SHAKSPER 1993: The Death of Sam Wanamaker

From: Hardy M. Cook (hmcook@boe00.minc.umd.edu)
Date: 12/19/93 

Shakespeare Electronic Conference, Vol. 4, No. 960. Sunday, 19 December 1993.
 
From:           Kenneth S. Rothwell <krothwel@moose.uvm.edu>
Date:           Sunday, 19 Dec 1993 10:20:10 -500 (EST)
Subject:        Sam Wanamaker
 
Today's press reports the death of Sam Wanamaker in London. I grieve for the
loss of a good friend and colleague. Sam vigorously supported and served on the
advisory board of the >Shakespeare on Film Newsletter< that Bernice Kliman and
I edited from 1976 to 1992. He was a stalwart foe of the McCarthy witch hunt in
the United States during the terrible 50's, having been exiled abroad for his
pains. He strove mightily against great odds to build his Bankside Globe and
contributed his own acting talents to theatre and screen. Millions saw him as
the father in >Private Benjamin<, for example, though few probably knew he once
played Iago to Paul Robeson's >Othello<. He was a genius at bringing together
diverse assortments of teachers, scholars, actors, and world financial and
political luminaries. Not realizing that he was terminally ill, I now feel all
the more grateful to the Queen and his adopted country for having honored him
recently with the C.B.E.
 
Kenneth S. Rothwell


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