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 (6'6", ~380 lbs, c. 1980) 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 Gloriosus. After graduation he worked in Manhattan as a computer professional, while also attending the 1976 Summer 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 Tehran in 1978.
Erland was spotted in the New York Athletic Club by a casting director, which led to his role as the fearsome Terror, leader of the Fordham Baldies, in the 1979 film The Wanderers. The next year, Erland was featured in the hit comedy Stir Crazy, playing Grossberger, the cellmate of Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder. He continued to juggle his careers in film and computers while also singing frequently with the Amato Opera in New York, studying to become a Heldenbaritone, and teaching computer programming at Manhattan Community College. Erland was also featured in the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger film The Running Man. Playing Dynamo, a sadistic "stalker" who is known for electrocuting his victims, Erland also got the chance to use his operatic experience by having his character sing excerpts from opera. He died of heart failure in September 1987, a few months after finishing work on this film.
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.
[edit] Filmography
- The Wanderers (1979) "Terror" (as Erland Van Lidth De Jeude)
- Stir Crazy (1980) "Grossberger" (as Erland van Lidth de Jeude)
- Alone in the Dark (1982) "Ronald 'Fatty' Elster" (as Erland van Lidth)
- The Running Man (1987) "Dynamo" (as Erland Van Lidth)
