Speaking for Jesus, an interview with Robert Powell
In 1977, British actor Robert Powell was cast as Jesus in Franco Zeffirelli’s Jesus of Nazareth, which was directed by Zeffirelli himself. Powell performed the best performance of his life while sharing the screen with Hollywood legends such as Anne Bancroft, Christopher Plummer, and James Mason. The series was a big hit, with millions of people across the world tuning in to see it. Even the Pope saw it and was so taken with it that he formally supported it, which was quite a review. Powell reprises his role as Jesus in Robert Powell on the Real Jesus of Nazareth, which was released forty years after the first film.
We spoke with the actor to find out more about his role.
One of the reasons I wanted to undertake the series was to address this issue.
After first believing that we would be able to unite the almighty Christ with the human Christ and that we would be able to depict the human aspect of him, Franco Zeffirelli and I learned that this was just not feasible.
- The most vital feature that this character must possess in order to succeed in this narrative is outstanding.
- To attempt to play god and to gain the impression that you are doing so is a fast track to a mental breakdown.
- I came up with a solution that was diametrically opposed to the actor’s usual technique.
- He does not exist as a person.
- Regardless of how you envision Jesus to be, that is your Jesus, and that is why people can take him with them wherever they go, and everyone has a different one, a different image of Jesus in their heads.
- Every single letter we received stated the same thing: “that’s precisely as I envisioned him to be.” On that level, we were a resounding success; there’s no doubt about it.
- In the past, I’ve received correspondence from someone who worked in an elderly people’s home in South Africa.
- The crucifixion was approaching, and I glanced at her and she was sitting there with tears streaming down her face and a great smile on her face; she died two days later as a result of her ordeal.
- I usually try to play it down, but I’ve been taken aback by how many times it has happened.
- I believe that the character and the film have had such a strong hold on society because we were able to reach such a large audience and because we were so non-specific in our approach to the figure of Jesus.
- There was never a time when someone told me that wasn’t how I pictured him to be.
It’s been very thrilling to be back on the road. I had no obligation to the audience and was free to ask any and all questions I wanted since I was so intrigued by the prospect of discovering if there was anything to be found.”
Jesus of Nazareth (TV Mini Series 1977)
Anthony Burgess | . | (written by) (1 episode, 1977) |
Suso Cecchi D’Amico | . | (written by) (1 episode, 1977) |
Franco Zeffirelli | . | (written by) (1 episode, 1977) |
David Butler | . | (additional dialogue) (unknown episodes) |
Robert Powell | . | Jesus4 episodes, 1977 | |
Anne Bancroft | . | Mary Magdalene4 episodes, 1977 | |
Ernest Borgnine | . | The Centurion4 episodes, 1977 | |
Claudia Cardinale | . | The Adulteress4 episodes, 1977 | |
Valentina Cortese | . | Herodias4 episodes, 1977 | |
James Farentino | . | Simon Peter4 episodes, 1977 | |
James Earl Jones | . | Balthazar4 episodes, 1977 | |
Stacy Keach | . | Barabbas4 episodes, 1977 | |
Tony Lo Bianco | . | Quintilius4 episodes, 1977 | |
James Mason | . | Joseph of Arimathea4 episodes, 1977 | |
Ian McShane | . | Judas Iscariot4 episodes, 1977 | |
Laurence Olivier | . | Nicodemus4 episodes, 1977 | |
Donald Pleasence | . | Melchior4 episodes, 1977 | |
Christopher Plummer | . | Herod Antipas4 episodes, 1977 | |
Anthony Quinn | . | Caiaphas4 episodes, 1977 | |
Olivia Hussey | . | Mary4 episodes, 1977 | |
Fernando Rey | . | Gaspar4 episodes, 1977 | |
Ralph Richardson | . | Simeon4 episodes, 1977 | |
Rod Steiger | . | Pontius Pilate4 episodes, 1977 | |
Peter Ustinov | . | Herod the Great4 episodes, 1977 | |
Michael York | . | John the Baptist4 episodes, 1977 | |
Cyril Cusack | . | Yehuda4 episodes, 1977 | |
Ian Holm | . | Zerah4 episodes, 1977 | |
Yorgo Voyagis | . | Joseph4 episodes, 1977 | |
Ian Bannen | . | Amos4 episodes, 1977 | |
Marina Berti | . | Elizabeth4 episodes, 1977 | |
Regina Bianchi | . | Anne4 episodes, 1977 | |
Maria Carta | . | Martha4 episodes, 1977 | |
Lee Montague | . | Habbukuk4 episodes, 1977 | |
Renato Rascel | . | The Blind Man4 episodes, 1977 | |
Oliver Tobias | . | Joel4 episodes, 1977 | |
Steve Gardner | . | Philip4 episodes, 1977 | |
Tony Vogel | . | Andrew4 episodes, 1977 | |
John Duttine | . | John the Evangelist4 episodes, 1977 | |
Keith Washington | . | Matthew4 episodes, 1977 | |
Bruce Lidington | . | Thomas4 episodes, 1977 | |
Jonathan Muller | . | James I/. 4 episodes, 1977 | |
Sergio Nicolai | . | James II4 episodes, 1977 | |
John Eastham | . | Bartholomew4 episodes, 1977 | |
Murray Salem | . | Simon the Zealot3 episodes, 1977 | |
Robert Davey | . | Daniel3 episodes, 1977 | |
Oliver Smith | . | Saul3 episodes, 1977 | |
Michael Cronin | . | Eliphaz3 episodes, 1977 | |
George Camiller | . | Hosias3 episodes, 1977 | |
Renato Montalbano | . | Jairus3 episodes, 1977 | |
Keith Skinner | . | Possessed Boy/. 3 episodes, 1977 | |
Cyril Shaps | . | Obsessed Boy’s Father/. 3 episodes, 1977 | |
John Tordoff | . | Malachi3 episodes, 1977 | |
Mimmo Crao | . | Thaddeus3 episodes, 1977 | |
Norman Bowler | . | Saturninus2 episodes, 1977 | |
Robert Beatty | . | Proculus2 episodes, 1977 | |
John Phillips | . | Naso2 episodes, 1977 | |
Ken Jones | . | Jotham2 episodes, 1977 | |
Nancy Nevinson | . | Abigail2 episodes, 1977 | |
Renato Terra | . | Abel2 episodes, 1977 | |
Roy Holder | . | Enoch2 episodes, 1977 | |
Christopher Reich | . | Circumcision Priest/. 2 episodes, 1977 | |
Lorenzo Monet | . | Jesus at 12 yes old/. 2 episodes, 1977 | |
Michael Haughey | . | Nahum2 episodes, 1977 | |
Derek Godfrey | . | Elihu2 episodes, 1977 | |
Isabel Mestres | . | Salome2 episodes, 1977 | |
Francis De Wolff | . | Simon the Pharisee2 episodes, 1977 | |
Antonello Campodifiori | . | Ircanus2 episodes, 1977 | |
Paul Curran | . | Samuel2 episodes, 1977 | |
Forbes Collins | . | Jonas2 episodes, 1977 | |
Martin Benson | . | Pharisee1 episode, 1977 | |
Nikki Van der Zyl | . | Salome2 episodes, 1977 | |
Robert Rietty | . | Various small roles1 episode, 1977 | |
David Garfield | . | Amos2 episodes, 1977 | |
Jonathan Adams | . | Adam1 episode, 1977 | |
Tim Pearce | . | Rufus1 episode, 1977 | |
Mark Eden | . | Quartus1 episode, 1977 | |
Bruno Barnabe | . | Ezra1 episode, 1977 | |
Simon MacCorkindale | . | Lucius1 episode, 1977 | |
Lionel Guyett | . | Haggai1 episode, 1977 | |
Peter Harlowe | . | Valerius1 episode, 1977 | |
Carl Forgione | . | Plotinus1 episode, 1977 | |
Donald Sumpter | . | Aram1 episode, 1977 | |
Pino Colizzi | . | Jobab1 episode, 1977 | |
Norman Eshley | . | Joseph(uncredited)2 episodes, 1977 | |
Robert Brown | . | Pharisee(uncredited)1 episode, 1977 | |
Stefan Kalipha | . | Melchior’s aide(uncredited)1 episode, 1977 | |
Darien Angadi | . | Hebrew(uncredited)1 episode, 1977 | |
Immad Cohen | . | Young Jesus(uncredited)1 episode, 1977 | |
Yorgos Vogiatzis | . | Joseph(uncredited)1 episode, 1977 | |
Harold Bennett | . | Elder(uncredited)unknown episodes | |
Andrew Manson | . | ZealotVarious(uncredited)unknown episodes | |
Bernard J. Kingham | . | executive producer (1 episode, 1977) |
Vincenzo Labella | . | producer (1 episode, 1977) |
Tarak Ben Ammar | . | deputy producer: Tunisia (unknown episodes) |
Lew Grade | . | executive producer (unknown episodes) |
Dyson Lovell | . | associate producer (unknown episodes) |
Armando Nannuzzi | . | (unknown episodes) |
David Watkin | . | (unknown episodes) |
Marcel Escoffier | . | (unknown episodes) |
Enrico Sabbatini | . | (unknown episodes) |
Ennio Cascioli | . | hair stylist (unknown episodes) |
Otello Fava | . | makeup artist (unknown episodes) |
Stefano Fava | . | makeup artist (unknown episodes) |
Giancarlo Marin | . | hair stylist (unknown episodes) |
Abdellatif Ben Ammar | . | production manager (unknown episodes) |
Eros Lafranconi | . | production manager (unknown episodes) |
Luciano Piperno | . | production supervisor (unknown episodes) |
Abdelaziz Ramdani | . | production manager (unknown episodes) |
Piero Amati | . | second assistant director (2 episodes, 1977) |
Pippo Pisciotto | . | assistant director (1 episode, 1977) |
Mohamed Abbazi | . | assistant director (uncredited) (unknown episodes) |
Alvaro Passeri | . | assistant production designer (2 episodes, 1977) |
Umberto Vandilli | . | painter (2 episodes, 1977) |
Francesco Fedeli | . | scenic artist (unknown episodes) |
Gerry Humphreys | . | sound recordist (unknown episodes) |
Simon Kaye | . | sound recordist (unknown episodes) |
John W. Mitchell | . | sound recordist (unknown episodes) |
Don Sharpe | . | dubbing editor (unknown episodes) |
David Stephenson | . | boom operator (uncredited) (2 episodes, 1977) |
Peter Maxwell | . | adr mixer (uncredited) (unknown episodes) |
Lionel Strutt | . | re-recording mixer (uncredited) (unknown episodes) |
Freddie Cooper | . | camera operator (unknown episodes) |
Nino Cristiani | . | camera operator (unknown episodes) |
Babs Gray | . | wardrobe (uncredited) (2 episodes, 1977) |
Giovanni Viti | . | assistant costume designer (uncredited) (unknown episodes) |
Ian MacGregor-Scott | . | assistant editor (uncredited) (2 episodes, 1977) |
Chris Kelly | . | assistant editor (uncredited) (unknown episodes) |
National Philharmonic Orchestra | . | music played by (4 episodes, 1977) |
Maurice Jarre | . | conductor (unknown episodes) |
Eric Tomlinson | . | music recordist/mixer (uncredited) (2 episodes, 1977) |
Frank Barber | . | music assistant (uncredited) (unknown episodes) |
Alberto Testa | . | choreographer (unknown episodes) |
Stefano Priori | . | assistant accountant (uncredited) (unknown episodes) |
The crew is believed to be finished.
Actors who played Jesus
United Artists and George Stevens Productions have teamed up to produce this film. Television and cinema screens all throughout the world have shown stories about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ on numerous occasions. Here is a list of some of the most well-known actors who have been cast in the role. The role of Jesus Christ was performed by Max von Sydow in the 1965 American epic “The Greatest Story Ever Told.”
Henry Byron Warner
Exchange on the Pathé The silent film “The King of Kings,” produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille in 1927, starred popular silent-era actor H. B. Warner in the role of Jesus Christ.
Jeffrey Hunter
Samuel Bronston Productions and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer are the producers. King of Kings, a 1961 biblical film starring Jeffrey Hunter, who is best known for playing Captain Christopher Pike in the 1966 “Star Trek” pilot, was the first time the actor played Jesus.
Robert Powell
ITC Entertainment RAI is a division of ITC Entertainment. “Jesus of Nazareth,” a 1977 British-Italian television miniseries, starred Robert Powell in the titular role of Jesus of Nazareth.
Chris Sarandon
As Jesus in the 1980 television movie “The Day Christ Died,” American voice actor Chris Sarandon played the part of the Messiah on CBS.
Ted Neeley
Universal Pictures is a motion picture studio based in Los Angeles, California. Ted Neeley played the ultimate nice person in the 1973 film adaption of “Jesus Christ Superstar” years before he was cast as the evil guy in “Django Unchained.”
Victor Garber
Photograph courtesy of Robin Marchant/Getty Images/Columbia Pictures “Godspell,” a 1973 film adaptation of the off-Broadway musical of the same name, starred “Titanic” actor Victor Garber in the role of Jesus Christ.
Willem Dafoe
Universal Pictures is a motion picture studio based in Los Angeles, California. When Martin Scorsese turned Nikos Kazantzakis’ controversial 1953 novel “The Last Temptation of Christ” into a blockbuster motion film in 1988, it was a watershed moment in cinematic history. The role of Jesus was performed by Willem Dafoe.
Christian Bale
NBC and Hallmark Entertainment Early in his career, Christian Bale starred as Jesus Christ in the 1999 television picture “Mary, Mother of Jesus,” which was directed by Christopher Nolan and based on the novel of the same name by Christopher Nolan.
Jim Caviezel
Icon Productions and 20th Century Fox are the producers. During the production of Mel Gibson’s controversial film “The Passion of the Christ,” which premiered in 2004, he cast American actor Jim Caviezel as Jesus, who was previously best known for his role in “The Thin Red Line.”
Jencarlos Canela
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for the Daily Caller During the televised musical event “The Passion Live,” hosted by FOX in March 2016, award-winning singer-songwriter and “Telenovela” actor Jencarlos Canela took on the starring role of Jencarlos Canela.
Will Ferrell
SNL Studios and Paramount Pictures are collaborating on this project.
Will Ferrell starred as both her crush, popular guy Sky Corrigan, and Jesus in the 1999 film “Superstar,” which was based on Molly Shannon’s classic Saturday Night Live skit about a Roman Catholic schoolgirl.
Ralph Fiennes
BFI image courtesy of John Phillips/Getty Images The voice of Jesus in the 2000 stop motion animated feature “The Miracle-Maker” was provided by actor Ralph Fiennes, who is best known for his portrayal of Lord Voldemort in the “Harry Potter” films.
Henry Ian Cusick
Visual Bible International/THINKFilm is a collaboration between two organizations. As Jesus in the three-hour epic feature film “The Gospel of John,” Henry Ian Cusick, the actor best known for portraying Desmond on the hit television series “Lost,” took on the role of the historical figure in 2003.
Diogo Morgado
Channel for Lightworkers Media and History “The Bible,” a miniseries on the History Channel that premiered in March 2013, included Portuguese actor Diogo Morgado as Jesus.
Robert Torti
Showtime “Reefer Madness,” a 2005 film musical, featured Robert Torti in the role of Jesus Christ. He also uses a Vegas-style paradise to warn a young youngster about his marijuana-smoking habits, which is in line with the film’s humorous nature.
Keenan Thompson
NBC “Saturday Night Live” spoof on then-Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson’s troubled upbringing included a guest appearance by Keenan Thompson, who played the character “black Jesus.”
“Last Days in the Desert”
Broad Green Photographic Images A fictionalized account of Jesus’ 40-day trek in the wilderness, “Last Days in the Desert” (2015) is set in the desert. Ewan McGregor takes on the roles of both Jesus and Satan.
“Mary Magdalene”
IFC Films is a production company that produces independent films. “Mary Magdalene,” directed by Garth Davis, starring Joaquin Phoenix as Jesus (2018). Christina Capatides is a Greek actress and singer. Christina Capatides is the director of social media and trending content at CBS News. She has worked for the network since 2011. She also works as a senior producer and reporter, with a particular emphasis on culture and gender parity.
Robert Powell – Wikipedia
Robert Powell | |
---|---|
Born | 1 June 1944(age 77)Salford,Lancashire, England |
Alma mater | University of Manchester |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1966–present |
Spouse(s) | Barbara Lord(m.1975) |
Children | 2 |
Robert Powell (; born 1 June 1944) is an English actor best known for his roles as Mahler in Mahler (1974) and Jesus of Nazareth in Jesus of Nazareth (1977), as well as his portrayal of secret agent Richard Hannay in The Thirty Nine Steps (1978) and its subsequent television series, among other roles. Some of his other notable television and film appearances include Tobias “Toby” Wren in the BBC science-fiction seriesDoomwatch (1970), David Briggs in the sitcomThe Detectives(1993–1997) with Jasper Carrott, and Mark Williams in the hospital dramaHolby City(2005–2011).
Powell has been nominated for a BAFTA Award and has been awarded the Best Actor Award at the Venice Film Festival, among other honors.
Early life
Michael Powell was born in Salford, Lancashire, to Kathleen (née Davis) and John Wilson Powell.
He is the son of the late Michael Powell. In addition to attending Manchester Grammar School (then a direct grant grammar school), he also attended the University of Manchester, where he pursued a degree in law.
Career
Despite having previously appeared as a teenager in The Adventures of Samuel Poppletonon BBC Radio Children’s Hour from the North of England in Manchester, where he came under the guidance of producer, Trevor Hill, as detailed in Hill’s autobiography, Over the Airwaves, Powell did not begin acting until he was a senior in high school. The position of repertory director at a Stoke-on-Trent repertory theatre was gained for him. As the second man or locomotive driver’s helper in the 1967 film Robbery, in which he co-starred with Stanley Baker and was about the Great Train Robbery, Robbery was his debut feature film role.
- Powell rose to fame after being killed off in Doomwatchright at the conclusion of Series One in a bomb explosion, which was carried out at Powell’s request.
- (1971).
- In 1973, he appeared in the very first episode of the British television seriesThriller.
- Powell remained a regular on television for several years, with rare ventures into cinema, including roles as the Austrian composerGustav Mahler in the Ken Russell biopic Mahler (1974) and Captain Walker in Russell’s film adaptation of Tommy (also 1974).
- Despite having just a few words of dialogue in Tommy, speaking solely during the overture with Ann-Margret, his character is mostly viewed through the eyes of his son, represented by Barry Winch (Young Tommy) and Roger Daltrey.
- The four-part television film included an all-star ensemble, including Laurence Olivieras Nicodemus, Ernest Borgnineas the Roman Centurion, Stacy Keachas the Roman Centurion, and Ernest Borgnineas the Roman Centurion.
- Powell was nominated for a BAFTA Award for this role, and he was also awarded the TV Times Best Actor Award for the same performance.
- Powell starred as Richard Hannay, the main character in the third film adaptation of The Thirty Nine Steps, which was released in 1978.
Powell’s portrayal of Hannah proved to be durable, as a television series dubbed simplyHannaydebuted almost ten years later, with Powell reprising his role as the lead character (although the Buchan short stories on which the series was based were set in an earlier period thanThe Thirty-Nine Steps).
- Powell played the titular Harlequin in the 1980 film Harlequin, in which he pretended to have the ability to heal the son of a powerful politician.
- He was awarded the Best Actor Award at the Paris Film Festival for his work in this film.
- Powell made his feature film debut in 1984 with the film What Waits Below (also known asSecrets of the Phantom Caverns).
- Faure and starring Henry Celein in the titular character, which premiered in 1986.
- In the television series The Legends of Treasure Island, he provided the voice of Dr Livesey from 1993 until 1995.
- Powell’s first and only foray into the sitcom genre was with The Detectives, which proved to be a hit and was eventually converted into a movie.
For BBC Radio 4’s Book at Bedtime, he read the novelLove in the Time of CholerabyGabriel Garca Márquez, and he has also narrated a number of audio books, including The Thirty Nine Steps, abridged versions of many of Alan Garner’s books, and several abridged novels for The Talking Classics Collection.
- His acting credits include Oliver Wakeman, in which he portrayed the character of John Watson.
- On October 29, 2001, the University of Salford dedicated a state-of-the-art theatre in his honor, which was dedicated to him.
- Beginning in the spring of 2005, he began appearing on a regular basis in the UK television medical drama Holby City, where he remained for six years until leaving to pursue a career in theatre.
- Powell worked as a series announcer on BBC4’s The Book Quiz for a total of 19 episodes in 2008–09.
- He said that his regular employment in the series assisted him in recouping financial losses incurred as a result of the collapse of the pension fund he had with The Equitable Life Assurance Society (now known as The Equitable Life).
- The Real Jesus of Nazareth was broadcast on the Smithsonian Channel on April 1, 2018.
- Additionally, the characters that featured in the film are analyzed, and their historical significance is revealed.
- The episodes dealt with historical components of the tale and were each one hour in duration.
Personal life
Powell met Barbara “Babs” Lord, the Pan’s Peopledancer, backstage at the BBC, where they would later marry. The pair tied the knot in 1975, just weeks before he was scheduled to begin filming on location in Tunisia for the filmJesus of Nazareth. They welcomed their son, Barney, into the world on November 23, 1977, and a daughter, Kate, in 1979. Later on, the pair became interested in sailing as a recreational activity. Babs competed in the BT Global Yacht Challenge as well as the Polar race in the Arctic.
Powell was a founding member of the Social Democratic Party in 1981, and he campaigned alongsideBarry Norman on behalf of the party’s first leader, Roy Jenkins, during the 1981 election cycle.
Filmography
Filmography | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
2020 | Jazz Sabbath | Narrator | documentary |
2017 | The Real Jesus of Nazareth | Presenter/narrator | documentary |
–2009 | World War II in HD Colour | Narrator | documentary |
–2008 | Hitler’s Bodyguard | Narrator | documentary |
2007 | The Forgotten Children of Congo | Narrator | documentary |
2006 | B-Mail | The Pink Professor | voiceover, short animation |
2004 | The Alchemist of Happiness | Al-Ghazali | voiceover, documentary |
1997 | Pride of Africa | David Webb | |
1995–1996 | Fantomcat | Fantomcat | voice, animation |
1993-1995 | The Legends of Treasure Island | Dr Livesy | voice, animation |
1993–1997 | The Detectives | Dave Briggs | |
1993 | The Mystery of Edwin Drood | Jasper | |
1992 | Das lange Gespräch mit dem Vogel | John Barth | |
1992 | The First Circle | Gleb Nershin | |
1992 | Chunuk Bair | Sgt. Maj. Frank Smith | |
1991 | Merlin of the Crystal Cave | Ambrosius, Merlin’s father | |
1988–1989 | Hannay | Richard Hannay | |
1986 | Shaka Zulu | Henry Fynn | |
1985 | D’Annunzio | Gabriele D’Annunzio | |
1984 | What Waits Below | Rupert ‘Wolf’ Wolfsen | |
1983 | The Jigsaw Man | Jamie Fraser | |
1982 | Imperativ | Augustin | |
1982 | The Hunchback of Notre Dame | Phoebus | |
1981 | The Survivor | Keller | |
1981 | Pygmalion | Higgins | |
1980 | Jane Austen in Manhattan | Pierre | |
1980 | Harlequin | Gregory Wolfe | |
1978 | The Thirty Nine Steps | Richard Hannay | |
1978 | The Four Feathers | Jack Durrance | |
1977 | Beyond Good and Evil | Paul Rée | |
1977 | Jesus of Nazareth | Jesus Christ | |
1975 | Looking For Clancy | Frank Clancy | |
1975 | Tommy | Captain Walker | |
1974 | Mahler | Gustav Mahler | |
1973 | The Asphyx | Giles Cunningham | |
1972 | Shelley | Percy Bysshe Shelley | |
1972 | Asylum | Dr Martin | |
1972 | Running Scared | Tom Betancourt | |
1971 | Secrets | Allan Wood | |
1971 | Jude the Obscure | Jude Fawley | |
1969 | The Italian Job | Yellow | |
1969 | Walk a Crooked Path | Mullvaney | |
1967 | Robbery | Second man on Locomotive | uncredited |
Other work
Edward Learpoems, a specially produced spoken word audio CD that brought together a selection of Lear’s nonsensical songs, included Powell as one of the readers. He supplied the narration for the 2002 adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles by Clive Nolan and Oliver Wakeman, which was released as a Progressive Rock CD.
References
- “Robert Powell Biography (1944-)” is a biography of Robert Powell. 1 June 1944, according to Filmreference.com. Obtainable on October 12, 2013
- John Walsh is a writer who lives in the United Kingdom (6 March 2010). According to Sir Ben Kingsley, “I was fortunate in that I was a very popular child.” The Independent is a newspaper published in the United Kingdom. The original version of this article was published on March 8, 2010. retrieved on March 7, 2010
- At search for “Robert Powell.” 10 February 2021
- Retrieved 10 February 2021
- Stanton B. Garner is an American businessman and author (1999). Trevor Griffiths is interested in politics, drama, and history. [United States]: University of Michigan Press, 105. Massimo Bulgarelli is the author of this work (12 April 2020). The award goes to “Robert Powell and his condanna for interpreting Zeffireli’s “Gesù” (in Italian). On May 29, 2021, the original version of this article was archived. Roderick Mann’s full name is Roderick Mann (27 October 1983). “The actor who played Jesus will make his feature film debut in the United States.” Page E1 of the Los Angeles Times. 12th of September, 2009, was retrieved. Six years after making his first impression on American audiences as the star of Franco Zeffirelli’s 1977 television film “Jesus of Nazareth,” British actor Robert Powell has just completed his first American-made film, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner at CD Universe.” Powell was born in England and raised in the United Kingdom. Wendy Quilliam Quilliam Quilliam Quilliam Quilliam (30 October 2001). “Wow, that was a fantastic performance!” The Salford News is published by the University of Salford. Powell, Robert (January 27, 2006)
- Archived from the original on January 27, 2006
- (25 January 2011). “Steve Wright in the Afternoon: with Holby City actor Robert Powell and travel expert Paul Evans” is the title of the show. Steve Wright will be appearing in the afternoon (Radio interview). Steve Wright, Tim Smith, and Janey Lee Grace conducted the interview. On July 18, 2012, BBC Radio 2 broadcasted an audio version of the program that was subsequently archived. Retrieved on the 27th of January, 2011. The fact that I’d been there for six years, which was five years longer than I had anticipated, and it suddenly occurred to me that it was probably time to move on and return to my roots
- Andrew Baldwin’s full name is Andrew Baldwin (18 January 2008). “A classic tale for an actor who can play a variety of roles.” The Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England)
- Roz Lewis is a British actress and singer (17 June 2018). The following is an excerpt from “Robert Powell: ‘My Holby City salary enabled me to rebuild the pension that I lost with Equitable Life’.” “Speaking for Jesus, an interview with Robert Powell,” The Telegraph, 26 November 2019, retrieved 26 November 2019. History of the United Kingdom. retrieved on the 26th of November, 2019
- Aurelio Ciavarella, Mario Ciro Ciavarella (1 April 2019). “A photograph, a story: the God who was never there”
- “A photograph, a story: the God who was never there”
- Roz Lewis is a British actress and singer (28 February 2014). “Robert Powell: My own personal values.” “Powell and the passion,” according to The Telegraph, accessed on November 26, 2019. The Dorset Echo published an article on May 10th, 2006. retrieved on the 26th of November, 2019
- David Harrison is a writer and musician who lives in the United Kingdom (3 September 2000). “A police officer leaves Downing Street to compete in a round-the-world yacht race.” It was retrieved on November 26, 2019, from The Daily Telegraph. Barry Norman is a well-known author and philanthropist (2013). We’ll catch up in the morning. p. 175, ISBN 978-0-85752-164-4
- “Nonsense Songs (Audiobook on CD, 1995)”. Doubleday. p. 175, ISBN 978-0-85752-164-4
- “Nonsense Songs (Audiobook on CD, 1995)”. Libcat.calacademy.org. The 4th of January, 2019. “Clive NolanOliver Wakeman – The Hound Of The Baskervilles” (Clive Nolan and Oliver Wakeman – The Hound Of The Baskervilles) was released on March 16, 2021. retrieved on April 23rd, 2021
External links
- Robert Powell’sIMDb profile
- Robert Powell’sHolby Cityprofile on the Internet Movie Database What’s on television
Where Are All The Actors Who Played Jesus Today?
Universal It is possible that we will gain a commission on purchases made through our links. According to Popular Mechanics, few of the actors who have played Jesus even come close to resembling the genuine guy, considering that he didn’t have Caucasian complexion, blue eyes, or an English accent in the first place. However, if you’re an actor, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more renowned part to include on your CV. Since the beginning of film, Jesus of Nazareth has been on the big screen, and he has been depicted by performers who have ranged from unknown to Academy Award-winning in their performances.
Claude Heater – Ben-Hur (1959)
Despite the fact that he is not the major character in the 1959 Charlton Heston epicBen-Hur, Jesus plays an important part in the events of the film. When he arrives, he is played by Claude Heater, a young vocalist who is a part of the cast. According to Heater’s official website, despite the fact that he was born and raised in Oakland, he had to go all the way to Rome before being spotted at a concert by Ben-production Hur’s manager. Following the completion of the filming, Heater returned to his singing career.
He hasn’t been in any films since then.
After doing what Heater’s website characterizes as a “careful investigation of the Book of Mormon,” he requested to be ejected from the Mormon church and went on to write the bookFatal Flaws of the Most Correct Book on Earth in 2008, which was written in response to the book.
Enrique Irazoqui – The Gospel According to St. Matthew (1964)
Even a newborn can play Jesus, and Enrique Irazoqui did it when he was just 19 years old, proving that you can portray Jesus at almost any age. It was Irazoqui’s Christ who featured in the 1964 Italian film The Gospel According to St. Matthew, a film that was a faithful adaptation, well, of the Gospel of Matthew. To begin with, Irazoqui was not interested in playing Jesus since he didn’t care about acting and because he was (and continues to be) an agnostic, but he eventually became fascinated.
Following the completion of the project, he returned to Spain, where he alleges the authorities confiscated his passport because he had “worked on a Marxist film,” according to an interview with Chess News magazine.
Since then, Irazoqui has lived in the Spanish town of Cadaques, where he has established himself as a professor of literature, an economist, a revolutionary, an expert on artificial intelligence, and a devoted player of chess, having once competed against Marcel Duchamp, the world’s greatest chess player.
Max Von Sydow – The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
Photographs courtesy of Getty Images Afficionados of the film industry are familiar with Max Von Sydow, who has been dubbed “the greatest actor alive” by The Atlantic. Seriously, even if you don’t recognize his face, you’re familiar with it: he has the most recognizable jaw line in the history of cinema. Dietrich von Sydow is most known for his early appearances, in which he collaborated with filmmaker Ingmar Bergman on dark philosophical films such as The Seventh Seal, in which Von Sydow is shown playing chess against Death.
Von Sydow has continued to work as an actor since then.
He also contributed to the opening sequence of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, when he displayed some of his almost limitless gravitas.
Donald Sutherland – Johnny Got His Gun (1971)
Photographs courtesy of Getty Images So, Johnny Got His Gun isn’t a Jesus movie, to put it mildly. According to Dalton Trumbo’s renowned anti-war novel, Johnny Got His Gun is the story of a young American soldier who is severely injured by an artillery shell and is left with little ability to communicate due to the loss of his limbs, face, and hearing. The novel and film are narrated from the soldier’s point of view, as his mind flits between imagination and reality throughout the course of the story.
Although it has been a long time since the release of the film in 1971, Sutherland is still well-known to modern audiences for his role as the ruthless President Snow in The Hunger Games.
These convictions were the driving force for his involvement in bothJohnny Got His GunandtheHunger Gamesfranchise, the latter of which was chosen for its themes of class inequity.
Victor Garber – Godspell (1973)
Photographs courtesy of Getty Images Those searching for one of the most outlandish portrayals of Jesus to ever touch the big screen can go no farther than the 1973 filmGodspell. An adaptation of the off-Broadway musical of the same name, this 1973 film follows a modern Christian messiah and his crazy band of hippie disciples as they frolic around New York City in the 1970s. The film was released in 1973. Christos (who wears a Superman T-shirt) was played by young actor Victor Garber in his first leading role in the film, which was released in 1989.
Fans of Alias will know him as Jack Bristow, and he also appeared inLegally Blonde as the sinister professor who terrorized Reese Witherspoon.
Martin Stein on shows like The Flash, Arrow, and Legends of Tomorrow, it’s possible that the Superman T-shirt he wore during his Jesus days has gained him the affections of the DC Comics universe.
Ted Neeley – Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
Photographs courtesy of Getty Images Ted Neeley is one of the few actors who might legitimately claim to be a “professional Jesus,” according to some. Neeley brought the singing, dancing messiah represented inJesus Christ Superstar to life both on stage and in film, and this Texas native — and lifelong believer — continues to enjoy it as much as he did when he first saw it in 1978. Following his performance as Jesus in the 1973 film, Neeley continued to portray the character in successive theatrical revivals.
- Weird.
- Instead of continuing to perform the role he enjoys, he goes on tour across the country, showing audiences clips from his favorite movie and leading them in sing-along portions of the film.
- “Certainly not,” he said emphatically.
- It never becomes stale.”
Robert Powell – Jesus of Nazareth (1977)
Photographs courtesy of Getty Images Many people recall the 1977 television miniseriesJesus of Nazareth with fondness. It is mostly due to Robert Powell’s remarkable portrayal as the son of God, which consistently ranks among the top ten Jesus actors on lists such as “Top 10 Jesus actors.” As reported by theEdinburgh Evening News, Powell has gone on to perform several additional parts, including that of Agatha Christie’s famed investigator Hercule Poirot in the playBlack Coffee, which was based on the novel of the same name.
Powell’s memories of Jesus of Nazareth, on the other hand, has adhered to his CV like glue, and he’s had a few opportunities to reconnect with his biblical performance.
More recently, he has been in the Smithsonian Channel documentary series Robert Powell on the Real Jesus of Nazareth, in which he goes to Israel and other locales in search of records, tales, and personal experiences that are connected to the real Jesus.
Kenneth Colley – Life of Brian (1979)
When Monty Python’s Life of Brian is performed, the core joke is that the main character is not Jesus, despite his being born on the first Christmas, living in the same location, and experiencing a similar destiny as Jesus. The actual Jesus does appear in Brian’s narrative on a few occasions, and when he does, he is represented by a lesser-known actor named Ken Colley, who is a Christian minister. Colley’s most well-known portrayal, though, isn’t as Jesus in the traditional sense. As Admiral Piett in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in 1980, he established himself as a major figure in the geek culture by cementing his spot in the hearts and minds of millions of fans worldwide.
In more recent years, he has mostly focused his acting abilities on television, appearing in shows such asHolby City and Peaky Blinders.
Chris Sarandon – The Day Christ Died (1980)
Photographs courtesy of Getty Images Chris Sarandon has managed to squeak his way into a number of different areas of the film industry. In Sidney Lumet’s 1975 filmDog Day Afternoon, he portrayed Leon, the transsexual wife of Al Pacino’s Sonny, and it was in this role that audiences first became acquainted with him. Sarandon made his film debut as a vampire in the 1985 cult classicFright Night, which he followed up with a role as Jesus in the 1980 television movieThe Day Christ Died. Two years later, he had a memorable appearance in The Princess Bride, as the arrogant adversary Prince Humperdinck.
Among her many guest appearances in shows ranging from Star Trek to ER, Sarandon landed the part of Jack Skellington in The Nightmare Before Christmas, a spooky but happy cult favorite that airs twice a year, on Halloween and Christmas.
Willem Dafoe – The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
Photographs courtesy of Getty Images If you look back, it’s hard to imagine that when The Last Temptation of Christwas released in 1988, it was undoubtedly one of the most controversial films of all time, with the New York Times reporting that one Paris theater was set on fire only because it was screening the movie. So, what exactly was everyone so agitated about? It all came down to how the film depicted Jesus, who was played by Willem Dafoe, in a unique and perhaps unexpected manner. Christ played by Willem Dafoe was anguished, cynical, and resentful of his role in God’s plan for the world.
One thing is certain, though: Willem Dafoe’s career was in no way harmed as a result of the incident.
Younger audiences are arguably most familiar with him for his cackling (but unexpectedly sympathetic) portrayal of the Green Goblin in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man movie, which he starred in.
Despite the fact that his Goblin days are over, Dafoe will be returning to the comic book realm in late 2018 to play as Vulko in Aquaman.
Jeremy Sisto – Jesus (1999)
Photographs courtesy of Getty Images According to a recent interview with theHuffington Post, actor Jeremy Sisto attempted to land the role of Jack Dawson in James Cameron’sTitanic after appearing in the film Clueless. Even though Sisto appeared to have done an excellent job, he didn’t go far enough in the process to conduct a screen test with Kate Winslet, and the role ultimately went to Leonardo DiCaprio. Sisto went on to portray Jesus on the cross in the 1999 television movieJesus. Sisto’s acting career continued to progress gradually when his Christly experience came to an end.
Following that, Sisto was cast in recurring parts on several television programs, including Law & Order, Suburgatory, andWicked City.
Christian Bale – Mary, Mother of Jesus (1999)
Photographs courtesy of Getty Images Yes, that really did take place. This isn’t a joke. Although you’d think that Batman portraying Jesus would’ve been the type of momentous event that would garner widespread attention, this was not the case. Back in 1999, when Christian Bale starred as Christ in the television movieMary, Mother of Jesus, most people still thought of him as the boy fromEmpire of the Sun, but that has since changed. In under a year’s time, Bale’s resume was transformed when he bulked up and scared viewers as the ax-wielding Patrick Bateman in American Psycho.
It was in 2011 when Bale’s position in Hollywood history was permanently confirmed when he received an Academy Award for his role as fighter Dicky Eklund in the film The Fighter.
Henry Ian Cusick – The Visual Bible: The Gospel of John (2003)
Photographs courtesy of Getty Images After a series of lesser film and television roles, Henry Ian Cusick was cast as Jesus in the 2003 film The Visual Bible: The Gospel of John, which was narrated by Christopher Plummer and starred Christopher Plummer as the narrator. It’s not difficult to understand why Cusick was picked in the role: He has the appearance of someone who is spiritually linked to higher worlds, as well as the sincerity to back it up. As a result, only a few years later, he was cast as Desmond Hume in the hit television seriesLost, a popular character whose psychic premonitions saved the day on several occasions.
He’s also been in Scandal and The Inhumans, among other shows.
In addition, he appeared in the film Frank Vs. God, in which he played the title character, a lawyer who attempts to sue God for damages. Frank, I wish you the best of luck! On the other hand, it’s impossible to predict if his former role as Jesus would come up during the court hearings.
Jim Caviezel – The Passion of the Christ (2004)
Photographs courtesy of Getty Images There have been many actors who have played Jesus, but Jim Caviezel is unquestionably the actor who is most closely connected with the character today, owing to his iconic portrayal in Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. Which is only fair, considering that, according to Entertainment Weekly, he did manage to survive practically being struck by lightning when filming this sacred symbol. The character of John Reese in the artificial intelligence surveillance series Person of Interest is Caviezel’s first acting role since his Jesus role.
According to Deadline Hollywood, he will be seen in the 2018 film Paul, Apostle of Christ, where he will portray apostle Luke.
Caviezel has already declared that the picture would be “the most successful film in the history of the world.” Because of the cliffhanger conclusion from The Passion, you know Hollywood can’t help but make a sequel.
Diogo Morgado – The Bible (2013), Son of God (2014), Women of the Bible (2014)
Photographs courtesy of Getty Images Getting the chance to play Jesus Christ, even for a single performance, is a huge honor. However, Portuguese actor Diogo Morgado made Jesus a standard part in his career. His “trilogy” of Jesus performances began with the Emmy-nominated miniseries The Bible, which aired on the History Channel. Next that, he portrayed Christ in the filmSon of Godthe following year, and he completed his acting career with an appearance in the television seriesWomen of the Bible.
According to an interview withGlamour, he joined the TV seriesThe Messengers in 2015 to portray the devil, who is referred to as “The Man” on the program.
He has also made guest appearances on television programs such as CSI: Cyber and Ouro Verde.
Ewan McGregor – Last Days in the Desert (2015)
Photographs courtesy of Getty Images Everyone has surely seen the internet hoax in which an image of Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi is displayed with a message that reads something like “I bet you’re too terrified to upvote Jesus,” among other things. With the release of the film Last Days in the Desert, this meme became a reality when Mr. Obi-Wan himself stepped out into some Tatooine-like dunes for the first time. As you might expect, the film presents the well-known account of Christ’s 40 days in the desert, with the interesting twist that Ewan McGregor appears as both Jesus and the devil at the same time.
He was already a great celebrity, and he’d kept himself busy with a number of important parts in the film industry.
He also portrays Christopher Robin — yes, the stuffed animal’s best friend — in a 2018 film depicting a grown-up version of the character reconnecting with his old animal buddies in the Hundred Acre Wood, which was released in 2018.
The Jesus actors who are no longer with us
Sadly, some of the most prominent Jesus actors are no longer with us, in addition to the numerous living actors we’ve been able to track down. R. Henderson Bland (left), who played Jesus in the 1912 film From the Manger to the Cross, is credited as being the world’s first cinematic Jesus. Bland passed suddenly in 1941, after a handful of extra acting credits had been collected. H.B. Warner (center-left) was a leading man in Cecil B. DeMille’s King of Kings, which premiered in 1927. According to TCM, Warner was compelled to sign a contract promising to live a “exemplary life” for the following year, which may have contributed to his issue with alcoholism in the first place.
The role of Jesus was performed by Robert Le Vigan (middle) in the 1935 French film Behold the Man.
He was later apprehended and condemned to hard labor, and he lived the remainder of his years of freedom in poverty.
He died in 1969, at the age of forty-nine.
Hurt went on to act in the cinematic adaptation of George Orwell’s novel 1984 and most recently appeared as the “War Doctor” on the BBC’s Doctor Who.