Curiosidades

He appeared in three different adaptations of Charles Dickens's 1843 novel "A Christmas Carol". He played Jacob Marley in both Cuento de Navidad (1951) and Un villancico (1971) (with Alastair Sim as Ebeneezer Scrooge in both adaptations too) and Ebeneezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (1977).

Notable stage work for the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford and in London, at the Old Vic and in the West End. In addition to his many Shakespearean roles (As You Like It, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Twelfth Night), Hordern performed in plays by Strindberg, Chekhov, Ibsen, Pinero, Pinter, Dürrenmatt, Albee, Alan Ayckbourn, David Mercer and Tom Stoppard. His King Lear is considered his most respected work, which he also played on the BBC.

On the Wogan (1982) chat show, he said he declined the offers to play the Second Doctor in Doctor Who (1963) (played by Patrick Troughton) and Maigret (1960) (played by Rupert Davies).

Terry Gilliam's first casting choice for Las aventuras del barón Munchausen (1988).

David Jason considered him one of his heroes. He claimed he could never have stood on stage with him and done Shakespeare and been competitive. When they worked together on The Wind in the Willows (1984), the cast were surprised with the energy Jason brought to Mr Toad and had to work to keep up with him. Jason believed he just about managed to hold his own.

Made his professional debut in 1937 at the People's Palace, east London, playing Lodovico in "Othello". Later in the year he joined the repertory company of the Little Theatre in Bristol; it was here that he met his future wife, actress Eve Mortimer. They had one daughter.

Loved fly fishing for trout and salmon.

He and brother Peter were educated at Brighton College.

He was made a CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the 1972 Queen's New Year Honours List and a Knight Bachelor in the 1983 Queen's New Year Honours List for services to drama.

He was a good friend to Richard Burton in the early days of the latter's career and Burton never forgot it. They worked together in several films later on and Hordern always claimed that he got every one of these roles as a direct result of Burton's personal recommendation.

He claimed that he had had good relations with all his directors except for Zoltan Korda and John Huston.

He was awarded the 1988 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama Theatre Award) Special Award.

He and Ian McKellen, who have both played Gandalf, also share the same middle name of Murray.

A memorial service was held for him at St. Paul's Church, Covent Garden on 4th October 1995.

Married his wife in the basement rehearsal room at the Bristol Theatre about 1940,.

Daughter Joanna born 1946.

He spent 40 years on stage and made over 50 films.

Fighter Direction Officer and then First Lieutenant on board HMS Illustrious during the Second World War. He left the Royal Navy as a Lieutenant Commander.

He was considered for the roles of Dr. Hans Fallada, Dr. Armstrong and Sir Percy Heseltine in Lifeforce: Fuerza vital (1985).

He had a brother who was a judge.