Oliver Reed News...REEDing the web

News of 2001

August 8, 2001
Wedding Setting
The July wedding of Oliver Reed's widow went without a hitch, so to speak. Josephine Reed married Churchtown neighbor Walter Ryan-Purcell after being introduced to him at Reed's favorite pub back in November of 1999. After a private ceremony at Reed's home, attended by Oliver's children Mark and Sarah Reed, a big bash for 500 followed at Burton Park. Burton Park is the ancestral home of the Ryan-Purcell family into which Reed's widow married. The new couple will reside at the Reed home.

May 1, 2001
The Play's the Thing
Would you be interested in going to see a show about Oliver Reed? Damian Samuels and Cliff Goodwin, author of last year's biography Evil Spirits, are currently writing a one man show about Oliver Reed. They are very interested to get feedback from "Reeders" , as well as any personal stories or views. If you have some, please e-mail <damiansamuels@hotmail.com>. The writers are also looking for full footage from After Dark and Aspel as they will be recreated in the play. Samuels has a soft back copy of Reed All About Me, that he is willing to sell if anyone is interested.

March 28, 2001
Gold-diator
When Gladiator grabbed Oscar gold, being named Best Picture of the Year at the Academy Awards, producer David Franzoni had this to say inhis acceptance speech: "Thanking all the same people Doug thanked, but to that gentleman genius Ridley Scott who transported us back thousands of years in time so effortlessly and beautifully. Thank you, Ridley. Russell, Joaquin, everyone, thank you so much. My wife, Nancy, my son Hudson, my dearly departed dad, who was the greatest storyteller who ever lived. I'm sure he's on high somewhere with Oliver Reed right now throwing back some of the dark stuff and enjoying the hell out of this. Thank you."

Russell Crowe's speech also included thanks to Reed: "I would also like to thank my mom and dad, who I just don't thank enough, I suppose. And an incredible cast, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Djimon Hounsou, Ralf Moeller, SpenceTreat Clark, the magnificent Richard Harris, the late Oliver Reed, Tomas Arana, Tommy Flanagan, Derek Jacobi, and everybody else. Dreamworks, a great company, and a vital and andrenalized contributor of the art form, Doug Wick, David Franzoni, Bruno Lustig, and Terry Needham, and a very brave crew collected from 22 different countries around the world. To the people who work for me, who work with me, my personal cavalry, George Freeman, Alan Hergott, Larry Witser, Shirley Pierce, Robin Baum, Mark Dumbrell. "

The film led the ceremony, winning five awards. In addition to Best Picture, Gladiator took home Oscars for Best Actor (Russell Crowe), Costume Desgin (Janty Yates), Sound (Scott Millan, Bob Beemer, Ken Weston) and Visual Effects (John Nelson, Neil Corbould, Tim Burke, Rob Harvey).

March 11, 2001
Gladiator Hits
The latest Gladiator CD features new cuts, remixes and demo versions of songs, plus dialogue from the actors. Check out track 6 that features a short one from Oliver Reed. Says one "Reeder", "If you liked the other soundtrack, you will love this one."

February 13, 2001
Glad for Gladiator
On the anniversary of Oliver Reed's birthday Oscar nominations were announced in California, where Reed's final film Gladiator received 12 nods, including Best Picture.

February 3, 2001
Posthumas Proximo
He may not have survived the shoot but Oliver Reed did receive a BAFTA nomination as best supporting actor for his role as Proximo in Ridley Scott's Gladiator. Reed is not the first actor to be honored after his demise, Massimo Troici, Peter Finch and Edward G. Robinson have all received posthumous Oscar. BAFTA also gave a posthumous to nod ex-auteur Stanley Kubrick last year, making him an honorary BAFTA fellow.

February 1, 2001
It's Hammer Time...sort of
Looking for one of the only in-depth interviews Reed ever gave about his work on Curse of the Werewolf and his Hammer films? Then get the 15th issue of my magazine, Little Shoppe of Horrors. Called Interview with the Werewolf, it will also document the day the interviewer spent with Ollie. And how they got drunk. Apparently, Reed pulled a Bowie knife and pushed the interviewer over a table! But it was actually quite a fine day. For more information, order Little Shoppe of Horrors at: P.O.Box 3107, Des Moines, Iowa 50316. Each issue is $7.95 postpaid. If European readers want airmail postage, it is an additional $7 per issue.

January 23, 2001
Must-Reed TV
For fans in Britain, channel 4 has an Ollie line up on January 27th! 9.10 - Stars Behaving Badly; 10.50 - The Real Oliver Reed. Also, the new Heat magazine features a picture of Ollie by the TV listings.

January 21, 2001
A List of Lists
The January 19th issue of Entertainment Weekly announced the 50 must have DVDs of all time. While Fight Club topped the list at number one, Reed's Gladiator came in at a respectable 39. While making another list in Britain, Oliver's performance on Aspel was ranked at number 89 in a special devoted the 100 best TV clips ever. The program also included a dedication to him--showing a montage of his clips, including the After Dark show, as well as commentary from those who miss him.

January 10, 2001
Victorious Gladiator
The American Film Institute hailed the top ten filmmaking teams (including cast members such as Oliver Reed) who were in part responsible for the praised following films of 2000: Gladiator, High Fidelity, Almost Famous. Requiem for a Dream, Wonder Boys, Erin Brockovich, You Can Count on Me, Before Night Falls, Best in Show, and Traffic. This honor is one of many for Gladiator, which was named DVD of the Year in Las Vegas this past weekend. The film is also nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Picture, which will be given out in Beverly Hills on January 21st.