Antony Holland CM (28 March 1920 – 29 July 2015) was an English actor, playwright and theatre director who until his death in 2015 lived on Gabriola Island, British Columbia, Canada.[1][2]
Antony Holland CM | |
|---|---|
| Born | 28 March 1920 |
| Died | 29 July 2015 (aged 95) Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada |
| Occupation(s) | actor, playwright, director |
History
editHolland completed his drama training at the Labour Stage in London. Shortly after, he was called into His Majesty's Armed Forces as a signalman at the onset of the Second World War.[1] While training at the coastal town of South Shields, he put on a play in a local abandoned theatre. Holland continued to mount productions in his spare time throughout the course of the war. He was granted the officers' lounge for rehearsals and cast approximately 100 men in a wide variety of roles, including parts that required playing women. His plays continued through the North African Campaign, crossed the desert, and made it to Cairo where he would mount productions at the Khedivial Opera House.[1] So successful were his plays that the military requisitioned stage materials for more elaborate productions. Holland was transferred into military intelligence where he served out the remainder of the war.[1]
In 1946, Laurence Olivier founded the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School where Holland was vice principal for nearly a decade. Holland moved to Vancouver in 1957 and remained in British Columbia until his death in July 2015. In 1965, he founded a theatre arts program at the King Edward Campus of Vancouver Community College. The school relocated to Langara College and formally took on the name of Studio 58. Holland retired as artistic director in 1985, and returned to professional acting, directing and writing. Shortly after moving to Gabriola Island, he established a new theatre company at the Gabriola Theatre Centre.[1][3]
Select credits
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | McCabe & Mrs. Miller | Hollander | |
| 1982 | The Grey Fox | Judge | |
| 1983 | The Best Christmas Pageant Ever | Reverend Hopkins | |
| 1987 | Housekeeping | Mr. Wallace | |
| 1988 | Backfire | Judge Hardin | |
| 1988 | The Accused | Plea Bargain Lawyer | |
| 1989 | Cousins | Wedding Priest | |
| 1989 | We're No Angels | Doctor | |
| 1989 | MacGyver | Vincent Battaglia | 1 episode |
| 1989-1991 | Captain N: The Game Master | Doctor Light | Voice, 33 episodes |
| 1990 | Narrow Margin | Elderly Man | |
| 1990-1991 | The New Adventures of He-Man | Master Sebrian | Voice, 65 episodes |
| 1991 | Bingo | Circus Vet | |
| 1991 | K2 | Priest | |
| 1992 | Impolite | Jimmy | |
| 1995 | Last of the Dogmen | Doc Carvey | |
| 2004 | Kingdom Hospital | Lenny Stillmach | 5 episodes |
| 2004 | 12 days of christmas eve | Hank Carter | |
| 2002 | King Lear | King Lear | Studio 58 |
| 2006 | Arts Club Theatre Company | Morrie | Tuesday with Morrie |
| 2006 | Eureka | Irvin Horatio Thatcher | 1 episode |
| 2008 | The Merchant of Venice | Shylock | Studio 58[4] |
| 2009 | Battlestar Galactica | Julius Baltar | 1 episode |
| 2011 | Supernatural | Westborough | 1 episode |
Honours
edit- The recipient of three Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards and numerous nominations.[5]
- The recipient of four Lifetime Achievement Awards.
- Elected into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame.[6]
- The Antony Holland Scholarship at Langara College was made in his honour.[7]
- Member of the Order of Canada.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Antony Holland on acting". The Vancouver Province. 16 June 2006. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
- ^ "Local theatre legend Antony Holland dies at 95". The Straight. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
- ^ Bruce Mason (28 May 2007). "Holland nominated for Jessie Award for Best Lead Actor". The Gabriola Sounder. Archived from the original on 14 December 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
- ^ "Studio 58/Langara College presents The Merchant of Venice". The Georgia Strait. November 2008. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
- ^ "Our 2009-2010 Third Street Theatre Series". Presentation House Theatre. 2009. Archived from the original on 25 June 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
- ^ "Antony Holland Presents Shakespeare". Eco Films. 2005. Archived from the original on 18 September 2008. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
- ^ "Archived News". Studio 58 at Langara College. 2009. Archived from the original on 14 August 2010. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
- ^ "Order of Canada Appointments". 30 June 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2014.