Corin Redgrave was a gifted British actor who distinguished himself in all three entertainment mediums: theater, television, and film. It goes without saying that Redgrave was born with an innate knack for acting, as she was born to two actors. Early on, he showed signs of becoming a talented actor. While attending Cambridge, the seed for his acting career was planted. His participation in numerous collegiate plays and theatrical shows allowed him to fully embrace his artistic side. By the time he graduated from Cambridge, Redgrave had had extensive acting experience. Redgrave quickly entered the professional theatre and received important roles. During his lifetime, he performed numerous Shakespearean plays, such as “Hamlet,” “Henry IV,” “The Tempest,” etc. In addition, he landed significant roles in major television programs and television films. Redgrave’s acting career extended over five decades, during which he played a number of hard characters with tremendous flair. Additionally, he was a political activist of his time who consistently backed far-Left political philosophy. He even joined the Trotskyist Workers Revolutionary Party and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Redgrave’s death in 2010 marked the end of his artistic domination and political battles.
Youth and Early Life
Corin Redgrave was born in Marylebone, London, on July 16, 1939, to Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson. Both of his parents were professional actors. Redgrave was the only son of his parents; his sisters were Vanessa and Lynn.
Redgrave attended Westminster School for his official education. He then received a scholarship to study English at King’s College, Cambridge. While attending Cambridge, Redgrave’s future in acting was decided.
Redgrave followed in the footsteps of his performer parents by actively participating in theater performances at Cambridge. Within a short time, his acting prowess was established. His outstanding achievement earned him numerous plaudits. In Cambridge, he developed his directing abilities.
His Developing Profession
After graduating from Cambridge, Corin Redgrave devoted herself entirely to acting. He entered the theater and began to assume parts. In 1961, Redgrave played Lysander in Tony Richardson’s Royal Court production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
Just as he began his acting career, Redgrave became politically active. He backed politics on the radical left and became a lifetime activist.
After performing in Tony Richardson’s play, he portrayed a Pilot Officer in Arnold Wesker’s “Chips with Everything” in London and New York in 1962 and 1963. He subsequently starred in other West End productions, including “Lady Windermere’s Fan” in 1966 and “Abelard and Heloise” in 1971.
Politically, Redgrave joined the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament at his sister’s urging. He joined the Trotskyite Workers Revolutionary Party in 1971.
He moved to Stratford in 1972. In ‘The Comedy of Errors,’ he teamed up with John Wood as the latter’s twin Antipholus. He was cast in a number of Shakespearean plays, such as “Much Ado About Nothing,” “Henry IV, Part 1,” “Antony and Cleopatra,” and “The Tempest.” He also co-starred with his sister and wife in a hugely successful revival of “A Song at Twilight”
Film & Television Profession
Corin Redgrave made his movie debut in 1964 with guest appearances in the television series and films Camera Three,’ ‘The Avengers,’ and ‘Crooks in Cloisters.’ Early in his career, he gained both critical and commercial praise for his performance as Thomas More’s son-in-law in the commercially popular film “A Man for All Seasons.”
Redgrave appeared in a variety of television shows at the end of the 1960s, including “Theatre 625,” “Mystery and Imagination,” and “The Gambler.” His other credits include ‘The Girl with a Pistol,’ ‘The Magus,’ and ‘Oh! What a Lovely War.’ In 1977, he portrayed Sir George Grey in the New Zealand television drama “The Governor.”
In 1981, he portrayed the doomed Cornwall in “Excalibur,” and then Worsley in “Eureka.” In ‘In the Name of the Father,’ a biographical courtroom drama film, he concluded his portrayal of a corrupt chief police investigator.
In the 1994 British romantic comedy “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” Redgrave played Hamish, the fiance of Andie MacDowell’s character. His next part was as Sir Walter Eliot in Roger Michell’s “Persuasion.”
Redgrave appeared in British television series from 1995 to 2000, including ‘Ultraviolet,’ ‘The Vice,’ ‘Trial & Retribution,’ ‘Shameless,’ ‘Foyle’s War,’ ‘The Relief of Belsen,’ ‘The Ice House,’ and the Emmy Award-winning telefilm ‘The Girl in the Cafe,’ in which he portrayed the prime minister.
At the twilight of his career, Redgrave portrayed Oliver in the British thriller film ‘Glorious 39’ by Stephen Poliakoff. In the same year, he appeared in the television movie “The Turn of the Screw.”
His final film performance was in Adrian Popovici’s Romanian drama Eva, followed by his final television appearance in the episode ‘The Test’ of the television series Moving On.
Corin’s Major Effort
The best theater part played by Corin Redgrave was in Tennessee Williams’ “Not About Nightingales.” He performed the part of Boss Whalen, a prison warden. His outstanding performance garnered him a nomination for an Evening Standard Award.
The play was then moved to New York, where it was warmly acclaimed and earned him a nomination for a Tony Award. He also participated in the London production of “The General from America,” Oscar Wilde’s one-man play “De Profundis,” and “Trumbo.”
His Personal Life
Corin Redgrave was formerly married to Deirdre Deline Hamilton-Hill. Jemma Redgrave, an actress, and Luke, a camera operator, and production assistant, were their children. The marriage was short-lived, and the couple divorced in 1975.
After his divorce from Deirdre, Redgrave stayed alone for a considerable amount of time. He married Kika Markham in Wandsworth, London, in 1985. Harvey and Arden were the names of the couple’s two sons. In 1997, Deirdre passed away from cancer.
Redgrave was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2000. He was afflicted with the condition during his later years. In 2005, his condition became critical after a major heart attack, but it eventually stabilized.
Redgrave passed away at St. George’s Hospital in Tooting, South West London, on April 6, 2010. He was laid to rest in the Highgate Cemetery. His sister Lynn Redgrave went away due to breast cancer one month after his passing.
In 2014, his second wife Kika Markham wrote a posthumous memoir titled “Our Time of Day: My Life with Corin Redgrave.” Interestingly, Redgrave also wrote a memoir about his rocky relationship with his father throughout his lifetime. The memoir was titled “My Father, Michael Redgrave.”
Estimated Net Worth
Corin is one of the wealthiest and most popular actors in Hollywood. According to our research, Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider, Corin Redgrave has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million.