Consistently capturing generations’ and their wide-eyed imaginations is a tricky fete for most actors and hardly any actor has come close to playing iconic roles. When one comes along, who is able to thrill and delight us, they are treasured forever more. And when we lose that person, we can’t help but feel the loss at it ripples across the globe with complete sadness. Today, at a ripe age of 91, the excellent Ron Moody past away.
Born in Tottenham in 1924, Moody had started as a theatre actor and portrayed many different roles. His lanky figure and nature for satirical comedy, he translated his skill for astute humorous awareness would gift audiences with cabaret, stage shows and dramas that caught us in his brilliant talent.
Audiences everywhere would recognise Ron Moody for his most acclaimed role as Fagin from Lionel Bart’s Oliver! Appearing in both the stage and the movie version of the musical, Moody encompassed something unique and special about the character that hasn’t been matched. Self-professedly giving all to the role, the determination and skill comes beaming out of him as the slimy thief who runs a pickpocket gang around the streets of London. Whilst he has a few songs that he fulfils greatly such as Pick A Pocket or Two and he is able to devilishly flesh out the Dickens’ character with flare and seediness, it’s really Moody’s performance of Reviewing the Situation, both the original and the reprise that excels. Bobbing along with this seedy nature whilst extrapolating answers and fun at the same time, his performance as Fagin is unparalleled.
Audiences everywhere would recognise Ron Moody for his most acclaimed role as Fagin from Lionel Bart’s Oliver! Appearing in both the stage and the movie version of the musical, Moody encompassed something unique and special about the character that hasn’t been matched. Self-professedly giving all to the role, the determination and skill comes beaming out of him as the slimy thief who runs a pickpocket gang around the streets of London. Whilst he has a few songs that he fulfils greatly such as Pick A Pocket or Two and he is able to devilishly flesh out the Dickens’ character with flare and seediness, it’s really Moody’s performance of Reviewing the Situation, both the original and the reprise that excels. Bobbing along with this seedy nature whilst extrapolating answers and fun at the same time, his performance as Fagin is unparalleled.
Moody continued on from the success of Oliver!, which scored him a Golden Globe Award and a Tony and Oscar nomination, with roles on several children’s television shows. The Animals of Farthing Wood, Into the Labyrinth and the Discworld series were all under his belt of TV adaptations. He was perhaps best known for Rupert Mountjoy, the Prime Minister, in The Mouse on the Moon whilst he’d also star in other shows such as Murder Most Foul and The Great Orlando. He would also do some stellar turns as eccentric Uncles and brilliant companions in films such as The Flight of the Doves and brilliantly captured Iago in a TV version of Othello.
Apparently Moody’s biggest regret would be turning down the role of The Doctor in science fiction television series Doctor Who, with Peter Troughton taking his place. As much as we love Troughton, we cannot help but imagine Moody travelling through time and space, that would’ve been amazing.
It’s with great sorrow that Ron Moody left our lives today and his cinematic, theatrical and television escapades will live on in our memory. He was also a graduate of London of Economics, a gifted writer and had a personality that transcended art forms and enthralled us all. May he rest in peace.
Apparently Moody’s biggest regret would be turning down the role of The Doctor in science fiction television series Doctor Who, with Peter Troughton taking his place. As much as we love Troughton, we cannot help but imagine Moody travelling through time and space, that would’ve been amazing.
It’s with great sorrow that Ron Moody left our lives today and his cinematic, theatrical and television escapades will live on in our memory. He was also a graduate of London of Economics, a gifted writer and had a personality that transcended art forms and enthralled us all. May he rest in peace.
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