Murray Melvin, ‘Phantom of the Opera,’ ‘Barry Lyndon’ actor, dead at 90

LONDON — Murray Melvin, a versatile actor who had roles in “Phantom of the Opera,” “Barry Lyndon” and “Torchwood,” died Friday. He was 90.

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Melvin died in a London hospital, his representative, Thomas Bowington, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Kerry Kyriacos Michael, creative director at Theatro Technis, tweeted about Murray’s death on Saturday.

“It’s with great sadness that I have to announce the death of Murray Melvin -- actor, director and theatre archivist,” Michael tweeted.

Michael added that Melvin fell in December and “he never fully recovered.”

Melvin was born in London on Aug. 10, 1932, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Melvin rose to prominence as Geoffrey, the gay art student, in “A Taste of Honey,” and later became a key member of Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop company, The Guardian reported. He won best actor at the Cannes Film Festival for his role in “A Taste of Honey,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Melvin debuted in 1957 at the Theatre Royal in Stratford in “Macbeth,” according to Deadline. He later appeared in films such as “Alfie” (1966), “Barry Lyndon” (1975) and “The Phantom of the Opera” (2004).

On television, Melvin appeared on the television sci-fi drama “Torchwood,” a spin-off of the “Doctor Who” series, the website reported.

Melvin authored a pair of books, according to The Guardian: “The Art of Theatre Workshop” (2006) and “The Theatre Royal, A History of the Building” (2009).

Screenwriter Russell T. Davies paid tribute to Melvin in an Instagram post.

“Murray Melvin (1932-2023), bless him, he played the wonderful villain in Torchwood, Bilis Manger, and he loved it!” Davies wrote. “But what a career!

“He lived through a century that saw the understanding of his identity change so profoundly, and he did so with dignity, class and wit. His last email to me ended, ‘Take care, we still cannot afford to take chances.’ Oh he was wise.”

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