Found this interesting quote looking for pics from "King Arthur, the Young Warlord":
"As a child he and his friends used to play at Flash Gordon, inspired by the Buster Crabbe TV serials. In these childhood games Brian would always play Vultan, leader of the Hawkmen. In the 1980 film Flash Gordon he played the same role as he had in childhood"
"The only real sports in the world are mountaineering, motor racing and boxing, The rest are just games." (he has attempted climbing Mount Everest 3 times, but never reached the summit)
"I always say: 'The greatest danger in life is not taking the adventure.'
(His view on Shakespeare) "The blue planet has had its author. It would be greedy to want another."
I would have loved to see (hear) him as Smaug in the forthcoming Hobbit film...oh hell, I would listen to this man read a phone book!
I once saw him walking very determinedly up Guildford (Surrey, UK)high street. About 15 years ago. He was much shorter than I thought. I'm aware this is the lamest claim to fame ever.
And don't forget his role as Long John Silver in "Return to Treasure Island," possibly the most underrated/overlooked series in the history of television!
My players refer to my "GM laugh" (as in, "YES, I am in the process of thrashing your characters and loving every minute of it!") as the "Brian Blessed Hawkman Laugh".
One of these days I'm totally going as Vultan for Halloween. I'll grow my hair and beard out for six months just to do it right.
And don't forget King Yrcanos in the Dr. Who episode "Mindwarp". :-)
ReplyDeleteIndeed ha has, which is why he should have been cast as Volstagg in Branagh's Thor movie. That he was not is an oversight beyond comprehension.
ReplyDeleteI decided a few years back that all the idols dedicated to the War God in my default campaign world depict Brian Blessed in ragged plate armor.
ReplyDeleteI think hearing that Neil Gaiman's original concept for Destruction in the Sandman series was based Blessed guided me to that decision.
Loved him as Augustus in I, Claudius!
ReplyDeleteWhen reading a Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin, he was the default image of King Robert in my minds eye!
ReplyDeleteHis turn as Dr. Cabot Rowland elevated Space:1999's Death's Other Dominion to one of my Top 5 episodes.
ReplyDeleteFound this interesting quote looking for pics from "King Arthur, the Young Warlord":
ReplyDelete"As a child he and his friends used to play at Flash Gordon, inspired by the Buster Crabbe TV serials. In these childhood games Brian would always play Vultan, leader of the Hawkmen. In the 1980 film Flash Gordon he played the same role as he had in childhood"
Brian Blessed: Pre-D&D roleplayer.
I always mixed him up with Rip Torn.
ReplyDeleteBrian Blessed quotes:
ReplyDelete"The only real sports in the world are mountaineering, motor racing and boxing, The rest are just games."
(he has attempted climbing Mount Everest 3 times, but never reached the summit)
"I always say: 'The greatest danger in life is not taking the adventure.'
(His view on Shakespeare) "The blue planet has had its author. It would be greedy to want another."
I would have loved to see (hear) him as Smaug in the forthcoming Hobbit film...oh hell, I would listen to this man read a phone book!
Ciao!
Grendelwulf
I once saw him walking very determinedly up Guildford (Surrey, UK)high street. About 15 years ago. He was much shorter than I thought. I'm aware this is the lamest claim to fame ever.
ReplyDeleteBut Blackadder and Voltan yeah!
Brian Blessed is a legend. He is one of the few people to become his own tv trope.
ReplyDeletehttp://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Ptitleijqobqvle9an?from=Main.BrianBlessed
And not so awesome: Boss Nass from SW: Ep I.
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boss_Nass#N
Or has he played one awesome character several times?
ReplyDeleteAnd don't forget his role as Long John Silver in "Return to Treasure Island," possibly the most underrated/overlooked series in the history of television!
ReplyDeleteBrian Blessed rocks! THE MAN CANNOT SPEAK QUIETLY! He makes me think of Christmas
ReplyDeleteMy players refer to my "GM laugh" (as in, "YES, I am in the process of thrashing your characters and loving every minute of it!") as the "Brian Blessed Hawkman Laugh".
ReplyDeleteOne of these days I'm totally going as Vultan for Halloween. I'll grow my hair and beard out for six months just to do it right.
Always a pleasure (except in episode one...)
ReplyDeleteIn my mind, Brian Blessed is the ONLY man capable of pulling off the role of Thorin in the Hobbit movie.
ReplyDeletePeriod.
OH, MY GOD!!! I LIKE THAT GUY! I USE HIS CALM, QUIET VOICE TO GO TO SLEEP!!!
ReplyDeleteHE MADE IT ALL LOOK GOOD UNTIL 300 HAD TO RUIN IT!!! LOL
For sheer scenery chewing, I have to vote Voltan :)
ReplyDelete"Chiswick!!! Fresh horses!!!l
ReplyDeleteHe was always my "dream casting" for Gimli in Lord of the Rings (not that I'm at all unhappy with the work of John Rhys-Davies).
ReplyDeleteBlessed rocks.
ReplyDelete@kelvingreen: Branagh is making a 'Thor' film?!?