Keith Baxter

Keith Stanley Baxter-Wright (29 April 1933 – 24 September 2023) was a Welsh theatre, film and television actor and director.

Early years and RADA Keith Stanley Baxter-Wright was born in Newport, Monmouthshire, on 29 April 1933. He was the son of Stanley Baxter-Wright, a Merchant Navy sea captain, and Emily Baxter (née Howell). They lived for a time in Romilly Road, Barry, Glamorgan. He was educated at Newport High School and Barry Grammar School. His early introduction to the stage was from his interest in making model theatres and stage scenery. He studied at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, during which period he shared a flat with a classmate, Alan Bates. He made his film debut in the 1957 remake of The Barretts of Wimpole Street and appeared uncredited as a detective in the British horror classic Peeping Tom (1960).

Films In 1960, Orson Welles selected Baxter to portray Prince Hal in his stage production Chimes at Midnight, which combined portions of the Shakespearean plays Henry IV, Part I, Henry IV, Part II, Henry V, Richard II, and The Merry Wives of Windsor and brought the comic figure of Falstaff to the forefront of a primarily tragic tale. Baxter repeated his performance in the 1965 film version. Additional film credits include Ash Wednesday (1973; with Elizabeth Taylor), Golden Rendezvous (1977), and Killing Time (1998).

Broadway In 1961, Baxter made his Broadway debut as King Henry VIII in A Man for All Seasons. The Country Wife (2000) The Rivals (2003) Lady Windermere's Fan (2003) The Imaginary Invalid (2008) The Rivals (2009) Mrs. Warren's Profession (2010) An Ideal Husband (2011) The Importance of Being Earnest

Cleopatra Baxter was signed for the role of Octavian "Augustus" Caesar opposite Elizabeth Taylor's Cleopatra in the 1963 film of Cleopatra. Taylor's bout of pneumonia, soon after filming began, temporarily shut down filming. By the time she recovered, Baxter had other commitments and Roddy McDowall assumed the role. Baxter co-starred with Taylor in the film Ash Wednesday (1973). He also later played Mark Antony opposite Maggie Smith's Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra at the Stratford Festival in Canada in 1976.

Television work Baxter's television work included appearances in Gideon's Way, The Avengers, Hawaii Five-O, Thriller (1976) and the 1998 mini-series Merlin.

Other work Baxter was the author of a memoir, My Sentiments Exactly and of several plays, including 56 Duncan Terrace, Cavell and Barnaby and the Old Boys.

In 1971 he recorded an LP of several short stories by Saki for Caedmon Records under the title Reginald on House-Parties, and Other Stories.

Baxter was an associate member of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Personal life and death During the 1960s Baxter had a brief affair with the dancer Rudolf Nureyev. In 1979 he met Brian Holden and formed a lasting relationship; they married in 2016 and moved from London to West Sussex.

Keith Baxter died from a heart attack while swimming on holiday in Corsica, on 24 September 2023. He was 90, and was survived by his husband.

Theatre awards 1962 Theatre World Award for A Man for All Seasons 1971 Drama Desk Award for Sleuth

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1956 She Stoops to Conquer Thomas TV film 1957 The Barretts of Wimpole Street Charles Barrett 1958 Incident at Echo Six Duty officer TV film 1960 Peeping Tom Detective Baxter Uncredited 1963 Where Angels Fear to Tread Gino Carella TV film1965 Hold My Hand, Soldier The Private TV film Chimes at Midnight Prince Hal 1970 With Love in Mind Tony Preston 1973 Ash Wednesday David 1974 The Regent's Wife Don Fermín de Pas 1977 Golden Rendezvous Preston 1988 Berlín Blues Professor Huessler 1998 Killing Time Reilly Bodyguard #3

Television