Ken Campbell

Ken Campbell

Acting • Born 1941-12-10 – Died 2008-08-31

Acting1Ilford, Essex, England, UK

Biography

Kenneth Victor Campbell (10 December 1941 – 31 August 2008) was an English writer, actor, director and comedian known for his work in experimental theatre.He has been called "a one-man dynamo of British theatre."   Campbell achieved notoriety in the 1970s for his nine-hour adaptation of the science-fiction trilogy Illuminatus! and his 22-hour staging of Neil Oram's play cycle The Warp. The Guinness Book of Records listed the latter as the longest play in the world. The Independent said that, "In the 1990s, through a series of sprawling monologues packed with arcane information and freakish speculations on the nature of reality, he became something approaching a grand old man of the fringe, though without ever discarding his inner enfant terrible."  The Times labelled Campbell a one-man whirlwind of comic and surreal performance. The Guardian, in a posthumous tribute, judged him to be "one of the most original and unclassifiable talents in the British theatre of the past half-century. A genius at producing shows on a shoestring and honing the improvisational capabilities of the actors who were brave enough to work with him."   The artistic director of the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse said, "He was the door through which many hundreds of kindred souls entered a madder, braver, brighter, funnier and more complex universe."  

Filmography

65 credits
Saving Grace

Saving Grace

Movie • 2000

Sgt. Alfred Masely

Creep

Creep

Movie • 2004

Arthur

Letter to Brezhnev

Letter to Brezhnev

Movie • 1985

Newspaper Reporter

In the Secret State

In the Secret State

Movie • 1985

Hoskins

Ligmalion: Or How to Help Yourself in Self-Help Britain

Ligmalion: Or How to Help Yourself in Self-Help Britain

Movie • 1985

Samuel Smiles

Towers of Babel

Towers of Babel

Movie • 1981

Alfie

The Secret Policeman's Ball

The Secret Policeman's Ball

Movie • 1979

Various Roles

The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story

The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story

Movie • 1998

Wolf 1 (voice)

Unfair Exchanges

Unfair Exchanges

Movie • 1985

Tim Rickett

Dinner at the Sporting Club

Dinner at the Sporting Club

Movie • 1978

Neville

Nina Conti: Her Master's Voice

Nina Conti: Her Master's Voice

Movie • 2012

Self

The Heroism of Thomas Chadwick

The Heroism of Thomas Chadwick

Movie • 1967

Thomas Chadwick

Poor Cow

Poor Cow

Movie • 1967

Mr. Jacks

The Bride

The Bride

Movie • 1985

Pedlar

Uncle Silas

Uncle Silas

Movie • 1968

Crabbe

Scandal

Scandal

Movie • 1989

Editor of Pictorial

The Moon Over Soho

The Moon Over Soho

Movie • 1985

Geoffrey Hargreaves

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland

Movie • 1999

Mr. Duck

The Big Flame

The Big Flame

Movie • 1969

Journalist

The Tempest

The Tempest

Movie • 1979

Gonzalo, an honest councillor

Justine

Justine

Movie • 1976

Dubourg

Inspector Clouseau

Inspector Clouseau

Movie • 1968

Reporter

Dreamchild

Dreamchild

Movie • 1985

Radio Sound Effects Man/March Hare (voice)

A Zed & Two Noughts

A Zed & Two Noughts

Movie • 1985

Stephen Pipe

Extraordinary Visitor

Extraordinary Visitor

Movie • 1998

Rodney

Secret Nation

Secret Nation

Movie • 1992

Parkinson

Breaking Glass

Breaking Glass

Movie • 1980

Publican

Wings of Fame

Wings of Fame

Movie • 1990

Head Waiter

A Fish Called Wanda

A Fish Called Wanda

Movie • 1988

Bartlett

Joshua Then and Now

Joshua Then and Now

Movie • 1985

Sidney Murdoch

Smart Money

Smart Money

Movie • 1986

Mr. Sayles

Hard Men

Hard Men

Movie • 1996

Mr Ross

The Last Window Cleaner

The Last Window Cleaner

Movie • 1979

DC Denis Deacey

The Ken Campbell Roadshow

The Ken Campbell Roadshow

Movie • 1971

Self

Crimestrike

Crimestrike

Movie • 1990

Julius Caesar

The Story of Pantomime

The Story of Pantomime

Movie • 1976

Self

Phoelix

Phoelix

Movie • 1979

A Different Hand

A Different Hand

Movie • 1992

The Doctor

Darkest England

Darkest England

Movie • 1988

Friends Reunited

Friends Reunited

Movie • 2005

Zero

Ken Campbell's Meaning of Life

Ken Campbell's Meaning of Life

Movie • 2004

Self

The Bill

The Bill

TV • 1984

The Gentle Touch

The Gentle Touch

TV • 1980

Fawlty Towers

Fawlty Towers

TV • 1975

Roger

Heartbeat

Heartbeat

TV • 1992

Hector Plumpton

Minder

Minder

TV • 1979

Seedy Customer

Lovejoy

Lovejoy

TV • 1986

Ted Goat

Law & Order

Law & Order

TV • 1978

Alex Gladwell

Local Heroes

Local Heroes

TV • 1996

Erasmus Microman

Erasmus Microman

TV • 1988

Erasmus Microman

Dooley Gardens

Dooley Gardens

TV • 1999

Super Gran

Super Gran

TV • 1985

Unlucky Luciano

An Audience with...

An Audience with...

TV • 1978

Self

Six Experiments that Changed the World

Six Experiments that Changed the World

TV • 1999

Reality on the Rocks

Reality on the Rocks

TV • 1995

Middlemarch

Middlemarch

TV • 1994

Mr Mawmsey

Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes

TV • 1984

James Ryder

Home to Roost

Home to Roost

TV • 1985

Mr Prendergast

The Professionals

The Professionals

TV • 1977

Parker

Agatha Christie's Marple

Agatha Christie's Marple

TV • 2004

Crump

The Nineteenth Hole

The Nineteenth Hole

TV • 1989

Johnson

In Sickness and in Health

In Sickness and in Health

TV • 1985

The Irate Driver

In Sickness and in Health

In Sickness and in Health

TV • 1985

Fred Johnson

Mystery and Imagination

Mystery and Imagination

TV • 1966

Crabbe

Private Schulz

Private Schulz

TV • 1981

Krauss