Erland Van Lidth De Jeude

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Erland van Lidth de Jeude (June 3, 1953 Hilversum, Netherlands - September 23, 1987 New York, New York) acted in several Hollywood films, as well as wrestling, singing bass-baritone in opera, and working with computers. While his large size was not unusual in the opera and wrestling worlds, it was key to his movie roles.

[edit] Biography

Erland van Lidth de Jeude came to the United States with his family in 1958, where they resided in Orange, New Jersey until 1960, Stamford, Connecticut (1960-1962), Ridgefield, Connecticut (1962-1970), and Mont Vernon, New Hampshire (1970-1972). In addition to studying computer science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (graduating with a B.S. in Computer Science & Engineering in 1977) [1], he also distinguished himself on the wrestling team and in stage productions, the most successful of which was A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, in which he played Miles Gloriosis. After graduation he worked in Manhattan as a computer professional, while also attending the 1976 Olympics in Montreal as an alternate in the heavyweight wrestling team. His preparation for the 1980 Olympics in Moscow was cut short when the United States boycotted the event. He also won the Bronze Medal in the international competition held in Teheran in 1978.

Meanwhile, he was spotted in the New York Athletic Club by a casting director, which led to his role as "Terror" in the 1979 film The Wanderers; this in turn led to other film roles which made use of his imposing physical presence. The most widely seen roles were "Dynamo" in 1987's The Running Man, which made some use of his operatic talents, and "Grossberger" in Stir Crazy, which led to international fame and recognition; his singing of "Down in the Valley" was touching. He continued to juggle his computer career and his film career, also singing frequently with the Amato Opera in New York, studying to become a Heldenbaritone, and teaching English at Manhattan Community College. He died in 1987 of heart failure.

Erland van Lidth de Jeude married Annette Friend on September 22, 1986, with whom he had one son. His brother Philip van Lidth de Jeude and sister Philine van Lidth de Jeude are also opera singers.