
Michael Elphick
The Great Pretender
The History Press Ltd
Published on 1. October 2013
Book
Hardback
224 pages
978-0-7524-9147-9 (ISBN)
Description
Michael Elphick was a young electrician working at the Chichester Theatre when he was discovered by Laurence Olivier, who arranged for him to join the Central School of Drama. It was here where he met Bruce Robinson, who would later cast him in one of the most popular British films of all time - Withnail and I. Elphick's illustrious career also included major supporting roles in films such as Quadrophenia, The Elephant Man, Gorky Park and Dennis Potter's Blue Remembered Hills. On television, there was Private Schultz and Boon, which gave his acolyte and friend, Neil Morrissey, his first starring role. One of his characters' owned houses in Coronation Street whilst another wooed Peggy Mitchell in Eastenders. However, Elphick's private life was every bit as varied as his acting career. Racked by alcoholism and devastated by the early death of his partner, Julia, Elphick died at the age of 55. And yet, his friends and family will always remember his hugely humorous personality, and everyone he met was left with a 'Mike Elphick story'...
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Stroud
United Kingdom
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
16 Plates, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 155 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
540 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7524-9147-9 (9780752491479)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
10/2013
The History Press Ltd
€1.49
Available for download
Persons
Kate Elphick and Nigel Denison are ideally placed to write the first biography of Michael Elphick, as Kate is his only child and Nigel was a close friend of Michael's for many years.