Happy Birthday, You Booming Bastard

October 9th, Brian Blessed

Brian Blessed OBE
October 9th, 1936

Although he is much better known in the UK than elsewhere, there is little doubt that the actor Brian Blessed is a legend. Blessed’s career for the past forty or so years, even though he has appeared in all sorts of theatre productions and Hollywood movies, has basically consisted of turning up wherever he has been booked, guffawing loudly, beating his metaphorical chest like a cross between a yeti and a great silverback, booming the line “GORDON’S ALIVE!?”, laughing maniacally, and then going home to cash the cheque. Perhaps no actor in the past 50 or so years has managed to forge a career based on a hilariously and carefully, constructed public persona as Brian Blessed.

He’s 6ft tall (he isn’t), has a 55 inch chest (he doesn’t) and a massive beard (he does) and he bellows everything FULL VOICE LIKE THIS CONSTANTLY (he does) in a classically trained voice with a slight Yorkshire twang. He is actor turned up to 11. He is ridiculous, lovable, insufferable, annoying and funny.

But ask anyone what he has actually done, and they will struggle to name anything beyond “he’s that guy who goes GORDON’S ALIVE!?”. It’s a magnificent way to earn a living. He was Augustus in the sublime TV adaptation of Robert Graves’ I, Claudius and he was in Phantom Menace and the original stage version of Cats and some other stuff, but the GORDON’S ALIVE!? line comes from 1980s film version of Flash Gordon (the one with the Queen soundtrack) where he plays Prince Vultan, complete with a set of wings. It’s a ridiculous movie and he’s ridiculous in it, which suits him down to the ground. If you actually watch the damned thing, he doesn’t even deliver the line in the same way he’s been repeating it ever since, in return for money. In the movie, it’s just a question ‘Gordon’s alive?’. Ever since he’s delivered it like a meteor slamming into an iceberg - GOOORDOOOONNNSSS ALIVEEEEE!!!!???

Actors probably grow immensely tired of having to deliver lines to fans they are famous for saying. Some grew famous for lines they didn’t even say in the first place. Brian Blessed has not only revelled in it but he’s also made it his whole persona. And British people love him for it, not only because it’s very funny when he does it, but he’s also the kind of slightly barmy eccentric that the British people are very fond of.

Brian Blessed, after he’s finished honking his line at you, shaking his great ham-sized fists in the air and guffawing like a madman, then comes out with a whole series of wonderful anecdotes and stories which are part complete bullshit and part total truth.

He’ll tell you about the time he had to help a woman give birth in a London park and had to bite through the umbilical cord with his teeth (he didn’t). Or the time he became the oldest person to trek to the North Pole (he did) and punched a polar bear when he got there (he didn’t) or the time he flew to the jungle to be in Tarzan (he did) and the plane crashed (it did) and he had to trek through the jungle, led to safety by a Jack Russell Terrier he met on his journey (he didn’t). Or the several attempts he made to climb Everest without oxygen (he did) or trained to be an astronaut with the Russian space agency (he did).

The line between fantasy and reality in the rambling anecdotes of Brian Blessed is so blurred that even he isn’t sure if he did half the things he claims to have done, but none of that matters because he tells them with such back-slapping bonhomie and good-natured gusto that just listening to him tell them is entertainment on its own.

He’s 88 years old now, and, to be honest, all his bluster is bewildering and really quite annoying, but the world will be a much emptier place without him when he goes. Bless him.

Anyway, while he’s still with us, we can comfortably still say, “BRIAN’S ALIVE!?” and revel in the fact that great big, nonsensical, Shakespearean bravado makes the world a much more fun place to live in. Carry on, Brian.

Born on October 9, 1936, in Mexborough, South Yorkshire, England, Blessed grew up in a working-class family. His father was a coal miner, a fact that had a profound influence on his early life and instilled in him a deep appreciation for hard work and determination. Despite the economic challenges of his upbringing, Blessed developed a strong interest in the arts, particularly acting, which would later shape his career and public persona.

Blessed attended Bolton on Dearne Secondary Modern School before moving on to train at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, where he honed his acting skills. His early career was spent largely on the stage, performing with various theatre companies, which provided him with a solid foundation in classical acting. Throughout his career, Blessed has demonstrated a profound versatility, shifting between television, film, and theater while also being involved in voice-over work and writing. His career spans more than six decades, making him one of the most enduring figures in British entertainment.

Blessed’s big break came when he was cast in the long-running British television series Z-Cars (1962–1978), in which he played PC “Fancy” Smith from 1962 to 1965. His role on Z-Cars introduced him to a national audience and allowed him to establish a reputation as a serious actor. The show was one of the first British police dramas to focus on the working-class communities of the north, and Blessed's portrayal of a tough, no-nonsense officer helped cement the gritty realism for which the series was known.

Despite the success of Z-Cars, Blessed's career was by no means limited to television. His work in theatre remained a constant throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Notably, Blessed worked extensively with the Royal Shakespeare Company, appearing in productions of Henry V and Hamlet. His stage performances were praised for their intensity and physicality, with critics noting his ability to dominate the stage through sheer presence. His association with Shakespeare would continue throughout his career, and he would later go on to play some of the Bard’s most famous characters, including King Lear and Caesar Augustus.

Blessed’s booming voice became one of his most distinguishing features, making him a natural fit for voice-over work. He voiced characters in several animated films and series, including Tarzan (1999), in which he portrayed Clayton, and Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999), where he lent his voice to Boss Nass. His vocal range and distinctive delivery added a unique dimension to these characters, contributing to his reputation as one of Britain’s finest voice actors.

Brian Blessed's larger-than-life screen presence became even more prominent when he took on more eccentric and bombastic roles. One of the most iconic of these was his portrayal of Prince Vultan in the 1980 film Flash Gordon. The character's loud, jovial demeanour, complemented by Blessed’s bellowing delivery of the line "Gordon's alive!"” became one of the most memorable moments in the film. This role helped Blessed become a cult figure, particularly among fans of science fiction, and his performance in Flash Gordon is frequently cited as one of the highlights of his career.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Blessed continued to make a mark on both British television and international cinema. He appeared in I, Claudius (1976) as Emperor Augustus, a role that demonstrated his ability to bring historical figures to life with an authenticity that only he could convey. Blessed’s interpretation of Augustus was not merely grandiose; it was a studied portrayal that added depth to a man who wielded immense power in the Roman Empire. His performance in I, Claudius was widely acclaimed and showcased his ability to move seamlessly between the mediums of television and stage.

In addition to his acting career, Brian Blessed has pursued a variety of other interests. A lifelong adventurer, he has scaled Mount Everest three times, though he has never reached the summit. He also holds the record for being the oldest man to trek to the magnetic North Pole. Blessed's love for exploration and physical challenges mirrors his energetic approach to acting, and his exploits have become as much a part of his public image as his work in film and television. His autobiography, Absolute Pandemonium, published in 2015, chronicles both his acting career and his adventures in exploration, giving fans a deeper insight into his multifaceted life.

In recent years, Blessed has continued to work steadily, making appearances in both film and television while also maintaining a strong presence on stage. He has appeared in series such as Doctors and Casualty, continuing to show his adaptability to various genres and formats. Despite advancing age, Blessed has shown little sign of slowing down, and his commitment to his craft remains unwavering. His voice work has also continued to be in high demand, with Blessed providing narration for various documentaries and television programs.

Blessed’s contributions to the entertainment industry were recognized when he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2016 for services to the arts and charity. He is known for his charitable endeavours, including his work with organizations focused on animal conservation and children’s welfare. Blessed's larger-than-life personality extends beyond the screen, as he is often described as a force of nature, someone who embodies both the passion of his craft and a deep care for humanitarian causes.

A key aspect of Blessed's appeal is his refusal to be confined to a single type of role or a specific genre. Whether performing Shakespeare on stage, lending his voice to animated films, or scaling mountains, Brian Blessed has consistently demonstrated a passion for life and work that is rare in the entertainment industry. He has transcended the typical boundaries of an actor’s career, becoming an icon not only for his acting abilities but also for his adventurous spirit and unbridled enthusiasm for new challenges.

Although primarily known as an actor, Blessed’s public persona has become almost inseparable from his personal adventures. His combination of physical presence, booming voice, and ability to embody both serious and eccentric roles has earned him a unique place in British cultural history. Even today, Blessed remains a popular figure, his voice and image instantly recognizable to audiences of all ages. His legacy as a versatile performer, adventurer, and humanitarian is firmly established, and his continued activity in both the arts and charitable fields ensures that he remains a beloved figure in British entertainment.

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