James Philip Laurenson (17 February 1940 – 18 April 2024) was a New Zealand stage and screen actor based in the United Kingdom.
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Early life
Laurenson was born in Marton, New Zealand. He studied theatre at Canterbury University College in Christchurch (now University of Canterbury). There he was directed by Dame Ngaio Marsh, notably in the title role in Macbeth at the Civic Theatre Christchurch in 1962.
During the mid-1960s he moved to the United Kingdom. He made his film debut in 1969 with a small part in Women in Love, based on the D. H. Lawrence novel. He also had an uncredited part (as an Oxford rower, playing alongside Graham Chapman) in The Magic Christian.
Career
Laurenson appeared in numerous British Shakespearean productions, notably Richard II, and as Rosencrantz in Hamlet. He performed on radio in the marathon series, Vivat Rex. He also appeared as Piers Gaveston in the 1970 production of Christopher Marlowe's Edward II, opposite Ian McKellen. The latter actor later recalled that kissing Laurenson "was a bonus throughout the run". Other costume roles by Laurenson included a French courtier in Elizabeth R and the Earl of Lincoln in Shadow of the Tower (1972).
