Roger Rees
Acting • Born 1944-05-05 – Died 2015-07-10
Biography
Roger Rees (May 5, 1944 – July 10, 2015) was a Welsh-American actor and director. Born in Aberystwyth, Wales, he grew up in south London where his father worked as a police officer. He attended Camberwell College of Arts and the Slade School of Fine Art, initially training as a painter before transitioning to theater work. He painted scenery at the Wimbledon Theater in south London before becoming an actor there in 1965. Rees became widely recognized for his stage work, particularly his starring role in the Royal Shakespeare Company's adaptation of Charles Dickens' "Nicholas Nickleby," which brought him both an Olivier Award and a Tony Award. He also received Obie Awards for his role in The End of the Day and as co-director of Peter and the Starcatcher. On television, he joined the hit TV comedy "Cheers" for the 1989-90 season as Kirstie Alley's suitor, the single-minded international financier and corporate raider Robin Colcord, and appeared in various other productions including the sci-fi series "M.A.N.T.I.S." He became an American citizen in 1989 and was married to theatre collaborator Rick Elice since 2011. Roger was subsequently diagnosed with cancer and while performing on Broadway in the musical "The Visit" starring Chita Rivera, he was forced to quit the show in late May 2015. The 71-year-old actor died on July 10, 2015, leaving behind a distinguished legacy.
Filmography
82 credits
The Prestige
Movie • 2006
Owens
Frida
Movie • 2002
Guillermo Kahlo
The Tulse Luper Suitcases, Part 3: From Sark to the Finish
Movie • 2005
Tulse Luper
Imaginary Friends
Movie • 1982
Douglas Pitblado
The Invasion
Movie • 2007
Yorish
Star 80
Movie • 1983
Aram Nicholas
If Looks Could Kill
Movie • 1991
Augustus Steranko
Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Movie • 1993
Sheriff of Rotingham
Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties
Movie • 2006
Mr. Hobbs
A Christmas Carol
Movie • 1984
Fred Holywell / Narrator
The Scorpion King
Movie • 2002
King Pheron
Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot
Movie • 1992
Parnell
The Crossing
Movie • 2000
Gen. Hugh Mercer
Macbeth
Movie • 1979
Malcolm
The Voysey Inheritance
Movie • 2014
Hugh Voysey
The Pilgrims
Movie • 2015
William Bradford
On Broadway
Movie • 2019
Self (archive footage)
The Bumblebee Flies Anyway
Movie • 2000
Dr. Croft
Almost Perfect
Movie • 2011
Kai Lee
Trouble on the Corner
Movie • 1997
Mr. McMurtry
The Substance of Fire
Movie • 1996
Max
Mountains of the Moon
Movie • 1990
Papworth
Going Under
Movie • 2004
Peter
The Return of Sam McCloud
Movie • 1989
Jason Cross
Return to Never Land
Movie • 2002
Edward (voice)
God's Outlaw
Movie • 1986
William Tyndale
Affluenza
Movie • 2014
Mr. Carson
The Ebony Tower
Movie • 1984
David Williams
Falling for Grace
Movie • 2006
Andrew Barrington Sr
The Tower
Movie • 1993
Mr. Littlehill
Survivor
Movie • 2015
Dr. Emil Balan
The Three Sisters
Movie • 1981
Tusenbach
The Narrows
Movie • 2008
Professor Reyerson
The Possession of Michael D.
Movie • 1995
Robin Banks (Hypnotist)
Game 6
Movie • 2006
Jack Haskins
The Pink Panther
Movie • 2006
Raymmond Laroque
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Movie • 1999
Peter Quince
Sudden Manhattan
Movie • 1996
Murphy
3 A.M.
Movie • 2001
Priest
Saigon: Year of the Cat
Movie • 1983
Donald Henderson
The Mayflower Pilgrims: Behind The Myth
Movie • 2016
William Bradford (Adult)
Next Stop Wonderland
Movie • 1998
Ray Thornback
Crazy Like a Fox
Movie • 2004
Nat Banks
Next
Movie • 1990
Peter (voice)
Double Platinum
Movie • 1999
Marc Reckler
Happy Tears
Movie • 2009
Antiques Dealer
Blackmale
Movie • 2000
Bill Fontaine
'Robin Hood: Men in Tights' – The Legend Had It Coming
Movie • 1993
Self
P.J. Sparkles
Movie • 1992
Betty (voice)
The Comedy of Errors
Movie • 1978
Antipholus of Syracuse
Charles and Diana: Unhappily Ever After
Movie • 1992
Prince Charles
The Tulse Luper Suitcases, Part 2: Vaux to the Sea
Movie • 2004
Tulse Luper
Russian Broadway Shut Down
Movie • 2014
A Life in Suitcases: A History of Tulse Luper
Movie • 2005
Tulse Luper
The Legend of Prince Valiant
TV • 1991
The West Wing
TV • 1999
John Marbury
Gargoyles
TV • 1994
Prince Malcolm (voice)
Tales of the Unexpected
TV • 1979
James Howgill
Oz
TV • 1997
Jack Aldridge
Related
TV • 2005
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
TV • 1982
Nicholas Nickleby
Singles
TV • 1988
M.A.N.T.I.S.
TV • 1994
John Stonebrake
American Experience
TV • 1988
William Bradford
The Cleveland Show
TV • 2009
Elementary
TV • 2012
Alistair Moore
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
TV • 2001
Duke Deguerin
Warehouse 13
TV • 2009
James MacPherson
Grey's Anatomy
TV • 2005
Colin Marlow
The Middle
TV • 2009
Mr Glover
Forever
TV • 2014
Priest
My So-Called Life
TV • 1994
Vic Racine
Titanic
TV • 1996
Joseph Bruce Ismay
Playing Shakespeare
TV • 1984
Law & Order
TV • 1990
Wyatt Scofield
Liberty!
TV • 1997
Thomas Paine
The Modern World: Ten Great Writers
TV • 1988
Marcel Proust / Marcel
Cheers
TV • 1982
Robin Colcord
Boston Common
TV • 1996
Harrison Cross
Veritas: The Quest
TV • 2003
De Molay
The Good Wife
TV • 2009
Dr. Todd Grossman
BBC Play of the Month
TV • 1965
Hugh Voysey