Ben Cross Passes On

Ben Cross, who starred in the movie Chariots of Fire (1981) and starred as Barnabas Collins in the 1991 revival of Dark Shadows, died on August 18 2020 at the age of 72. The cause was cancer.

Ben Cross was born Harry Bernard Cross on December 16 1947 in London. His father died of tuberculosis when he was eight years old. After leaving school, Mr. Cross worked as a window cleaner, waiter, and joiner. He also worked at the Welsh National Opera, and was the Property Master at The Alexandra theatre in Birmingham. When he was 22 Ben Cross enrolled in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. After graduating from RADA, he performed at The Dukes in Lancaster and later joined the Prospect Theatre Company.

Ben Cross made his television debut in the mini-series Wessex Tales in 1973. In the Seventies he appeared on the television shows Strangers, ITV Playhouse, and The Professionals. He appeared in the TV movie Great Expectations. He made his film debut in 1977 in A Bridge Too Far (1977).

In the Eighties Mr. Cross appeared in the television mini-series The Flame Trees of Thika, The Citadel, The Far Pavilions, and Pursuit. He appeared on the TV shows Play for Today and The Twilight Zone. He appeared in the TV movies Coming Out of the Ice, Strong Medicine, Steal the Sky, and Nightlife. He appeared in the movies Chariots of Fire (1981), L'attenzione (1985), The Assisi Underground (1985), The Unholy (1988), Paperhouse (1988), and La bottega dell'orefice (1988).

In the Nineties he starred as Barnabas Collins in the short-lived revival of the supernatural soap opera Dark Shadows. He appeared on the TV shows The Ray Bradbury Theatre, Tales from the Crypt, and Poltergeist: The Legacy. He appeared in the mini-series The Potato Factory. He appeared in such TV movies as The Diamond Fleece, Hellfire, 20000 Leagues Under the Sea, and Solomon. He appeared in the movies Eye of Widow (1991), Cold Sweat (1993), The Criminal Mind (1993), The Ascent (1994), Honey Sweet Love (1994), Temptress (1995), First Knight (1995), El último viaje de Robert Rylands (1996), Turbulence (1997), The Corporate Ladder (1997), The Invader (1997), and The Venice Project (1999).

In the Naughts Mr. Cross appeared in the movies Young Blades (2001), The Order (2001), She Me and Her (2002), Exorcist: The Beginning (2004), The Mechanik (2005), Wicked Little Things (2006), When Nietzsche Wept (2007), Finding Rin Tin Tin (2007), Hero Wanted (2008), War, Inc. (2008), and Star Trek (2009). He appeared on the TV show Trial & Retribution. He appeared in the mini-series Spartacus, Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial, and Ben Hur. He appeared in such TV movies as S.S. Doomtrooper, Hannibal, and Grendel.

In the Teens he appeared in such movies as Jack the Giant Killer (1991), A Common Man (2003), The Hurricane Heist (2018), Wildlings (2019), and The Rest is Ashes (2020). He was a regular on the television series Banshee and Pandora. He was a regular voice on the animated series Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja. He appeared on the TV show 12 Monkeys.

Ben Cross was an extremely talented actor and over the years he played a wide variety of remarkable roles. He was Harold Abrahams in the movie Chariots of Fire, Barnabas Collins on Dark Shadows, King Solomon in the TV movie Solomon, Rudolf Hess in the mini-series Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial, and Spock's father Sarek on Star Trek. What is more Ben Cross, never gave a bad performance. While it is likely he will always be remembered best for Chariots of Fire, he gave a number of great performances throughout his career.