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| In 1962 Boyd appeared in the film ] opposite starlet Dolores Hart, who later left Hollywood to join a Roman Catholic convent in Connecticut. The two actors developed a friendship that lasted Boyd's lifetime. | In 1962 Boyd appeared in the film ] opposite starlet Dolores Hart, who later left Hollywood to join a Roman Catholic convent in Connecticut. The two actors developed a friendship that lasted Boyd's lifetime. | ||
| Boyd was originally chosen to play ] opposite ] in 20th Century-Fox's epic production of '']'' (]) under the direction of ], but eventually withdrew from the problem-plagued production when he committed to star in ''The Fall of the Roman Empire'' (''Cleopatra'' was later directed by ], and the role of Mark Antony went to ]).{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} | Boyd was originally chosen to play ] opposite ] in 20th Century-Fox's epic production of '']'' (]) under the direction of ], but eventually withdrew from the problem-plagued production when he committed to star in ''The Fall of the Roman Empire'' (''Cleopatra'' was later directed by ], and the role of Mark Antony went to ]).{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} Boyd is a ].<ref name="malko">{{cite book | last =Malko | first =George | title =] | publisher =Delacorte Press | year =1970 | pages =6–7}}</ref> | ||
| Boyd also appeared in ]'s Biblical epic '']'' (1966) and was top-billed in another costumed epic '']'' (1965), filmed in ]. He appeared in the French-produced Napoleonic epic '']'' (1962), playing opposite ]. His non-epic roles included the musical '']'' (1962) opposite ], the ] melodrama '']'' (1966), the sci-fi special effects extravaganza '']'' (1966), the spy thriller '']'' (1969) and the international Western '']'' (1969), shot in ]. His career declined in the 1970s and he appeared in several European potboilers before making a comeback in ]'s British ] thriller '']'' (1977).{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} | Boyd also appeared in ]'s Biblical epic '']'' (1966) and was top-billed in another costumed epic '']'' (1965), filmed in ]. He appeared in the French-produced Napoleonic epic '']'' (1962), playing opposite ]. His non-epic roles included the musical '']'' (1962) opposite ], the ] melodrama '']'' (1966), the sci-fi special effects extravaganza '']'' (1966), the spy thriller '']'' (1969) and the international Western '']'' (1969), shot in ]. His career declined in the 1970s and he appeared in several European potboilers before making a comeback in ]'s British ] thriller '']'' (1977).{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} | ||
Revision as of 19:57, 25 September 2009
For the football player, see Stephen Boyd (American football). | This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Stephen Boyd" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2009) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Stephen Boyd | |
|---|---|
 from the trailer for the film Ben-Hur (1959). | |
| Born | William Millar |
| Years active | 1954 - 1977 |
| Spouse(s) | Mariella di Sarzana (1958-3 weeks later) (divorced) Elizabeth Mills (1977-his death 10 months later) |
Stephen Boyd (4 July 1931 – 2 June 1977), born William Millar, was an Irish-born actor from Glengormley, Northern Ireland, who appeared in 60 films, most notably in the role of Messala in the 1959 film Ben-Hur.
Biography
Boyd was discovered by actor Michael Redgrave while working as a hotel doorman. He began in British films---notably as an edgy Irish spy in the 1955 World War II film The Man Who Never Was---but it was his role in a 1957 French film The Night Heaven Fell opposite Brigitte Bardot that got him noticed. He went to Hollywood and appeared as second leads in a variety of films, including The Bravados (1958) and The Best of Everything (1959). His role as Messala in Ben-Hur (1959) propelled him to international fame and he was thereafter fated to play roles wearing Roman armour and togas, as in Samuel Bronston's The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964), in which he co-starred with Sophia Loren. He received a Golden Globe for his performance in Ben-Hur.
In 1962 Boyd appeared in the film Lisa opposite starlet Dolores Hart, who later left Hollywood to join a Roman Catholic convent in Connecticut. The two actors developed a friendship that lasted Boyd's lifetime.
Boyd was originally chosen to play Mark Antony opposite Elizabeth Taylor in 20th Century-Fox's epic production of Cleopatra (1963) under the direction of Rouben Mamoulian, but eventually withdrew from the problem-plagued production when he committed to star in The Fall of the Roman Empire (Cleopatra was later directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, and the role of Mark Antony went to Richard Burton). Boyd is a former Scientologist.
Boyd also appeared in John Huston's Biblical epic The Bible...in the Beginning (1966) and was top-billed in another costumed epic Genghis Khan (1965), filmed in Yugoslavia. He appeared in the French-produced Napoleonic epic Imperial Venus (1962), playing opposite Gina Lollobrigida. His non-epic roles included the musical Billy Rose's Jumbo (1962) opposite Doris Day, the Hollywood melodrama The Oscar (1966), the sci-fi special effects extravaganza Fantastic Voyage (1966), the spy thriller Assignment K (1969) and the international Western Shalako (1969), shot in Spain. His career declined in the 1970s and he appeared in several European potboilers before making a comeback in Michael Apted's British gangster thriller The Squeeze (1977).
Boyd died of a heart attack at the age of 45 while playing golf at the Porter Valley Country Club in Northridge, California. He was in talks to play the role of the Regimental Sergeant Major in Euan Lloyd's The Wild Geese before his death.
Boyd was interred in Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery in Chatsworth, California.
Personal life
Boyd was married twice - briefly in 1958 to Italian-born MCA executive Mariella di Sarzana, and subsequently to Elizabeth (Liz) Mills, who was a secretary at the British Arts Council and whom he had known since 1955. Mills followed Boyd to the USA in the late fifties and was his personal assistant and secretary for many years before marrying him about 10 months before his death.
Partial filmography
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References
- Malko, George (1970). Scientology: The Now Religion. Delacorte Press. pp. 6–7.
- ' Euan Lloyd Interview Cinema Retro #1
External links
- Please use a more specific IMDb template. See the documentation for available templates.
- Stephen Boyd at Find a Grave