Christopher Cazenove

Christopher de Lerisson Cazenove (17 December 1943 – 7 April 2010) was an English actor whose work spanned film, television, and stage across a career of several decades. Born in Winchester, Hampshire, to Brigadier Arnold de Lerisson Cazenove and Elizabeth Laura Cazenove (née Gurney, 1914–1994), he was raised in Bowlish, Somerset. His education took him through the Dragon School, Eton College, Durham University's College of the Venerable Bede, and ultimately the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

Cazenove built an early reputation on British television, frequently cast in roles befitting his patrician bearing. His profile rose significantly with the 1972 drama series The Regiment, and he went on to play Charlie Tyrrell in the period drama The Duchess of Duke Street, which aired from 1976 to 1977. In 1986 he joined the cast of the American soap opera Dynasty as Ben Carrington, a role he held through 1987. Later television work included a recurring part as Row Colemore in the British drama Judge John Deed from 2001 to 2003, as well as appearances in Charmed in 2004 and Dalziel and Pascoe in 2005.

His Broadway career extended from 1980 to 2007 and included appearances in Goodbye Fidel and My Fair Ladies. On the broader stage, Cazenove portrayed Henry Higgins in both British and American productions of My Fair Lady from 2005 through 2008. In 1994 he appeared in a London West End production of The Importance of Being Earnest alongside Susannah York.

In his personal life, Cazenove was married to actress Angharad Rees from 1973 until their divorce in 1994. The couple had two sons, Linford James (20 July 1974 – 10 September 1999) and Rhys William (born 1976). Linford died in a car crash on the M11 in Essex. From 2003 until his death, Cazenove's partner was Isabel Davis.

In February 2010, Cazenove collapsed at his London home and was admitted to St Thomas' Hospital suffering from septicaemia. He died there on 7 April 2010 at the age of 66. His funeral was held on 16 April 2010 at St Paul's, Covent Garden, London.