Nicholas Amer

Nicholas Amer
Amer in January 2014
Born	Thomas Harold Amer (1923-09-29) 29 September 1923 (age 93) Tranmere, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England
Other names	Nicolas Amer
Years active	1948-
Partner(s)	Montague Haltrecht (1965-2010)

Nicholas Amer, born Thomas Harold Amer (born 29 September 1923) in Tranmere, Birkenhead, Cheshire, is an English stage, film and television actor known for his performances in William Shakespeare's plays. Amer made his professional debut in 1948 playing the part of Ferdinand in The Tempest. In his long career, Amer has played more than 27 different Shakespearean roles and toured to 31 different countries.

Amer served for five years during World War II in the Royal Navy as a wireless operator aboard Motor Torpedo Boats, first in North Africa, then in the Allied invasion of Sicily, where he was wounded in action.

Following demobilisation in 1945, he studied at the Webber Douglas School of Singing and Dramatic Art in London for two years, winning the Webber Cup in his final year. He adopted the stage name Nicholas Amer and joined the Liverpool Playhouse under John Fernald. Together with Harold Lang, in 1963 he formed Voyage Theatre as a vehicle for performing Shakespeare's plays overseas.

Amer's many roles include those of Romeo, Laertes (three times), Hamlet, Ferdinand (three times), Andrew Aguecheek, Donalbain and, as he got older, Julius Caesar, Macbeth and Macduff. In the 1980s he toured the USA playing King Duncan in an Old Vic production of Macbeth. His London stage appearances include A Man for All Seasons with Charlton Heston, Captain Brassbound's Conversion with Penelope Keith and The Wolf with Judi Dench and Leo McKern.