Antony Holland (28 March 1920 – 29 July 2015) was an English actor, playwright and theatre director who until his death in 2015 lived on Gabriola Island, British Columbia, Canada.
History Holland completed his drama training at the Labour Stage in London. Shortly after, he was called into His Majesty's Armed Forces as a signalman at the onset of the Second World War. While training at the coastal town of South Shields, he put on a play in a local abandoned theatre. Holland continued to mount productions in his spare time throughout the course of the war. He was granted the officers' lounge for rehearsals and cast approximately 100 men in a wide variety of roles, including parts that required playing women. His plays continued through the North African Campaign, crossed the desert, and made it to Cairo where he would mount productions at the Khedivial Opera House. So successful were his plays that the military requisitioned stage materials for more elaborate productions. Holland was transferred into military intelligence where he served out the remainder of the war.
In 1946, Laurence Olivier founded the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School where Holland was vice principal for nearly a decade. Holland moved to Vancouver in 1957 and remained in British Columbia until his death in July 2015. In 1965, he founded a theatre arts program at the King Edward Campus of Vancouver Community College. The school relocated to Langara College and formally took on the name of Studio 58. Holland retired as artistic director in 1985, and returned to professional acting, directing and writing. Shortly after moving to Gabriola Island, he established a new theatre company at the Gabriola Theatre Centre.
Select credits Year Title Role Notes1971 McCabe & Mrs. Miller Hollander 1982 The Grey Fox Judge 1983 The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Reverend Hopkins 1987 Housekeeping Mr. Wallace 1988 Backfire Judge Hardin 1988 The Accused Plea Bargain Lawyer 1989 Cousins Wedding Priest 1989 We're No Angels Doctor 1989MacGyverVincent Battaglia1 episode1989-1991 Captain N: The Game Master Doctor Light Voice, 33 episodes1990 Narrow Margin Elderly Man 1990-1991 The New Adventures of He-Man Master Sebrian Voice, 65 episodes1991 Bingo Circus Vet 1991 K2 Priest 1992 Impolite Jimmy 1995 Last of the Dogmen Doc Carvey 2004 Kingdom Hospital Lenny Stillmach 5 episodes2004 12 Days of Christmas Eve Hank Carter 2002 King Lear King Lear Studio 582006 Arts Club Theatre Company Morrie Tuesday with Morrie2006EurekaIrvin Horatio Thatcher1 episode2008 The Merchant of Venice Shylock Studio 582009 Battlestar Galactica Julius Baltar 1 episode2011SupernaturalWestborough1 episode
Honours The recipient of three Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards and numerous nominations. The recipient of four Lifetime Achievement Awards. Elected into the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame. The Antony Holland Scholarship at Langara College was made in his honour. Member of the Order of Canada.
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