The Scottish actor, who played Merlin in the 1981 film, passed away peacefully in the early hours of December 16 after a two-year battle with the illness, his son announces.
- Jan 26, 2012
AceShowbiz - Another great actor has passed away. Nicol Williamson, the Scottish actor whom playwright John Osborne described as "the greatest actor since Marlon Brando", died of esophageal cancer on December 16, 2011 in Amsterdam, where he had lived for more than two decades.
Breaking the sad news to fans was Nicol's son Luke. He wrote on the 75-year-old's website on Wednesday, January 25, "It's with great sadness, and yet with a heart full of pride and love for a man who was a tremendous father, friend, actor, poet, writer and singer, that I must bring news of Nicol's passing."
"Dad died peacefully in the early hours of the 16th of December after a two year all out, balls to the wall struggle against esophageal cancer," Luke went on. "He gave it all he had: never gave up, never complained, maintained his wicked sense of humor to the end. His last words were 'I love you'. I was with him, he was not alone, he was not in pain."
Luke additionally mentioned, "Before he died Nicol was able to finish the CD he had been working on, albeit slightly shorter than it might have been. In the coming month i hope to have it up here on his website." He also asked fans to "make a donation" in his father's name "to a charity for children suffering from cancer or other life threatening illnesses".
Nicol was known for his role as Merlin in 1981 film "Excalibur" and for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in 1976 movie "The Seven Per-Cent Solution". He earned BAFTA nominations for his work in "The Bofors Gun" and "Inadmissible Evidence". Throughout his career, he also received two Tony Award nominations.
In addition to Luke, Nicol was also survived by wife Jill Townsend.
