Jon Finch

Dark, broodingly handsome Jon Finch was the son of a merchant banker. His first stage role was in elementary school at age 13 playing a Roman noblewoman(!). After gaining experience in amateur theatre groups and following a short stint with a folk singing group, he suddenly left for military service at age 18, serving in a parachute regiment. He returned to acting a few years later and delved seriously into classical theatre with several different repertory companies, appearing in over 50-60 plays, including "Night of the Iguana" and "She Stoops to Conquer", and serving as stage manager and / or assistant director for several of these companies. His first TV break came in 1967 and shortly thereafter won supporting roles in a couple of Hammer Studio film productions, The Vampire Lovers (1970) and The Horror of Frankenstein (1970). This was a sign as to the direction his cinematic career would take. His Gothic-edged film career peaked in the early 70s with such classy fare as Roman Polanski's Macbeth (1971), in which he played the tormented title role, in a particularly gory and controversial presentation; Alfred Hitchcock's macabre serial-killer thriller Frenzy (1972), in which he is a suspect in the dastardly crimes; The Final Programme (1973), an end-of-the-world sci-fi adventure that has since earned cult status; and the all-star production of Death on the Nile (1978), an elegant whodunit, courtesy of Agatha Christie. More importantly, he took part in many Shakespeare pieces that were transferred to TV, King Richard the Second (1978) and Much Ado About Nothing (1984). His career grew more erratic into the 80s and, for the most part, was typically cast in horror roles. But the gentleman has risen above it all with definite class, intelligence and a certain natural charm.