Joss Ackland

Joss Ackland died a couple days ago. An actor with an invariably effective, sinister presence, he appeared in many films and television series over more than sixty years. His most high profile roles may have been in Lethal Weapon 2 and The Hunt for Red October. I saw him in Hammer's Rasputin: The Mad Monk and Amicus' The House That Dripped Blood as well. But it's primarily for his television roles I'll remember him, particularly in the Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes series episode, "The Copper Beeches".

Ackland is an incredibly menacing villain, particularly opposite a strikingly vulnerable young Natasha Richardson as his intended victim.

He also appeared in one of my favourite Young Indiana Jones episodes, Adventures in the Secret Service, or the first half of that, a fifty minute episode originally called "Austria, March 1917". With a teleplay by Frank Darabont from a story by George Lucas, it's a solid little suspense narrative that also features Christopher Lee in a small role. Ackland's role is curiously silent, despite the actor's deep voice being one of his most impressive qualities. But he is effective as the sinister inspector, wordlessly dogging Indy on his secret mission like a spectre of death.

X Sonnet #1791

Another knight returned but dressed in red.
A rain of sealing wax conveys the sign.
The light of fire rimmed the troubled bed.
A nervous mind consumes a broken line.
Surprises bake the skin above a man.
Electric action changed the scene to night.
Relapsing purged the urge to stage a ban.
Offensive gadgets end the need to fight.
Divided phones could never meet a cord.
Absented cells could never call an ear.
Assembled sentries dot the gaming board.
Assorted bubbles spill the news of beer.
Advancing turkey lines present their wings.
Through hollowed cobs, the autumn sings.