Brewster Mason
| Brewster Mason | |
|---|---|
| Born |
30 August 1922 Kidsgrove, Staffordshire, England, UK |
| Died |
14 August 1987 (aged 64) London, England, UK |
| Occupation | actor |
Brewster Mason (30 August 1922 – 14 August 1987) was an English stage actor who also made some notable film and television appearances.
He was born in Kidsgrove, Staffordshire and made his stage debut at the Finsbury Park Open Air Theatre in 1947. He then appeared on stage in repertory theatre, in London's West End and on Broadway. He was a particularly notable member of the Royal Shakespeare Company between 1963 and 1987, and his parts included a memorable Earl of Warwick in The Wars of The Roses (1963 and 1964), Claudius in the David Warner 'Hamlet' (1965 and 1966), Sir Toby Belch (1966), Lafau (All's Well) and Banquo (Macbeth in 1967), Julius Caesar and Falstaff (The Merry Wives) in 1968, Women beware Women, Wolsey in Henry VIII, and Falstaff in 'When thou art King' (!969), Undershaft in Major Barbara (1970), Othello (1971), Falstaff in Henry IV (1975), and Gaunt in Richard II in 1986.
He made appearances in many British television plays and series including; The Affair (1962), The Pallisers (1974) and Quatermass (1979) and Tales of the Unexpected (1980–81). He also played Otto von Bismarck in both Edward the Seventh (1975) and Disraeli (1978). His film appearances included; The Dambusters (1954) as Guy Gibson's rear gunner Flt Lt R.D. Trevor-Roper and Private Potter (1962) as the Brigadier.
In 1957, he had a spell on the BBC's Radio Drama Repertory company when, after an accident in which he injured his leg, he was unable to undertake film or stage work. In the late 1960s and early 70s, he taught classical acting at the University of California, Irvine.
He died aged 64 following a fall when he was appearing in Richard II at the Barbican Theatre, London.