Prolific stage performer with the Old Vic and the Mermaid Theater companies who made his professional debut in 1945, only entering films in the late 1960s (after an uncredited film debut in "Seven Days to Noon" 1950). Ackland's most recent memorable screen roles include Greta Scacchi's scheming husband in "White Mischief", Don Masino Croce in Michael Cimino's "The Sicilian" (both 1987) and the villainous South African diplomat Arjen Rudd, in "Lethal Weapon II" (1989).
A musical comedy star in the West End productions of "A Little Night Music", "Evita", "Peter Pan" and "Jean Seberg", Ackland won acclaim for portraying C.S. Lewis in the British TV production, "Shadowlands" (1985).
- Born:
February 29, 1928 in London, England, United Kingdom
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Job Titles:
Actor, Associate director, Disc jockey, Scriptwriter, Tea planter
Family
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Father: Norman Ackland.
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Mother: Ruth Ackland.
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Son: Paul Ackland. died in October 1982
Education
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Central School of Speech and Drama, London, England
Milestones
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1946 London stage debut, The Hasty Heart
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1950 Film debut, Seven Days to Noon (uncredited)
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1954 Moved with family to Central Africa where he worked as a tea planter, then returned to stage there and also worked as disc-jockey and scriptwriter
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1957 Returned to UK
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1962 Served as associate director, Mermaid Theatre, London
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1962 Debut as theater director, The Plough and the Stars , Mermaid Theater, London
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Worked in a brewery, then on a dairy farm before studying acting