JOHN NORMINGTONJohn Normington, who died on 26 July, 2007, aged 70, was a British actor who won audience acclaim for his appearances on stage and screen.His final swansong came in a 2007 stage production of The Entertainer at the Old Vic Theatre. It was the last great performance from an actor whose formidable stage appearances began as a young man with the Royal Shakespeare Company.Appearing in over 20 RSC productions, Mr Normington’s performances enhanced his reputation as an actor and attributed to his eventual cross over into film and television.Cameo appearances in iconic programmes, Doctor Who and Coronation Street displayed his versatility as an actor ensuring Mr Normington was rarely off stage or screen for the duration of his 50-year career.John Normington was born on 28 January, 1937, in Dunkinfield, Cheshire. Displaying a talent for the arts he attended the Northern School of Music before making his stage debut in 1950.He became a regular performer with the RSC from 1962 onwards to the delight of artistic director Peter Hall. During 1963 he took roles in Julius Caesar, Henry VI and Richard III becoming an experienced Shakespearean actor who relished the challenge presented by the Bard.After tackling Shakespeare he followed his mentor Peter Hall to the National Theatre in London where he performed in a number of notable plays throughout the 1970s including Lady from Maxim’s and Amadeus.His appearances at the National Theatre were fondly remembered by all who saw him, with artistic director Nicholas Wytner describing Mr Normington as an actor who brought “warmth, wit and an absolute dedication to the truth” whenever he was on stage.A crossover into film and television was inevitable, and while he never quite managed to become an established star in films, his cameo appearances on TV in the 80s and 90s were another plus in his acting career.Described as a “fine and skilful actor with a great sense of humour” he accumulated a great number of appearances on the small screen including memorable roles in Yes Prime Minister and Doctor Who.His theatrical training also saw him land roles in more serious dramas such as Midsomer Murders and The Bill with medical drama Casualty being his final TV appearance in 2007.The return of one the National Theatre’s most successful plays The Mysteries at the end of the 1990s called upon Mr Normington to display a spontaneous acting talent that had been somewhat lost in his TV appearances.Mr Normington continued to delight audiences up until a few months before his death when he was cast beside TV and theatre star Robert Lindsay in a re-imagining of the play The Entertainers at the Old Vic Theatre in London.After only a month on stage playing Billy liar, Mr Normington was forced to leave the role in early 2007 because of illness.Academy Award winning actor and artistic director of the Old Vic Kevin Spacey said he was “deeply saddened” by Mr Normington’s death only a few short months after seeing him appear on the Old Vic stage.Mr Normington passed away from pancreatic cancer in a London hospital. He will be remembered for his distinguished performances in Shakespeare and other memorable theatre roles.
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