Stage Whispers: Douglas Wilmer, the Memoirs

Douglas Wilmer is one of the finest character actors the British theatre has ever produced.

Remembered for playing Sherlock Holmes in the '60s BBC TV series, many consider his to have been the definitive portrayal.

In a long career, beginning just after the War, Wilmer conquered stage, television and film, appearing in many of the great epic movies, including "El Cid", "The Fall of the Roman Empire" and "Cleopatra".

He will also be recalled for his role as Nayland Smith in the "Fu Manchu" movies.

His range encompassed everything from light comedy to the classics to heavy drama.

He is acknowledged as one of Britain's most versatile theatre and character actors of the '50s, '60s and '70s.

Beginning with a RADA scholarship, his spread of roles would be extraordinary and embrace everything from Shakespeare to Jason & "The Argonauts", from "The Pink Panther" to Bond movies.

His circle of friends and colleagues included many of the notoriously hard-drinking, hard-loving and hard-working stars of the day, including Sir Laurence Olivier, Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Christopher Lee, Charlton Heston, Sofia Loren, Alec Guinness and Richard Harris. Whilst pursuing his career, Wilmer witnessed first-hand the breakdown of Burton's marriage and the development of his relationship with Elizabeth Taylor, worked with the extraordinary and mercurial Olivier, and partied with Sofia Loren.

Their dramas were part Wilmer's life, and his fascinating story is intricately interwoven with their successes and tragedies, joys and heartbreaks.

Beautifully written, "Stage Whispers" is a wonderful memoir, packed with intriguing, controversial and compelling detail, spiced with revealing recollections of the many thespian giants whom he encountered.