John Clifford Rose (24 October 1929 – 6 November 2021) was a British actor.

Clifford Rose
Born
John Clifford Rose

(1929-10-24)24 October 1929
Hamnish Clifford, Herefordshire, England
Died6 November 2021(2021-11-06) (aged 92)
Northwood, London, England
OccupationActor
Years active1959–2019
Spouse
Celia Ryder
(m. 1957; died 2012)
Children2

Life and career

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Rose was born in Herefordshire. He was educated at the King's School, Worcester, and King's College London, before appearing in rep and began his association with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1960.[1][2] He played the character Sturmbannführer[3] Ludwig Kessler in the BBC World War II television drama Secret Army (1977–79) and its sequel Kessler (1981).[4] He later played SS General Hans Kammler in the miniseries War and Remembrance (1988). Rose played leading roles in The Pallisers (1974), Fortunes of War (1987) and Alan Bleasdale's drama GBH (1991), and appeared as Rorvik in the Doctor Who story Warriors' Gate (1981).[5]

Rose also played a judge in some episodes of the 1970s/'80s British television series Crown Court and Dr Snell, an interrogative psychologist for "The Section" in the British 1960s/'70s spy drama Callan.[6] He had a small part in an episode of Inspector Morse, "The Ghost in the Machine" (1989), as a college professor, Dr Charles Hudson.[7]

Rose played King George V in the TV film Wallis and Edward (2005).[8] In 2008, he appeared as Bishop Wood, in an episode of the ITV historical drama Foyle's War. In October 2010, Rose played the part of Father Gregory in the ITV crime drama Midsomer Murders, in the episode "Master Class".[9] Rose played The Judge in Enid Bagnold's The Chalk Garden in a production at the Donmar Warehouse in summer 2008.[10] A radio version of the staging was first broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in March 2011.[11] He also played the Dean of Windsor in an episode of The Crown broadcast in 2019.

Rose was an RSC Honorary Associate Artist.[12] He was the winner of the Clarence Derwent Award 2009 for his performance in The Chalk Garden at the Donmar.[13]

Rose was married to Celia Ryder from 1957 until her death in 2012.[8] They had two children, and lived in Stratford-upon-Avon. In September 2021, Rose moved into Denville Hall, a retirement home for theatrical professionals.[2] He died there on 6 November 2021, at the age of 92.[14][15]

Filmography

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References

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  1. ^ Heather Dubrow (2012). As You Like It: Evans Shakespeare Editions. Cengage Learning. p. 254.
  2. ^ a b Sutherland, Gill (8 September 2021). "Family of actor Clifford Rose launch appeal to help with care home fees". Stratford Herald. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  3. ^ Note: Kessler was promoted to the rank of Standartenführer in the final series.
  4. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Secret Army (1977-79)". www.screenonline.org.uk.
  5. ^ "Clifford Rose". www.aveleyman.com.
  6. ^ "Clifford Rose". BFI. Archived from the original on 2 June 2017.
  7. ^ "Inspector Morse : Ghost in the Machine (1989) - John Madden, Herbert Wise | Cast and Crew | AllMovie" – via www.allmovie.com.
  8. ^ a b Howard Maxford (2019). Hammer complete: the films, the personnel, the company. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 702. ISBN 9781476670072.
  9. ^ "Midsomer Murders (2010) - Renny Rye | Cast and Crew | AllMovie" – via www.allmovie.com.
  10. ^ Wolf, Matt (2 July 2008). "'The Chalk Garden,' by Enid Bagnold, offers substance in the silly season". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  11. ^ "The Chalk Garden". BBC Radio 3. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  12. ^ Chambers, Colin (2004). Inside the Royal Shakespeare Company : creativity and the institution. London New York: Routledge. ISBN 9781134616312.
  13. ^ "The 2009 Clarence Derwent Awards". 31 January 2010.
  14. ^ "Well-known actor and RSC veteran Clifford Rose dies aged 92". Stratford Herald. 8 November 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  15. ^ "Clifford Rose, prolific Shakespearean actor who shot to fame on television as the evil SS officer Kessler in the hit BBC series Secret Army – obituary". The Telegraph. 10 November 2021. (subscription required)
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