Roger Rees was born on the 5th of May, 1944 in Aberystwyth, to William John and Doris Louise Rees (née Smith). They later all moved to Balham, London.
After studying art at Camberwell College of Arts and Slade School of Fine Art, Roger fell into theatre acting and became a successful stage actor, joining the RSC.
Roger won an Olivier Award for ‘Actor of the Year in a New Play’ in 1980 and a Tony Award for Best Actor in 1982 for his leading role in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, an 8 and a half hour long adaptation of the Dickens novel by David Edgar.
Following his successes on the stage, Roger became well-known for his TV roles, especially in Cheers from 1989. He also later appeared in The West Wing, Grey’s Anatomy, Law & Order, Elementary and more.
He was also a film actor, with his most well-known role being the Sheriff of Rottingham in Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Other films he appeared in included Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Frida.
He lived in the US for 25 years and married his partner of 33 years, playwright Rick Elice, in 2011, when it became legal in New York. Roger was also a convert to Judaism.
Roger Rees died from brain cancer on the 10th of July, 2015, aged 71. Posthumously, he was inducted to the Broadway Theater Hall of Fame.
The Roger Rees Awards for Excellence in Student Performance were named for him in 2018.
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