‘Chariots Of Fire’ and ‘Star Trek’ actor was 72 – Deadline

Ben Cross, the English actor best known for his portrayal of British Olympic athlete Harold Abrahams in the 1981 multi-Oscar winner Wagons of fire and as Sarek in the 2009 reboot Star Trek, died at the age of 72 after a short illness.

The veteran stage and screen star died this morning in Vienna, his family has confirmed to us.

Cross was born Harry Bernard Cross in London in 1947 into a working class family. He began acting at a young age, participating in plays from grammar schools, but left school to work as a window cleaner, waiter, accelerator and carpenter before being accepted at age 22 at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. He excelled at RADA and won the actress’ prestigious Vanbrugh Award for Performance of the Year. He would go on to claim a string of key stage roles and made his big screen debut on the epic of World War II 1976 A bridge too far.

Cross’ path to international stardom began in 1978 with his performance in the play Chicago, in which he played Billy Flynn, the cunning lawyer of murderer Roxie Hart. His performance prompted his casting in the British classic Wagons of fire, alongside actors such as Ian Charleson, Ian Holm and John Gielgud. Based on a true story, the cashier and winner of the best image told the story of two British track and field athletes, one a Jew who ran to overcome prejudice, and the other a devout Christian who ran for the glory of God, who competed in the 1924 Olympics. For their award-winning performances as fierce running rivals, Cross and co-star Charleson both won the 1981 most promising artist of the Variety Club Awards.

Cross followed Wagons of fire with projects including 10-part BBC drama The Citadel, HBO spy movie Steal The Sky and NBC TV miniseries Tafal. Among notable stage roles that were in the play by John Guare for decades Lydia Breeze and against Charlton Heston in the revival of The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.

In 1995, Cross died as the villain Prince Malagant opposite Richard Gere, Sean Connery and Julia Ormond in Columbia Pictures action-adventure pic First Knight, and in 2007 he was cast in the role of Sarek in the then new Star Trek film directed and produced by JJ Abrams.

Among the last appearances were The CW series Pandora and action film of 2018 The Hurricane Heist and the actor took his last role as Cardinal Mathews in the horror of Lionsgate The light of the devil but ten days ago.

In post-production, Netflix is ​​romance Last letter from your lover, in which Cross died with Shailene Woodley, Felicity Jones, Joe Alwyn and Callum Turner. The actor had also cast in development films, including Resilient 3D en Freedom.

Cross, who was married three times, is survived by his wife Deyana Boneva Cross, and his two children, Theo and Lauren.