Malcolm Taylor
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Malcolm McDowell gained fame playing the violent Alex DeLarge in Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange 1971. The role typecast him as a villain, leading to parts in Caligula 1979 and Star Trek: Generations 1994. He also starred in Lindsay Anderson’s If…. 1968 and wrote the semi-autobiographical O Lucky Man! 1973. With over 100 films, he remains a prolific character actor.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Malcolm McDowell — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Malcolm McDowell by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Malcolm McDowell — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
Malcolm John Taylor was born on June 13, 1943 in Horsforth, Yorkshire, to working-class parents Edna McDowell and Charles Taylor. His father, a publican and an alcoholic, sent him to boarding school at age 11. He attended Tonbridge School and later the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. While working at his parents’ pub, he lost his job when the pub went bankrupt due to his father drinking the profits. He then worked as a coffee salesman and messenger before pursuing acting.
His first big-screen role was in Poor Cow 1967, though his scene was cut. Lindsay Anderson cast him as a rebellious student in If…. 1968, which brought British stardom. He wrote the semi-autobiographical O Lucky Man! 1973 and starred as Alex DeLarge in Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange 1971, a role that made him a household name despite typecasting. In 1976 he spent nearly a year on the controversial Caligula 1979. After the British film industry collapsed, he moved to America, starring in Time After Time 1979 and Britannia Hospital 1982. The mid-1980s saw a decline due to drug and alcohol abuse, but he revived his career as Dr. Tolian Soran in Star Trek: Generations 1994. He also appeared in the BBC miniseries Our Friends in the North 1996 and later roles in TV series like The Mentalist and CSI: Miami.
McDowell has been married three times. He married Margot Bennett in 1975 and divorced in 1980. He then married actress Mary Steenburgen in 1980 and they had two children, Lilly and Charlie, before divorcing in 1990. In 1991 he married Kelley McDowell, with whom he has three children: Seamus, Finnian, and Beckett. He resides in Santa Barbara, California. In 2021 he gained American citizenship. His son Charlie is a director and married to actress Lily Collins.
McDowell’s performance as Alex DeLarge was ranked 100 on the list of the 100 Greatest Film Performances of All Time and 68 on Premiere’s 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time. He was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012, with Gary Oldman and Rob Zombie as speakers. He declined a CBE in 1984 and a knighthood in 1995. His role in A Clockwork Orange earned him the nickname King of Punk from a magazine. He is remembered as one of the most defining villains in cinema history, with his performance frequently cited in lists of greatest movie characters.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Malcolm McDowell — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
A wall of memorable lines from Malcolm McDowell — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
The Best Thing I Did Was Abuse Myself When Younger – I Dabbled in Everything, Cocaine, Booze, Women – Because Now I Don’t Have to Do It Anymore.
He Didn’t Want Me at First, Told Me About the Big-name Actor He Could Get, How He Was Taller Than I Was – I’m Five Eight and a Half – but I Said That’s Nothing, I Can Stand on a Box..
The Definition of Insanity in Texas Is so Insane That It’s Impossible to Be Insane in Texas.
There’s Nobody Who’s Ever Going to Come Close to John Ford.
You Can’t Hold Back. You Can’t Think of the Subtleties of Playing. You Just Have to Get Out and Really Bare It All, and Hopefully You Don’t Fall off the Plank. and If You Do, Hey, Pick Yourself Up, Dust Yourself Down, and Start All Over Again.
I’m Not Quite as Buoyant as I Was in My Youth.
The Villains That I Play, I Always Think That They Are Grounded, Wonderful People with Enormous Intellects Who Are Very Exciting to Spend an Evening With. I Never See Them as Bad People.
I Am a Professional Actor, and I Don’t Go About Moralizing About What the Character Does. Otherwise, Seriously, Why Be an Actor? You’re Not Making Some Kind of Social Statement. That’s Not What Actors Do.
You’ve Always Got to Work with the Best If You Can, and of Course, the Best Are the Best Because They’re Different. They Expect Certain Standards, and They’re Usually Very Difficult People to Work With.
My Favorite Actor Who Played Villains – Who Could Play Anything, Really – Was Jimmy Cagney.
If You Look a Little Punkish, Then They’re Going to Give You the Parts. and If You Play an Iconic Villain Early on in Your Career, You Tend to Get Asked to Play One Over and Over and Over Again.
I Think We’re All a Little Afraid of the Dark. If You Lived in the Country, as I Did, There’s Nothing Quite Like Country Dark, Which Was Really Black. and as a Child, Your Imagination Runs Wild.
Let’s Not Get Too Precious About It: Actors Are Not Heart Surgeons or Brain Surgeons. We Are Just Entertaining People. Once You Commit to Something, You’ve Got to Commit the Whole Way. Try and Make the Best of It.
The Most Nurturing of Directors Can Make You Feel Too Comfortable, and You Don’t Really Push for That Extra Whatever. Different Directors Offer You Different Things, and It’s Not Necessarily the Most Obvious Things.
An Actor Cannot Be a Censor. I’m There to Interpret. I’d Love to Do Radio Plays. I Think That One Should Be Open to Everything and Shouldn’t Limit Oneself.
You Know, I’ve Had an Incredible Career and I’m Blessed. I Love Doing Every Role I Do!
The Thing Is, I’ve Never Been a Handsome Leading-man Type, so Let’s Not Kid Ourselves.
I Just Love a Challenge, and Always Have, and Will Do Anything to Make It Interesting. I’ll Try Anything, Really, as Long as It’s a Challenge and You Can Have Some Fun Doing It.
I’m from a Country Where Acting Is Taken Very Seriously; It’s a Very Serious Profession.
If You Dunk Your Head in Cold Water, You Can’t Stay Under for More Than Five Seconds. I Mean, That’s It.
I Don’t Worry About Whether I’m Making a Masterpiece, Because I Know That If You Get Just One of Those in a Lifetime, You Should Get Down on Your Knees and Say ‘Thank You!’
I Like to Razz the Trekkies a Little Bit. Who Doesn’t? It’s Trainspotting, Isn’t It? but They Are Very Well-meaning, Actually. I’ve Done a Couple of Star Trek Conventions, and They’ve Only Been Really Welcoming.
I’ve Always Been One to Do the Work and Just Hone My Craft. There Are No Great Scripts – Just Great Films.
I Love Robert Altman. I Always Admired Him so Much Because I Always Thought He Was a Genuine Voice.
Richard Lester Is a Wonderful Director, a Great Comedy Director, of Course.
Little-known facts about Malcolm McDowell — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
While a schoolboy, McDowell grew bored of long speeches by local dignitaries. When invited to speak at Cannock School’s Open Day in 1969, he flew from the US, announced I hereby pronounce this Open Day open, and sat down.
His performance as Alex DeLarge in A Clockwork Orange 1971 was ranked 100 on the 100 Greatest Film Performances of All Time and 68 on Premiere’s 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.
Was the first well-known actor to appear non-animated on South Park 1997 because he is one of Trey Parker’s favorite actors and he was specifically requested. He appeared in a parody of Great Expectations, playing the narrator and calling himself A British Person 2000.
Trained as an actor at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts LAMDA, the United Kingdom’s oldest drama school.
Has a deep fear of reptiles. When Stanley Kubrick learned this while shooting A Clockwork Orange 1971, he introduced Basil, Alex’s pet snake. The purpose was to make Alex DeLarge seem more intimidating, but it also functioned as a prank by Kubrick.
Claims Gangster No. 1 2000 to be his best work since A Clockwork Orange 1971.
When he went to meet with Stanley Kubrick for the first time, he had little knowledge of film and confused him with Stanley Kramer. In preparation, McDowell’s friend and mentor, Lindsay Anderson, showed him most of Kubrick’s films from Paths of Glory 1957 to 2001: A Space Odyssey 1968.
His job as a coffee salesman provided inspiration for O Lucky Man! 1973.
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6714 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on March 16, 2012. Gary Oldman, Rob Zombie, Mark-Paul Gosselaar and longtime friend Mike Kaplan were guest speakers at the ceremony.
His granddaughter Clementine Mae Walton was born in January 2012. Her mother is Malcolm’s daughter Lilly McDowell Walton.
In an interview, he said that a magazine named him King of Punk after his appearance in A Clockwork Orange 1971. This is probably because of the punk references that appear in the movie, such as the droogies costume style.
Along with Sir John Gielgud and Michael York, he is one of three actors to play both King Arthur and Merlin. He played King Arthur in Arthur the King 1985 and Merlin in Kids of the Round Table 1995.
Currently resides in Santa Barbara, California.
Is 24 years older than his wife Kelley McDowell.
As he wanted to get into the Screen Actors Guild SAG, he took his mother’s maiden name McDowell because there was another British actor named Malcolm Taylor.
His first wife, Margot Bennett, was also Keir Dullea’s first wife. Dullea was the main character in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey 1968, while McDowell was the main character in Kubrick’s next film, A Clockwork Orange 1971.
Has said that his favourite actor of all time is James Cagney.
On September 25, 2012, he was rushed to the hospital and had to undergo a 3 1/2-hour emergency surgery on his eye, for what was discovered to be a detached retina, which McDowell attributed to previous eye problems stemming while filming A Clockwork Orange 1971.
Had a close relationship with director Stanley Kubrick while filming A Clockwork Orange 1971. After filming wrapped, he was upset when Kubrick seemed uninterested in continuing their friendship and never contacted him again.
Born to Charles Taylor, a publican, and his wife Edna McDowell of Clan MacDowall, a hotelier, he grew up with two sisters: Gloria older and Judy younger.
Was captain of the rugby and cricket teams at his high school.
Has appeared in four films involving time travel: Time After Time 1979, Star Trek: Generations 1994, Just Visiting 2001 and The Philadelphia Experiment 2012. He auditioned for the role of Al Calavicci on the television series Quantum Leap 1989, which would have made five times. There was a character in A Leap for Lisa – June 25, 1957 1992 played by Roddy McDowall, who was not related notice the dissimilarity in spelling of the last names.
As he wanted to get into the British Actors’ Equity, he took his mother’s maiden name McDowell because there was another British actor named Malcolm Taylor.
He declined to be awarded the CBE Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1984, and a knighthood Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in 1995.
13 of his films were shown at retrospective tribute at New York City’s Walter Reade Theatre.
During the Ludivico scene in A Clockwork Orange 1971, McDowell’s eyes were clamped open using a surgical device for eye surgery. The doctor applying eyedrops in the scene was an actual physician who was on hand in case of an injury. Nevertheless, McDowell’s cornea was accidentally scratched as a result of the eye clamping and he suffered temporary blindness.
Despite the fact that they played enemies in Blue Thunder 1983, both Roy Scheider, and Malcolm McDowell became good friends during the production. As he would later state at various science fiction conventions, they enjoyed working together so much that they could not leave each other alone. After Scheider passed away, a saddened McDowell was unable to attend Scheider’s funeral on account of a film commitment that he could not get away from much to his dismay. As a result, he immediately ordered flowers and sent a letter of condolences to Scheider’s family.
He listened to recordings of the immortal H.G. Wells to prepare for the role in Time After Time 1979. According to McDowell, Wells’ voice was high-pitched and had a Southeast London accent so he decided not to imitate his voice.
Was good friends with Christine Noonan and David Sherwin.
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: A Clockwork Orange 1971.
He was interested in guest starring on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 1993, but only once his nephew – Alexander Siddig who played Dr. Bashir – would direct the episode. He was offered the role of Hagath in Business as Usual 1997, but he was unavailable. The role went to Steven Berkoff, McDowell’s co-star in A Clockwork Orange 1971.
He accepted the villain role in Star Trek: Generations 1994 despite not being a huge fan of Star Trek and not liking the screenplay very much, because he was asked how he would like to kill Captain Kirk. He later received death threats from overzealous Star Trek fans after his character Dr. Tolian Soran killed Captain James T. Kirk.
Has appeared in a scene in A Clockwork Orange 1971 with David Prowse, who played Darth Vader in Star Wars. In 2014, he appeared in a cellular television commercial with James Earl Jones, who provided Darth Vader’s voice. McDowell also appeared in Robot Chicken: Star Wars 2007.
He was originally going to star opposite Robert De Niro in Gangs of New York 2002 when Martin Scorsese was developing the project in 1978. The lead role eventually went to Leonardo DiCaprio.
As of 2018, has appeared in two films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: A Clockwork Orange 1971 and The Artist 2011. Of those, The Artist 2011 is a winner in the category.
He has two roles in common with his Time After Time 1979 co-star David Warner. 1 McDowell played Admiral Geoffrey Tolwyn in Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger 1994, Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom 1995 and Wing Commander Academy 1996 and Warner played him in Wing Commander 1999 and 2 McDowell played Professor Van Helsing in Suck 2009 and Warner played him in Penny Dreadful 2014.
He auditioned for the role of Brian Robbins in Bob Fosse’s musical drama Cabaret 1972, which he turned down when he found out that this was not a singing role. The role eventually went to Michael York.
He has two roles in common with both Michael York and Sir John Gielgud. 1 McDowell played King Arthur in Arthur the King 1985, York played him in A Knight in Camelot 1998 and Gielgud played him in DragonHeart 1996 and 2 McDowell played Merlin in Kids of the Round Table 1995, York played him in A Young Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court 1995 and Gielgud played him in Quest for Camelot 1998.
Pictured as the character Dr. Tolian Soran as one of a set of 18 British commemorative postage stamps issued 13 November 2020, celebrating the Star Trek television and film franchise. Stamps were issued as 12 individual stamps, honoring captains and crew members; and 6 stamps in a single souvenir sheet, highlighting heroes and villains. All stamps were nondenominated and marked first class 76p on day of issue. Others honored by this set are William Shatner, Patrick Stewart, Avery Brooks, Kate Mulgrew, Scott Bakula, Jason Isaacs, Leonard Nimoy, Marina Sirtis, Alexander Siddig, Dominic Keating, Sonequa Martin-Green, Shazad Latif, Simon Pegg, Tom Hardy, David Warner, Alice Eve, and Idris Elba.
During the production of Tinto Brass’ infamous epic Caligula 1979, McDowell took members of the production team to dinner at an expensive restaurant to celebrate England’s victory in a football match against an Italian team. However, he left the choreographer to pay for the huge meal, saying he had forgotten to bring enough money.
Has an uncredited cameo appearance in the horror thriller Dead of Winter 1987. His photograph was featured in the film, which Mary Steenburgen’s character autographs. He was married to Steenburgen at the time, the film’s star.
His scenes in the miniseries Our Friends in the North 1996 were filmed as one continuous block because he was only available for three weeks in the United Kingdom on account of residing in the United States.
He turned down the role of Admiral Geoffrey Tolwyn in Wing Commander 1999 on account of his commitment to Fantasy Island 1998. The role went to David Warner. He previously played the role in Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger 1994.
He co-starred with his real-life nephew Alexander Siddig in the film Doomsday 2008.
Has English, Scottish and Irish ancestry.
He was offered the roles of John H. Mallory and Sean Nolan in Duck, You Sucker! 1971, but he was busy with O Lucky Man! 1973. The roles went to James Coburn and David Warbeck, respectively.
He was the first choice for the role of Sir Winston Churchill in Baron Richard Attenborough’s epic movie Young Winston 1972, which he repeatedly turned down. The role eventually went to Simon Ward.
He was going to have a role in Michael Powell’s unmade film version of The Tempest.
Father of Lilly McDowell and Charlie McDowell. Father-in-law of actress Lily Collins.
Has named O Lucky Man! 1973 as his favourite movie of his own.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Malcolm McDowell.
Celebrities similar to Malcolm McDowell — same craft, ranked by reach.
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