alternatehistory.com

5th December 2014

"The worlds of acting and politics have paid tribute to the actor Lord Jeremy Thorpe who died yesterday aged 95.

Sir Jeremy who won an Oscar for his portrayal of Edward I in 1995's Braveheart was a staunch supporter of both civil rights and gay marriage.

Born on the 29th of April 1929 Thorpe was born into politics. His father and grandfather were Conservative MP's. It was hoped he would continue the tradition when he went to Oxford to study Law. However Thorpe joined the Liberal party and barely passed with a third class degree.

He joined the Oxford Revue and found his niche as an actor. His theatricality and verbal gravitas proved to be his fortune. When ITV started in 1955 Thorpe was given a job as a presenter for Rediffusion.

Throughout the 50s and 60's Thorpe combined a growing film and stage career with campaigning against racial segregation and homosexual reform (he himself realised he was gay at Oxford).

In 1968 Thorpe launched a stinging attack at the Liberal Conference against the regime in Rhodesia which resulted in a standing ovation.

Not long after this the "Sunday Pictorial" outed Thorpe as gay. Thorpe readily admitted it and also revealed his "deep and happy" relationship with Dressage rider Norman Josiffe whom he met in 1964. It was suspected but never confirmed that the Rhodesia security services leaked the story.

The revelations about Thorpe's homosexuality did little to damage his career. He was shortlisted to play Sinclair in "The Persuaders" but was beaten by Roger Moore.

His major break came in 1971 when he was cast as the Master in "Doctor Who" alongside Ian Richardson.

His portrayal of "Sherlock Holmes" for Thames in 1977 was rewarded with a Bafta. He was made a OBE in 1979.

There were rumours at the time that Thorpe had been asked by the Liberals to stand as an MP and declined.

The 1980's saw Thorpe primarily on the stage. His portrayal of the title role in "The Madness Of King George" between 1987 and 1990 led to his been awarded a CBE in 1991. He wanted to repeat the role in the 1993 movie version but was beaten by Nigel Hawthorne.

It was during the filming of Braveheart that Thorpe became aware of the first signs of illness. In 1996 he was diagnosed with Picks Disease, a form of dementia.

Thorpe courageously continued his acting career. During the 1997 General Election Thorpe campaigned passionately for the Liberals and was regarded by many as at the driving force behind the 61 seats won.

By the 21st century Thorpe was failing. He announced his retirement in 1999 and was enobled as Lord Thorpe of Cobbaton in the Millennium Honours after the Devon town that he and Josiffe lived in for 30 years.

Thorpe died with Josiffe by his side.
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