James Marcus (English actor)

James Marcus
Marcus in A Clockwork Orange
Born
Brian Terence James

(1942-06-23)23 June 1942
Romford, Essex, England
Died4 May 2020(2020-05-04) (aged 77)
Lambeth, London, England
Years active1968–2005

James Marcus (born Brian Terence James, 23 June 1942 – 4 May 2020) was a British actor.

Life and career

Marcus was born as Brian Terence James in Romford, Essex on 23 June 1942. He is best known for his performance as Georgie, one of the droogs in Stanley Kubrick's controversial film A Clockwork Orange (1971).[1] Before becoming an apprentice printer, he spent the majority of his teenage life performing gigs. After studying acting courses at the 15 Drama School in London, he had several roles in plays based on the works of William Shakespeare.[2] His first appearance on TV was the BBC show Hello, Good Evening and Welcome (1968).[3] He also landed a role in the 1969 war comedy The Virgin Soldiers.[4]

In 1970, Kubrick got in touch with the young actor for an audition for his upcoming project, an adaptation of Anthony Burgess's novel A Clockwork Orange.[5] Apart from his fight scenes, Kubrick was also impressed by James's dark demeanour and this won him the role. During filming, Kubrick described James as "very professional".

His other television appearances include UFO, Softly, Softly: Task Force, The Sweeney, Doctor Who, Z-Cars and The Professionals.[6] He also appeared in the Robin Askwith vehicle Let's Get Laid (1977) with John Clive, another Clockwork Orange actor.[7] He also appeared in The Naked Civil Servant (1975) with John Hurt, and McVicar (1980) with Roger Daltrey.[3]

One of his other memorable roles is that of station officer Sidney Tate in the pilot and series 1–3 of the popular LWT fire fighting drama London's Burning.[8] He also directed the nihilistic Tank Malling (1989), which featured Ray Winstone.[9]

In August 2024, acting union Equity announced that Marcus had died.[10] It transpired that Marcus had died four years prior, on 4 May 2020, at the age of 77.[11][12]

List of credits

Television

Year Title Role Other notes
1969 The Doctors Postman 1 episode
1970 The Borderers Stallholder 1 episode
1970 Manhunt Private 1 episode
1970 Special Branch L.A.C. Higgs 1 episode
1971 UFO SHADO Operative 1 episode
1971 Softly Softly: Task Force Jeff 1 episode
1974 Doctor at Sea Eddie 1 episode
1974 The Chinese Puzzle Johnson 6 episodes
1974 Doctor Who: Invasion of the Dinosaurs Peasant 1 episode
1975 The Sweeney Myles 1 episode
1978 Doctor Who: Underworld Rask 3 episodes
1980–1989 Minder Bertie/Phil/Morrie 3 episodes
1981 The Chinese Detective Charlie 2 episodes
1986 C.A.T.S Eyes 2nd Observer 1 episode
1986 Casualty Bill 1 episode
1986–1990 London's Burning Sidney Tate 22 episodes
1991 Dodgem Tucker 3 episodes
1992–1995 Woof! Sgt Caldwell 5 episodes
1993 You Bet! Himself/Sidney Tate
1995 Heartbeat Clive Loxton 1 episode
2001 EastEnders Sid 1 episode

Film

Year Title Role Other notes
1969 The Virgin Soldiers Uncredited
1971 A Clockwork Orange Georgie
1975 The Naked Civil Servant Clerkenwell Tough
1976 Escape from the Dark
1978 Let's Get Laid Rusper
1980 McVicar Det Sgt Sewell
1980 Never Never Land P.C. Stubbs

References

  1. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Clockwork Orange, A (1971) Credits". www.screenonline.org.uk.
  2. ^ "James Marcus | Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
  3. ^ a b "James Marcus". BFI. Archived from the original on 6 August 2016.
  4. ^ Norton, Alex (17 November 2014). There's Been A Life!: My Autobiography. Black & White Publishing. ISBN 9781845029685 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "A Clockwork Orange (1971)". BFI. Archived from the original on 11 February 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  6. ^ "James Marcus". www.aveleyman.com.
  7. ^ "Let's Get Laid! (1977)". BFI. Archived from the original on 20 October 2018.
  8. ^ "London's Burning - S1 - Episode 1: Pilot - Part One". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  9. ^ "Tank Malling (1989)". BFI. Archived from the original on 24 February 2016.
  10. ^ "Equity magazine Summer 2024". issuu. 9 August 2024. p. 43. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Brian Terence James b. 1942". GRO Index. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  12. ^ "Brian Terence James". Probate Search. Retrieved 25 August 2024.