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Murray Head

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
46

Gender
Male

Birthday
March 5, 1946 (80 years old)

Place of Birth
London, England, UK

Murray Head

Biography

Murray Seafield St George Head (born 5 March 1946) is an English actor and singer. Head has appeared in a number of films, including a starring role as the character Bob Elkin in the Oscar-nominated 1971 film Sunday Bloody Sunday. As a musician, he is most recognised for his international hit songs "Superstar" (from the 1970 rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar) and "One Night in Bangkok" (the 1984 single from the musical Chess, which topped the charts in various countries), and for his 1975 album Say It Ain't So. He has been involved in several projects since the 1960s and continues to record music, perform concerts, and make appearances on television either as himself or as a character actor.

Head was born in London to Seafield Laurence Stewart Murray Head (20 August 1919 – 22 March 2009) and Helen Shingler (29 August 1919 − 8 October 2019). Head's father was a documentary filmmaker for Verity Films. Head's mother played Mme Maigret alongside Rupert Davies in the BBC 1960s television adaptation of the Maigret novels written by Georges Simenon. Head's younger brother Anthony Head is also an actor, best known for playing Rupert Giles in the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Head was educated at the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle in South Kensington, London and Hampton School in Hampton, Middlesex. He attended Chiswick Polytechnic (A level college) in the early 1960s.

Head began writing songs as a child, and by the mid-1960s he had a London-based recording contract. He briefly appeared as one of the hosts of the Bristol-based television pop show Now! alongside Michael Palin. He had limited success, until asked by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber to play Judas Iscariot on the original concept album version of Jesus Christ Superstar; at the time, he had been appearing in the West End production of the musical Hair. With the Trinidad Singers, the song "Superstar" peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1971.

He made his film debut in The Family Way (1966), which featured Hayley Mills, Hywel Bennett and John Mills in the leading roles. Head won a leading role in the Oscar-nominated film Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971), alongside Peter Finch and Glenda Jackson. Despite these successes, he received little public attention in the next ten years (except for his single release, "Say It Ain't So, Joe" in 1975, which has been covered by The Who's lead vocalist, Roger Daltrey, among others, including The Hollies). "Never Even Thought" has been covered by both Colin Blunstone and Cliff Richard.

In 1973, he appeared in a radio drama, The Fourth Tower of Inverness. In 1979, Head appeared in the miniseries Prince Regent and the final episode of the ITV program Return of the Saint. ...

Source: Article "Murray Head" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Known For

Acting

2019War of the Worldsas Mikel
2014Horseheadas Jim
2011Veraas Peter Calvert
2009En direct de l'universas Self
2009No Pasaranas Peter Konchelsky
2004D-Day 6.6.1944as Robert Douin
2003Rosemary & Thymeas Nev Connolly
2003I, Cesaras Mr. Fitzpatrick
2002Cindyas Ronan
2002Lovers of the Nileas Le colonel
2001Judge John Deedas Judge Previn
1999The Big Snake of the Worldas Tom
1999Where Are They Now?as Self
1999The Viceas Tommy Roker
1996Beaumarchais the Scoundrelas Lord Rochford
1993Taratataas Self
1992Heartbeatas Jack Hollins
1990Centrepointas Nick Wareing
1989Chess in Concertas Freddie
1989Stormy Summeras Jack
1989The Savageas Michael
1987White Mischiefas Lizzie
1987Le monde est à vousas Self
1987Sacrée soiréeas Self
1987Nulle part ailleursas Self
198740° à l'ombreas Self
1986Casualtyas Billy Cooper
1985Chess Movesas The American
1984Magasinet Special: Chess 1984as Self
1983Bei Bioas Self
1982Champs-Elyséesas Self
1981Six Fifty-Five Specialas Self
1978Return of the Saintas Pierre
1977Madame Claudeas David Evans
1975Les Rendez-vous du dimancheas Self
1975Midi Premièreas Self
1975El poder del deseoas Javier
1974Taking Leaveas Barbara Allen Singer (voice only)
1974Intent to Murderas Larry
1974The Fortunes of Nigelas Lord Dalgarno
1973Gawain and the Green Knightas Gawain
1972Shirley's Worldas
1972La Mandarineas Antony 'Tony' Bellay-Vanguard
1971Sunday Bloody Sundayas Bob Elkin
1967Two Weeks in Septemberas Dickinson's Assistant
1966The Family Wayas Geoffrey Fitton

Production

1999The Children of the Century...Writer
1988Door on the Left as You Leave the Elevator...Original Music Composer
1982For 200 Grand, You Get Nothing Now...Original Music Composer
1980Cocktail Molotov...Music