Feb 13, 1938

Wimbledon, London, England, UK

Starting off as an extra in films in the late 1950s (Reed had no
acting training or theatrical experience), Reed got his first notable
roles in Hammer films. In
1964 he starred in the first of six films directed by Michael Winner,
The System. He
starred in Women In Love (1969, then
the controversial 1971 film The Devils, and then the 1975 musical
film Tommy. In between those films,
Reed played his memorable role of Bill Sikes in his uncle Carol
Reed's 1968 screen versio... ... (read more...) n of the hit musical Oliver!, and the title
role in the 1969 comedy Hannibal Brooks.
Reed starred as Athos in three films based on Alexandre Dumas's
novels. His last major
successes were Terry Gilliam's The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
(1988), Treasure Island (1990), Funny Bones (1995), and his final role as Proximo in
Gladiator, released after his death in 2000 (some footage depicting
Reed's character was filmed after his death with a double digitally
mixed with outtake footage taken before Reed's death).
In 1959, Reed wed Kate Byrne. They had one son, Mark, before their
divorce in 1969. He then lived with dancer Jackie Daryl, with whom he
had a daughter, Sarah. In 1985, he married Josephine Burge, and
stayed with her until his death.
He was famous for his excessive drinking, and was once forced to
leave the set of the Channel 4 television discussion programme After
Dark after arriving drunk and attempting to kiss feminist writer Kate
Millett. He died suddenly from a heart attack during a break from filming
Gladiator in Valletta, Malta, reportedly after drinking three bottles
of rum and beating five sailors at arm wrestling at a bar called "The
Pub."
His funeral was held in Buttevant, County Cork, Ireland. The song
"Consider Yourself" from Oliver! was played at the funeral.