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David Leland | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1941-04-20)20 April 1941 Cambridge, England |
| Died | 24 December 2023(2023-12-24) (aged 82) |
| Alma mater | Royal Central School of Speech and Drama |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, screenwriter, actor |
David Leland (20 April 1941 – 24 December 2023) was a British film director, screenwriter and actor who came to international fame with his directorial debutWish You Were Here in 1987.[1]
Leland initially trained as an actor atCentral School of Speech and Drama.[2] In 1963, he was part of the breakaway group of Central staff and students who formedDrama Centre London along with fellow students including actor and later theatre directorJack Shepherd andJon Lord, later keyboard player and co-founder of rock bandDeep Purple andWhitesnake.[3] After several small parts as actor he began his collaboration with British television directorAlan Clarke in 1981.[4] Their filmMade in Britain was well received and featured the first screen role of actorTim Roth.[5]Made in Britain won thePrix Italia (an international Television award) in 1984.[4] In 1986, Leland and directorNeil Jordan co-wrote the screenplay for the thriller-dramaMona Lisa, featuringBob Hoskins.[6] With Jordan, he was nominated forBAFTA,Golden Globe andWriters Guild of America awards.[7]
Leland then wrotePersonal Services in 1986.[8] It was directed byTerry Jones and concernedCynthia Payne, a real-life Britishmadam who ran a privatebrothel.[9]Julie Walters took the leading role. WhilePersonal Services dealt with the adult life of Cynthia Payne, Leland's next film,Wish You Were Here, concerned her teenage years.[10] This film was a success at the 1987Cannes Film Festival and it made the young British actressEmily Lloyd a star.[11] It was awarded theFIPRESCI-Award at Cannes and the BAFTA forbest screenplay.[12][13]
In 1991, Leland directed the successful stage musicalA Tribute to the Blues Brothers, which played on theWest End and then toured for ten years in the UK and Australia.[14]
Leland's next two films,Checking Out (withJeff Daniels) andThe Big Man (withLiam Neeson), failed at the box office and with the critics but have since been successful in the private market. In 1997, Leland co-wrote and directedThe Land Girls starringRachel Weisz andAnna Friel and, in 2000, wrote and directed Episode 6 of the HBO MiniseriesBand of Brothers.[4][15]
In 2012, Leland joined theShowtime seriesThe Borgias as co-showrunner and executive producer (alongsideNeil Jordan, whom he had worked with onMona Lisa), writing the last five episodes of its second season and directing its last two episodes.[3] He described his stint as co-showrunner and executive producer as a "hands-on" experience and having to commit to extensive research on theRenaissance.[3]
After the death of his friendGeorge Harrison, Leland was closely involved in the former Beatle's memorial,Concert for George, and directeda cinematic documentary of the night to be put on general release, the DVD of which went platinum.[16][17] The documentary also won aGrammy Award. His also directed theDino De Laurentiis producedVirgin Territory, released in 2007.[18]
Leland died on 24 December 2023, at the age of 82.[19][20]
