Alan Badel

Alan Fernand Badel, born 11 September 1923, was an English stage actor noted for his richly textured voice, described as 'the sound of tears'. Apart from stage performances, he frequently appeared in cinema, radio, and television. Born in Rusholme, Manchester, Badel was educated at Burnage High School, and served as a paratrooper on D-Day, fighting in France and Germany during the Second World War. His early career saw him play pivotal roles such as Romeo and Hamlet with the Old Vic and Stratford companies. His earliest film role was John the Baptist in 'Salome' (1953). His other notable roles include Richard Wagner in 'Magic Fire' (1955), Karl Denny in 'Bitter Harvest' (1963), Najim Beshraavi in 'Arabesque' (1966), and the French Interior Minister in 'The Day of the Jackal' (1973). His role as Baron Nicolas de Gunzburg in the Paramount film 'Nijinsky' (1980) and his portrayal of Count Fosco in the BBC adaptation of 'The Woman in White' (1982) which was shown posthumously, were one of his last performances.