Blessed, Brian (1936- )

English actor. Known for his charisma and booming voice, he typically played strong leading men. He first drew popular attention as PC Fancy Smith in the television series Z Cars (1962-65), and later appeared in Churchill's People (1975), I, Claudius (1976), and Return to Treasure Island (1989). His films include Flash Gordon (1980), Henry V (1989), Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), and Much Ado About Nothing (1993).

In 1990 Blessed climbed 7,700 m/25,400 ft without oxygen for the BBC documentary Galahad of Everest, and returned to climb Everest in 1993, reaching 8,500 m/28,000 feet without oxygen, the oldest man to do so.