British actor James Laurenson, best known for his recent role in The Crown and for having the first same-sex kiss on British television, has passed away. He was 84.
The actor forged a successful career in theater, film, and television throughout his 50 years in the industry. He began acting in 1965 with small roles in The Wars of the Roses, Coronation Street, and Treasure Island, before landing his first film role in the 1969 feature Women in Love.
One of his most notable acting roles came in 1970, when he played Piers Gaveston in the TV movie Edward II opposite Sir Ian McKellen‘s King Edward. McKellen and Laurenson share a kiss in the movie, marking the first same-sex kiss to occur on British television, just years after homosexuality was decriminalized in England and Wales.
McKellen has said that kissing Laurenson “was a bonus throughout the run,” per The Sun.
He later played the lead role in the 1972 TV series Boney, in which he starred as Detective Inspector Bonaparte for 26 episodes. His career in television continued for decades with appearances in Midsomer Murders, State of Play, MI-5, and several more.
He was also a regular in the theater. In 2011, he was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in Hamlet.
Per The Sun, Stephen Sondheim praised his performance, writing in an email, “When I found myself crying at the Ghost scene, I knew that something special was happening to me (Mr Laurenson gets my gold medal).”
Some may recognize him from Netflix’s The Crown, in which he appeared in five episodes as Doctor Weir between 2016 and 2017. He continued acting until 2022, when he took his final credited role in Matilda: The Musical.
Despite his prolific career across television and film, Laurenson spoke candidly about the nature of the industry. “You have to have a passion for acting Hollywood might come knocking but on the other hand you may spend vast amounts of the time unemployed,” he said, per the Daily Record.
According to The Sun, he is survived by his wife Cari Haysom and his son, Jamie, from his previous marriage with actress Carol Macready.
