Veteran British actor David Warner, who sadly passed away on July 24, played so many fantastic characters, from Jack the Ripper to Jack Dawson’s foe on the Titanic to a master villain on “Batman: The Animated Series” Here are a few of our favorites:
Abraham Van Helsing in “Penny Dreadful” (2014)
The veteran actor played the ultimate vampire hunter in Showtime’s deliciously dark Victorian mash-up of every supernatural tale of the era.
Spicer Lovejoy in “Titanic” (1997)
This pistol-packing heavy — bodyguard to the slimy Cal (Billy Zane) — made things very difficult for our hero Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio), nearly preventing him from escaping the sinking ship.
Ra’s al Ghul in “Batman: The Animated Series” (1992-1995)
Warner lent his rich voice to one of our favorite Batman villains, Raʼs al Ghul, the elegant, enigmatic head of the League of Assassins.
Gul Madred in “Star Trek: The Next Generation” (1992)
This sadistic Cardassian — one of the series’ most vicious and unforgettable villains — captured, tortured and nearly broke Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) in the two-part episode “Chain of Command.” Seeing these two Shakespearean actors face-off was pure delight.
Sark in “Tron” (1982)
Warner played both the villainous command program trying to take out the trapped Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) and the evil ENCOM executive who has stolen Kevin’s brilliant work and taken credit for it.
Evil Genius in “Time Bandits” (1981)
The actor never had more fun than as the capricious supreme being in Terry Gilliams’ fantasy film about a boy, a magical map, and time-traveling band of merry little men.
Jack the Ripper in “Time After Time” (1979)
The cunning Victorian serial killer follows H. G. Wells (a relatively mild-mannered Malcolm McDowell) into the 20th century and continues his killing spree, with Wells’ modern love Amy (Mary Steenburgen) as his next potential victim. One of Warner’s most unforgettable performances.
Keith Jennings in “The Omen” (1976)
Warner played a good guy for once in this devilish thriller. He’s a news photographer who notices troubling details on the pictures he’s taken of people associated with the Thorn family. He helps Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck) dig up clues in a graveyard at night where they are attacked by hellish hounds. Jennings, as his own photos predicted, suffers a grisly death as the film spirals closer to its grim ending.
Joshua Duncan Sloane in “The Ballad of Cable Hogue” (1970)
Warner gets ample screen time opposite Jason Robards’ weary wanderer as a colorful self-proclaimed minister of his own church in Sam Peckinpah’s comedy western.
Morgan Delt in “Morgan!” (1966)
A BAFTA-nominated Warner went full tilt in this wacky British comedy about a man who engages in a series of ludicrous stunts to win back his estranged wife (Vanessa Redgrave).
