Biography

Jeremy Brett

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Born
November 3, 1933 · Berkswell Grange, Warwickshire, England, UK
Died
September 12, 1995 · London, England, UK (iatrogenic congestive cardiac failure)
Birth name
Peter Jeremy William Huggins
Height
6′ 1″ (1.86 m)

The refined and debonair English actor Jeremy Brett will forever be best remembered for his long-running and critically acclaimed portrayal of Sherlock Holmes for Britain's Granada Television. From a privileged background, Brett was educated at England's most prestigious independent school, Eton College. After training as an actor at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, Brett made his professional stage debut in repertory in 1954. He became a noteworthy classical actor who was to make regular appearances on stage, including many with the National Theatre.

Brett was as cultured off screen as on. His interests included classical music, archery and horseback riding. His greatest popularity and acclaim would come with his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes on television from the 1980s through to the 1990s. Where so many have tried and failed to capture the essence of the character, either being derided or forgotten, Brett's widely praised take on it has been described by many as superlative and even definitive. Brett suffered from poor health towards the end of his life but he was still playing the role of Holmes shortly before his death in 1995 at the age of 61.
- IMDb mini biography by: Anonymous

He was famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in the television series The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984) and The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1986). When he learned that his Sherlock Holmes was very popular with children (who saw him as a superhero), he was troubled by the fact that Holmes is a cocaine user. In response, he sought and obtained permission from Arthur Conan Doyle's daughter to have Holmes overcome and abandon his addiction, signified with Holmes burying his syringe in the episode "The Devil's Foot".
Brett was left-handed. The character of Sherlock Holmes was right-handed. A hand double was employed whenever a close-up view was shown of Holmes writing something.
His father forbade him from using the family name on stage because he thought acting was a "dubious" profession. So Jeremy took his stage name from the label of his first suit, "Brett & Co."
Brett belonged to the Woodmen of Arden, an archery club established in 1758. His father and brothers were also members.
His death at the age of 61 was the result of cardiomyopathy (heart failure). Brett's heart valves were permanently scarred by rheumatic fever, which he suffered as a teenager. Medication later prescribed for his bipolar disorder, and his longtime smoking habit, also weakened his heart. His co-star Edward Hardwicke recalled that Brett would often buy three packets of cigarettes in the morning, and smoke them all during the course of the day.

People living in Hollywood have to stay home if they're in a foul mood; anything outside the home is potential publicity.
"It's very rare I've been able to get into the 20th century. When I turn from 1899 to 1900 I jump for joy. I did in Rebecca (1979), I got into the '30's then. I have done some modern stuff but I'm so thrilled I over-act like crazy. I've got pockets! I'm so used to wearing tights all the time that when I put my hands in my pockets I nearly fall over. I'm so unused to playing a modern guy. It all started because I was a classical actor, I was trained that way. When I left drama school, I wanted to do Shakespeare, I loved the words, I really fell in love with them, I loved the sound of them. So, most of my training was classical...".
On Mad Dogs and Englishmen (1995) - "I was mad to do it, but I wanted to show the world that I was still alive and I could do other things apart from Sherlock Holmes. I hope they don't release it..."
"Audrey really is a darling. There's something wonderful about her that no man can explain, but every man can feel!" (speaking of working with Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady (1964)).
Speaking of his wife, Joan Wilson: "We had a once-in-a-lifetime love. She was an incredible person, the best wife a man could have. This was the kind of relationship where I would start a sentence and she would finish it. Sometimes you can see behind somebody's eyes and feel as if you have known them all your life. That's how it was."

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