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IMDbPro

Michael Elphick(1946-2002)

  • Actor
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Michael Elphick in Withnail and I (1987)
David Copperfield (German Trailer)
Play trailer2:29
David Copperfield (1999–2000)
7 Videos
28 Photos
Michael Elphick was a fantastic and very popular actor. He will be best remembered for his role as Ken Boon in the hit series Boon (1986). He died tragically at the early age of 55. He had been in ill-health for some years, caused by a long-running battle with alcohol, which was exacerbated by the early death of his partner of many years.

Best remembered for Boon (1986), his career was no one-hit wonder. Elphick had been working in television for the past 33 years and his many excellent performances included Dennis Potter's Blue Remembered Hills (1979), as the bully, Peter; The Knowledge (1979), when he played a would-be London cab driver driven almost to despair by the sadistic examiner (played by Nigel Hawthorne); Private Schulz (1981), Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1983) and Three Up Two Down (1985).

His film career was arguably less successful but none-the-less featured a rich and varied vein of characterisations.

His final role proved to be the film Out of Bounds (2003), in which he unfortunately had quite a small role, and millions saw his final television role, in EastEnders (1985), where he excelled in a very different role, showing just what a fine actor he was.
BornSeptember 19, 1946
DiedSeptember 7, 2002(55)
BornSeptember 19, 1946
DiedSeptember 7, 2002(55)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
    • 1 nomination total

Photos28

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+ 23
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Known for

John Hurt in The Elephant Man (1980)
The Elephant Man
8.2
  • Night Porter
  • 1980
The Element of Crime (1984)
The Element of Crime
6.7
  • Fisher
  • 1984
Gorky Park (1983)
Gorky Park
6.7
  • Pasha
  • 1983
Withnail and I (1987)
Withnail and I
7.5
  • Jake
  • 1987

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actor



  • Out of Bounds (2003)
    Out of Bounds
    4.5
    • Lionel Stubbs
    • 2003
  • EastEnders (1985)
    EastEnders
    4.8
    TV Series
    • Harry
    • 2001
  • Baddiel's Syndrome (2001)
    Baddiel's Syndrome
    4.2
    TV Series
    • Drugs Tsar
    • 2001
  • The Bill (1984)
    The Bill
    6.7
    TV Series
    • George Stubbs
    • 2001
  • Jason Barry, Emily Bruni, James Fox, Louise Lombard, Kris Marshall, Flora Montgomery, James Purefoy, and Matthew Rhys in Metropolis (2000)
    Metropolis
    7.6
    TV Mini Series
    • Andrew Kaplan
    • 2000
  • David Copperfield (1999)
    David Copperfield
    7.7
    TV Mini Series
    • Barkis
    • 1999
  • The Fix (1997)
    The Fix
    6.7
    TV Movie
    • Peter Campling
    • 1997
  • Nigel Le Vaillant in Dangerfield (1995)
    Dangerfield
    6.1
    TV Series
    • Brian Taylor
    • 1997
  • Paul Bown, Liz Smith, and Hayley Elliott in Pirates (1994)
    Pirates
    8.3
    TV Series
    • Chief Inspector Hornbeam
    • 1997
  • Noel's House Party (1991)
    Noel's House Party
    6.3
    TV Series
    • Special Guest
    • 1995–1997
  • Treasure Island (1995)
    Treasure Island
    7.3
    TV Movie
    • Billy Bones
    • 1995
  • Robert Downey Jr., Annette Bening, and Ian McKellen in Richard III (1995)
    Richard III
    7.3
    • 2nd Murderer (uncredited)
    • 1995
  • Boon (1986)
    Boon
    6.4
    TV Series
    • Ken Boon
    • 1986–1995
  • Harry (1993)
    Harry
    6.2
    TV Series
    • Harry Salter
    • 1993–1995
  • Murder Most Horrid (1991)
    Murder Most Horrid
    7.2
    TV Series
    • Bill Todd
    • 1994

Videos7

Withnail And I
Clip 1:38
Withnail And I
Trailer
Trailer 2:30
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 2:30
Trailer
Trailer
Trailer 2:58
Trailer
Privates On Parade
Trailer 2:51
Privates On Parade
Withnail And I
Trailer 2:06
Withnail And I
David Copperfield (German Trailer)
Trailer 2:29
David Copperfield (German Trailer)

Personal details

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  • Height
    • 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
  • Born
    • September 19, 1946
    • Chichester, Sussex, England, UK
  • Died
    • September 7, 2002
    • Willesden, London, England, UK(heart attack)
  • Children
    • Kate Elphick
  • Relatives
    • Robin Elphick(Sibling)
  • Other works
    In-house promotional video for private investigation company Nationwide Investigations Group, as a spin-off based on his appearance as Ken Boon in Boon (1986)
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Article

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    During the 1980s and early 1990s, Michael owned a pub, The White Swan, in the High Street, Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire. In September 2013, the new owners of the pub found a secret loft space (an old priest hole) where Michael used to go to write letters to his daughter and to learn scripts of programmes such as Boon (1986).
  • Quotes
    I used to be drunk by 9 pm every night. Going on the wagon has made me a bit grumpy, but I'm a wiser man for it.
  • Trademarks
      Craggy face and croaky voice.

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