Who Are Those Singers & Musicians? Oliver Reed

 

Robert Oliver Reed was born on February 13, 1938, in Wimbledon, London, England. He was an English actor, known for his upper-middle class, macho image and his heavy-drinking, "hellraiser" lifestyle. His screen career spanned over 40 years, between 1955 and 1999. At the peak of his career, in 1971, British exhibitors voted Reed fifth-most-popular star at the box office.

He was the nephew of film director Sir Carol Reed, and grandson of the actor-manager Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and his mistress, Beatrice May Pinney (who later assumed the name 'Reed'), she being "the only person who understood, listened to, encouraged and kissed Oliver". Reed claimed to have been a descendant (through an illegitimate step) of Peter the Great, Tsar of Russia. Reed attended 14 schools, including Ewell Castle School in Surrey. "My father thought I was just lazy," Reed later said. "He thought I was a dunce."

Reed began his acting career as an extra in films. He appeared uncredited in Ken Annakin's film “Value for Money” (1955) and Norman Wisdom's film “The Square Peg” (1958). Uncredited television appearances included episodes of ‘The Invisible Man’ (1958), ‘The Four Just Men’ (1959) and ‘The Third Man’. He appeared in the documentary ‘Hello London’ (1958).

Reed got his first significant role in Hammer Films' “Sword of Sherwood Forest” (1960), directed by Fisher. He went back to small roles for “His and Hers” (1961), a Terry-Thomas comedy; “No Love for Johnnie” (1961) for Ralph Thomas; and “The Rebel” (1961) with Tony Hancock. He played the role of Sebastian in the ITV series ‘It's Dark Outside’, which was popular with teenagers, making him an idol for the first time.

In addition to acting, Reed released several singles in the popular music vein, though with limited success. These included "Wild One"/"Lonely for a Girl" (1961), "Sometimes"/"Ecstasy" (1962), "Baby It's Cold Outside" (duet with Joyce Blair) and "Wild Thing" (1992) (duet with snooker player Alex Higgins). Reed also later narrated a track called "Walpurgis Nacht" by the Italian heavy metal band Death SS.

In 1959, Reed married Kate Byrne. The couple had one son, Mark, before their divorce in 1969. While filming his part of Bill Sikes in “Oliver!” (1968), he met Jacquie Daryl, a classically trained dancer who was also in the film. They became lovers and subsequently had a daughter. In 1985, he married Josephine Burge, to whom he remained married until his death. When they met in 1980, she was 16 years old, and he was 42. In his final years, Reed and Burge lived in Churchtown, County Cork, Ireland.

Oliver Reed died in Vallera Malta on May 2, 1999. He was 61.

REED, Oliver (Robert Oliver Reed) [2/13/1938, Wimbledon, London, England, U.K. – 5/2/1999, Valletta, Malta (heart attack] – theater, film, TV actor, singer, grandson of actor-manager Herbert Beerbohm Tree (Herbert Draper Beerbohm) [1852–1917], nephew of director Sir Carol Reed [1906-1976], brother of actor Simon Reed [1947-    ], cousin of actress Tracy Reed (Clare Tracy Compton Pelissier) [1941–2012], actor David Tree (David Tree Parsons) [1915–2009], married to  Kate Byrne [1938-    ] (1960-1969) father of Mark Thurloe Reed [1961-    ], father of Sarah Reed [1970-    ] with dancer Jacqueline Daryl, married to Josephine Burge [1964-    ] (1985-1999).

The Trap – 1966 [sings: “When I’m a Man”]