Matthew John Du Toit Van Eyssen (born 19 March 1922 – 13 November 1995) was a South African actor, literary agent, and film production executive who spent most of his professional life in the United Kingdom. He served as the head of the Grade Organisation’s literary agency, and was later the UK Managing Director for Columbia Pictures.
Life and career Van Eyssen was born in the town of Fauresmith, Free State in 1922. He served in the South African Army during the Second World War. He moved to the UK after his discharge to study at the Central School of Speech and Drama.
Actor Eyman was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company during its 1948 season. He played Rosencrantz in Hamlet, opposite Paul Scofield as the title character. In 1951, he played Cassio in Orson Welles' 1951 production of Othello.Othello (Orson Welles stage production)
In 1951 and in 1954 he played the role of Lucifer in the York Cycle of Mystery Plays, first revived in 1951 as part of the Festival of Britain.Mystery Play Archive http://www.yorkmysteryplays.org/?idno=193&a=d&item_id=184&k=Eyssen
Van Eyssen appeared in films from 1950 as well as on stage, but achieved his greatest fame as an actor when he portrayed Jonathan Harker in the Hammer Film Productions version of Dracula (released as Horror of Dracula in the US) in 1958.
Agent and executive He left acting in 1961 to become head of the Grade Organisation literary agency.'Van Eyssen named MD Columbia (British)', Kinematograph Weekly vol. 625 no. 3223 19 July 1969 His subsequent clients were Franco Zeffirelli, Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller. He left the business in 1965 to work for the UK division of Columbia Pictures, eventually becoming Managing Director in July 1969. Among the films he oversaw were A Man for All Seasons (1966), Born Free (1966), Georgy Girl (1966), To Sir, with Love (1967), The Taming of The Shrew (1967), and Oliver! (1968). Both Oliver! and A Man for All Seasons won Best Picture Academy Awards. In 1970, he was promoted to Worldwide Head of Production (ex-USA) and moved to New York.
After his tenure at Columbia, Van Eyssen became an independent producer, returning to the UK in 1991 to establish Britain's premier showcase for talented young filmmakers, the Chelsea Film Festival.
Personal life Van Eyssen was longtime companion of Ingrid Bergman in the years before her death in 1982. His son, David Van Eyssen, is a visual artist, and a producer-director known for the science fiction streaming series RCVR.RCVR
Death Aged 73, Van Eyssen died in Fulham, London on 13 November 1995.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1950 The Angel with the Trumpet Albert Drauffer 1951 Murder in the Cathedral Priest 1953 Four Sided Triangle Robin Three Steps in the Dark Henry Burgoyne 1954 The Men of Sherwood Forest Will Scarlett 1955 The Cockleshell Heroes Marine Bradley 1957 Brothers in Law Forbes Uncredited The Traitor LT. Grant Quatermass 2 The PRO Account Rendered Clive Franklyn The One That Got Away German Prisoner 1958 The Whole Truth Archer Dracula Jonathan Harker Moment of Indiscretion Corby 1959 Carlton-Browne of the F.O. Hewitt Carry On Nurse Surgeon Stephens I'm All Right Jack Reporter Blind Date Inspector Westover 1960 Make Mine Mink Rowson Uncredited The Criminal Formby 1961 Exodus Detective Uncredited A Story of David Joab 1963 Like Two Drops of Water Uncredited
Television Year Title Role Notes1951-56 BBC Sunday Night Theatre Various roles 5 episodes1954The Three MusketeersDuke of Buckingham3 episodes1956-60ITV Television PlayhouseProf. Craig, PhilipEpisode: "Ever Since Paradise" & "The Two Wise Virgins of Hove"1957The Errol Flynn TheatreLoverEpisode: "Love Token"Overseas Press Club – Exclusive!Capt. BauerEpisode: "My Favourite Kidnapper"O.S.S.SecretaryEpisode: "Operation Big House"1958The New Adventures of Charlie ChanInsp. Pierre RenalEpisode: "The Noble Art of Murder"IvanhoeSir AlistairEpisode: "Rinaldo"1959The Verdict Is YoursDefence CounselEpisodes: "The Case of the Missing Golf Funds: Parts 1 & 2"CharlesworthStantonEpisode: "Long Hot Spell"The Man Who Finally DiedSgt. HirschEpisodes: "The Gloves" & "The Clinic"Interpol CallingCapt. FlormannEpisode: "Air Switch"1960ITV Play of the WeekPresidentEpisode: "Carrington V.C."The Four Just MenRaoulEpisode: "The Grandmother"1960-61 The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theater Merril, John Mandle Episodes: "Marriage of Convenience" & "Partners in Crime"1961 Drama 61-67 Stephen Axley Episode: "Journey to Nowhere"
Partial stage credits Year Title RoleVenue(s)Ref.1947 French Without TearsSummer Theatre, Frinton-on-Sea1947-48 Othello Bristol Old Vic, Bristol1948King JohnRoyal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-AvonThe Merchant of VeniceHamletRosencrantzThe Taming of the ShrewHaberdasherThe Winter's TaleTroilus and CressidaMenelausOthello1948-49The MiserCleanteNew Theatre, London1949-50HamletPlayer King1949-50Love's Labour's LostDumaine1950-51Storks Don’t TalkCarlo CavendishUK tour1951 Othello CassioTheatre Royal, NewcastleUK tourThe Other Palace, London
References
External links
John Van Eyssen at Theatricalia