Oliver Reed Oliver Reed Robert Oliver Reed (13 February 1938 – 2 May 1999) was an English actor known for his upper-middle class, macho image, hellraiser lifestyle, and "tough guy" roles. Notable films include "The Trap" (1966), playing Bill Sikes in the Best Picture Oscar winner "Oliver!" (1968), "Women in Love" (1969), "Hannibal Brooks" (1969), "The Devils" (1971), portraying Athos in "The Three Musketeers" (1973), "Tommy" (1975), "Lion of the Desert" (1981), "Castaway" (1986), "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" (1988) and "Funny Bones" (1995). For playing Antonius Proximo, an old, gruff gladiator trainer in Ridley Scott's "Gladiator" (2000) in what was his
Oliver Reed his second film with Winner, alongside Michael Crawford. After playing a villain in a horror movie, "The Shuttered Room" (1967) he did a third with Winner, "I'll Never Forget What's'isname" (1967), co-starring with Orson Welles. Reed was reunited with Russell for another TV movie, "Dante's Inferno" (1968), playing Dante Gabriel Rossetti . Reed became a star playing Bill Sikes in "Oliver!" (1968), alongside Ron Moody, Shani Wallis, Mark Lester, Jack Wild and Harry Secombe, in his uncle Carol Reed's screen version of the successful stage musical. It was a huge hit and Reed's performance much acclaimed. He was in the