Christopher Malcolm


Christopher Malcolm was a Scottish-Canadian actor, director, and producer. He first achieved notoriety for his role as Brad Majors in the original stage production of The Rocky Horror Show.

Early life and education

Malcolm was born on 19 August 1946 in Aberdeen to William Malcolm, a farmer, and his wife Paddy English. He was brought up in Canada after his family emigrated to British Columbia in the late 1940s, with his family running a farm in Vernon. He attended the University of British Columbia, where he worked and studied theatre, but later dropped out to co-found the Powerhouse Theatre in Vernon. He moved back to the UK at age 19, living with a grandmother in Essex.

Career

Malcolm began his professional career with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He appeared in at least ten productions and worked with directors including Peter Hall, Trevor Nunn and John Barton. Throughout the 1970s, he worked continuously in theatre and film, appearing in many Royal Court productions including the award-winning musical, The Rocky Horror Show creating the role of Brad Majors. He appeared in films including The Empire Strikes Back, Reds, Ragtime, Superman III, Labyrinth, and Highlander.
In 1978, Malcolm began his producing career with Pal Joey, which was successfully transferred to the West End in 1980 and was nominated for Best Musical Revival in the Laurence Olivier Awards. He followed this success with the Best Comedy award in 1981 for Nell Dunn's Steaming, which went on to play for two years at the Comedy Theatre and around the world. Other productions in London included Frankie and Johnny, When I Was A Young Girl I Used To Scream And Shout, as well as five Steven Berkoff plays, including Decadence, Greek and Metamorphosis. in 1983 he appeared in Only Fools and Horses as axe murderer Charles Winters. Malcolm also played the role of the café owner in The Comic Strip's 1984 film "A Fistful of Traveller's Cheques".
In 1990, Malcolm co-produced a new production of The Rocky Horror Show at the Piccadilly Theatre, in partnership with Howard Panter of the Ambassador Theatre Group. This Olivier nominated production went on to huge success throughout the UK, enjoying 4 nationwide tours over the next 10 years as well as many productions throughout the world. He oversaw these productions on behalf of The Rocky Horror Company Ltd, a company formed by the producers and the play's author Richard O'Brien to look after this much loved musical. The show finally reached Broadway in 2000 in a Tony Award-nominated production co-produced with Jordan Roth Productions at the Circle in the Square theatre.
Other British productions throughout this time include The Pajama Game, Footloose the Musical, and the award-winning Single Spies written by Alan Bennett which had a very successful year at the Queen's Theatre. He co-produced the world premiere of Flashdance The Musical which premiered at the Plymouth Theatre Royal in 2008, toured the UK and presented at the Shaftesbury Theatre in 2010. The final show he produced was 'Oh! What a Lovely War!' at Stratford East which was directed by Terry Johnson and opened in January 2014 to critical acclaim. He had maintained his interest in acting as well, appearing on 11 episodes of Absolutely Fabulous as Saffy's father, Justin, and in the BBC2 film, Daphne as Nelson Doubleday.

Personal life

Malcolm lived in London with his wife Judy Lloyd, an actress. They had three children, Nell, Morgan, and Marlon. He was close friends with actors Frances and Andy de la Tour.

Death

His daughter Morgan Lloyd Malcolm reported his death from cancer, aged 67, on 15 February 2014, via Twitter.

Partial stage credits

YearTitleRoleVenueNotes
1973-79The Rocky Horror ShowBrad MajorsVarious
1973-74Design for LivingHenry CarverPhoenix Theatre, London
1981Mary, MaryBob McKellawayThorndike Theatre, Leatherhead
1986MetamorphosisMermaid Theatre, LondonProducer
1986The Rocky Horror ShowBrad MajorsAshcroft Theatre, Croydon

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1968A Midsummer Night's DreamAttendant
1969The DesperadosGregg
1970Figures in a LandscapeHelicopter Observer
1971Welcome to the ClubPvt. Henry Hoe
1972The Adventures of Barry McKenzieSean
1975The Spiral StaircasePolice Officer
1977The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know ItCIA Agent
1978Force 10 from NavaroneRogers
1979The Great Riviera Bank RobberySerge
1980The Empire Strikes BackZev Senesca
1980The Dogs of WarBaker
1981Shock TreatmentVance Parker
1981RagtimePolice Captain
1981RedsHolland
1983Superman IIIMiner
1984LassiterQuaid
1985King DavidDoeg
1985Rustlers' RhapsodyJud
1985Spies Like UsJumpmaster
1986HighlanderKirk Matunas
1986LabyrinthRobert
1987Eat the RichSteinbeck
1988Whoops ApocalypseGallagher

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1969Strange ReportSlaon1 episode, "Report 3906: Cover Girls - Last Year's Model"
1971ITV PlayhouseThe first officer1 episode "The Switch"
1971JusticeFarrer1 episode "People Have Too Many Rights"
1972The ProtectorsMalloy1 episode, "Disappearing Trick"
1973Diamonds on WheelsJockTV movie
1973Harriet's Back in TownBenjamin Finch2 episodes
1974DisneylandJock3 episodes, "Diamonds on Wheels"
1975ThrillerHank1 episode, "Won't Write Home Mom – I'm Dead"
1975Edward the SeventhAmerican Attaché1 episode, "The New World"
1975It's a Lovely Day TomorrowThe YankTV movie
1976Second VerdictMullaly1 episode, "Lizzie Borden"
1977RafflesBarney Maguire1 episode, "A Trap to "Catch a Cracksman"
1980Play for TodayMatt1 episode, "Instant Enlightenment Including VAT"
1980OppenheimerSteve Nelson2 episodes
1982Whoops ApocalypseMotorcycle Cop1 episode, "How To Get Rid of It"
1982We'll Meet AgainMaster Sgt. Mac McGraw10 episodes-
1982Beau GesteHank5 episodes
1983The Last DayAmerican at AirportTelevision Movie
1983Only Fools and HorsesCharles Winters, the Axe Murderer1 episode, Friday the 14th
1984–1990The Comic StripBrother-in-law, Cafe Owner2 episodes
1986The Daily WomanMax CallisherTV movie
1986The Last Days of PattonMaj. Ken Morgan TV movie
1986The Ted Kennedy Jr. StoryBen GibbsTV movie
1987PulaskiTony1 episode, "The Lone Granger"
1988War and RemembranceBunky Thurston2 episodes
1992–94Firm FriendsEddie Vincent2 episodes
1992–2011Absolutely FabulousJustin11 episodes
1994LovejoyTexas Greenberg1 episode
1996Over HereMurphyTV movie
2007DaphneNelson DoubledayTV movie