John Reed
English actor, dancer, and singer renowned as the definitive principal comedian of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company and a towering figure in Gilbert and Sullivan performance.
What do we know about John Reed?
Here are the key biographical details about John Reed:
- Name: John Reed
- Date of Birth: February 13, 1916
- Place of Birth: Bishop Auckland, County Durham, England, UK
- Date of Death: February 13, 2010
- Gender: Male
- Job Title: Actor
- Crew Jobs: Director
Who is John Reed?
John Lamb Reed, OBE (13 February 1916 – 13 February 2010) was an English actor, dancer and singer, known for his nimble performances in the principal comic roles of the Savoy Operas, particularly with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. Reed has been called “the last great exponent” of the Gilbert and Sullivan comedy roles.
The son of a butcher from County Durham, Reed began performing at the end of World War II, joining the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company in 1951. After eight years as understudy to Peter Pratt, he became the principal comedian of the company in 1959, remaining for two decades, playing all the famous Gilbert and Sullivan patter roles, including Sir Joseph in H.M.S. Pinafore, the Major-General in Pirates, Bunthorne in Patience, the Lord Chancellor in Iolanthe, Ko-Ko in The Mikado, Jack Point in The Yeomen of the Guard and the Duke of Plaza Toro in The Gondoliers, among others. He was known for his “fleet-footed clowning”, dry and roguish wit, comic timing, “crystal clear diction” in the patter songs, and his amusing character voice, recording all of his principal roles with the company.
In 1979, Reed left the company but continued performing in and directing Gilbert and Sullivan productions in Britain and America, as well as appearing in other light opera. He retired to Halifax, West Yorkshire, directing amateur Gilbert and Sullivan companies and attending the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival in Buxton for many years.
What is John Reed known for?
John Reed's most celebrated screen appearances include:
- The Mikado (1967, Movie)
- Ruddigore (1967, Movie)
- I am the Very Model of a Modern Major General (1974, Movie)
- H.M.S. Pinafore (1973, Movie)
- When I Went to the Bar (1973, Movie)
- H.M.S. Pinafore (2001, Movie)
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