Ian Charleson born 11 August 1949 (d. 1990)Born and raised in Edinburgh, Ian Charleson attended the Royal High School and then went on to attend the University of Edinburgh. He initially studied architecture but switched to acting. After graduating from Edinburgh he won a place at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
His best-known role was as the athlete Eric Liddell in the film Chariots of Fire (1981). A very fine stage actor, his other notable film appearances included his film debut Jubilee (1977), Gandhi (1982), and Dario Argento's horror classic Opera.
Shortly before his death, from 9 October to 13 November 1989, Charleson performed his second run of Hamlet, this time at the National Theatre — giving a definitive performance which garnered major accolades. The day following Charleson's final Hamlet performance, when Ian McKellen was given the Evening Standard Award for Best Actor for his Iago in Othello, McKellen offered thanks, but said having seen 'the perfect Hamlet' at the National Theatre the previous night, he thought that not he but Ian Charleson was truly the Best Actor of 1989.Charleson was diagnosed with HIV in 1986, and died of AIDS-related causes in January 1990 at the age of 40. Charleson is buried in Portobello Cemetery, Edinburgh.
The Ian Charleson Awards have been presented annually since 1991 to reward the best classical stage performances in Britain by actors aged under 30.
The HIV day care centre at the Royal Free Hospital in London NW3 is named in his memory.