Stephen Greif
British actor (1944–2022)
Stephen Greif
Born Stephen John Greif
(1944-08-26 ) 26 August 1944Died 23 December 2022(2022-12-23) (aged 78) Education Occupation Actor Years active 1968–2022 Known for Spouse
Judith Price
(
m. 1980, divorced)
Children 2 Website www.stephengreif.com
Stephen John Greif (; 26 August 1944 – 23 December 2022) was an English actor known for his roles as Travis in Blake's 7 , Harry Fenning in three series of Citizen Smith , Signor Donato in Casanova and Commander John Shepherd in Shoot on Sight .
Early life
Greif was born in Sawbridgeworth , Hertfordshire, England, in a building originally belonging to Anne Boleyn as a gift from King Henry VIII . Greif was the son of Pauline (née Rubinstein) and Franz Greif. He was of Polish, Russian and Hungarian Jewish descent.[ 1] He was educated at Sloane Grammar School , where he was school champion in athletics and swimming, and represented the school and the county in athletics at the White City Stadium amongst other venues. He briefly attended the Regent Street Polytechnic before entering a variety of jobs, including troubleshooter at a TV and radiogram manufacturer and as a negotiator in a boutique West End estate agency, before applying for drama school.
Career
Drawing of Greif (left) as Travis in Blake's 7
Greif was an honours graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art , where he won numerous awards including Best Actor and Most Promising Actor, and was an Associate Member and served on the audition panel. He was a member of the National Theatre Company both at the Old Vic in Laurence Olivier 's company and on the South Bank for Peter Hall 's company. Among the productions he appeared in were Danton's Death , A Woman Killed with Kindness , The Merchant of Venice (with Olivier), Long Day's Journey into Night (again with Olivier), The School for Scandal , Richard II , The Front Page and Macbeth .
Greif was invited back to appear with them at Queen's Theatre in the West End in the Italian comedy Saturday, Sunday, Monday , directed by Franco Zeffirelli and Laurence Olivier , where he won a Best Actor nomination in the Critics' Circle Theatre Award . Later, he was invited to join the National again on the South Bank under Peter Hall in the revival of Death of a Salesman , directed by Michael Rudman and with Warren Mitchell winning himself another Best Actor nomination in the Olivier Awards . Grief was back again at the invitation of Nicholas Hytner to join his inaugural season appearing in His Girl Friday , Edmund and the Christmas production His Dark Materials . He acted alongside Elaine Stritch in The Gingerbread Lady , Denholm Elliott in The Paranormalist , Frank Langella in Abracadaver , Albert Finney in Ronald Harwood 's Reflected Glory , Felicity Kendal and Frances de la Tour in Fallen Angels , Joseph Fiennes in George Dillon and Lesley Manville in Six Degrees of Separation . He appeared in three plays by his friend Bernard Kops , an East End playwright and poet, at the Jewish Museum , the JW3 and the National Portrait Gallery to celebrate the author's 85th and 90th birthdays.
From 2016 to 2018, together with Fenella Fielding , Greif appeared at Crazy Coqs at Zedel's Brasserie on multiple occasions, and various other venues in David Stuttard 's adaptation of drama and comedy from famous ancient Greek literature called Tears, Treachery..and Just a little Murder produced by Simon McKay . The production was revived in 2020/21, with Dame Sian Phillips replacing Fielding, and retitled Savage Beauty , playing again at Crazy Coqs with further shows to come, this time entitled Lovers, Traitors...and bloody Greeks .
Greif appears in many films including Gerry , Risen , Woman in Gold , Bill , D is for Detroit , Lasse Hallström 's Casanova , Shoot on Sight , Eichmann , Spartan , The Upside of Anger , Boogie Woogie and Fakers . His many television appearances include Only When I Laugh , Thriller (1 episode, 1976), Howard's Way , Spooks , Mistresses , He Kills Coppers , Silent Witness , the last story of Waking the Dead , The Crown , The Alienist: Angel of Darkness , Doctors and New Tricks .
Greif reprised his Blake's 7 role of Travis from season 1 of the TV series in eleven new audio stories for Big Finish Productions . He voiced Raymond Maarloeve in the video game The Witcher . He voiced and was nominated for best narrator for Sony 's PlayStation Video game Puppeteer in addition to many more games and cartoon series including Elliott from Earth for the Cartoon Network.
Greif won the BBC audio books of America award for narrating The Boy with the Magic Numbers by Sally Gardner . He also narrated various documentaries on Channel 5, and in 2021 contributed to and participated in the documentary tribute Alfred Burke is Frank Marker.
Personal life and death
Greif enjoyed golf, and was a member and past President of the Stage Golfing Society. He married in 1980; the marriage produced twin sons in 1982. He resided near Richmond in London.
Greif died on 23 December 2022, aged 78.[ 2] [ 3] [ 4] [ 5] [ 6] [ 7]
Filmography
Film and television
Theatre
Date/Venue
Show
Role/Director
2012
Globe Theatre , Bankside
Prince of West End Lane, Kerry Shale
Role: Otto / Dir: Matthew Lloyd
2011
Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Maydays, David Edgar
Role: Teddy Weiner / Dir: Polly Findlay
2010
The Old Vic
Six Degrees of Separation , John Guare
Role: Dr Fine / Dir: David Grindley
2006
Comedy Theatre (The Harold Pinter)
George Dillon, John Osborne
Role: Barney Evans /Dir: Peter Gill
2003/2004
National Theatre
His Dark Materials , Philip Pullman
Roles: The President and John Faa / Dir: Nick Hytner
National Theatre
Edmund, David Mamet
Roles: The Interrogator and Hotel Clerk / Dir: Edward Hall
National Theatre
His Girl Friday, John Guare
Role: Louis / Dir: Jack O’Brien
2002
Hampstead Theatre
Benchmark, Bud Shrake & M Rudman
Role: Ginsberg / Dir: Michael Rudman
2000/2001
Apollo Theatre
Fallen Angels , Noël Coward
Role: Maurice / Dir: Michael Rudman
1999
Hampstead Theatre
Immaculate, Carl Djerassi
Role: Menachem / Dir: Gordy Greenberg
1994
Vaudeville Theatre
Reflected Glory, Ronald Harewood
Role: Robert / Dir: Elija Moshinsky
1992
Almeida Theatre
The Life of the World To Come, Rob Williams
Role: Don Strohmeyer / Dir: Derek Wax
1990
Wyndham's Theatre / Theatre Royal Windsor
Abracadaver, Allan Scott & David Ambrose
Role: Chief Insp Scott / Dir: Richard Olivier
1985
Theatre Royal Windsor/ Old Vic
A View from the Bridge , Arthur Miller
Role: Marco / Dir: Peter Coe
1982
Greenwich Theatre
The Paranormalist, Jonathan Gems
Role: Cedric / Dir: Alan Strachan
1979/1980
The National Theatre
Death of a Salesman , Arthur Miller
Role: Biff (Nom. Best Supporting Actor – Olivier Awards ) / Dir: Michael Rudman
1976
Derby Playhouse
View from The Bridge, Arthur Miller
Role: Eddie Carbone / Dir: Patrick Lau
1974/1975
National Theatre at the Queen's Theatre
Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Eduardo De Fillipo
Role: Luigi / Nom. Best Supporting Actor – Critics' Circle Theatre Award / Dir: Franco Zeffirelli , Laurence Olivier
Theatre Royal Windsor
The Gingerbread Lady, Neil Simon
Role: Lou
1971/1973
National Theatre at the Old Vic
The Merchant of Venice , William Shakespeare
Role: Prince of Morocco / Dir: Jonathan Miller
National Theatre at the Old Vic
A Woman Killed with Kindness , Thomas Heywood
Role: Sir Francis Acton / Dir: John Dexter
National Theatre at the Old Vic
The Front Page, Hecht & Macarthur
Role: Diamond Louis / Dir: Michael Blakemore
National Theatre at the Old Vic
The School For Scandal , Sheridan
Role: Moses / Dir: Jonathan Miller
National Theatre at the Old Vic
Long Day's Journey into Night , Eugene O'Neill
Role: Edmund / Dir: Michael Blakemore
National Theatre at the Old Vic
Richard II , William Shakespeare
Role: Willoughby, Dir: David William
National Theatre at the Old Vic
Macbeth , William Shakespeare
Role: Caithness / Dir: Michael Blakemore
National Theatre at the Old Vic
Danton's Death , Georg Büchner
Role: Bertrand / Dir: Jonathan Miller
1970
Forum Theatre
Henry IV, Part 1 , William Shakespeare
Role: Hotspur / Dir. Brian Shelton
1969/1970
Piccadilly Theatre
Richard II , William Shakespeare
Role: Mowbray / Dir: Richard Cotterel
Mermaid Theatre
Edward II , Christopher Marlowe
Role: Pembroke / Dir: Toby Robertson
1968/1969
Royal Shakespeare Company
King Lear , William Shakespeare
Role: Edmund's Captain / Dir: Trevor Nunn
Royal Shakespeare Co & North American Tour
Dr Faustus , Christopher Marlowe
Role: Valdes, Wrath / Dir: Clifford Williams
Royal Shakespeare Co & North American Tour
Much Ado About Nothing , William Shakespeare
Role: Soldier / Dir: Trevor Nunn
Royal Shakespeare Co & North American Tour
As You Like It , William Shakespeare
Role: Forester / Dir: David Jones
Royal Shakespeare Co & North American Tour
The Duchess of Malfi , John Webster
Role: Antonio / Dir: Christie Dickason
Royal Shakespeare Company
Troilus & Cressida , William Shakespeare
Role: Prologue / Dir: John Barton
Radio and audiobooks
Date/Venue
Name
Role
2020
BBC R4
Keeping The Wolf Out
Sandor Farkas
2017
BBC R4
The Carter Mysteries
Phil
2015
BBC R4
Waterloo: The Ball at Brussells
Prince Tallyrand
2013
BBC R4
The Letters of JKF
Krushchev
BBC R4
Second Body
Jacobin
BBC R4
Austerlitz
Narrator
2011
BBC R4
Life & Death, Vasily Grossman
Karimov
BBC R4 Extra
The Man in Black, Mathew Collins
Mr Rubinstein
BBC R4
Small Acts of Kindness, Trevor Preston
Charlie
2010
BBC R4
Harry and the Angels, Bernard Kops
Harry
BBC R4
The Art of Deception, Philip Palmer
Stefan Hunt
USA Radio
Charlie's Choice
Sir Philip
2009
BBC R4
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy , John le Carré
Polyakov
BBC R4
The Grand Babylon Hotel, Arnold Bennett
Felix Babylon
USA Radio
The Captive
Kanye
2008
BBC R4
The Babbington Plot, Michael Butt
Narrator
BBC R4
Peter Lorre V Peter Lorre, Michael Butt
Peter Lorre
BBC R4
Beat the Dog in His Own Kennel, Gary Brown
Avi
BBC Wales
Blake's 7 Interview
Himself as Travis
BBC R3
The Devil was Here Yesterday, Colin Teevan
Hector
2007
BBC R4
Take Away, Gary Brown
Narrator
BBC R4 Classic Serial
Witness, Nick Warburton
John The Baptist
BBC R4 Classic Serial
Captain Corelli's Mandolin , Louis de Bernières
Dr Iannis
BBC R4
The Iceman, Simon Bovey
Supt. Malpacket
BBC R4 Classic Serial
Down and Out in Paris and London , George Orwell
Boris
BBC R4
Hooligan Nights, Mike Walker
PC91
2006
BBC R4
Speed and Silver, Catherine Bailey
Ch. Insp. Collinson
Pre-2006
BBC R4 (1987–92)
Flying The Flag
The American Ambassador
BBC R4
The Nine Tailors, DL Sayers
Nobby Cranton
BBC R4
Call for the Dead, John le Carré
Dieter Frey
BBC R2
Hinge & Bracket , Gerald Frow
Roberto
BBC R4 (1985–1986)
Brogue Male
Count Laszlo Stroganoff
Audiobooks
AudioGo
"The Tractate Middoth ", M R James
Narrator
AudioGo
Dr Palfrey of Westminster (5 books), John Creasey
Narrator
AudioGo
The Siege of the Villa Lipp, Eric Ambler
Narrator
The Story Circle Random House
His Dark Materials , Philip Pullman
Metatron
Isis
He Kills Coppers, Jake Arnott
Narrator
Isis
In a True Light, John Harvey
Narrator
Isis
Seeking Robinson Crusoe, Tim Severin
Narrator
Isis
The Lowlife, Alexander Baron
Narrator
Isis
The Sergeant's Tale, Bernice Rubens
Narrator
BBC Audio
The Match King, Frank Partnoy
Narrator
BBC Audio
Bad Dog and all that Hollywood Hoo Haa, Martin Chatterton
Narrator
BBC Audio (Won BBC Audio Books USA Earphones Award)
The Boy with the Magic Numbers, Sally Gardner
Narrator
BBC Audio
The Pianist , Wladyslaw Szpilman
Narrator
BBC Audio
The Darkness of Wallis Simpson , Rose Tremain
Narrator (With Eleanor Bron )
Awards and nominations
Year
Award
Category
Work
Result
2013
Navtgr Awards
Best Narrator
Puppeteer
Nominated
2008
BBC Audio Books
Best Narrator
Boy with the magic No's
Won
1979
Oliver Awards
Best Supporting Actor
Death of Salesman
Nominated
1975
Critics Circle
Best Supporting Actor
Sat, Sun, Mon
Nominated
References
External links
International National Artists