Oliver Reed, a British actor, passed away on May 2nd 1999 at the age of 61. Born in Wimbledon, London in 1938, he began his acting career on the stage before appearing in numerous classic British films such as The Trap (1966), Oliver (1968) and Gladiator (2000), in which his commanding performance as Proximo, a disgraced Roman general, earned him legions of fans around the world. During his lengthy career he also featured in many genre-defining films, such as The Three Musketeers (1973), The Devils (1971) and Carlton-Browne of the F.O. (1959). He earned two BAFTA nomination and an evening standard British Film Award, as well as numerous fans for his unique and charismatic performances throughout his career. He was known for his distinctive British character roles, his larger-than-life persona and his oftentimes outrageous behaviour. Reed will be remembered for his vibrant and enduring contributions to the world of performing arts. He will be greatly missed.