Jeremy Brett (born Peter Jeremy William Huggins; 3 November 1933 – 12 September 1995) was Sherlock Holmes. Even now, decades later, he is still remembered as the most faithful adaptation of the Great Detective.
Brett was an English actor who appeared on both stage and screen. He worked with Laurence Olivier at the National Theatre and in a film production of The Merchant of Venice, he starred as Audrey Hepburn's brother in War and Peace (1956), he starred as Audrey Hepburn's Love Interest in My Fair Lady, he played d'Artagnan in a television series of The Three Musketeers, he played Basil Hallward in a television series of The Picture of Dorian Gray, but it is for Sherlock Holmes that he will be remembered.
Between 1984 and 1994, Granada produced adaptations of Arthur Conan Doyle's famous stories with Brett in the title role. They were:
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: where he was joined by David Burke as a capable Dr Watson more in keeping with Doyle's depiction of him;
- The Return of Sherlock Holmes: Edward Hardwicke replaced Burke as Watson continuing the faithful portrayal of Holmes's sidekick. Included two feature length adaptations of the novels The Sign of Four and The Hound of the Baskervilles;
- The Casebook Of Sherlock Holmes;
- The Master Blackmailer: a feature-length adaptation of The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton;
- The Last Vampyre: a feature-length adaptation of The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire;
- The Eligible Bachelor: a feature-length adaptation of The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor (with bits of The Veiled Lodger thrown in);
- The Memoirs Of Sherlock Holmes: Brett's last series, which was marked by his drastically failing health;
Brett and Hardwicke continued their roles on the stage for The Secret of Sherlock Holmes, written by Granada script-writer Jeremy Paul. The play ran from '88 to '89 at the Wyndham Theatre.
Brett saw playing Sherlock Holmes as a challenge and was determined to produce the best portrayal of him that had been seen (his most prized possession was a 77-page book that he compiled himself documenting everything from Holmes's eating habits to the character's eccentric mannerisms). "Some actors fear if they play Sherlock Holmes for a very long run the character will steal their soul, leave no corner for the original inhabitant", he once said, but: "Holmes has become the dark side of the moon for me. He is moody and solitary and underneath I am really sociable and gregarious. It has all got too dangerous". David Burke originally played Dr. Watson but left after the filming of The Final Problem in order to join the Royal Shakespeare Company and spend more time with his family (his wife Anna was also a member of the company). He was replaced, on Burke's own recommendation, with Edward Hardwicke who played him from The Empty House onward. In Brett's opinion, Hardwicke was the nicest man he ever knew.
Unfortunately Brett suffered from manic depression after the death of his wife not long after filming Sherlock Holmes's own faked death in The Final Problem. In an act of incredible bravery, he went public with his condition, urging people to seek help - in fact, one of his last interviews features him talking about his illness and encouraging people to talk to their doctors about it. During the production of the remaining series, Brett's health declined, and he even collapsed on set and had to be admitted to hospital. When he was finally discharged, he was picked up from the hospital by Edward Hardwicke who took him out to lunch.
Not long after filming The Cardboard Box, Jeremy Brett died at the age of sixty-one from heart failure. Edward Hardwicke spoke at his funeral where he called him his "dear friend" and said he was "greatly missed". The New York Times in their report of his death said that "Mr. Brett was regarded as the quintessential Holmes: breathtakingly analytical, given to outrageous disguises and the blackest moods and relentless in his enthusiasm for solving the most intricate crimes."
Even now, he is and will always be Sherlock Holmes.
Tropes relating to Jeremy Brett:
- Amicable Exes: With his first wife, actress Anna Massey. Although they divorced after he had realized his bisexuality and fallen in love with another man, the split was entirely amicable, and they remained friends for the rest of their lives.
- Milking the Giant Cow: One of the trademarks of his Holmes, with a basis in the canon.
- Non-Singing Voice: As Freddy Eynsford-Hill in My Fair Lady, which is an especially weird example considering that Brett could actually sing.
- Signature Laugh: He had a very distinct and infectious laugh. Seriously, listen to it.
Edward Hardwicke said it was the thing he would most remember and miss about him. - Tall, Dark, and Handsome: Just look at him.
- The Cast Show Off: Many of his roles would provide at least a taste of his excellent singing voice, excluding My Fair Lady, which bafflingly dubbed him. Even the Holmes producers made use of it: The Bruce-Partington Plans opens with him crooning in Latin.
- Reality Subtext: Jeremy and Edward were best friends in real life, and it really showed in their performances.
- What Could Have Been: Was once considered for the part of James Bond.
- Which also crosses into
Hilarious in Hindsight when you remember that Charles Gray who played Mycroft Holmes also played Blofeld in Diamonds Are Forever.
- Which also crosses into
But still, the game's afoot for those with ears, attuned to catch the distant view-halloo...
