Last updated on the 1 June 2024 by Maeve

Mini Biography

Born: 17 February 1934, Allestree, Derby, England.

Alan Bates wasn’t destined for the stage at first. Though his parents, both music lovers, nurtured his artistic side, young Alan initially focused on music. By the age of 11, however, a spark ignited a new passion – acting. He devoured local productions at Derby’s Little Theatre, and his decision was made.

His dedication paid off. Bates earned a scholarship to the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, graduating in 1954. After a mandatory stint in the Royal Air Force, he landed a pivotal role – joining the newly formed English Stage Company at the Royal Court Theatre.

The 1950s saw Bates establish himself as a rising star of British theatre. He embodied the rebellious spirit of the era, perfectly capturing the disillusionment and anger of young Britons in John Osborne’s groundbreaking play “Look Back in Anger” (1956). This success propelled him onto the silver screen, where his film career blossomed in the 1960s.

Alan Bates wasn’t afraid to take on diverse roles. He captivated audiences in the gritty realism of “A Kind of Loving” (1962), a film that explored the challenges of working-class life, and then charmed them with his portrayal of the playful lodger in the whimsical “Georgy Girl” (1966). He displayed his dramatic range in “Far From the Madding Crowd” (1967), a classic adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s novel, and then delivered a powerful performance in “The Fixer” (1968), which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

One of Bates’ most iconic roles came in 1969 with Ken Russell’s controversial film “Women in Love.” His portrayal of the passionate Gerald Crich alongside Oliver Reed and Glenda Jackson cemented his status as a daring and versatile actor.

His stage career remained equally distinguished. He received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Richard III and took on iconic Shakespearean roles like Hamlet and King Lear later in his career. Awarded a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1976 and knighted in 2003, Sir Alan Bates’ dedication to his craft was undeniable.

Alan Bates married actress Victoria Ward in 1970 and they had two sons, Benedick and Tristan.

Suggested viewing

Whistle Down the Wind (1961)

Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 7.6

Three farm children, mistaking an escaped criminal for Jesus Christ, hide him in their barn. As their belief intensifies, the clash between innocent faith and harsh reality throws their small community into a whirlwind of confusion and ultimately, a test of compassion.

Top cast: Hayley Mills, Alan Bates, Bernard Lee, Norman Bird, Diane Clare, John Arnatt, Patricia Heneghan, Elsie Wagstaff.

A Kind of Loving (1962)

Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.3

A young factory worker’s carefree fling leads to an unplanned pregnancy, forcing him into a marriage with a woman he doesn’t quite love. Living with her overbearing mother strains their fragile connection, and a heartbreaking loss forces them to confront the true meaning of their “kind of loving.”

Top cast: Alan Bates, June Ritchie, Thora Hird, Bert Palmer, Pat Keen, James Bolam, Jack Smethurst, Gwen Nelson, Patsy Rowlands, Leonard Rossiter.

More kitchen sink dramas

Georgy Girl (1966)

Bftv 8.0 / IMDb 6.9

An unconventional young woman, more comfortable with children than romance, contends with life’s complexities. When an older gentleman proposes and her roommate gets pregnant, she must choose between societal expectations and forging her own path.

Top cast: James Mason, Lynn Redgrave, Alan Bates, Charlotte Rampling, Bill Owen, Clare Kelly, Rachel Kempson.

Far from the Madding Crowd (1967)

Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.2

An independent woman inherits a farm, attracting the attention of three suitors – a dependable shepherd, a wealthy landowner and a dashing soldier. As she faces love, loss and the challenges of running a farm, she must choose between security, passion and her own hard-won independence.

Top cast: Julie Christie, Terence Stamp, Peter Finch, Alan Bates, Fiona Walker, Prunella Ransome, Alison Leggatt, Paul Dawkins.

Alternative version

The Running Man (1963)

Bftv 8.0 / IMDb 6.5

A vengeful pilot fakes his death to collect life insurance, fleeing to Spain with his wife. But their scheme unravels when an insurance investigator arrives. Paranoia consumes the pilot as he runs from the truth, jeopardising his new life and his relationship with his wife.

Top cast: Laurence Harvey, Lee Remick, Alan Bates, Felix Aylmer, Eleanor Summerfield, Allan Cuthbertson, Harold Goldblatt, Noel Purcell.

The Fixer (1968)

Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 6.8

Falsely accused of murder in Tsarist Russia, a Jewish handyman endures brutal imprisonment and escalating persecution. Isolated and stripped of his identity, he must fight for survival and grapple with his own faith as he awaits a trial that seems preordained.

Top cast: Alan Bates, Dirk Bogarde, Georgia Brown, Hugh Griffith, Elizabeth Hartman, Ian Holm, David Opatoshu, David Warner, Carol White.

Women in Love (1969)

Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.1

Two sisters grapple with contrasting relationships in the aftermath of war. One seeks a passionate connection, while the other strives for a stable marriage. Their journeys in love, tested by societal pressures and clashing personalities, expose the complexities of desire and commitment.

Top cast: Alan Bates, Oliver Reed, Glenda Jackson, Jennie Linden, Eleanor Bron, Alan Webb, Vladek Sheybal, Catherine Willmer, Phoebe Nicholls.

The Mayor of Casterbridge (1978)

Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 7.9

A disgraced man sells his wife in a drunken stupor, vowing to rebuild his life. Years later, prosperous and respected, his past resurfaces, forcing him to confront his mistakes and the consequences that threaten to unravel everything he’s built.

Top cast: Alan Bates, Janet Maw, Jack Galloway, Anna Massey, Ronald Lacey, Peter Bourke, Jeffrey Holland, Alan Rowe.

Alternative version

An Englishman Abroad (1983)

Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 7.5

Guy Burgess, a disgraced British spy living a lonely existence in Moscow encounters a famous actress on tour. A chance meeting sparks an unexpected connection, offering a glimpse of his past life and a reminder of the world he left behind.

Top cast: Alan Bates, Coral Browne, Charles Gray, Harold Innocent, Vernon Dobtcheff, Mark Wing-Davey, Douglas Reith.

Hard Times (1994)

Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 6.5

A wealthy industrialist prioritizes logic over emotion, raising his children in a rigid, fact-based world. When their paths collide with a disillusioned worker and a charming outsider, their tightly controlled lives unravel, exposing the limitations of reason and the power of human connection.

Top cast: Alan Bates, Bob Peck, Richard E. Grant, Bill Paterson, Beatie Edney, Harriet Walter, Christien Anholt, Dilys Laye, Alex Jennings.

More Dickens

Alan Bates full filmography @ Wikipedia