Erland Van Lidth De Jeude
Erland Van Lidth De Jeude (June 3, 1953 Hilversum, Netherlands – September 23, 1987 New York, New York) acted in several Hollywood films, as well as wrestling, singing bass-baritone in opera, and working with computers. While his large size was not unusual in the opera and wrestling worlds, it was key to his movie roles.
Biography
Van Lidth De Jeude came to the United States with his family in the late 1950s, where they resided in Orange, New Jersey, Ridgefield, Connecticut, and Mont Vernon, New Hampshire. In addition to studying computer science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he also distinguished himself on the wrestling team and in stage productions, the most successful of which was A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, in which he played Miles Gloriosis. After graduation he worked in Manhattan as a computer professional, while also attending the 1976 Olympics in Montreal as an alternate for the heavyweight wrestling team. His preparation for the 1980 Olympics in Moscow was cut short when the United States boycotted the event.
Meanwhile, he was spotted in the New York Athletic Club by a casting director, which led to his role as "Terror" in the 1979 film The Wanderers; this in turn led to other film roles which made use of his imposing physical presence, the most widely seen being as "Dynamo" in 1987's The Running Man, which made some use of his operatic talents. He continued to juggle his computer career and his film career, while also singing frequently with the Amato Opera in New York and studying to become a Heldenbaritone, and teaching English at Manhattan Community College. He died in 1987 of heart failure.
Van Lidth De Jeude married Annette Friend on September 22, 1986, with whom he had one son. His brother Philip van Lidth de Jeude and sister Philine van Lidth de Jeude are also opera singers.
Filmography
- The Wanderers (1979) "Terror" (as Erland Van Lidth De Jeude)
- Stir Crazy (1980) "Grossberger" (as Erland van Lidth de Jeude)
- Alone in the Dark (1982) "Ronald 'Fatty' Elster" (as Erland van Lidth)
- The Running Man (1987) "Dynamo" (as Erland Van Lidth)
External link
Categories: 1953 births | 1987 deaths