Street | Lord Bulbrook |
| 1990 | Mountains of the Moon | Sgt. Robert Goring |
| 1991 | If Looks Could Kill | Augustus Steranko |
| 1992 | Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot | Parnell |
| 1993 | Robin Hood: Men in Tights | Sheriff of Rottingham |
| 1995 | Sudden Death | Joshua Foss |
| 1998 | Next Stop Wonderland | Ray Thornback |
| 1999 | A Midsummer Night's Dream | Peter Quince |
| 1999 | Dudley Do-Right | Phileas Fogg |
| 2000 | Black Male | Bill Fontaine |
| 2002 | Return to Never Land | Edward (voice) |
| 2002 | The Scorpion King | Philos |
| 2002 | Frida | Monsieur Charpin |
| 2006 | The Prestige | Mr. Lester |
| 2006 | The Pink Panther | Larocque |
| 2006 | Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties | Mr. Hobbs (voice) |
| 2007 | The Invasion | Dr. Stephen Galeano |
| 2008 | The Narrows | Prof. Reyerson |
| 2009 | Happy Tears | Antiques Dealer |
| 2011 | Almost Perfect | Kai Lee |
| 2015 | Survivor | Dr. Emil Balan |