Born in Allestree, Derbyshire, England. Powerful British actor who came to prominence in the 1960s along with other angry young leading men, Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay. Bates gained acclaim for his first major screen role, in THE ENTERTAINER (1960), and soon emerged as one of the English-language cinema's most arresting talents. He worked with the major British and American directors of his time including John Schlesinger (A KIND OF LOVING, 1962, FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD, 1967), Lindsay Anderson (IN CELEBRATION, 1975, BRITANNIA HOSPITAL, 1982), Ken Russell (WOMEN IN LOVE, 1969) and Joseph Losey (THE GO-BETWEEN, 1971). He starred in Mihalis Kakogiannis' ALEXIS ZORBAS / ZORBA THE GREEK (1964), Silvio Narizzano's GEORGY GIRL (1966), Philippe de Broca's LE ROI DE CŒUR / KING OF HEARTS (also 1966), and John Frankenheimer's THE FIXER (1968). The 1970s also saw Bates featured as Col. Vershinin in Laurence Olivier's THREE SISTERS (1970); as Bri in Peter Medak's A DAY IN THE DEATH OF JOE EGG (1972); in the title role of Harold Pinter's film of Simon Gray's BUTLEY (1974); in Lindsay Anderson's IN CELEBRATION (1975); opposite Jill Clayburgh in Paul Mazursky's AN UNMARRIED WOMAN (1978); and as Bette Midler's manager in Mark Rydell's THE ROSE (1979). In the 80s he portrayed several elder homosexual characters (NIJINSKY, 1980; WE THINK THE WORLD OF YOU, 1988; and the Schlesinger-directed TV film AN ENGLISHMAN ABROAD, 1983). Later film credits include Claudius in Zeferelli's HAMLET (1990), Mr. Jennings in Altman's GOSFORD PARK (2001), THE MOTHMAN PROPHESIES, THE SUM OF ALL FEARS, EVELYN and THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS (all 2002). Bates won Tony® Awards in 1973 as Best Actor (Dramatic) for Butley and in 2002 as Best Actor (Play) for Fortune's Fool. Made a Commander of the British Empire in 1995, he was named a Knight of the British Empire in Queen Elizabeth II's 2003 New Year's Honours List. He was married to Victoria Ward from 1970 until her death in 1992. His companion and lover towards the end of his life was his lifelong friend, actress Joanna Pettet, his co-star in 1964's Broadway play Poor Richard. They split their time between New York and London.  Nominated for Actor 1968: THE FIXER 1 nomination