Martin Potter (actor)
Encyclopedia
Martin Potter is a British actor.
After the National Youth Theatre
and repertory theatre in Guildford and Hampstead, Potter received his first role in British television at the age of 24 in the television drama The Bonegrinder (1968) written by Dennis Potter
. In the same year he had another small part alongside Brian Cox in the futuristic drama The Year of the Sex Olympics
.
One year later Potter's career took off with a much larger role. The Italian director Federico Fellini
chose him for the main role of Encolpius in his film Satyricon
. Terence Stamp
, Fellini's original choice for the main role, was not available, and Fellini was looking for someone of a similar appearance.
After this star role, Potter's career tended back to smaller roles again: mostly B-movies and television productions like the film adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham
's Olive. Among his more well-known parts are the history film Nicholas and Alexandra
(1971) and the film The Big Sleep
(with Robert Mitchum
as private detective Philip Marlowe
). He also appeared in horror films, including Craze
with Jack Palance
, and television series such as Doctor Who
. In 1975 he achieved some popularity with the title part of Robin Hood in a TV mini-series The Legend of Robin Hood
. In 1985 he again took a part in a production concerning Ancient Rome: the American mini-series A.D.
in which he portrayed the Roman politician and opponent of Nero
, Gaius Calpurnius Piso.
After the National Youth Theatre
National Youth Theatre
The National Youth Theatre is a registered charity in London, Great Britain, committed to creative, personal and social development of young people through the medium of creative arts....
and repertory theatre in Guildford and Hampstead, Potter received his first role in British television at the age of 24 in the television drama The Bonegrinder (1968) written by Dennis Potter
Dennis Potter
Dennis Christopher George Potter was an English dramatist, best known for The Singing Detective. His widely acclaimed television dramas mixed fantasy and reality, the personal and the social. He was particularly fond of using themes and images from popular culture.-Biography:Dennis Potter was born...
. In the same year he had another small part alongside Brian Cox in the futuristic drama The Year of the Sex Olympics
The Year of the Sex Olympics
The Year of the Sex Olympics is a 1968 television play made by the BBC and first broadcast on BBC2 as part of Theatre 625. It stars Leonard Rossiter, Tony Vogel, Suzanne Neve and Brian Cox. It was directed by Michael Elliot...
.
One year later Potter's career took off with a much larger role. The Italian director Federico Fellini
Federico Fellini
Federico Fellini, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI , was an Italian film director and scriptwriter. Known for a distinct style that blends fantasy and baroque images, he is considered one of the most influential and widely revered filmmakers of the 20th century...
chose him for the main role of Encolpius in his film Satyricon
Satyricon (film)
Satyricon is a 1969 Italian fantasy drama film written and directed by Federico Fellini. It is loosely based on Petronius's work, Satyricon, a series of bawdy and satirical episodes written during the reign of the emperor Nero and set in imperial Rome.-Plot:The film opens on a graffiti-covered...
. Terence Stamp
Terence Stamp
Terence Henry Stamp is an English actor. Since starting his career in 1962 he has appeared in over 60 films. His title role as Billy Budd in his film debut earned Stamp an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and a BAFTA nomination for Best Newcomer.His other major roles include...
, Fellini's original choice for the main role, was not available, and Fellini was looking for someone of a similar appearance.
After this star role, Potter's career tended back to smaller roles again: mostly B-movies and television productions like the film adaptation of W. Somerset Maugham
W. Somerset Maugham
William Somerset Maugham , CH was an English playwright, novelist and short story writer. He was among the most popular writers of his era and, reputedly, the highest paid author during the 1930s.-Childhood and education:...
's Olive. Among his more well-known parts are the history film Nicholas and Alexandra
Nicholas and Alexandra
Nicholas and Alexandra is a 1971 biographical film which tells the story of the last Russian monarch, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, and his wife, Tsarina Alexandra....
(1971) and the film The Big Sleep
The Big Sleep (1978 film)
The Big Sleep was the second film version of Raymond Chandler's 1939 novel of the same name. The film was directed by Michael Winner and stars Robert Mitchum in his second feature film portrayal of the detective Philip Marlowe. The cast includes Sarah Miles, Candy Clark, Joan Collins, and...
(with Robert Mitchum
Robert Mitchum
Robert Charles Durman Mitchum was an American film actor, author, composer and singer and is #23 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male American screen legends of all time...
as private detective Philip Marlowe
Philip Marlowe
Philip Marlowe is a fictional character created by Raymond Chandler in a series of novels including The Big Sleep and The Long Goodbye. Marlowe first appeared under that name in The Big Sleep published in 1939...
). He also appeared in horror films, including Craze
Craze (film)
Craze is a 1974 film directed by Freddie Francis. It stars Jack Palance and Diana Dors.-Cast:*Jack Palance as Neal Mottram*Diana Dors as Dolly Newman*Julie Ege as Helena*Edith Evans as Aunt Louise*Hugh Griffith as Solicitor...
with Jack Palance
Jack Palance
Jack Palance , was an American actor. During half a century of film and television appearances, Palance was nominated for three Academy Awards, all as Best Actor in a Supporting Role, winning in 1991 for his role in City Slickers.-Early life:Palance, one of five children, was born Volodymyr...
, and television series such as Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
. In 1975 he achieved some popularity with the title part of Robin Hood in a TV mini-series The Legend of Robin Hood
The Legend of Robin Hood
The Legend of Robin Hood was a 1975 BBC television serial that told the story of the life of Robin Hood.-Plot:Robin has been raised as the son of John Hood, a groundskeeper, but learns that he is in fact the long lost son of the Earl of Huntingdon...
. In 1985 he again took a part in a production concerning Ancient Rome: the American mini-series A.D.
A.D. (film)
A.D. is a British/Italian miniseries from 1985 in 6 parts which tells the Acts of the Apostles. Considered as the third and final installment in a TV miniseries trilogy which began with Moses the Lawgiver and Franco Zeffirelli's Jesus of Nazareth , it was adapted from Anthony Burgess's novel The...
in which he portrayed the Roman politician and opponent of Nero
Nero
Nero , was Roman Emperor from 54 to 68, and the last in the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Nero was adopted by his great-uncle Claudius to become his heir and successor, and succeeded to the throne in 54 following Claudius' death....
, Gaius Calpurnius Piso.
Filmography
- The Bonegrinder (1968)
- The Year of the Sex OlympicsThe Year of the Sex OlympicsThe Year of the Sex Olympics is a 1968 television play made by the BBC and first broadcast on BBC2 as part of Theatre 625. It stars Leonard Rossiter, Tony Vogel, Suzanne Neve and Brian Cox. It was directed by Michael Elliot...
(1968) - SatyriconSatyricon (film)Satyricon is a 1969 Italian fantasy drama film written and directed by Federico Fellini. It is loosely based on Petronius's work, Satyricon, a series of bawdy and satirical episodes written during the reign of the emperor Nero and set in imperial Rome.-Plot:The film opens on a graffiti-covered...
(1969) - Olive (1970)
- Goodbye GeminiGoodbye GeminiGoodbye Gemini is a 1970 thriller directed by Alan Gibson from the novel Ask Agamemnon by Jenni Hall.-Plot:Jacki and Julian Dewar, a pair of fraternal twins, arrive via bus to London; they are home from university on Spring break, and their father is in Mexico on business...
(1970) - Nicholas and AlexandraNicholas and AlexandraNicholas and Alexandra is a 1971 biographical film which tells the story of the last Russian monarch, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, and his wife, Tsarina Alexandra....
(1971) - CrazeCraze (film)Craze is a 1974 film directed by Freddie Francis. It stars Jack Palance and Diana Dors.-Cast:*Jack Palance as Neal Mottram*Diana Dors as Dolly Newman*Julie Ege as Helena*Edith Evans as Aunt Louise*Hugh Griffith as Solicitor...
(1973) - The Legend of Robin HoodThe Legend of Robin HoodThe Legend of Robin Hood was a 1975 BBC television serial that told the story of the life of Robin Hood.-Plot:Robin has been raised as the son of John Hood, a groundskeeper, but learns that he is in fact the long lost son of the Earl of Huntingdon...
(1975) - Satan's SlaveSatan's SlaveSatan's Slave is a horror film directed by Norman J. Warren and starring Michael Gough.-Plot:A young girl, Catherine Yorke , shares a ride with her parents to visit her uncle Alexander , that no one had met before...
(1976) - The Big SleepThe Big Sleep (1978 film)The Big Sleep was the second film version of Raymond Chandler's 1939 novel of the same name. The film was directed by Michael Winner and stars Robert Mitchum in his second feature film portrayal of the detective Philip Marlowe. The cast includes Sarah Miles, Candy Clark, Joan Collins, and...
(1978) - Lady OscarLady Oscar (film)Lady Oscar is a 1979 film, based on the manga The Rose of Versailles by Riyoko Ikeda. The film was written and directed by Jacques Demy, with music composed by his regular collaborator Michel Legrand...
(1980) - A.D.A.D. (film)A.D. is a British/Italian miniseries from 1985 in 6 parts which tells the Acts of the Apostles. Considered as the third and final installment in a TV miniseries trilogy which began with Moses the Lawgiver and Franco Zeffirelli's Jesus of Nazareth , it was adapted from Anthony Burgess's novel The...
(1985) - Gunpowder (1987)