Paul Massie (born Arthur Dickinson Massé, July 7, 1932, St. Catharines, Ontario – June 8, 2011[1]) was a Canadian actor and academic.[2] He later became a theater professor at the University of South Florida in the 1970s. He remained on faculty until his retirement as professor emeritus in 1996.[3][4]

Massie won a BAFTA Award in 1959 for Most Promising Newcomer for his role in the Anthony Asquith film Orders to Kill (1958) in which he portrayed an American bomber pilot in Nazi-occupied France.[3][5] Also in 1958 he acted in the Peter Hall production of Tennessee Williams' play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Comedy Theatre in London, with Kim Stanley and Leo McKern also in the cast.[1]

Massie played the characters of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in the 1960 Hammer horror film The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll.[6] Unusually, he played Jekyll in make-up as an old, unattractive, bearded man, and his villainous counterpart Hyde as his young, handsome self.[7] He also appeared in the controversial thriller Sapphire (1959), and The Rebel (1961), a vehicle for British comedian Tony Hancock, as a budding artist.[8] His later films included the British comedies Raising the Wind (1961) and The Pot Carriers (1962).[9]

In 1963, he acted in William Fairchild's play Breaking Point, at the Golders Green Hippodrome, London with John Gregson, Robert Beatty, and Robert Ayres in the cast. John Barron was director.[3]

Later in his career, Massie shifted his focus to teaching, and became a member of the faculty at the University of South Florida in Tampa, where he had often been a guest artist-instructor over the years, first appearing in a 1966 production of Tartuffe. He taught acting, scene study, voice production, clowning, directing and other subjects. He also directed numerous productions at USF.[10][4]

Paul Massie died on June 8, 2011, in Liverpool, Nova Scotia, at the age of 78.[3] He had resided on the South Shore of Nova Scotia since his retirement from USF in 1996.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Ronald Bergan Obituary: Paul Massie, The Guardian, 31 July 2011
  2. ^ The Stage (16 August 2011). "Paul Massie". The Stage. 
  3. ^ a b c d e Dagan, Carmel (2011-06-16). "Paul Massie dies at 78, Canadian actor became Florida professor". Variety Magazine. Retrieved 2011-06-20. 
  4. ^ a b "Actor Paul Massie left fame, burgeoning career to teach at USF". Tampa Bay Times. 
  5. ^ Obituary, St. Petersburg Times, June 12, 2011, page 5B.
  6. ^ "The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll (1959)". BFI. 
  7. ^ Hal Erickson. "Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll (1960) - Terence Fisher - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". AllMovie. 
  8. ^ "Paul Massie". BFI. 
  9. ^ "Paul Massie - Movies and Filmography - AllMovie". AllMovie. 
  10. ^ "Orders to Kill (1958) - Articles - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies. 

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Most Promising Newcomer to Film
Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles
Most Outstanding Newcomer to Leading Film Roles
Most Outstanding Newcomer to Film
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