{{Short description|British actor (1964–2024)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}} {{EngvarB|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Adrian Schiller | image = Publicity_Photo_of_Adrian_Schiller.jpg | caption = Schiller in 2016 | birth_name = Adrian Townsend Schiller | birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1964|02|21}} | birth_place = Oxford, England | death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2024|04|03|1964|02|21}} | death_place = Norwich, Norfolk | occupation = Actor | years_active = 1992–2024 }}
'''Adrian Townsend Schiller''' (21 February 1964 – 3 April 2024) was an English actor. His most notable work was as Ealdorman Aethelhelm for three seasons of ''The Last Kingdom'' (2018-2022).
His tv and film credits also include ''A Touch of Frost'' (2000), ''Bright Star'' (2009), ''Terry Pratchett's Going Postal'' (2010), ''Being Human'' (2010), ''A Little Chaos'' (2014), ''Son of God'' (2014), ''The Danish Girl'' (2015), ''Suffragette'' (2015), ''Doctor Who'' (episode "The Doctor's Wife" 2011), ''Victoria'' (2016–2019), ''Beauty and the Beast'' (2017), ''The Mercy'' (2017), ''Tolkien'' (2019), ''Raised by Wolves'' (2020), ''Censor'' (2021), and ''The New Look'' (2024).
==Early life and career== Adrian Townsend Schiller was born in Oxford on 21 February 1964.<ref>{{cite web | last=Rosario | first=Alexandra Del | title=Adrian Schiller, British actor known for 'The Last Kingdom' and 'Victoria,' dies at 60 | website=Los Angeles Times | date=4 April 2024 | url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-04-04/adrian-schiller-dead-actor-the-last-kingdom-victoria-beauty-the-beast | access-date=5 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Coveney |first1=Michael |title=Adrian Schiller obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/apr/08/adrian-schiller-obituary |access-date=8 April 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=8 April 2024}}</ref> He described himself as "a Jew, but not Jewish", as he "was brought up outside of any sort of Jewish tradition".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maltby |first=Kate |date=2022-03-03 |title=The Jew(ish) actor playing Shylock at the Globe |url=https://www.thejc.com/life/the-jewish-actor-playing-shylock-at-the-globe-ytrexqcc |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=The Jewish Chronicle |language=en}}</ref>
An actor on stage and screen with a career spanning over thirty years, Schiller began his television career appearing in an episode of ''Prime Suspect'' in December 1992.
=== Theatre === As a British stage actor, he did substantial work at major UK companies including Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre, Young Vic, Shakespeare’s Globe, ETT, and Hampstead. Notable performances include Kulygin in ''Three Sisters'' at the Young Vic (2012), and Shylock in ''The Merchant of Venice'' at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse (2022). Throughout his career, he continued taking demanding stage roles alongside his screen work. Shortly before his death, he toured internationally in a production of ''The Lehman Trilogy'', directed by Sam Mendes.<ref name=":0" />
=== Television and Film === Schiller was the face on the anti-drink-driving PIF ''Moment of Doubt'' on British TV, part of the DfT's 'Think! Road Safety' campaign from 2007. The advert won Best Casting at the BTACA awards in December 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/culture/adrian-schiller-death-drink-driving-advert-b2523379.html |title=Adrian Schiller's drink driving advert resurfaces following actor's sudden death |work=The Independent |date=4 April 2024 |accessdate=8 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.creativereview.co.uk/and-the-btaca-winners-are/|author=Lucas, Gavin|date=2 December 2008|title=And the BTACA winners are…|website=Creative Review|accessdate=5 October 2020| url-access =subscription }}</ref>
From 2018-2022, he played Ealdorman Aethelhelm for three seasons of ''The Last Kingdom''.<ref name="star"/> In his obituary in ''The Guardian'', journalist Michael Coveney wrote that his performance "would suggest that here was a naturally authoritative actor, blessed with gravitas and style."<ref name=":0" /> In 2021, he played Pasha Verdinikov in two episodes of ''Death in Paradise''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/death-paradise-star-adrian-schiller-160300223.html | title=Death in Paradise star Adrian Schiller dies, aged 60 | date=4 April 2024 }}</ref>
==Death== Schiller died "suddenly and unexpectedly" on 3 April 2024, at the age of 60.<ref name="star">{{cite web |title=Adrian Schiller death: The Last Kingdom star dies 'suddenly' aged 60 |website=Independent.co.uk |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/adrian-schillder-death-last-kingdom-victoria-b2523283.html |access-date=4 April 2024}}</ref> His death was announced the following day in a statement by his agent.<ref>[https://metro.co.uk/2024/04/04/victoria-last-kingdom-actor-adrian-schiller-dies-suddenly-aged-60-20587406/ Notice of death of Adrian Schiller], metro.co.uk Accessed 4 April 2024.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=ITV's Victoria actor Adrian Schiller dies 'suddenly' aged 60 |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2024-04-04/itvs-victoria-actor-adrian-schiller-dies-suddenly-aged-60 |website=ITV News |access-date=4 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Victoria actor Adrian Schiller dies aged 60 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68731534 |website=BBC News |date=4 April 2024}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Coveney |first=Michael |date=2024-04-08 |title=Adrian Schiller obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/apr/08/adrian-schiller-obituary |access-date=2024-04-22 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The cause of death was a major ischaemic stroke.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=12 Apr 2024 |title=The Last Kingdom star Adrian Schiller’s cause of death was ischaemic stroke |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/british-itv-victoria-netflix-raised-by-wolves-b2527902.html |access-date=5 Sep 2025 |website=The Independent}}</ref> According to the Stroke Association, this happens when a blockage stops blood from reaching part of the brain, causing brain cells to die. It also notes that roughly 85% of strokes in the UK are ischaemic, making this the most common type.<ref name=":1" />
==Stage== thumb|Adrian Schiller at Rose Theatre 2013 '''Selected stage appearances:'''<ref name=":0" />
* 1991 – ''The Knickers'' (Lyric Theatre Hammersmith) * 1996 – ''Macbeth'' – Porter (Royal Shakespeare Company) * 2000 – ''As You Like It'' – Touchstone (Royal Shakespeare Company) * 2005 – ''Julius Caesar'' – Cassius (Royal Shakespeare Company, touring) * 2006 – ''Tartuffe'' – title role (Watermill Theatre, Newbury) * 2007 – ''The Changeling'' – De Flores (English Touring Theatre) * 2008 – ''The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other'' – ensemble (National Theatre) * 2012 – ''Three Sisters'' – Kulygin (Young Vic) * 2013 – ''Captain of Köpenick'' (National Theatre) * 2013 – ''Hysteria'' – Salvador Dalí (Hampstead Theatre, revival) * 2022 – ''The Merchant of Venice'' – Shylock (Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe) * 2023 – ''The White Factory'' (Marylebone Theatre) * 2023 – Short plays on Jewish identity (Soho Theatre) * 2024 – ''The Lehman Trilogy'' (international tour)
==Filmography== *''The Hour We Knew Nothing of Each Other'' (2008, theatre performance) *''Bright Star'' (2009) *''Terry Pratchett's Going Postal'' (2010) (cast as the Banshee, Mr. Gryle) *''Being Human'' (Season 2, 2010) *''A Touch of Frost'' *''A Little Chaos'' (2014) *''Son of God'' (2014) as Caiaphas *''The Danish Girl'' (2015) *''Suffragette'' (2015) *''Doctor Who'' (2011, episode "The Doctor's Wife") *''Victoria'' (2016–2019)<ref>{{cite web|author=Tartaglione, Nancy|url=https://deadline.com/2015/10/rufus-sewell-cast-victoria-itv-drama-jenna-coleman-1201589585/|title=Rufus Sewell Joins ITV's 'Victoria' As Period Drama Adds More Cast|work=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Business Media, LLC|accessdate=5 October 2020|date=21 October 2015}}</ref> *''Beauty and the Beast'' (2017) *''The Mercy'' (2017) *''The Last Kingdom'' (2018–2022) *''Tolkien'' (2019) *''Raised by Wolves'' (2020) *''Censor'' (2021) *''The New Look'' (2024)
==Computer games== *''Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings'' (2009) (video game, Magnus Völler) *''Fable III'' (2010) (video game, The Crawler) *''Castlevania: Lords of Shadow'' (2010) *''Assassin's Creed III'' (2012) *''Raid: World War II'' (2017)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|0771621}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schiller, Adrian}} Category:1964 births Category:2024 deaths Category:20th-century British male actors Category:21st-century British male actors Category:British male film actors Category:British male stage actors Category:British male television actors Category:British male voice actors Category:Male actors from Oxford