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Nicol Williamson (14th September 1936 – 16th December 2011) was a Scottish-born actor once described by English playwright John Osborne as "the greatest actor since Marlon Brando". Williamson was born in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, the son of a factory owner. His family later moved south to England and Williamson was educated at the Central Grammar School for Boys, Birmingham. He left school at 16 to begin work in his father's factory and later attended the Birmingham School of Speech & Drama. He recalled his time there as "a disaster" and claimed "it was nothing more than a finishing... MORE

Nicol Williamson (14th September 1936 – 16th December 2011) was a Scottish-born actor once described by English playwright John Osborne as "the greatest actor since Marlon Brando". Williamson was born in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, the son of a factory owner. His family later moved south to England and Williamson was educated at the Central Grammar School for Boys, Birmingham. He left school at 16 to begin work in his father's factory and later attended the Birmingham School of Speech & Drama. He recalled his time there as "a disaster" and claimed "it was nothing more than a finishing school for the daughters of local businessmen". After his National Service as a gunner in the Airborne Division, Williamson made his professional debut with the Dundee Rep in 1960 and the following year appeared with the Arts Theatre in Cambridge. The following year, he made his London debut in Tony Richardson's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Royal Court Theatre. His first major success came in 1964 with John Osborne's Inadmissible Evidence for which he won a Tony award when it transferred to Broadway in 1965. In 1968, he starred in the film version. Williamson's Hamlet for Tony LESS