Donald Pleasence Overview:

Character actor, Donald Pleasence, was born Donald Henry Pleasence on Oct 5, 1919 in Worksop, England. Pleasence died at the age of 75 on Feb 2, 1995 in St.-Paul de Vence, France .

MINI BIO:

Initially distinctive, later eccentric bald-headed British character star whose pale blue eyes shone psychotically at many a harassed hero in the years following his portrayal of the murderous Dr. Crippen. One of filmdom's hardest workers, especially in the early 1960s and from the late 1970s onwards, when he took to playing scientists and detectives compelled by circumstances to believe in the supernatural. The father of actress Angela Pleasance, he died following heart-valve surgery.

(Source: available at Amazon Quinlan's Film Character Actors: an Illustrated Directory).

HONORS and AWARDS:

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BlogHub Articles:

The Devilishly Delightful Blogathon – Final Recap

By Barry P. on Oct 31, 2022 From Cinematic Catharsis

As George Harrison once wrote, all things must pass, and so it goes with the Devilishly Delightful Blogathon. On behalf of Gill Jabob from Realweegiemidget Reviews and Yours Truly, we’d like to give a hearty thanks to everyone who took part, as well as our dear readers! I... Read full article


The Devilishly Delightful Blogathon – Day 3 Recap

By Barry P. on Oct 30, 2022 From Cinematic Catharsis

Where did the weekend go? We’ve already reached Day 3 of the Devilishly Delightfully Blogathon, hosted by Gill Jacob of Realweegiemidget Reviews and Yours Truly! Tonight, we present a quartet of posts for your enjoyment. Note: There will be a post-blogathon wrap-up tomorrow, ... Read full article


The Devilishly Delightful Blogathon – Day 2 Recap

By Barry P. on Oct 29, 2022 From Cinematic Catharsis

We’re back for Day Two of the Devilishly Delightfully Blogathon, hosted by Gill Jacob of Realweegiemidget Reviews and Yours Truly! Please enjoy today’s posts, covering some film and television titles that might have slipped beneath the radar.It’s not too late to jo... Read full article


The Devilishly Delightful Blogathon Is Here – Day 1 Recap

By Barry P. on Oct 28, 2022 From Cinematic Catharsis

Welcome to Day One of the Devilishly Delightfully Blogathon! My superb co-host Gill Jacob of Realweegiemidget Reviews and Yours Truly are proud to present this three-day event, celebrating versatile, enigmatic character actor Donald Pleasence. We have a bumper crop of posts for your... Read full article


Announcing the Devilishly Delightful Blogathon

By Barry P. on Aug 28, 2022 From Cinematic Catharsis

When Gill from Realweegiemidget Reviews asked me if I was interested in co-hosting a blogathon devoted to the one and only , how could I resist? Who else but Mr. Pleasence could be a Bond villain, a blind POW, a Soviet conspirator, William Hare (of the notorious duo Burke and Hare), ... Read full article


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Donald Pleasence Quotes:

Preacher Quint: I knew'd a fellow once, his wagon team got away with him and run a wheel spoke right through his middle. Bled hisself out, right there. Don't you know how easy it was? It was like taking a little sleep under a shady tree, didn't hurt none at all. He just got kind of drowsy, and he just, well, he just dozed off. Well, sir, it ain't gonna be that easy for you. No, sir, not that easy.


[as the submarine enters the brain]
Dr. Duval: Yet all the suns that light the corridors of the universe shine dim before the blazing of a single thought...
Grant: - proclaiming in incandescent glory the myriad mind of Man...
Dr. Michaels: Very poetic, gentlemen. Let me know when we pass the soul.
Dr. Duval: The soul? The finite mind cannot comprehend infinity - and the soul, which comes from God, is infinite.
Dr. Michaels: Yes, well, our time isn't.


George: Get the hell outta my fortress!


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Donald Pleasence Facts
The only actor to have appeared in both The Great Escape (1963) and its TV sequel, The Great Escape II: The Untold Story (1988) (TV). Ironically, he played one of the would-be great escapees in the first film and one of the German executioners in the second. Strangely he even played the role of the SS and Gestapo chief, Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler, in the film The Eagle Has Landed (1976). Heinrich Himmler was the one who ordered the secret murder of "the 50" POW's. Thus, Pleasence is likely to be one of only a few actors to have ever portrayed all three roles of murder conspirator, executioner, and victim! (although technically he was not among the 50. His character died earlier.).

Married four times and had five daughters. Angela Pleasence and Jean Pleasence were born from his marriage to actress Miriam Raymond; Lucy Pleasance and Polly Jo Pleasence were the products of his union with actress/singer Josephine Crombie and Miranda Pleasence was conceived during his marriage to singer Miera Shore.

He was initially a conscientous objector during World War II, but later changed his mind and joined the British Royal Air Force. His plane was shot down and was taken prisoner of war by the Nazis until his release in 1945.

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