Anecdotes

One of the stars of La grande évasion (1963) to have actually been a World War II prisoner of war (Hannes Messemer, who played Colonel Lugo the camp commander, was a German soldier in World War II and was captured by American troops and held in a POW camp until the end of the war). He was also a POW in Russia. When he kindly offered advice to director John Sturges, he was politely asked to keep his "opinions" to himself. Later, when another star from the film informed Sturges that Pleasence had actually been an RAF officer in a World War II German POW camp, Sturges requested Pleasance's technical advice and input on historical accuracy from that point forward.

When Moustapha Akkad asked Donald Pleasence how many more La Nuit des masques (1978) films he was planning to make, Donald replied "I stop at twenty-two!"

Was originally chosen to play Blair in L'effroyable chose (1982), but a scheduling conflict prevented him from doing so. Therefore, the role went to Wilford Brimley.

Shortly before his death in 1995, he was scheduled to star in a production of "King Lear" that would have featured daughters Angela Pleasence, Polly Jo Pleasence and Miranda Pleasence.

He was initially a conscientous objector during World War II, but later changed his mind and joined the British Royal Air Force. His plane was shot down and was taken prisoner of war by the Nazis until his release in 1945.

Was held at Stalag Luft I, near the Baltic Sea. While a POW during World War II, he organized a theatre company in order to pass the time. His productions included "The Petrified Forest", in which he played the Leslie Howard role opposite a 6' 1" Canadian who played the Bette Davis part.

Often joked to friends and family that, before La Nuit des masques (1978) came out, he was typecast as villains and psychopaths, never having been given the chance to play a good guy or hero. However, after his portrayal of the heroic, Van Helsing-like Dr. Sam Loomis in Halloween, he had the exact opposite problem in that no one wanted to see him play bad guys anymore, that the only parts offered to him were avengers and heroes.

He was flying in a Lancaster NE112 "AS-M" when it was shot down on September 9, 1944.

Played Loomis in Innocent Bystanders (1972), Dr. Sam Loomis in most of the first six La Nuit des masques (1978) movies (Le sang du sorcier (1982) was not a "Michael Myers" movie) and Father Loomis in Le prince des ténèbres (1987).

When once asked why he kept making horror movies, the actor replied: "Because I have six daughters to support.".

He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1994 Queen's New Year Honours List for his services to drama.

Was known for his eye for details and authenticity, including in regards to his costumes. He arrived in Sydney for the filming of Réveil dans la terreur (1971) with a beard suggestive of the kind favored by bushrangers and immediately rejected the costume that was assigned to him, opting to purchase his own clothes from a Vinnies thrift shop.

The only actor to have appeared in both La grande évasion (1963) and its television sequel La grande évasion II: L'Histoire non révélée (1988). Ironically, he played one of the would-be great escapees in the first film and one of the German executioners in the second. Strangely he even played the role of the SS and Gestapo chief, Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler, in the film L'aigle s'est envolé (1976). Heinrich Himmler was the one who ordered the secret murder of "the 50" POWs. Thus, Pleasence is likely to be one of only a few actors to have ever portrayed all three roles of murder conspirator, executioner, and victim (although technically he was not among the 50. His character died earlier.).

Felt he was becoming typecast in horror films but preferred to remain a working actor.

According to one of his daughters, the actor had a battle with alcohol for many years. Then from the early 1980s on-wards, he gave it up for good.

His portrayal of Ernst Stavro Blofeld in On ne vit que deux fois (1967) will always be an influence of the Dr. Evil character in Austin Powers (1997) and Austin Powers: Agent secret 00Sexe (1999). Both Dr. Evil (Mike Myers) and Pleasence's Blofeld have a large facial scar.

Was nominated for four Tony Awards as Best Actor (Dramatic): in 1962 for "The Caretaker", a part he recreated in the film version also titled The Caretaker (1963); in 1965 for "Poor Bitos"; in 1969 for "The Man in the Glass Booth" and, in 1972 for "Wise Child" - but he never won.

He and his La plus grande histoire jamais contée (1965) co-stars Telly Savalas and Max von Sydow all later played the Bond villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld: Pleasence in On ne vit que deux fois (1967), Savalas in Au service secret de Sa Majesté (1969) and von Sydow in Jamais plus jamais (1983).

Married four times and had five daughters. Angela Pleasence and Jean Pleasence were born from his marriage to actress Miriam Raymond; Lucy Pleasence and Polly Jo Pleasence were the products of his union with actress/singer Josephine Crombie and Miranda Pleasence was conceived during his marriage to singer Meira Shore.

He has appeared in one film that has been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: La Nuit des masques (1978).

Daughter, Jean, is an occupational therapist at a psychiatric hospital.

He wanted to be an actor from an early age but was turned down by nearly 40 repertory companies before being accepted by a company in Jersey.A long slow climb with other companies followed before being accepted by Bristol Old Vic.

His father was a stationmaster.

He was a wireless operator in Lancaster bombers in 166 Squadron, Royal Air Force.

He had elocution lessons as a child.

Before his death in 1995, Pleasence had agreed to play the role of Toulon the Puppet Master in three Puppet Master sequels which would have been filmed back to back in Romania over the course of about ten weeks. He was also going to play King Lear on stage in a production to be directed by Harold Pinter with his three actress daughters Angela, Polly and Miranda playing Lear's daughters.

Interview footage of the actor is almost non-existent, except for a brief excerpt of one given whilst filming "Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers.".

Appeared in La plus grande histoire jamais contée (1965) and Jésus de Nazareth (1977). They were both star-studded biblical epics that depicted the life of Jesus Christ.

One of his closest friends in the acting industry was Peter Vaughan.

One of his biggest triumphs on stage was in Harold Pinter's play 'The Caretaker'in the West End then on Broadway, where he was nominated for a New York Critics Award, followed by the film version in 1963. In 1991, he appeared in another staged production of the play.

Was cast in the lead in the original theatre production of Robert Shaw's play, "The Man in the Glass Booth" in 1967.

Won London Critics Award for The Caretaker' and the British Variety Award for Best Stage Actor for his performance in 'The Man in the Glass Booth.

Apart from America and Britain, Donald Pleasence made films in various other countries. These included Italy, the Middle East, France, Australia etc.

Children: Angela born 1941, Jean born 1951, Lucy born 1960, Polly born 1962 and Miranda born 1970.

His final stage performance was as Captain Shotover in George Bernard Shaw's Heartbreak House at His Majesty's Theatre, Perth, Australia in July 1994 opposite his actress daughter Polly Pleasence.

He was considered for many guest roles in Doctor Who (1963) - General Grugger in "Meglos", Richard Mace in "The Visitation", Griffiths in "Attack of the Cybermen", Shockeye in "The Two Doctors" and De Flores in "Silver Nemesis". He was also considered for Borusa in Doctor Who (1996) before the character was dropped from the script.

Grew up in the village of Grimoldby, Lincolnshire, England; six miles from the Market town of Louth.

He was good in school plays and won prizes.

Is Carrie Anderson's great-uncle.

Among the possible actors for the roles of Dr. Hans Fallada and Sir Percy Heseltine in Lifeforce (1985). Frank Finlay and Aubrey Morris won the respective roles.

He lived in a large house by the River Thames near WindsorCastle and drove a black limosine .