The History of Production of the Works of Harold Pinter
Vivien Merchant (1929 - 1982)
Ms Vivien Merchant (Female)
Nationality: English
Born: 22 July 1929
Died: 3 October 1982
Actor. Born Ada Thompson, Merchant reportedly chose the stage name Vivien after Vivien Leigh and Merchant because of her brother, a merchant marine. As well as her roles in films such as the 1966 film Alfie (for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and won the BAFTA Award (for Most Promising Newcomer) for Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy in 1972, Merchant is best remembered for her roles in >Harold Pinter's stage and screen work. Married to Pinter between 1956 -1980, Merchant appeared in the 1960 revival of The Room at the Hampstead Theatre, A Slight Ache, A Night Out, The Collection, and The Lover (earning her an Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Newcomer and the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in 1963). Merchant subsequently appeared in Tea Party (1965) and starred as Ruth in the Royal Shakespeare Company's (RSC) production of The Homecoming (1964) on stage in London and New York in 1967, receiving a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Play. She went on to star in the film version in 1973. The last of his plays in which she performed on stage was Old Times (1971) as Anna.
Training and Education
No training and education have been added to this person record yet.
Other Names
Ada Thompson (Birth name)
Productions
Traces of an Old Fire (1966)
Creative | Reader
Notes:
Personal Anthology (1970)
Creative | Reader
Notes:
Archive on 4: Pinter on Air (2009)
Creative | Interviewee
Notes:
Appears In
A Slight Ache (1959)
Flora (Age: Not specified, Female)
Performer
A Night Out (1960)
Girl, The (Age: Not specified, Female)
Performer
Night School (1960)
Sally (Age: Not specified, Female)
Performer
A Night Out (1960)
Girl, The (Age: Not specified, Female)
Performer
The Room (Hampstead Theatre Club-Royal Court) (1960)
Rose (The Room) (Age: 60, Female)
Performer
The Collection (1961)
Stella (The Collection) (Age: thirties, Female)
Performer
The Collection (1962)
Stella (The Collection) (Age: thirties, Female)
Performer
The Lover (1963)
Sarah (Age: Not specified, Female)
Performer
The Lover (Stage Premiere: Arts Theatre) (1963)
Sarah (Age: Not specified, Female)
Performer
Request Stop (1964)
Woman (Request Stop) (Age: Not specified, Female)
Performer
Applicant (1964)
Miss Piffs (Age: Not Specified, Female)
Performer
Dialogue for Three (1964)
Woman (Dialogue for Three) (Age: Not specified, Female)
Performer
The Homecoming (Premiere: Aldwych) (1965)
Ruth (The Homecoming) (Age: early thirties, Female)
Performer
Tea Party (1965)
Wendy (Age: Not specified, Female)
Performer
Accident (1967)
Rosalind (Age: mid thirties, Female)
Performer
The Homecoming (The Music Box, NYC) (1967)
Ruth (The Homecoming) (Age: early thirties, Female)
Performer
Night (Premiere: Comedy Theatre) (1969)
Woman (Night) (Age: Not specified, Female)
Merchant also performed in Score, Countdown and Resting Place. The rest of the Mixed Double ensemble were Andrée Melly and Oscar Quitak.
Performer
Pinter People (1969)
Miss Piffs (Age: Not Specified, Female)
Character listed as 'voice'
Performer
Pinter People (1969)
Lady (Request Stop) (Age: Not specified, Female)
Character listed as 'voice'
Unnamed character from 'Request Stop'; other non-speaking parts in this work include Small Man, Two other Women and a Man.
Performer
Exiles (Mermaid - Aldwych) (1970)
Bertha (Age: 28, Female)
Performer
Tea Party (UK Stage Premiere: Duchess Theatre) (1970)
Wendy (Age: Not specified, Female)
Performer
Projections (1970)
Woman (Night) (Age: Not specified, Female)
Performer
Old Times (Premiere: Aldwych Theatre) (1971)
Anna (Old Times) (Age: early forties, Female)
Performer
A James Joyce Evening (1972)
Bertha (Age: 28, Female)
Performer
The Homecoming (1973)
Ruth (The Homecoming) (Age: early thirties, Female)
Performer
The Lover (Grand Theatre, Leeds [sic?] tour) (1976)
Sarah (Age: Not specified, Female)
Performer
The Lover (1977)
Sarah (Age: Not specified, Female)
Performer
The Homecoming (1977)
Ruth (The Homecoming) (Age: early thirties, Female)
Performer
Linked People
Harold Pinter (1930 - 2008)
Relationship: Spouse
Linked Awards
BAFTA
1966
Won: Most Promising Newcommer
Academy Award
1966
Nominated: Best Supporting Actress
Tony Award
1967
Nominated: Best Actress in a Play
Resources
‘Mrs Pinteresque’, The Guardian, 20 May 1971 (URL)
Type: Interview
External Link: https://www.proquest.com/docview/185455977/46C35796E2A44D32PQ/4?accountid=14664
Subscription required
Sources
BFI Website
http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f751acd
URL
Included filmography for Vivien Merchant between 1948-1982.
The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/1982/10/06/obituaries/vivian-merchant-53-actress.html
URL
Obituary by Herbert Mitgang for The New York Times, 6/10/1982