Ian Bannen was born on June 29, 1928 in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. After attending St. Aloysius’ College in Glasgow and Ratcliffe College in Leicestershire, he joined the British Army. After his military service he appeared on the Dublin stage in a production of “Armlet of Jade” in 1947. He then moved to London and became a successful figure in both Shakespeare and Eugene O’Neill plays. He was an original member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and then went on to appear on Broadway. He made his film debut in “Pool of London” (1951), and quickly rose to prominence as a character actor. He appeared in such films as “Flight of the Phoenix” (1965) which earned him an Academy Award Best Supporting Actors nomination and “The Hill” (1965) with Sean Connery. He turned down leads in the TV series “Hawaii Five-O” and “The Love Boat”. He replaced Alan Bates in 1971's “Sunday Bloody Sunday” but was then replaced by Peter Finch who received and Oscar for his performance. Bannen won a BAFTA award for Best Supporting Actor in “The Offense” (1972) and won acclaim for “Lamb” (1986) and another BAFTA nomination for “Hope and Glory” (1987), and appeared in “Barveheart” (1995) and “Waking Ned Divine” (1998). In 1996 he received a BAFTA Lifetime Achievement Award. On November 3, 1999 he was killed in an automobile accident in a car driven by his wife. Bannen appeared in only one Euro-western “The Deserter” (1971) as Corporal Crawford.
BANNEN, Ian (6/29/1928, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland, U.K. - 11/3/1999, Knockies Straight, Loch Ness, Scotland, U.K. (car accident)] - stage, TV actor, BFI Lifetime Achievement Award [1996].
The Deserter - 1971 (Corporal. Crawford)
I saw Ian Bannen in "The Deserter" a long time ago. Great film. Brandon De Wilde was also in it. It was his final Western. He died a year later in a car accident in 1972. What is ironic is that this is also how Ian Bannen died in 1999.
ReplyDelete