British Actor Alan Bates Has Died.

[greatauntoftriplets]

Tony Award-Winning Actor Alan Bates Dies
28 minutes ago

LONDON - Alan Bates (news), a Tony Award-winning actor who first gained fame on the London stage and then starred in a string of successful 1960s movies including "Zorba the Greek," has died, his agent said Sunday. He was 69.

Bates died of cancer Saturday night in a London hospital, said his agent, Rosalind Chatto.

Bates' first important film role was opposite Laurence Olivier (news) in 1960's "The Entertainer." In 1964, he played Basil in "Zorba the Greek" then two years later acted in "Georgy Girl" with Vanessa Redgrave (news).

Bates was nominated for a best actor Oscar award for 1969's "The Fixer" and played Rupert Birkin in "Women In Love," based on the D.H. Lawrence novel, the same year.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20031228/ap_on_en_mo/obit_bates_5

[Cooley Hurd]

1. He was great in the movie "An Unmarried Woman"

...with Jill Clayburgh. Sorry to hear he's passed...

[VolcanoJen]

9. Kickin' for Alan.

:-(

I could never understand why Jill Clayburgh didn't run off with him...

RIP, Alan Bates!

:-(

[Bertha Venation]

2. Zeffirelli's "Hamlet" (89? 90?)

is the only thing I ever saw him in. Now whenever I see a different "Hamlet," I get mad at the guy playing Claudius. To me Alan Bates will always be Claudius. RIP

[pfitz59]

3. King of Hearts

Madness!

[November 2004]

4. R.I.P.

I loved him in Georgy Girl, King of Hearts and An Unmarried Woman.

:cry:

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

5. We shall always miss Master Bates.

for sure.

[greatauntoftriplets]

6. Choke!

:crazy:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. I believe he was also in

Far from the Madding Crowd with Peter Finch and Julie Christie.

:-(

[CBHagman]

8. He was indeed.

When I saw on CNN Headline News that Alan Bates had died, I kept shouting, "No! No!" I had no idea he was ill and had expected him to have years of work ahead of him. God rest his soul.

Any fan who hasn't seen him in "Oliver's Travels" ought to find a copy and watch it. It's a combination mystery/love story, co-starring Sinead Cusack, and Bates is utterly charming.

He had some major triumphs on screen and stage but never really got the attention he deserved, I think. And he'll be missed.

[regnaD kciN]

10. "Oliver's Travels"...

...was one of the most enjoyable PBS miniseries in recent years.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

11. I always confused him with Ralph Bates, star of such classics as

'Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde'