Corin Redgrave
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| Corin Redgrave | |
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| Name | Corin Redgrave |
| Birth name | Corin William Redgrave |
| Birth date | 16 July 1939 |
| Birth place | Marylebone, London |
| Death date | 6 April 2010 |
| Death place | Kindred Hospital, Swindon |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Actor, Activist |
| Years active | 1960s–2009 |
| Spouse | Deirdre Hamilton-Hill (m. 1962; div. 1975); Kika Markham (m. 1985) |
| Parents | Michael Redgrave; Rachel Kempson |
| Relatives | Vanessa Redgrave; Lynn Redgrave; Natasha Richardson; Jemma Redgrave |
Corin Redgrave (16 July 1939 – 6 April 2010) was a British stage, film and television actor and left-wing political activist. A member of the prominent Redgrave theatrical family, he performed with major companies and in international productions while campaigning on human rights, anti-war and Labour-aligned causes. His career spanned classical theatre, contemporary drama and screen roles that connected him to figures and institutions across British cultural and political life.
Early life and family
Born in Marylebone, London, Corin Redgrave was the son of actors Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson and was raised alongside siblings including actors Vanessa Redgrave and Lynn Redgrave. Educated at Bedales School and later trained in acting, he came of age amid the post‑Second World War British theatre revival associated with companies such as the Old Vic and figures like Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud. The Redgrave dynasty linked him by marriage and blood to other theatrical families, creating connections to performers such as Natasha Richardson and Jemma Redgrave, and to institutions including the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.
Acting career
Redgrave's stage work included performances in works by William Shakespeare, George Bernard Shaw and Arthur Miller, and he appeared with leading repertory companies and festivals such as the RSC and the Royal Court Theatre. On television he took roles in series and adaptations associated with broadcasters like the BBC and ITV, appearing in programmes adapted from authors including Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, and John le Carré. His film credits placed him in productions alongside actors such as Glenda Jackson, Derek Jacobi, and directors connected to British and international cinema festivals like the Cannes Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival. Known for a powerful stage presence, Redgrave undertook classical parts—tragedy and history—and modern dramas, collaborating with directors influenced by Peter Hall, Trevor Nunn, and European practitioners linked to the Comédie-Française and Bertolt Brecht traditions. He worked in radio drama for the BBC Radio 4 network, and his screen roles ranged from supporting appearances in thrillers resonant with Cold War themes to portrayals in literary adaptations linked to the British film industry and television institutions such as Channel 4.
Political activism and views
Alongside his artistic career, Redgrave was a prominent political activist associated with left-wing causes and organisations including Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and groups aligned with the Labour left. He campaigned on issues such as nuclear disarmament, anti-war protests linked to conflicts like the Iraq War, and human rights campaigns that connected him to NGOs and causes operating in regions affected by conflicts such as the Falklands War aftermath and European solidarity movements. Redgrave's public interventions brought him into contact with political figures and intellectuals from across the left, including campaigners linked to Tony Benn, Ken Livingstone, and trade union leaders associated with the Trades Union Congress. He took part in demonstrations, benefit events and debates alongside cultural figures such as Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen, and sibling activists including Vanessa Redgrave; his activism often intersected with controversies that involved media outlets like The Guardian and The Times.
Personal life
Redgrave married costume designer Deirdre Hamilton-Hill in the early 1960s; the marriage produced children and ended in divorce. He later married actress Kika Markham, with whom he partnered in both family life and occasional public appearances; their children include actors who continued the family's presence in British theatre and screen, linking the family to further theatrical dynasties and institutions such as the West End and regional companies. His friendships and collaborations extended across cultural circles that included playwrights like Harold Pinter and novelists who adapted works for stage and screen, and he maintained ties to educational institutions that train performers, including Royal Academy of Dramatic Art alumni and conservatoires across the UK and Europe.
Illness and death
In later years Redgrave's health declined after a diagnosis of prostate cancer; he underwent treatment and publicly addressed aspects of his illness, engaging with healthcare debates and charities concerned with cancer awareness and palliative care such as organisations associated with the National Health Service and cancer charities prominent in the UK. He died on 6 April 2010, a passing noted in obituaries across British and international media including the BBC, The Guardian, and The Independent, and commemorated by colleagues and political allies from across theatre, film and activist circles. His funeral and memorials brought together figures from institutions such as the Royal Court Theatre, the National Theatre, and trade unions, reflecting his dual legacy in performance and public life.
Category:1939 births Category:2010 deaths Category:English male stage actors Category:English male television actors Category:Redgrave family