Hugh Fraser (actor)

Hugh Fraser (born 23 October 1945)[1] is an English actor, theatre director and author. He was born in Westminster, but grew up in the Midlands. He studied acting at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Fraser's first big break came after portraying Anthony Eden in the 1978 television series Edward & Mrs. Simpson, with Edward Fox, after which he was frequently cast as upper class or aristocratic characters, such as Mr Talmann in Peter Greenaway's The Draughtsman's Contract.

Hugh Fraser
Born
Hugh Fraser

(1945-10-23) 23 October 1945
Westminster, London, England
Other namesHugh Frazer
OccupationActor
Years active1956–present
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 1988)​
Children1

He has appeared regularly on film and in television and is best known for his portrayal of Captain Hastings in the television series Agatha Christie's Poirot opposite David Suchet, and his role as the Duke of Wellington (replacing David Troughton) in the Sharpe television series.

Early life

Born in Westminster in 1945,[2] but brought up in the Midlands, Hugh Fraser studied acting at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. As a member of folk band Telltale, Hugh co-wrote and performed the theme music for Rainbow, the ITV children's television series.

Work

Fraser's first big break came after portraying Anthony Eden in the 1978 television series Edward & Mrs. Simpson, with Edward Fox, after which he was frequently cast as upper class or aristocratic characters, such as Mr Talmann in Peter Greenaway's The Draughtsman's Contract.

He has regularly appeared on film and in television and is best known for his portrayal of Captain Hastings in the television series Agatha Christie's Poirot opposite David Suchet, and his role as the Duke of Wellington (replacing David Troughton) in the Sharpe television series. He has also narrated Poirot audiobooks, including Elephants Can Remember.

In the 1980s, he appeared in the BBC thriller Edge of Darkness. Fraser can be frequently heard narrating the audiobooks of Christie's works, which are currently published by HarperCollins publishers. In recent years, he has been an associate tutor, director and member of the audition panel at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, specialising in Shakespeare.[3][4] Fraser has also directed several plays, most notably a production of David Mamet's adaptation of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, which was staged at Wilton's Music Hall in London in January 2007, with Rachael Stirling as Yelena.[5][6]

His film credits include Curse of the Pink Panther, 101 Dalmatians and Patriot Games along with his Sharpe co-star Sean Bean. He has also worked in theatre, playing Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1979. He has guest starred in the Doctor Who audio dramas Circular Time (2007) and Cradle of the Snake (2010), and in 2003, alongside Martin Shaw in Death in Holy Orders.

Fraser has also become an author; his first novel, Harm, was published in 2015, followed by Threat in 2016.[7] The third in the Rina Walker series, Malice, came out in October 2017.[8]

During his appearance on Pointless (30 Jan 2021), flute-player Hugh explained that he composed the theme melody for kids’ program Rainbow along with other songs for the show and theme tunes for other (unmentioned) TV series.

Personal life

He is married to the actress Belinda Lang and has one daughter, Lily.[9]

Selected film and television roles
Year Title Role Notes
1971Deviation
1976The RitzDisc Jockey
1977The Man in the Iron MaskMontfleuryTV movie
1977The Duellists
1978Edward & Mrs. SimpsonAnthony EdenTV Mini-Series, 2 episodes
1979Hanover StreetCapt. Harold Lester
1982FirefoxPolice Inspector Tortyev
1982Cloud HoweRobert ColquhounTV Series, 4 episodes
1982The Draughtsman's ContractMr Talmann
1982The MissionaryUsher at Wedding
1983Tales of the UnexpectedPaul StandingTV Series, episode "Clerical Error"
1983Curse of the Pink PantherDr. Arno Stang
1983Reilly, Ace of SpiesGeorge HillTV Mini-Series, 6 episodes
1985Edge of DarknessRobert BennettTV Mini-Series, 4 episodes
1987Murder on the Bluebell LineSherlock HolmesTV Series, Documentary
1988Codename: KyrilPeter JacksonTV Mini-Series, 4 episodes
1988Jack the RipperSir Charles WarrenTV Series, 2 episodes
1990Lorna DooneKing James IITV movie
1992Patriot GamesGeoffrey Watkins
1993TaggartBobby GaultEpisode: Gingerbread Part One
1996101 DalmatiansFrederick
2001The Lost BattalionGen. DeCoppetTV movie
2003Death in Holy OrdersGeorge GregoryTV Mini-Series, 2 episodes
2004The Baby Juice ExpressArthur Burnett CBE
2004The Alan Clark DiariesTristan Garel-JonesTV Series, 6 episodes
2004New TricksPaul AdamsonTV Series, 1 episode
1994-2006SharpeDuke of Wellington9 TV Movies
2010Jackboots on WhitehallBBC Newsreader / GastonVoice
1989-2013Agatha Christie's PoirotCaptain Arthur HastingsTV Series, 43 episodes
2016With Love From... SuffolkSat NavVoice

References
  1. Fraser, Hugh (8 October 2017). "23 October 1945. Your sincere wishes most appreciated Dinah". @realhughfraser. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  2. "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
  3. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Special Programs". Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  5. Uncle Vanya The Stage, 29 January 2007
  6. "London Theatre News, Reviews, Interviews and more". whatsonstage. Archived from the original on 9 February 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  7. Fraser, Hugh (1 June 2017). Malice – Book 3 in the Rina Walker series. S.l.: Urbane Publications. ISBN 9781911583066.
  8. Harm: Hugh Fraser: 9780993264917: Amazon.com: Books. ISBN 978-0993264917.
  9. Feinstein, Sharon (2 May 1999). "The Interview: Belinda Lang – Our marriage is perfect even though I'm so bossy". Sunday Mirror. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
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