 |
John Rhys-Davies as Rodrigues in the 1980 television miniseries "Shogun". Source: https://frockflicks.com/mcm-john-rhys-davies/ (May be subject to copyright) |
It took a minute but I finally remembered where I had seen him first, and why that name rang a bell.
It wasn’t from “The Hobbit” or “The Lord Of The Rings”. They were the movies that brought him to Calgary this weekend for the Comic and Entertainment Expo, but I haven’t seen them yet.
It wasn’t even from the Indiana Jones movies, where he played the sidekick, starting in 1981 with “Raiders of the Lost Ark”.
Instead, the first time I recall seeing John Rhys-Davies in an epic miniseries, that is back in the news again.
It was called “Shogun” and it debuted in 1980.
I was thinking about all he has done when I walked past him signing autographs today at the Calgary Expo.
Getting started
John Rhys-Davies made some movies in the 1970s. However, he really cut his acting teeth on television, most notably in the acclaimed miniseries “I, Claudius” in 1976. It was a history of the early Roman Empire.
John Rhys-Davies made some movies in the 1970s. However, he really cut his acting teeth on television, most notably in the acclaimed miniseries “I, Claudius” in 1976. It was a history of the early Roman Empire.
Then he appeared in one of the biggest television events of the new decade. James Clavell had written the best-selling book “Shogun” and, in 1980, it debuted on television as a miniseries. It chronicled the life of explorer John Blackthorne, played by Richard Chamberlain, who lands in feudal Japan, and slowly becomes integrated in Japanese society, all the while trying to make his way back home.
Rhys-Davies played Blackthorne’s friend Vasco Rodrigues, a fellow pilot whose life Blackthorne saved. Rhys-Davies played the charming friend and kind of a sidekick. It was territory he would re-visit again.
For his effort, John Rhys-Davies was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for his role as Rodrigues.
The next year, 1981, Rhys-Davies appeared in “Raiders of the Lost Ark” playing Sallah, an Egyptian excavator and close friend of Indiana Jones, played by Harrison Ford. Rhys-Davies again was kind of a sidekick. He reprised the role of Sallah in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” and “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”.
The ‘80s in TV
John Rhys-Davies had a prolific career in the 1980s on television. He had a guest starring roles in shows such as “CHiPs”; “Scarecrow and Mrs. King’; and “Murder, She Wrote.”
John Rhys-Davies had a prolific career in the 1980s on television. He had a guest starring roles in shows such as “CHiPs”; “Scarecrow and Mrs. King’; and “Murder, She Wrote.”
However, he spent much of his time in miniseries and recurring roles.
In 1982, he played Sir Edward in “The Quest”. I read about this show in the “TV Guide Fall Preview”, but it didn’t air on peasant vision. “The Quest” was about a fictional principality seeking a possible heir to the throne. Four individuals are identified and one will ultimately become the heir. Sir Edward was there to help determine who that should be. “The Quest” only lasted nine episodes, with four unaired. I eventually saw the pilot on Channel 7 on the peasant vision dial as a TV movie, and it just whet my appetite.
Rhys-Davies was also in the TV movies “Ivanhoe” and “Reilly, Ace of Spies”; the Perry Mason movie “The Case of the Murdered Madam”; “Noble House”; the epic miniseries “War and Remembrance”; “Great Expectations”; and he ended the decade in 1989 in “The Trial of the Incredible Hulk”.
The ‘80s in the movies
John Rhys-Davies also fashioned a decent body of work on the silver screen, appearing in “Victor/Victoria”; “Sahara”, starring Brooke Shields; “Sadat” where he played former Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser; “Kim”; “King Solomon’s Mines”, again opposite Richard Chamberlain; “Firewalker”, starring Chuck Norris; “The Living Daylights”, a James Bond film; and wrapping up the decade in 1989 in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” as Sallah.
John Rhys-Davies also fashioned a decent body of work on the silver screen, appearing in “Victor/Victoria”; “Sahara”, starring Brooke Shields; “Sadat” where he played former Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser; “Kim”; “King Solomon’s Mines”, again opposite Richard Chamberlain; “Firewalker”, starring Chuck Norris; “The Living Daylights”, a James Bond film; and wrapping up the decade in 1989 in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” as Sallah.
Yet, this was all just the beginning as John Rhys-Davies continues to work.
The years after
His film credits include “The Lost World” and “Return to the Lost World”; “The Great White Hype”; and much more. He began his run in “Lord of the Rings” in 2001 with “The Fellowship of the Ring”, and followed that up with “The Two Towers” and “Return of the King”. He also was in a plethora of movies right up to 2023 when he was in “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” and “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom”, where he lends his voice for the Brine King. It was a role he started back in “Aquaman” in 2018.
His film credits include “The Lost World” and “Return to the Lost World”; “The Great White Hype”; and much more. He began his run in “Lord of the Rings” in 2001 with “The Fellowship of the Ring”, and followed that up with “The Two Towers” and “Return of the King”. He also was in a plethora of movies right up to 2023 when he was in “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” and “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom”, where he lends his voice for the Brine King. It was a role he started back in “Aquaman” in 2018.
On television, I remember him best as Professor Maximillian Arturo in 40 episodes of the time travel adventure “Sliders” from 1995 to 1997.
He has also been in “Tales from the Crypt”; the Perry Mason movie “The Case of the Fatal Framing”; the series “The Untouchables”, for 15 episodes; the sitcom “You Wish”; “Star Trek: Voyager” as Leonardo da Vinci; “Psych”; and a lot more.
Rhys-Davies also did a lot of voice work in cartoons and as characters off screen.
Parting thoughts
“Shogun” was dubbed a television event when it aired over five nights in 1980. It was a sprawling epic that not only showcased Japan and the talents of Richard Chamberlain, but also exposed John Rhys-Davies to a much wider audience.
“Shogun” was dubbed a television event when it aired over five nights in 1980. It was a sprawling epic that not only showcased Japan and the talents of Richard Chamberlain, but also exposed John Rhys-Davies to a much wider audience.
The miniseries drew massive numbers, and my Mom and sister watched it religiously. My sister had actually read the book too. I didn’t watch it, because at the time it did not sound that interesting.
Yet, one of the weird phenomena of the’80s was that networks would replay these epic miniseries again, a year or two later. The same thing would happen with “The Thorn Birds”, which also starred Richard Chamberlain.
So, by then, I had heard all about it, and eagerly watched “Shogun”. From the first time I saw him, Vasco Rodrigues was my favourite character for his presence on screen, wit, and chemistry with Richard Chamberlain. He deserved that Emmy nomination for the role.
It also set the stage for so many of the roles that followed, such as Sallah and Professor Arturo – two of my favourites.
It is just a reminder John Rhys-Davies had a life and a career long before “The Lord of the Rings”.
No comments:
Post a Comment