Date of Birth : Jul 14th 1931
Was a leading British actor in the early years of England’s Royal National Theatre.
In 1949 Stephens won a scholarship to Esmé Church’s Bradford Civic Theatre School, Yorkshire, (where he met his first wife Nora, a fellow student). His first professional engagement was with the Caryl Jenner Mobile Theatre, which he followed in 1951 by a year of more challenging parts in repertory at the Royalty Theatre, Morecambe, followed by seasons of touring and at the Hippodrome, Preston. The London director Tony Richardson saw a performance at the Royalty and this led to an offer of a place in the “momentous” first season of English Stage Company at the Royal Court in 1956. His success was assured.
His other films in this period included a minor role as Prince Escalus in Franco Zeffirelli’s Romeo & Juliet (1968), as well as a starring role in Billy Wilder’s The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970) and the science fiction film, The Asphyx (1973). However, following his departure from the National Theatre in 1970 and the breakup of his marriage in 1973 he suffered a career slump, not helped by heavy drinking.
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