Maurice Evans

A grand, robust, highly theatrical British classical actor, Maurice Evans was born on June 3, 1901, in Dorchester, England, the son of a justice of the peace who enjoyed amateur play writing on the side. In fact, his father adapted several adaptations of Thomas Hardy's novels and Evans would often appear in them. Early interest also came in London choirs as a boy tenor.

Making his professional stage debut in 1926, Evans made do during his struggling years by running a cleaning and dyeing store. He earned his first triumph three years later in the play "Journey's End.

" When his resulting attempts as an early 1930's romantic film lead and/or second lead in White Cargo (1929), Raise the Roof (1930), The Only Girl (1933), The Path of Glory (1934), Bypass to Happiness (1934) and Checkmate (1935) didn't pan out, he refocused on the stage. Following a season with the Old Vic theatre company, he arrived in America and proceeded to conquer Broadway, establishing himself as one of the world's more illustrious interpreters of Shakespeare. His eloquent, florid portrayals of Romeo, Hamlet, Macbeth and Richard II are considered among the finest interps. He was also deemed a master of Shavian works which included superlative performances in "Major Barbara", "Man and Superman" and "The Devil's Disciple". As a U. S.

Although John Barrymore is still considered the greatest American Shakespearean actor of the 20th century, the British-born Evans was the United States' pre-eminent exponent of Shakespeare from 1936 until 1946, during which he appeared in no less than four successive Broadway productions of "Hamlet", as well as a few of the Bard's other plays.

Portrayed Hamlet in five consecutive revivals of the play on Broadway, between 1939 and 1947. Counting up all of his performances, he may well have played the role on Broadway more times than any other actor in history.

citizen (1941), Maurice was placed in charge of the Army Entertainment Section, Central Pacific Theater during WWII and left military service with the rank of major.

His 1945 production of "Hamlet" was the longest-running Broadway production of the play, until surpassed by Richard Burton's 1964 revival.

More importantly, he brought Shakespeare and Shaw to 1950's TV, adapting (and directing) a number of his stage classics including King Richard II (1954), The Taming of the Shrew (1956), Man and Superman (1956), Twelfth Night (1957), The Tempest (1960).

His post-war career included a handful of character film roles, notably Kind Lady (1951), Androcles and the Lion (1952), Gilbert and Sullivan (1953) (as composer Sir Arthur Sullivan), The War Lord (1965), Rosemary's Baby (1968), and as "Dr.

He won an Emmy award in 1960 for his Macbeth (1960).

Interestingly, for all his legendary performances under the theatre lights and stirring TV classics, the ever-regal stage master is probably best known to generations for his delightful, Shakespeare-spouting appearances on the Bewitched (1964) TV series, as Elizabeth Montgomery's irascible warlock father.

Zaius" in the Planet of the Apes (1968) series. Films would never be Evans' strong suit, earning much more stature on TV.

Following guest shots on such popular TV shows as "Medical Center," "The Big Valley," "Columbo," "Streets of San Francisco," "Fantasy Island" and "The Love Boat," he made his final on-camera appearance in the TV movie A Caribbean Mystery (1983).

Evans appeared in more Broadway productions of Shakespeare's "Richard II" than any other actor. His record remains unbroken as of 2004. His first 1937 production of "Richard II" (there were two that year) is the longest-running production of the tragedy ever to play on Broadway.