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A gaunt, emaciated British character actor, Terence De Marney enjoyed a long career on stage as both actor and director. By 19, he was already recognized as a playwright and producer. He made his London theatrical debut in 1923, with his first major role as Jim Hawkins in "Treasure Island." Over the next eight years, he toured in productions like "The Last of Mrs. Cheyney," "Journey's End," and "The Lady of the Camellias." In 1931, he began directing plays at the Connaught Theatre in Worthing. The following year, he co-founded the Independent Theatre Club (formerly the Kingsway Theatre) with his brother Derrick De Marney, providing a venue for works banned by the Lord Chamberlain. His notable role as Tybalt in "Romeo and Juliet" at the Open Air Theatre in 1934 marked the start of his inclination toward villainous or antagonistic parts. During the 1930s, he appeared in various thrillers and Victorian mysteries, including Agatha Christie's "Dear Murderer" and Daphne Du Maurier's "Trilby." Alongside Percy Robinson, he co-wrote several mystery plays; the most successful was "The Crime of Margaret Foley," which ran for 210 performances at the Comedy Theatre in 1947, featuring De Marney himself. Another play, "Wanted for Murder" (1946), was adapted into a film starring Eric Portman and Dulcie Gray. De Marney was also the first actor to portray Simon Templar, 'the Saint,' in a 1940 radio serial.
After a play failure in 1953, De Marney moved to Hollywood to pursue screen opportunities. By his return to England in 1962, he had built an impressive resume of TV guest roles, including a recurring part in the western series "Johnny Ringo" (1959). In his later years, he favored sinister and macabre roles. Some of his horror films, such as the dreadful "Pharaoh's Curse" (1957) and the poorly scripted H.P. Lovecraft adaptation "Die, Monster, Die!" (1965), did not fare well. However, the B-movie "Beast of Morocco" (1968), a vampire story filmed on location in Morocco, offered style and atmosphere despite uneven sound mixing. De Marney's portrayal of the maniacal Omar, henchman to the vampire queen Aliza Gur, stands out as memorable.
Terence De Marney died tragically on May 25, 1971, after falling under a tube train at High Street Kensington Underground Station in London. Though he often appeared much older than his years, he was only 63.
