Edward Duke(1953-1994)
- Actor
Edward Duke was educated at British private schools, Balcombe Place and
Stonyhurst College. His expulsion from Stonyhurst was in the tradition
of other luminaries Charles Laughton and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. When
his father was posted in Japan as a cultural diplomat, Duke studied
Kabuki Theatre, which became his biggest influence. Before embarking on
the usual rounds of regional Theatre, Duke trained at the Arts
Educational School of London. In the West End, he was also seen in Why
Not Stay for Breakfast? Peg of My Heart (as Alaric), and Filumena
(directed by Franco Zeffirelli). In 1980 the Society of West End
Theatre voted Edward Duke "Most Promising Newcomer" for his conception
and adaptation of "Jeeves Takes Charge" by P.G. Wodehouse. His one-man
Jeeves show was directed by Gillian Lynne and opened at London's Fortune Theatre in September of 1980,
and subsequently played in Canada, Australia, and Taiwan. In the U.S.
his show played in Cleveland, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and ran
two seasons in New York, where he was nominated for a Drama Desk Award.
His proudest moment came when he was invited to perform the play
privately for Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother - who was an avid
Wodehouse fan. While at the height of his powers he was stricken with
AIDS, which he referred to as his "dreaded inconvenience." His parents
predeceased him and a sister and three brothers survived him. The
theatre lost a clever, bright, young talent a few months before his
fortieth birthday. Thankfully he left behind the memory of full houses
laughing at his brilliant comedic performances. His legacy lives on in
audio book versions of Wodehouse plays.
