BY ALLAN LAING
IAN Charleson, the Scots actor who shot to fame in the Oscar-winning
film Chariots of Fire, has died at his home in London.
Mr Charleson, aged 40, died on Saturday from septicaemia following a
courageous struggle against the Aids virus.
He made his final performance nine weeks ago as Hamlet at the National
Theatre. Few people were aware that he was suffering from the virus.
However, he was reported to have looked strained and gaunt at the time.
Born in a tenement in Edinburgh, the son of a printer, Ian Charleson
won a scholarship to the Royal High School.
He read architecture at Edinburgh University, but spent most of his
time at the drama society.
After completing his degree, he went to London's Academy of Music and
Dramatic Arts.
He played at the Young Vic where his mentor, Frank Dunlop, was then
director. Later, he moved to the Royal Shakespeare Company.
In 1984, the Chariots of Fire role as Scottish Olympic hero Eric
Liddell, gave him international fame.
However, he never consolidated his position as a film star, preferring
instead to concentrate on the British stage.
In an interview with the Glasgow Herald in October, he voiced his
regrets at not seizing the moment.
Amongst his finest stage performances in recent years was the role of
Brick, the homosexual in Tennessee Williams's Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, a
National Theatre production which played in Scotland in 1988.
Mr Charleson's agent, Michael Whitehall, said: ''I was fortunate
enough to see Ian's last performance as Hamlet. After nearly four hours
on stage, he was given a standing ovation by a huge and appreciative
audience.
''It was clear that he was exhausted, but his courage, not only in
being on stage but of giving the performance of his life, left our
applause and cheers seeming inadequate.
There will be a private family funeral in Scotland later this week and
a memorial service in London later in the year.
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