Like a number of British actors of the same generation (John Hurt and Alan Rickman, to name two), Roger Rees was born in Aberystwyth, Wales, on May 5 1944, and originally trained for the visual arts. He acted in church and Boy Scouts stage productions while growing up in South London, but studied painting and lithography at the Slade School of Art...
Tony Award for Best Lead Actor in a Play, Laurence Olivier Award for Actor of the Year in a New Play, Obie Award for Direction, Obie Award for Performance
Nominations
Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play, Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance, Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance, Outer Critics Circle Award ...
Movies
Robin Hood: Men in Tights, The Prestige, Frida, The Pink Panther, The Scorpion King, Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot, Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties, If Looks Could Kill, The Invasion, Star 80, Going Under, Survivor, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Crazy like a Fox, Game 6, Sudden Manhattan, A Christmas Caro...
TV Shows
Boston Common, M.A.N.T.I.S., Cheers, Liberty!, Bouquet of Barbed Wire, Titanic, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Singles
Star Sign
Taurus
#
Trademark
1
Rich smooth voice
#
Quote
1
In Julius Caesar, I died early in the scene and used to fall asleep under the shield until I was waken up by applause. I didn't have any lines, other than "The Queen!" or "Ah, my Lord!" for four years. -- RR, commenting on his first few years as a bit actor with the Royal Shakespeare Company
#
Fact
1
His ashes were sprinkled into the Atlantic Ocean.
2
He converted from Christianity to Judaism in the 1980s.
3
Starring as "Vladimir", opposite Sir Ian McKellen's "Estragon", in "Waiting for Godot", at Theatre Royal Haymarket in London's West End. [January 2010]
4
Currently directing BD Wong in the La Jolla Playhouse's production of "Herringbone". Wong plays 11 roles in this one-man show. [August 2009]
He and spouse Eric Elice (aka Rick Elice), a playwright, have been a couple since 1982 and have lived together in Manhattan since 1996. They and their duplex co-op apartment in the famous Beresford building at 81st St. and Central Park West, home to many celebrities, is featured in a 2013 NY Times article.
7
Rees's longtime romantic partner (and, as of 2011, husband) is writer/producer Eric Elice (aka "Rick" Elice), who co-wrote the musicals "Jersey Boys" and "The Addams Family". Rees and Elice have also collaborated professionally, most notably as co-playwrights of the comedic thriller, "Double Double". In March 2011, Rees took over the role of "Gomez Addams" in the "Addams Family" musical (the role had previously been played by Nathan Lane and Merwin Foard). In 2011, Rees was the co-director for the play "Peter and the Starcatcher," which was adapted for the stage by Rick Elice.
8
Son of Doris Louise (née Smith), a shop clerk, and William John Rees, a police officer.
9
Started his career with the Royal Shakespeare Company and attended the Slade School of Fine Arts.
10
Became an American citizen in 1989.
11
In November 2004, he was named artistic director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Williamstown, Massachusetts, only the fourth person to hold the post in its half century. He left the position in October 2007.
12
Was painting scenery at the Wimbledon Theatre when approached to play a part in "Hindle Wakes" in 1965.
13
Won Broadway's 1982 Tony Award as Best Actor for playing the title role in "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby," a role he recreated in the television version with the same title, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1982). He was also nominated for a Tony Award in the same category in 1995 for "Indiscretions."
$5 Million
