Edward Jewesbury

Edward Jewesbury

Edward Jewesbury received only modest recognition from the public during his lifetime. However, directors and actors well appreciated his formidable acting skills. One of his colleagues, famed director and actor Kenneth Branagh, regularly worked with Jewesbury in major projects. Among the roles Jewesbury played in productions featuring Branagh as a star and/or director were Sir Thomas Erpingham in Henry V (1989), the solicitor in Peter's Friends (1992), the sexton in Much Ado About Nothing (1993), a city official in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994), Colonel Redfern in Look Back in Anger (1989), and Polonius in Discovering Hamlet (1990). Jewesbury also appeared in other distinguished productions requiring great acting skill. One of his most important roles was that of Titus in I, Claudius, the 1976 drama acclaimed by many critics as the finest TV miniseries ever produced. Other demanding roles he performed over the years included those of Mr. Shepherd in Persuasion (TV, 1971), Neville Chamberlain in Churchill and the Generals (TV, 1979), Lord Dawson in Edward and Mrs. Simpson (TV, 1980), the brigadier in The Patricia Neal Story (TV, 1981), a chorus member in Oedipus at Colonus (TV, 1984), Dr. Kimble in Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe (TV, 1985), Brisaille in Cyrano de Bergerac (TV, 1985), the magnate from the Lords in Little Dorritt (film, 1988), King Henry in Richard III (film, 1995), and Professor Brienhy in Mrs. Dalloway (film, 1997). Toward the end of his career Jewesbury attained a small measure of renown in films that capitalized on the popularity of medieval wizardry in video games and films. Among the roles he played were Ambrosius in The Mists of Avalon (TV, 2000), Vildan Vildir in Dungeons and Dragons (film, 2000), and the Old Retainer in 10th Kingdom (TV, 2000). ~ Mike Cummings, All Movie Guide