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Nickname:	/ Mr England (self-proclaimed)
Known for:	Gladiator, The Three Musketeers: The Queen's Diamonds, Oliver!
Birth name:	Robert Oliver Reed
Birthday:	13 February 1938, Wimbledon, London, England, UK
Height:	5' 11" (1.80 m)

Shared the same dentist as horror star Christopher Lee Needed 36 stitches to repair cuts on his face after a bar fight in 1963. The incident left him with a permanent scar, which he initially feared would put an end to his screen career. He had two brothers. David Reed became his business manager and his half-brother Simon Reed became his press agent. Nephew of the film director Sir Carol Reed, who directed him in one of his best roles, as the villainous Bill Sikes in Oliver!. Father of Mark Reed, with his first wife Kate Byrne and of Sarah Reed, with his partner, the dancer Jacqueline Daryl. He died of a heart attack in a bar after downing three bottles of Captain Morgan's Jamaica rum, eight bottles of German beer, numerous doubles of Famous Grouse whiskey, and beating five much younger Royal Navy sailors at arm-wrestling. His bar bill for that final lunch time totaled 270 Maltese lira, almost £450. He was severely injured and almost died during the filming of The Three Musketeers: The Queen's Diamonds when he was stabbed in the throat during the windmill duel scene. It took Director Ridley Scott 3,000,000 dollars to recreate Oliver's face after he dies during the filming of Gladiator Grandson of actor-manager Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, who founded the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in 1904. His first job (at the age of 17) was as a bouncer at a Soho nightclub. Was dyslexic. Cousin of actress Tracy Reed and of the actor David Tree. He was related by marriage to fellow actor Edward Fox, who was once married to his cousin, Tracy Reed, daughter of director Sir Carol Reed. Reed narrowly missed out on playing superspy James Bond because of his love of alcohol and fighting. A new biography of the star uncovered a letter from Bond mastermind Albert R. Broccoli outlining how close he came to replacing Sean Connery in the role. Broccoli wrote, "With Reed we would have had a far greater problem to destroy his image and re-mold him as James Bond. We just didn't have the time or money to do that." According to Cliff Goodwin, author of the book "Evil Spirits", "Oliver was probably within a sliver of being cast as Bond." He adds, "But by 1968 his affairs were public and he was already drinking and fighting - as far away from the refined Bond image as you could get." He was one of very few celebrities to remain in England during the 1970s, when taxes were very high. Because of this he referred to himself as "Mr England". By the mid-1970s he was considered by many to be Britain's biggest movie star. He declined roles in The Sting and Jaws because he didn't want to relocate to Los Angeles. Both of these roles were taken by fellow British hellraiser Robert Shaw. However, a Hollywood executive claimed, "Reed didn't turn us down. We turned him down. We like our stars to have respect - Oliver Reed didn't respect anyone and he showed it." The actor he admired most was Errol Flynn. He was a close friend of The Who's drummer Keith Moon. In 1973 Steve McQueen flew to England to meet Reed and discuss a possible film collaboration. "Reed showed me his country mansion and we got on well," recalled McQueen. "He then suggested he take me to his favorite London nightclub." The drinking, which started at Reed's home, Broome Hall, continued into the night until Reed could hardly stand. Suddenly, and with no apparent warning, he vomited over McQueen's shirt and trousers. "The staff rushed around and found me some new clothes, but they couldn't get me any shoes," said McQueen. "I had to spend the rest of the night smelling of Oliver Reed's sick." Former snooker champion Alex Higgins, himself suffering from throat cancer, was the only celebrity to attend Reed's funeral in Ireland. His wrestling scene with Alan Bates in Women in Love was the first time full frontal male nudity had featured in a mainstream movie.

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