“Chariots of Fire” Actor Nigel Davenport Dies, Aged 85

Veteran British actor Nigel Davenport passed away on October 25^th at the age of 85. Davenport’s career spanned more than 50 years across film, theatre and television appearing in such films as Chariots of Fire and the Oscar-winning A Man for All Seasons. The actor studied at Trinity College and Oxford where he joined the Oxford University Drama Society and began to pursue a career in acting. Nigel Davenport with actress Maria Aitken after their wedding. In his early days most of his work was in theatre where he later became part of the English Stage Company at the Royal Court. Davenport appeared in many plays including A Taste of Honey which he performed on Broadway back in 1960. Arguably he was best known for his roles as Thomas More's friend in A Man for All Seasons and as Olympic committee member Lord Birkenhead in Chariots of Fire. He was twice married and is survived by sons Jack and Hugo and daughter Laura. His son and fellow actor Jack Davenport, is known for his role in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies as James Norrington, and the BBC series This Life. Pics via Getty Images