Theater News

Denis Quilley, English Actor-Singer, is Dead at 75

Denis Quilley
Denis Quilley

Denis Quilley, an English singing actor who appeared in many productions, died of liver cancer on Sunday at age 75.

Quilley’s most recent stage appearance was in the Royal National Theatre revival of Anything Goes; he became ill during the run at the National and was therefore unable to continue in the show when it transferred to the West End. Among his other notable stage credits were Deathtrap, La Cage aux Folles, Privates on Parade (he also starred in the film version), Sweeney Todd, and a number of productions at the National, such as Hamlet, Humble Boy, Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Macbeth, and The Tempest. Quilley also may be heard singing the role of Molokov on the original recording of the musical Chess.

His films include Anne of a Thousand Days, Life at the Top, Mr. Johnson, Murder on the Orient Express, and King David, and he was seen on television in A Dangerous Man: Lawrence After Arabia, Cleopatra, King David, and The Marriage of Figaro.

Quilley is survived by his wife, actress Stella Chapman, and three children.