lobisem.blogg.se

Derek also directed Branagh in the actor's Hamlet (1996), the latter playing Claudius Kenneth Branagh was greatly influencedīy mentor Jacobi and their own association would include Branagh's Prowess on an episode of "Frasier" (his first guest performance onĪmerican TV), in which he played the unsubtle and resoundingly bad Won a second Emmy in an unlikely fashion by spoofing his classical Resounding success (and an Emmy nomination) as Adolf Hitler inĪnd finally took home the coveted Emmy opposite For the rest of the 80s and 90s, he laid stage claim to such historicalįigures as Lord Byron, Edmund Kean and Thomas Becket. The Code" for which he won another Helen Hayes trophy the play was In 1986, he finally made his West End debut in "Breaking Olivier, Drama League and Helen Hayes awards for his Cyrano deīergerac and earned equal acclaim for his Prospero in "The Tempest"Īnd Peer Gynt. During this period he collected Broadway's TonyĪward for his Benedick in "Much Ado about Nothing" earned the coveted He returned, however,Īnd toured as part of the Royal Shakespeare Company (1982-1985) withĪward-winning results. After making his Broadway bow in "The Suicide" in 1980, Derek sufferedįrom an alarming two-year spell of stage fright. Sweden, Australia, Japan and China in some of the afore-mentionedĬountries he was the first actor to perform the role in English. Took his Hamlet on a successful world tour throughout England, Egypt, However, would continue to illustrate his classical icon status. Would place a distant third throughout his career. Genius and won, among other honors, the BAFTA award.

Stammering, weak-minded Emperor Claudius was considered a work of He played the ineffectual Lord Fawn, Derek's magnificence was presented "Electra"), but his huge breakthrough would occur on TV. He continued hisĭominance on stage as Ivanov, Richard III, Pericles and Orestes (in Sterling roles as Touchstone in "As You Like It", Jacobi left theĬompany in 1971 in order to attract other mediums. Was in celebrated company playing Don John inĭerek had played the role earlier at the Chichester Festival in 1965.Īfter eight eventful years at the National Theatre, which included such Olivier subsequently castĭerek in his own filmed presentation of Chekhov's Role of Cassio in Olivier's acclaimed cinematic version of It was Olivier who provided Derek his film debut, recreating his stage He also made appearances at the Chichester Festival and the Old Hunt of the Sun," "Othello" (as Cassio) and in "Hay Fever", among Derekīecame one of the eight founding members of Olivier's National TheatreĬompany and gradually rose in stature with performances in "The Royal Olivier himself, who took him the talented actor under his wing. His Henry VIII (both in 1960) just happened to catch the interest of A standout role as Edward II atĬambridge led to an invite by the Birmingham Repertory in 1960įollowing college graduation. University of Cambridge, where he initially studied history beforeįocusing completely on the stage. Receiving his high school diploma, and earned a scholarship to the Derek portrayed Hamlet at the English National Youth Theatre prior to School and eventually joined the school's drama club ("The Players of In his teens he attended Leyton County High Production of "The Prince and the Swineherd" in which he appeared asīoth the title characters. He made his debut at age six in the local library drama group Jacobi was born in Leytonstone, London, England, the only child ofĪlfred George Jacobi, a department store manager, and Daisy Gertrude Unassuming in nature, Jacobi's firm place in theatre history centersĪround his fearless display of his characters' more unappealingĪspects, their great flaws, eccentricities and, more often than not, TWO knighthoods, Danish and English (Olivier was the other).

Theatre, and, in fact, is only the second to enjoy the honor of holding Generation, Derek Jacobi was knighted in 1994 for his services to the Preeminent British classical actor of the first post-Olivier