A Fond Look at Nigel Hawthorne's Life Quiz

Answer: South Africa

Despite applying to the University of Cape Town and subsequently enrolling, Hawthorne called it quits on his formal education in Africa and moved back to the United Kingdom. He returned home in the hope of establishing an acting career, a decision that, despite not being initially successful, would prove to be excellent by the standards of anyone!

Answer: Dad's Army

"Dad's Army" was a hugely successful British sitcom of the 1960s and 1970s, that influenced British popular culture in a way that very few television transmissions had done before or have done since. Many of the sitcom's catchphrases could be heard repeated the length of the nation which included the cutting put-down "you stupid boy!"

Nigel Hawthorne, as mentioned, had a very small part in just one of the more than eighty episodes of "Dad's Army" but this part could only be seen as progress. Hawthorne didn't really have support from all members of his family with his father, for example, calling acting a "cissy profession".

Answer: Sir Humphrey Appleby

The successful programme "Yes Minister", a sitcom containing satire, originally aired in Britain from 1980 to 1984 and was the prequel to "Yes, Prime Minister". For the skill demonstrated in his portrayal of the fictional Sir Humphrey Appleby, he won many BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) awards.

Answer: The Madness of King George

The film adaptation of the 1991 stage production "The Madness of King George" is a fantastic documentation of the later years of the turbulent and troubled reign of King George III (1760-1820). Hawthorne effectively demonstrated the two main battles of King George's life: the deterioration of his mental health and the disintegration of his relationship with his son and heir to the throne.

For the film adaptation of "The Madness of King George", Nigel Hawthorne received a well-earned Oscar nomination.

Answer: He was knighted.

Nigel Hawthorne would, from 1999 on, be referred to as Sir Nigel Hawthorne after Queen Elizabeth II bestowed upon him a knighthood. The knighthood was in recognition of his "services to theatre, film and television". His delight at receiving the award was genuine, saying that he was "touched that I have been plucked from an enormous number of people".

He would now be called a Sir just like the character he portrayed in "Yes Minister", Sir Humphrey Appleby.

Answer: No

No, Nigel Hawthorne didn't marry an Oscar winning actress and in fact didn't marry a female at all. The very private Hawthorne wished to keep his same-sex relationship with Trevor Bentham out of the limelight. Unfortunately, his wishes were ignored when he was 'outed' before the Academy Awards ceremony of 1995. With the relationship out in the open, Hawthorne and Bentham attended the Academy Awards together; a nice touch I think.

Answer: Clint Eastwood

The tagline for "Firefox" was 'The most devastating killing machine ever built. His job... steal it!'. The 'killing machine' in question was a Soviet fighter plane called "Firefox" and Nigel Hawthorne's character, Pyotr Baranovich, was one of the scientists that helped Major Mitchell Grant (Clint Eastwood) steal it!

Answer: Richard III

"Richard III" was a great success, with Ian McKellen winning a Best Actor BAFTA for his performance in the titular role. Robert Downey Jr. played Earl Rivers and Nigel Hawthorne portrayed the influential figure in the Wars of the Roses, the Duke of Clarence.

"Richard III" had many other big names in its cast list including Annette Benning, Jim Broadbent and Maggie Smith. Dame Maggie Smith is better known amongst the younger generation for playing Professor McGonagall in the "Harry Potter" series.

Answer: Madeline

Nigel Hawthorne played the owner of a boarding school, Lord Covington, in the 1998 dramatisation of "Madeline". Throughout the film Lord Covington, or as the students called him 'Lord Cucuface', tried to sell the building that housed the school that Madeline attended. Madeline and her friends attempted to put off many foreign ambassadors from buying the building and eventually Lord Covington changed his mind! Madeline and her classmates were able to keep the school.

Answer: Pancreas

Sir Nigel Hawthorne died of a heart attack at the age of 72 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was survived by his domestic partner, Trevor Bentham, and Hawthorne's autobiography called "Straight Face" was released posthumously. In his autobiography the usually very private man opened up a part of his life to people that was for a long time somewhat clandestine.

He talked about his successful acting career and the initial struggle to enter such an occupation. He also frankly discussed his desire, his mission to embrace his love of acting and overcome the perceived lack of dignity and justification that such a profession suffered from at the time.