Roy Dotrice
Encyclopedia
Roy Dotrice, OBE
(born 26 May 1923) is a British
actor known for his Tony Award
-winning Broadway
performance in the revival of A Moon for the Misbegotten
.
, one of the Channel Islands
, the son of Neva (née
Wilton) and Louis Dotrice. He served with the Royal Air Force
from 1940 to 1945 during World War II
, and was imprisoned in a German POW
camp from 1942 to 1945.
He was married to Kay Newman from 1947 until her death in 2007, and they had three children together: Michele
, Yvette
and Karen
, all of whom acted at various points in their careers. He was also the father-in-law to the late Edward Woodward
, a contemporary of his and husband to his daughter Michele.
Dotrice notably played the part of John Aubrey in Brief Lives
, a one-man tour de force where he was on stage for more than two and a half hours, including the interval when he pretended to sleep. The play premiered in 1967 at the Hampstead Theatre
in London. It subsequently had two Broadway engagements and transferred in 1968 to the West End’s Criterion Theatre
where it played 400 performances before moving to the Mayfair Theatre. Those runs combined with extensive international touring earned Dotrice a place in the Guinness Book of Records for the greatest number of solo performances (1,782).
In the 1970s he played, to great acclaim, the role of Charles Dickens in the miniseries Dickens of London which was presented in the United States as a thirteen part series on Masterpiece Theatre. He is arguably best known to North American audiences for playing the role of "Father" in the 1980s hit TV series, Beauty and the Beast
, though his acting career dates back to 1945, in a revue called Back Home, performed by ex-prisoners of war, in aid of the Red Cross, after which he played in a number of repertory theatres. He appeared on BBC television in 1971 as Albert Haddock, in the televised version of A.P. Herbert's "Misleading Cases
", a satire on the British legal system, also starring Alastair Sim
as the Judge as well as playing Leopold Mozart
in the 1984 film Amadeus
.
He is also known to fans of the Buffyverse
in the role of Roger Wyndam-Pryce, the overbearing father of Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
. Another science fiction
role was Commissioner Simmons in two episodes of season 1 of Space: 1999
. He played Father Gary Barrett in the TV series Picket Fences
from 1993-1996.
In 1998, Dotrice appeared in three episodes of the cult television show Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
as Zeus
, King of the Greek gods and father of Hercules, played by Kevin Sorbo
.
He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2008 New Year Honours
.
He played on tour in February 2008 in a revival of Brief Lives
and appeared in the stage production of Irving Berlin's White Christmas at the Lowry Theatre, Salford from 27 November 2009 to 9 January 2010.
In June 2010, it was confirmed that Roy Dotrice would be playing the role of Grand Maester Pycelle in the HBO series Game of Thrones
, an adaptation of George R. R. Martin
's book series, A Song of Ice and Fire
. Dotrice had previously recorded the audio versions of the first three books in the series and worked with Martin on Beauty and the Beast. However, Dotrice later had to withdraw from the show for medical reasons, and Julian Glover
was cast in his place. Dotrice's relationship with the series didn't end there, though; shortly after filming for the second season began, it was confirmed that he would be playing Pyromancer Hallyne.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 26 May 1923) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
actor known for his Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
-winning Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
performance in the revival of A Moon for the Misbegotten
A Moon for the Misbegotten
A Moon for the Misbegotten is a play by Eugene O'Neill. The play can be thought of as a sequel to the autobiographical Long Day's Journey into Night...
.
Life and career
Dotrice was born in GuernseyGuernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
, one of the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
, the son of Neva (née
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Wilton) and Louis Dotrice. He served with the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
from 1940 to 1945 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and was imprisoned in a German POW
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
camp from 1942 to 1945.
He was married to Kay Newman from 1947 until her death in 2007, and they had three children together: Michele
Michele Dotrice
Michele Dotrice is an English actress best known for her portrayal of Betty, the long-suffering wife of Frank Spencer, played by Michael Crawford, in the BBC sitcom Some Mothers Do ’Ave ’Em, which ran from 1973 to 1978....
, Yvette
Yvette Dotrice
Yvette Dotrice is an English actress known for her role as Wendy Crisp during the 25-year run of the television soap opera Crossroads.Dotrice is the daughter of Shakespearean actors Roy and Kay Dotrice. Her sisters, Karen and Michele, also are actresses....
and Karen
Karen Dotrice
Karen Dotrice is an English actress known primarily for her role as Jane Banks in Walt Disney's feature film adaptation of the Mary Poppins book series. Dotrice was born in Guernsey to two accomplished stage actors...
, all of whom acted at various points in their careers. He was also the father-in-law to the late Edward Woodward
Edward Woodward
Edward Albert Arthur Woodward, OBE was an English stage and screen actor and singer. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art , Woodward began his career on stage, and throughout his career he appeared in productions in both the West End in London and on Broadway in New York...
, a contemporary of his and husband to his daughter Michele.
Dotrice notably played the part of John Aubrey in Brief Lives
Brief Lives
Brief Lives is a collection of short biographies written by John Aubrey in the last decades of the seventeenth century. Aubrey initially began collecting biographical material to assist the Oxford scholar Anthony Wood, who was working on his own collection of biographies...
, a one-man tour de force where he was on stage for more than two and a half hours, including the interval when he pretended to sleep. The play premiered in 1967 at the Hampstead Theatre
Hampstead Theatre
Hampstead Theatre is a theatre in the vicinity of Swiss Cottage and Belsize Park, in the London Borough of Camden. It specialises in commissioning and producing new writing, supporting and developing the work of new writers. In 2009 it celebrates its 50 year anniversary.The original theatre was...
in London. It subsequently had two Broadway engagements and transferred in 1968 to the West End’s Criterion Theatre
Criterion Theatre
The Criterion Theatre is a West End theatre situated on Piccadilly Circus in the City of Westminster, and is a Grade II* listed building. It has an official capacity of 588.-Building the theatre:...
where it played 400 performances before moving to the Mayfair Theatre. Those runs combined with extensive international touring earned Dotrice a place in the Guinness Book of Records for the greatest number of solo performances (1,782).
In the 1970s he played, to great acclaim, the role of Charles Dickens in the miniseries Dickens of London which was presented in the United States as a thirteen part series on Masterpiece Theatre. He is arguably best known to North American audiences for playing the role of "Father" in the 1980s hit TV series, Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast (TV series)
Beauty and the Beast is an American drama series which first aired on CBS in 1987. Creator Ron Koslow's updated version of the fairy tale has a double focus: the relationship between Vincent , a mythic, noble man-beast, and his Catherine , a savvy assistant District attorney in New York; and a...
, though his acting career dates back to 1945, in a revue called Back Home, performed by ex-prisoners of war, in aid of the Red Cross, after which he played in a number of repertory theatres. He appeared on BBC television in 1971 as Albert Haddock, in the televised version of A.P. Herbert's "Misleading Cases
Uncommon Law
Uncommon Law is a book by A. P. Herbert first published by Methuen in 1935. Its title is a satirical reference to the English common law. The book is an anthology of fictitious law reports first published in Punch in which Herbert explores, as he saw it, rather absurd aspects of the law, and...
", a satire on the British legal system, also starring Alastair Sim
Alastair Sim
Alastair George Bell Sim, CBE was a Scottish character actor who appeared in a string of classic British films. He is best remembered in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in the 1951 film Scrooge, and for his portrayal of Miss Fritton, the headmistress in two St. Trinian's films...
as the Judge as well as playing Leopold Mozart
Leopold Mozart
Johann Georg Leopold Mozart was a German composer, conductor, teacher, and violinist. Mozart is best known today as the father and teacher of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and for his violin textbook Versuch einer gründlichen Violinschule.-Childhood and student years:He was born in Augsburg, son of...
in the 1984 film Amadeus
Amadeus (film)
Amadeus is a 1984 period drama film directed by Miloš Forman and written by Peter Shaffer. Adapted from Shaffer's stage play Amadeus, the story is based loosely on the lives of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri, two composers who lived in Vienna, Austria, during the latter half of the...
.
He is also known to fans of the Buffyverse
Buffyverse
The Buffyverse, also known as the Whedonverse or Slayerverse , is the shared fictional universe in which the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel are set. This term, originally coined by fans of the TV series, has since been used in the titles of published works, and adopted by Joss...
in the role of Roger Wyndam-Pryce, the overbearing father of Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
Wesley Wyndam-Pryce
Wesley Wyndam-Pryce is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel...
. Another science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
role was Commissioner Simmons in two episodes of season 1 of Space: 1999
Space: 1999
Space: 1999 is a British science-fiction television series that ran for two seasons and originally aired from 1975 to 1977. In the opening episode, nuclear waste from Earth stored on the Moon's far side explodes in a catastrophic accident on 13 September 1999, knocking the Moon out of orbit and...
. He played Father Gary Barrett in the TV series Picket Fences
Picket Fences
Picket Fences is a 60-minute American television drama about the residents of the fictional town of Rome, Wisconsin, created and produced by David E. Kelley. The show initially ran from September 18, 1992, to June 26, 1996, on the CBS television network in the United States...
from 1993-1996.
In 1998, Dotrice appeared in three episodes of the cult television show Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys is a television series, filmed in New Zealand and the United States. It was produced from 1995, and was very loosely based on the tales of the classical Greek culture hero Heracles...
as Zeus
Zeus
In the ancient Greek religion, Zeus was the "Father of Gods and men" who ruled the Olympians of Mount Olympus as a father ruled the family. He was the god of sky and thunder in Greek mythology. His Roman counterpart is Jupiter and his Etruscan counterpart is Tinia.Zeus was the child of Cronus...
, King of the Greek gods and father of Hercules, played by Kevin Sorbo
Kevin Sorbo
Kevin David Sorbo is an American actor best known for the roles of Hercules in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Captain Dylan Hunt in Andromeda and Kull in Kull the Conqueror.-Early life:...
.
He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2008 New Year Honours
New Year Honours 2008
The New Year Honours 2008 for the Commonwealth Realms were announced on 29 December 2007, to celebrate the year passed and mark the beginning of 2008....
.
He played on tour in February 2008 in a revival of Brief Lives
Brief Lives
Brief Lives is a collection of short biographies written by John Aubrey in the last decades of the seventeenth century. Aubrey initially began collecting biographical material to assist the Oxford scholar Anthony Wood, who was working on his own collection of biographies...
and appeared in the stage production of Irving Berlin's White Christmas at the Lowry Theatre, Salford from 27 November 2009 to 9 January 2010.
In June 2010, it was confirmed that Roy Dotrice would be playing the role of Grand Maester Pycelle in the HBO series Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones (TV series)
Game of Thrones is an American medieval fantasy television series created for HBO by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. Based on author George R. R. Martin's best-selling A Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels, the first of which is called A Game of Thrones, the television series debuted in...
, an adaptation of George R. R. Martin
George R. R. Martin
George Raymond Richard Martin , sometimes referred to as GRRM, is an American author and screenwriter of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. He is best known for A Song of Ice and Fire, his bestselling series of epic fantasy novels that HBO adapted for their dramatic pay-cable series Game of...
's book series, A Song of Ice and Fire
A Song of Ice and Fire
A Song of Ice and Fire is a series of epic fantasy novels by American novelist and screenwriter George R. R. Martin. Martin began writing the series in 1991 and the first volume was published in 1996. Originally planned as a trilogy, the series now consists of five published volumes; a further two...
. Dotrice had previously recorded the audio versions of the first three books in the series and worked with Martin on Beauty and the Beast. However, Dotrice later had to withdraw from the show for medical reasons, and Julian Glover
Julian Glover
Julian Wyatt Glover is a British actor best known for such roles as General Maximilian Veers in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, the Bond villain Aristotle Kristatos in For Your Eyes Only, and Walter Donovan in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.-Personal life:Glover was born in...
was cast in his place. Dotrice's relationship with the series didn't end there, though; shortly after filming for the second season began, it was confirmed that he would be playing Pyromancer Hallyne.
Filmography
- The Heroes of TelemarkThe Heroes of TelemarkThe Heroes of Telemark is a 1965 war film directed by Anthony Mann based on the true story of the Norwegian heavy water sabotage during World War II...
(1965) - A Twist of SandA Twist of SandA Twist of Sand is a 1968 British adventure film directed by Don Chaffey and starring Richard Johnson, Jeremy Kemp, Honor Blackman and Peter Vaughan.-Cast:* Richard Johnson as Geoffrey Peace* Honor Blackman as Julie Chambois* Jeremy Kemp as Harry Riker...
(1968) - The Buttercup ChainThe Buttercup ChainThe Buttercup Chain is a 1970 British drama film directed by Robert Ellis Miller. It was entered into the 1970 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Hywel Bennett - France* Leigh Taylor-Young - Manny* Jane Asher - Margaret* Sven-Bertil Taube - Fred...
(1970) - Space: 1999Space: 1999Space: 1999 is a British science-fiction television series that ran for two seasons and originally aired from 1975 to 1977. In the opening episode, nuclear waste from Earth stored on the Moon's far side explodes in a catastrophic accident on 13 September 1999, knocking the Moon out of orbit and...
(1975) TV series - Dickens of LondonDickens of LondonDickens of London is a 1976 television miniseries from Yorkshire Television based on the life of English novelist Charles Dickens. Both Dickens and his father John were played by British actor Roy Dotrice. The series was written by Wolf Mankowitz and Marc Miller...
(1976) TV series - Saturn 3Saturn 3Saturn 3 is a 1980 science fiction film starring Kirk Douglas, Farrah Fawcett and Harvey Keitel. Direction is credited to Stanley Donen. The project was conceived by John Barry. Barry was due to direct until a dispute with Douglas led to his replacement...
(voice overdub of Harvey Keitel) (1980) - Family ReunionFamily Reunion (film)Family Reunion is a four-hour American television movie directed by Fielder Cook. The teleplay by Allan Sloane was based on the Good Housekeeping article How America Lives by Joe Sparton...
(1981) - AmadeusAmadeus (film)Amadeus is a 1984 period drama film directed by Miloš Forman and written by Peter Shaffer. Adapted from Shaffer's stage play Amadeus, the story is based loosely on the lives of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri, two composers who lived in Vienna, Austria, during the latter half of the...
(1984) - Cheech & Chong's The Corsican BrothersCheech & Chong's The Corsican BrothersCheech & Chong's The Corsican Brothers is the sixth feature-length film starring the comedy duo Cheech and Chong. Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong star as the two brothers in a parody of various film adaptations of the classic Alexandre Dumas novel, The Corsican Brothers.The film was not a critical...
(1984) - EliminatorsEliminatorsEliminators is a 1986 film directed by Peter Manoogian. The plot concernes a "Mandroid" constructed by an evil scientist from the body of a downed pilot, who teams up with the scientist responsible for android technology, her pet robot Spot, a riverboat guide, and a martial arts warrior...
(1986) - Shaka Zulu (TV series)Shaka Zulu (TV Series)Shaka Zulu was a 1986 television serial directed by William C. Faure and written by Joshua Sinclair for the South African Broadcasting Corporation . It is based on the story of Shaka, king of the Zulu nation from 1816 to 1828, and the writings of the British traders who dealt with him...
(1986) - The WizardThe Wizard (TV series)The Wizard is a live-action, family friendly, action/adventure series created by Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz, and Paul B. Radin...
(1986) TV series - Faerie Tale Theatre: "The Dancing Princesses" (1987) TV series
- Faerie Tale Theatre: "Rip Van Winkle" (1987) TV series
- Beauty and the BeastBeauty and the Beast (TV series)Beauty and the Beast is an American drama series which first aired on CBS in 1987. Creator Ron Koslow's updated version of the fairy tale has a double focus: the relationship between Vincent , a mythic, noble man-beast, and his Catherine , a savvy assistant District attorney in New York; and a...
(1987-1990) TV series - Suburban CommandoSuburban CommandoSuburban Commando is a 1991 science fiction comedy film starring Hulk Hogan and Christopher Lloyd. Burt Kennedy directed the film based on a screenplay by Frank Cappello. The film was originally titled "Urban Commando", and was intended for Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger...
(1991) - For the Greater Good (1991) TV
- The Good Policeman (1991)
- The Cutting EdgeThe Cutting EdgeThe Cutting Edge is a 1992 romantic comedy film directed by Paul Michael Glaser and written by Tony Gilroy. The plot is about a very rich, spoiled figure skater who is paired with a has-been ice hockey player for Olympic figure skating...
(1992)
- The Lounge People (1992)
- Picket FencesPicket FencesPicket Fences is a 60-minute American television drama about the residents of the fictional town of Rome, Wisconsin, created and produced by David E. Kelley. The show initially ran from September 18, 1992, to June 26, 1996, on the CBS television network in the United States...
(1992) TV series - Going to Extremes (1992) TV series
- Swimming with SharksSwimming with SharksSwimming With Sharks is a 1994 American comedy drama film, directed and written by George Huang.- Plot :...
(1994) - Children of the Dark (1994) TV
- The Scarlet LetterThe Scarlet Letter (1995 film)The Scarlet Letter is a 1995 American film adaptation of the Nathaniel Hawthorne novel of the same name. It was directed by Roland Joffé and stars Demi Moore, Gary Oldman, and Robert Duvall. This version was "freely adapted" from Hawthorne and deviated from the original story. Universally panned by...
(1995) - Babylon 5Babylon 5Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
: "The Fall of NightThe Fall of NightThe Fall of Night is the final episode of the second season of the science fiction television series Babylon 5.-Synopsis:The Centauri have been expanding their war of aggression; now they are launching attacks into Drazi and pak'ma'ra space...
" (1995) TV series - Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1996) TV series
- Like Father, Like Santa (1998) TV series
- Sliders (1999) TV series
- Madigan MenMadigan MenMadigan Men is an American television comedy that premiered on ABC in the U.S. on October 6, 2000. The show performed poorly in the ratings and among critics and was canceled on December 18, 2000.-Cast:*Gabriel Byrne as Ben Madigan...
(2000) TV series - AngelAngelAngels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
(2003) TV series - Alien HunterAlien HunterAlien Hunter is a 2003 science-fiction-thriller film, directed by Ron Krauss and stars James Spader, Carl Lewis and Leslie Stefanson.-Plot:...
(2003) - Life Begins (2004) TV series
- La Femme Musketeer (2004) (mini) TV series
- Olympiad 448 BC: Olympiad of Ancient Hellas (2004)
- PlayedPlayedPlayed is a 2006 crime film produced by Caspar von Winterfeldt, Nick Simunek and Mick Rossi, executive produced by John Daly, co-produced by Nigel Mead and Lenny Bitondo, written by Sean Stanek and Mick Rossi and directed by Sean Stanek...
(2006) - Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)
- Game of ThronesGame of Thrones (TV series)Game of Thrones is an American medieval fantasy television series created for HBO by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. Based on author George R. R. Martin's best-selling A Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels, the first of which is called A Game of Thrones, the television series debuted in...
(2011) TV series
Voice
- Watership DownWatership DownWatership Down is a classic heroic fantasy novel, written by English author Richard Adams, about a small group of rabbits. Although the animals in the story live in their natural environment, they are anthropomorphised, possessing their own culture, language , proverbs, poetry, and mythology...
(audio bookAudio bookAn audiobook or audio book is a recording of a text being read. It is not necessarily an exact audio version of a book or magazine.Spoken audio has been available in schools and public libraries and to a lesser extent in music shops since the 1930s. Many spoken word albums were made prior to the...
) - Robin Hood (TV series)
- The Prince and the PauperThe Prince and the PauperThe Prince and the Pauper is an English-language novel by American author Mark Twain. It was first published in 1881 in Canada before its 1882 publication in the United States. The book represents Twain's first attempt at historical fiction...
(audio book) - Batman: The Animated SeriesBatman: The Animated SeriesBatman: The Animated Series is an American animated series based on the DC Comics character Batman. The series featured an ensemble cast of many voice-actors including Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Arleen Sorkin, and Loren Lester. The series won four Emmy Awards and was nominated...
- Frederick, episode The Lion and the Unicorn - A Postcard From Satan
- Spider-ManSpider-Man (1994 TV series)Spider-Man, also known as Spider-Man: The Animated Series, is an American animated series starring the Marvel Comics superhero, Spider-Man. The show ran on Fox Kids from November 19, 1994, to January 31, 1998. The producer/story editor was John Semper, Jr. and production company was Marvel Films...
- Keene Marlow/The Destroyer - The Death Gate Cycle Vol. 4: Serpent Mage (audio book)
- Five volumes of George R. R. MartinGeorge R. R. MartinGeorge Raymond Richard Martin , sometimes referred to as GRRM, is an American author and screenwriter of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. He is best known for A Song of Ice and Fire, his bestselling series of epic fantasy novels that HBO adapted for their dramatic pay-cable series Game of...
's A Song of Ice and FireA Song of Ice and FireA Song of Ice and Fire is a series of epic fantasy novels by American novelist and screenwriter George R. R. Martin. Martin began writing the series in 1991 and the first volume was published in 1996. Originally planned as a trilogy, the series now consists of five published volumes; a further two...
(audio books), voicing more than 500 different characters