Nigel Terry

Peter Nigel Terry (15 August 1945 – 30 April 2015) was an English stage, film, and television actor, typically in historical and period roles. He played Prince John in Anthony Harvey's film The Lion in Winter and King Arthur in John Boorman's Excalibur (1981).

Early life Terry was born on 15 August 1945 in Bristol, the son of Frank Albert Terry OBE, DFC, a pilot in the Royal Air Force, and his wife, Doreen. He enrolled at London's Central School of Speech and Drama in 1963, working both on stage and behind the scenes. He joined the Oxford Meadow Players in 1966, working initially as assistant stage manager.

Career Theatre Terry worked mostly in theatre. In the same year he played Pericles in David Thacker's production of Pericles, Prince of Tyre.

Films Terry appeared in about 20 films, most notably as John in The Lion in Winter (1968) with Katharine Hepburn, Peter O'Toole and Anthony Hopkins; King Arthur in John Boorman's Excalibur (1981); and the title character in Derek Jarman's Caravaggio (1986). He was a very private person. Terry died of emphysema in Newquay, Cornwall, on 30 April 2015, at the age of 69. In the absence of any surviving close family, his memorial service was organised by close friends Maggie Steed and David Horovitch in Truro on 19 May 2015, attended by fellow actors and friends.

Selected filmography

Television