Stage and Screen Actor Edmund Purdom, Olivier Protege, Dead at 85

Variety has reported that Edmund Purdom, best known as Prince Karl in the 1954 MGM musical "Student Prince," died January 1st of natural causes in Rome, Italy. Purdom was 85.

Born in England, Purdom was a protege of Laurence Olivier and a member of his theatrical company troupe for eight years. Olivier himself brought Purdom to Hollywood in the 50s where he was put under contract at MGM.

Edmund Purdom starred in many films including the lead role in "The Egyptian" as well as a supporting role in "Julius Caesar" with Marlon Brando and John Gielgud reports Variety.

Purdom moved to Italy in the 1960s and lived there for the rest of his life, appearing in classic spaghetti Westerns and dozens of other films including "Mr. Scarface," "Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks" and "Horror Safari."

Variety explains the he was often hired as a narrator and worked extensively as a voice actor dubbing Italian films into English.

Edmund was married four times, (briefly to actress Linda Christian) and had two children with his first wife.