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Rachel Roberts (actress)

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Cause of death
  
Years active
  
1953–1980


Name
  
Rachel Roberts

Role
  
Actress

Rachel Roberts (actress) Classic Film and TV Caf Oscar Blogathon Best Actress of

Born
  
20 September 1927 (
1927-09-20
)
Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales, United Kingdom

Died
  
November 26, 1980, Los Angeles, California, United States

Books
  
No bells on Sunday, Song of the Unicorns

Spouse
  
Rex Harrison (m. 1962–1971), Alan Dobie (m. 1955–1961)

Movies
  
Picnic at Hanging Rock, This Sporting Life, Saturday Night and Sunday, Foul Play, Murder on the Orient Express

Similar People
  
Rex Harrison, Lindsay Anderson, Charlotte Fullerton, Albert Finney, Karel Reisz

Rachel Roberts (20 September 1927 – 26 November 1980) was a Welsh actress noted for her fervour and passion. She is best remembered for her forthright screen performances as the older mistress of the central male character in two key films of the 1960s, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960) and This Sporting Life (1963). For both films, she won the BAFTA Award for Best British Actress. She was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for This Sporting Life. Her other notable film appearances included Murder on the Orient Express (1974), Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) and Yanks (1979).

Contents

Rachel Roberts (actress) Classic Film and TV Caf Oscar Blogathon Best Actress of

Roberts' theatre credits included the original production of the musical Maggie May in 1964. She was nominated for the 1974 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for the plays, Chemin de Fer and The Visit, and won a Drama Desk Award in 1976 for Habeas Corpus.

Rachel Roberts (actress) httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Rachel roberts in doctors wives 1971


Early life and career

Rachel Roberts (actress) Rachel Roberts

Roberts was born in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales. After a Baptist upbringing (against which she rebelled), followed by study at the University of Wales and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she began working with a repertory company in Swansea in 1950. She made her film debut in the Welsh-set comedy Valley of Song (1953), directed by Gilbert Gunn.

Rachel Roberts (actress) BBC Wales Arts Rachel Roberts

Her portrayal of Brenda in Karel Reisz's Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960) won her a British Academy Film Award. Lindsay Anderson cast her as the suffering Mrs Hammond in This Sporting Life (1963), earning another BAFTA and an Oscar nomination. Both films were significant examples of the British New Wave of film-making.

In theatre, she performed at the Royal Court and played the title role as the life-enhancing tart in Lionel Bart's musical Maggie May (1964). In films, she continued to play women with lusty appetites as in Lindsay Anderson's O Lucky Man! (1973), although the haunting Australian-made Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), directed by Peter Weir, provided her with a different kind of role, as the authoritarian head teacher of a Victorian girls' school.

After relocating to Los Angeles in the early 1970s, she appeared in supporting roles in several American films such as Foul Play (1978). Her final British film was Yanks (1979), directed by John Schlesinger, for which she received a Supporting Actress BAFTA.

In 1976, she won a Drama Desk Award for her performance in Alan Bennett's play Habeas Corpus. In 1979, Roberts co-starred with Jill Bennett in the London Weekend Television production of Alan Bennett's The Old Crowd, directed by Lindsay Anderson and Stephen Frears.

Personal life

Roberts was married twice and had no children. She first married actor Alan Dobie in 1955. They divorced in 1960. The following year, Roberts married actor Rex Harrison in Genoa, Italy. The marriage was tumultuous; Roberts and Harrison both drank excessively and engaged in public fights. Harrison later left Roberts and they divorced in 1971. Later that year, Harrison married British socialite Elizabeth Rees-Williams, Roberts' former best friend.

Roberts was known in the entertainment industry as a legendary alcoholic, with a history of eccentric behaviour. She had a habit of imitating a Welsh Corgi when intoxicated and once, at a party thrown by Richard Harris, attacked actor Robert Mitchum on all fours, chewing his trousers and champing on his bare skin, while he patted her on the head, saying "there, there".

Death

Devastated by her divorce from Rex Harrison, Roberts' alcoholism and depression worsened. She moved to Hollywood in 1975 and tried to forget the relationship. In 1980, Roberts attempted to win Harrison back. The attempt proved futile as Harrison was then married to his sixth and final wife, Mercia Tinker.

On 26 November 1980, Roberts died at her home in Los Angeles at the age of 53. Her cause of death was initially attributed to a heart attack.Her gardener found her body on her kitchen floor, lying amidst shards of glass; she had fallen through a decorative glass divide between two rooms. An autopsy later determined that her death was a result of swallowing lye, alkali, or another unidentified caustic substance, as well as barbiturates and alcohol, as detailed in her posthumously published journals. The corrosive effect of the poisonous agent was an immediate cause of death. The coroner documented the cause of death as "swallowing a caustic substance" and, later, "acute barbiturate intoxication." Her death was ruled a suicide.

Roberts was cremated at the Chapel of the Pines Crematory in Los Angeles. Her journals became the basis for No Bells on Sunday: The Memoirs of Rachel Roberts (1984).

In 1992, Roberts' ashes, along with those of her very good friend Jill Bennett (who committed suicide in 1990), were scattered on the River Thames in London by director Lindsay Anderson during a boat trip, with several of the two actresses' professional colleagues and friends aboard; musician Alan Price sang "Is That All There Is?" The event was included as a segment in Anderson's BBC documentary film, also titled Is That All There Is?

Filmography

Actress
1982
The Wall (TV Movie) as
Regina Kowalska
1981
Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen as
Mrs. Dangers
1980
The Hostage Tower (TV Movie) as
Sonya
1979
3 by Cheever (TV Mini Series) as
Mrs. Henlein
- The Sorrows of Gin (1979) - Mrs. Henlein
1979
Yanks as
Mrs. Clarrie Moreton
1979
When a Stranger Calls as
Dr. Monk
1979
The Old Crowd (TV Movie) as
Pauline
1979
Family (TV Series) as
Angela Brown
- Exits and Entrances (1979) - Angela Brown
1978
Foul Play as
Gerda Casswell
1976
The Tony Randall Show (TV Series) as
Mrs. Bonnie McClellen / Mrs. McClellan / Mrs. McClellen
- Wyatt Loves Bonnie (1978) - Mrs. Bonnie McClellen
- The Way It Was (1978) - Mrs. Bonnie McClellen
- Phantom of the Poconos (1978) - Mrs. Bonnie McClellen
- Twice Is Not Enough (1978) - Mrs. Bonnie McClellen
- I Live to Dance (1978) - Mrs. Bonnie McClellen
- Kids' Rights (1978) - Mrs. McClellan
- The Sylvia Needleman Experience (1977) - Mrs. Bonnie McClellen
- Franklin vs. the Generation Gap (1977) - Mrs. Bonnie McClellen
- Bobby vs. Michael (1977) - Mrs. Bonnie McClellen
- Franklin vs. Casanova (1977) - Mrs. Bonnie McClellen
- Love vs. Excitement (1977) - Mrs. Bonnie McClellen
- Skin Game (1977) - Mrs. Bonnie McClellen
- Dream Maker (1977) - Mrs. Bonnie McClellen
- Walter Screws Up (1977) - Mrs. Bonnie McClellen
- The Prodigal Father Returns (1977) - Mrs. Bonnie McClellen
- Civil Disobedience (1977) - Mrs. Bonnie McClellen
- Case: The People Speak (1977) - Mrs. Bonnie McClellen
- Case: Facing Up vs. Hiding Behind the Drapes (1977) - Mrs. Bonnie McClellen
- Case: Franklin vs. McClellan (1977) - Mrs. Bonnie McClellen
- Case: The Hero Syndrome (1977) - Mrs. McClellan
- Case: The Lawndale Report (1977) - Mrs. McClellan
- Case: May vs. December (1977) - Mrs. McClellan
- Case: McClellan vs. Immigration (1977) - Mrs. McClellan
- Case: Whatever Happened to Mary Jane? (1977) - Mrs. McClellan
- Case: Democracy vs. Tyranny (1977) - Mrs. McClellan
- Case: The Hooper Affair (1977) - Mrs. McClellan
- Case: Money vs. Stature (1976) - Mrs. McClellen
- Case: O Come All Ye Wastrels (1976) - Mrs. McClellen
- Case: Franklin in Love (1976) - Mrs. McClellen
- Case: Mario Strikes Again (1976) - Mrs. McClellen
- Case: The DeNecki Debacle (1976) - Mrs. McClellen
- Case: The Snow White Affair (1976) - Mrs. McClellen
- Case: Franklin vs. Reubner and Reubner (1976) - Mrs. McClellen
- Case: The Ego Affair (1976) - Mrs. McClellen
- Case: His Honor vs. Her Honor (1976) - Mrs. McClellen
- Case: A Question of Qualifications (1976) - Mrs. McClellan
- Pilot (1976) - Mrs. McClellan
1978
The Wilds of Ten Thousand Islands (TV Movie) as
Clara Mooney
1977
A Circle of Children (TV Movie) as
Helga
1975
Picnic at Hanging Rock as
Mrs. Appleyard
1974
Great Expectations (TV Movie) as
Mrs. Joe / Mrs. Gargery
1974
Murder on the Orient Express as
Hildegarde Schmidt
1974
Play for Today (TV Series) as
Olwen
- Back of Beyond (1974) - Olwen
1974
ITV Playhouse (TV Series)
- Graceless Go I (1974)
1974
Alpha Beta (TV Movie) as
Nora Elliot
1973
The Belstone Fox as
Cathie Smith
1973
O Lucky Man! as
Gloria Rowe / Madame Paillard / Mrs. Richards
1972
Baffled (TV Movie) as
Mrs. Farraday
1972
Thirty-Minute Theatre (TV Series) as
Gladys Taylor
- You're Free (1972) - Gladys Taylor
1971
Wild Rovers as
Maybell
1971
Doctors' Wives as
Della Randolph
1971
Marcus Welby, M.D. (TV Series) as
Dr. Victoria Thorson
- A Woman's Place (1971) - Dr. Victoria Thorson
1970
Night Gallery (TV Series) as
Rebecca Brigham (segment "Certain Shadows on the Wall")
- The House/Certain Shadows on the Wall (1970) - Rebecca Brigham (segment "Certain Shadows on the Wall")
1970
The Reckoning as
Joyce Eglington
1969
Happy Ever After (TV Series) as
Joanna Bulstrode
- The Party Piece (1969) - Joanna Bulstrode
1969
Destiny of a Spy (TV Movie) as
Megan Thomas
1968
A Flea in Her Ear as
Suzanne de Castilian
1968
A Touch of Venus (TV Series) as
Nadine
- A Blue Movie of My Own True Love (1968) - Nadine
1966
Blithe Spirit (TV Movie) as
Ruth Condomine
1966
Out of the Unknown (TV Series) as
Anna Preston
- Frankenstein Mark 2 (1966) - Anna Preston
1966
ITV Play of the Week (TV Series) as
Lady Emma Hamilton
- Nelson: A Study in Miniature (1966) - Lady Emma Hamilton
1963
The Eleventh Hour (TV Series) as
Mary Newell
- This Wonderful Madman Calls Me Beauty (1963) - Mary Newell
1963
This Sporting Life as
Mrs. Hammond
1962
Girl on Approval as
Anne Howland
1960
BBC Sunday-Night Play (TV Series) as
Mrs. Holyoake / Stella
- A Subject of Scandal and Concern (1960) - Mrs. Holyoake
- Summer Theatre: You're a Long Time Dead (1960) - Stella
1960
Saturday Night and Sunday Morning as
Brenda
1960
On Trial (TV Series) as
Mrs. Rogerson
- The Dilke Case (1960) - Mrs. Rogerson
1960
Theatre Night (TV Series) as
Ann Patten
- A Clean Kill (1960) - Ann Patten
1959
Our Man in Havana as
Prostitute (uncredited)
1957
BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (TV Series) as
Catherine Bailey / Sally Fraser
- Release (1959) - Catherine Bailey
- Jonathan North (1957) - Sally Fraser
1957
ITV Television Playhouse (TV Series) as
Lizzie
- Sunday Out of Season (1959)
- Operation Diplomat (1957) - Lizzie
1958
Our Mutual Friend (TV Mini Series) as
Lizzie Hexam
- Part 12 (1959) - Lizzie Hexam
- Part 11 (1959) - Lizzie Hexam
- Part 10 (1959) - Lizzie Hexam
- Part 8 (1958) - Lizzie Hexam
- Part 6 (1958) - Lizzie Hexam
- Part 5 (1958) - Lizzie Hexam
- Part 4 (1958) - Lizzie Hexam
- Part 2 (1958) - Lizzie Hexam
1958
The Firm of Girdlestone (TV Mini Series) as
Mrs. Scully
- Murder (1958) - Mrs. Scully
- In the Spider's Web (1958) - Mrs. Scully
1958
Yvette (TV Movie) as
Yvette Guilbert
1957
The Good Companions as
Elsie & Effie Longstaff
1954
Shop Spoiled as
Maggie
1954
Young and Willing as
Pat, pregnant inmate
1953
The Limping Man as
Barmaid
1953
Valley of Song as
Bessie Lewis
Soundtrack
1970
Night Gallery (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- The House/Certain Shadows on the Wall (1970) - (performer: "Sing Me to Sleep" - uncredited)
1957
The Good Companions (performer: "The Gentleman is a Heel" - uncredited)
Self
1977
The Paul Ryan Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #1.231 - Self
1975
A Recollection... Hanging Rock 1900 (TV Movie documentary) as
Self - Actress
1974
The 28th Annual Tony Awards (TV Special) as
Self - Nominee
1973
Call My Bluff (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #7.18 (1973) - Self
- Episode #7.17 (1973) - Self
1973
The British Academy Award (TV Special) as
Self - Accepting Award for Best Film Actor
1972
Review (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Resident at the Court/Pigeons and Paint (1972) - Self
1971
Cinema (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Rachel Roberts (1971) - Self
1970
The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series) as
Self / Self - actress
- Rachel Roberts, Pamela Mason, Della Reese, Joanna Barnes, Elga Andersen (1971) - Self
- Rachel Roberts, Richard Boone, Jack Carter, Judy Canova, Jim Bailey, Johnny Mathis (1970) - Self - actress
1971
The Virginia Graham Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 25 March 1971 (1971) - Self
1971
The David Frost Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #3.88 (1971) - Self
1971
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 26 January 1971 (1971) - Self
1968
Gypsy (TV Series) as
Self - actress
- Rachel Roberts, Liliane Montevecchi (1968) - Self - actress
1967
The 24th Annual Golden Globe Awards (TV Special) as
Self - Presenter
1966
The 38th Annual Academy Awards (TV Special) as
Self - Audience Member
1965
The 37th Annual Academy Awards (TV Special) as
Self - Audience Member
1964
The 36th Annual Academy Awards (TV Special) as
Self - Nominee
Archive Footage
2015
Discovering Film (TV Series) as
Self
- Albert Finney (2015) - Self
2008
Welsh Greats (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Rachel Roberts (2008) - Self
2007
Agatha Christie: A Woman of Mystery (Video documentary) as
Hildegarde (in 'Murder on the Orient Express')
2007
Burn Hollywood Burn (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Rachel Roberts (2007) - Self
2007
Never Apologize (Documentary) as
Self
1992
Under Milk Wood (TV Movie) as
Mrs. Dai Bread Two

References

Rachel Roberts (actress) Wikipedia