John Nolan, a veteran British stage and screen actor and paternal uncle of filmmakers Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan, who appeared in his works including a pair of “Batman” films and the CBS drama “Person of Interest,” has died at age 87.
The actor died on Saturday, according to the British weekly Stratford-Upon-Avon Herald.
Nolan had a career that spanned decades and included turns in his nephews' projects. He played Wayne Enterprises board member Douglas Fredericks in 2005's “Batman Begins” and 2012's “The Dark Knight Rises,” both co-written and directed by Christopher; He also appeared in 1998's “Following” and 2017's “Dunkirk,” both also written and directed by Christopher.
He joined “Person of Interest,” created by Jonathan Nolan, during its second season in 2013 as John Greer, a mysterious and calculating former MI6 agent who became head of Decima Technologies, a shadowy private intelligence firm, and the villainous Samaritan AI (Jonathan also co-wrote “The Dark Knight Rises”).
Born on May 22, 1938 in London, Nolan began on the stage, training at the Drama Center London. He toured with a touring Irish theater company and played the role of Romeo opposite Francesca Annis at the Richmond Theatre.
He joined the Royal Court Company and spent two years with the Royal Shakespeare Company, where he performed in productions of “Julius Caesar,” “The Merry Wives of Windsor” and “The Relapse.” He left the RSC to star in the title role of the 1970 BBC miniseries “Daniel Deronda”, based on George Eliot's 1876 novel, as a young man of mysterious origins, a role that helped establish him as a film actor.
After “Daniel Deronda,” Nolan starred in the BBC drama “Doomwatch,” playing scientist George Harcastle, and as Nick Faunt in ITV's Depression-era romantic miniseries “Shabby Tiger.”
His other screen credits include the films “Bequest to the Nation” (1973), “Terror” (1978) and “The World Is Full of Married Men” (1979), as well as television series such as “The Prisoner,” “General Hospital” and “Silent Witness.”
He also explored his creativity behind the camera. He co-wrote and played the lead role in a Dostoevsky trilogy for the Bristol New Vic company in 1980-81.
In addition to his nephews, Nolan is survived by his wife, actress Kim Hartman; and their children Miranda and Tom; as well as his grandchildren Dylan and Kara.
