Biography
Composed, cerebral actor Ben Cross first came to international attention as the Olympic runner Harold Abrahams in Hugh Hudson's inspiring drama "Chariots of Fire" (1981). The Oscar-winning drama set the tone for much of Cross' subsequent film and television career, which found him playing upstanding young men whose passions - either romantic or professional - clashed with the established order in projects like "The Citadel" (BBC, 1983) and …
Career Milestones
| Made West End debut in "I Love My Wife" | ||
| Worked as a master carpenter for the Welsh National Opera and property master at the Alexandra Theatre in Birmingham | ||
1962 | Left home and school at age 15 | |
1973 | After graduating from RADA, performed at the Duke's Playhouse and the Prospect Theatre Company | |
1976 | Screen acting debut in "A Bridge Too Far" | |
1977 | Joined the Royal Shakespeare Company | |
1978 | Played Billy Flynn, the slick lawyer of murderess Roxie Hart, in "Chicago | |
1981 | Portrayed Jewish Olympic athlete Harold Abrahams in Hugh Hudson's multiple Oscar-winning, "Chariots of Fire" | |
1983 | Played a 1920s Scottish physician in the BBC series, "The Citadel" | |
1984 | Played a British cavalry officer in the ITV miniseries, "The Far Pavilions" (aired on HBO in the US) | |
1985 | Cast as an Italian priest aiding Jews in World War II-era Rome in "The Assisi Underground" | |
1991 | Played Barnabas Collins in the short-lived primetime remake of "Dark Shadows" (NBC) | |
1992 | Co-starred as a cold-blooded Russian terrorist hunted by Pierce Brosnan in "Live Wire" | |
1994 | Appeared in the Italian production of "Caro Dolce Amore (Honey Sweet Love)" | |
1997 | Played the title character in the TV production of "Solomon" | |
2002 | Composed and directed "The Best We've Ever Had" and "Nearly Midnight" at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival | |
2004 | Appeared in the USA Network remake of "Spartacus" | |
2004 | Had a supporting role in "Exorcist: The Beginning" | |
2006 | Cast as Rudolf Hess in the BBC production, "Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial" | |
2009 | Had a small role as Sarek, the Vulcan father of Spock (Zachary Quinto), in J. J. Abrams' "Star Trek" | |