NitrateVille.com

Although probably more well-known to theatre and television audiences, this very likeable performer appeared in several films over the years, including THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL (2011) and its sequel as well as playing people as varied as Einstein and George Orwell.

earlytalkiebuffRob wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 27, 2021 12:00 pm

Although probably more well-known to theatre and television audiences, this very likeable performer appeared in several films over the years, including THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL (2011) and its sequel as well as playing people as varied as Einstein and George Orwell.

He did a good Verdi in the miniseries about the composer, he later did Einstein, and he even appeared in a Doc Martin episode.

I saw Mr. Pickup many years ago when he played Edmund in a version of Long Day's Journey into Night with Olivier. I always remembered that fine version which was shown on TV in the US, probably on Public Television. I did recently see his appearance in Doc Martin as well. Very fine actor, rest in peace sir.

Recently seen as Neville Chamberlain in The Darkest Hour.

I thought he was the official running the horse races in the new series of All Creatures Great and Small, but that turned out to be Nigel Havers, who has apparently aged twenty years in the last two decades.

That's nothing, I've aged twenty years in the past two years.
It's funny the obituaries I saw for Mr. Pickup emphasized his appearance in a single episode of DOCTOR WHO, specifically episode four of THE REIGN OF TERROR, from 1964. This is a lost episode, so ironically the spotlight was on one performance of his nobody will ever see. When the reconstruction of this serial was released on DVD, he was actually invited to appear on the audio commentary, somewhat to his bemusement.

He was always interesting. For some reason, of all his roles the one that always first pops into mind when I hear his name was as Giuseppe Verdi in the 1982 mini-series. When I checked imdb for the date I see that in the Richard Burton one on Wagner, Pickup played Nietzsche.

Gad! Not another one! There soon won't be any of the actors/actresses left whom I know! This fellow always put in a good performance. Sad to see him go. R.I.P.