‘Chariots of Fire’, ‘Star Trek’ and ‘First Knight’ Star was 72

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

The veteran of the stage and the screen passed away this morning in Vienna, his family confirmed to us.

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Cross was born Harry Bernard Cross in London in 1947 to a working-class family. He started acting at a young age, participating in high school plays, but left school to work as a window washer, waiter, carpenter and carpenter before being accepted at the age of 22 to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. He excelled at RADA and won the prestigious Vanbrugh School of Drama Award for Performance of the Year. He went on to claim a series of key stage roles and made his big screen debut in the 1976 WWII epic. A bridge too far.

Cross’s path to international stardom began in 1978 with his performance in the play Chicago, in which he played Billy Flynn, the skillful lawyer for murderous Roxie Hart. Her performance prompted her casting in the British classic Chariots of fire, alongside actors such as Ian Charleson, Ian Holm and John Gielgud. Based on a true story, the box office hit and Best Picture winner chronicled the story of two British track 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 acclaimed performances as fierce rivals, Cross and his co-star Charleson both won the award for Most Promising Artist of 1981 at the Variety Club Awards.

Cross followed Chariots of fire with projects including BBC drama in 10 episodes The Citadel, HBO spy movie Fly the sky and NBC TV mini-series Irony of fate. Among the notable stage roles this decade were in John Guare’s play Lydia breeze and opposite Charlton Heston in the revival of Caine’s mutiny court martial.

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

Among recent performances, the CW series Pandora and action movie 2018 Hurricane Heist and the actor completed his last role as Cardinal Mathews in the Lionsgate horror Devil’s light only ten days ago.

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

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

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