Evil Spirits: The Life of Oliver Reed

by Cliff Goodwin

In May 1999, after a 40-year acting career, Oliver Reed succeeded in destroying himself. He died, as he had invariably lived, drinking with friends in Malta while making yet another film - Ridley Scott's "Gladiator", which was completed after his death using a computer-generated "Oliver Reed". Oliver Reed's acting breakthrough came in 1968 as Bill Sykes in the musical "Oliver!" which one six oscars and made Reed an international star. By the late 1960s he was Britain's highest paid actor. His drinking, womanising and marriages earned him great notoriety in addition to his acting successes. The author reveals much about Reed's his involvement with the south London underworld, and the women in his life. Material from friends, family and colleagues add new perspectives to the story of this legendary character. As the great man said, "Life should be lived, and that's all there is to it."

Genres: Biography, Film, Nonfiction

318 pages, Hardcover

First published August 8, 2000

Reviews

[jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to put down. Goodwin gives equal time to both sides of Reed's personality-the animal lover who always jumped to help someone in need and the drunken womanizer. While Reed's acting became overshadowed by his drinking and fighting later in life, he was a naturally talented actor who left many iconic moments on film. I recommend this book; it's funny, sad and lively as there are few people in the world who lived at the speed Reed did.

[Deirdre · Rating 5 out of 5]

By chance, I came across the final resting place of Oliver Reed in a hidden, quiet country graveyard in the small village of Churchtown in County Cork, Ireland. It brought back childhood memories of watching his portrayal of the evil Bill Sykes in the film, Oliver. Of course, this got me curious of how a Movie Legend, born in Wimbledon, could end up so close to my hometown in the neighbouring county? So, this is how I came to this book......a very easy read with the author trying to portray the essence of this enigma of this man. A true Jeckyll & Hyde character who was probably his own worst enemy....in the end I was truly saddened at his demise but, Oliver died as he lived. His young widow, Josephine, remarried and still lives in County Cork. He seemed to have found true love and a happiness in his final years. Poignant that there were some empty beer cans left at his gravestone & that it is across the road from his local pub. :)

[Rupert Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

As biographies go this was pretty good. Very readable. I suppose the subject matter helped as Oliver Reed was a colourful character among colourful characters. I certainly learned quite a lot from this book that I did not know. All jolly stuff, though ultimately a tragedy of a life.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this book but saddened at the same time. I have been a fan of Oliver Reed ever since I was a kid and saw The Three Musketeers in my hometown theater. I found the beginning of the book quite enlightening. I think the fact he was dyslexic and came from a broken home explains quite a bit about his personality. There seemed to be a sadness and anger always running a bit underneath which came out when he was drinking. I think Oliver Reed was a man that was born out of his time. It seems like he would have been more suited for the 1700s.

While I did thoroughly enjoy the book, I think towards the latter half, it became a bit choppy. I don't know if that was a result of the author coming from a reporter's background or there just wasn't much information to add to the story. Also, I found the continuity to be a bit all over the place. The author would reference something that happened in the 60s when he was writing about the 70s or 80s.

All in all, I would recommend this book. I was sad that Oliver Reed died at a relatively young age. He seemed to be his own worst enemy and I feel he could have made some wonderful movies if he hadn't gone down that hell raiser path.

[Gabriela Fonseca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book and the approach to the subject, touching and compassionate, but it's rather incomplete for my taste. There's a lot of filmography that is only mentioned in a list on the appendix. I understand many of the information might be missing because of a rights issue, but for God's sake, at least mention those movies in the text. Otherwise it looks like Oliver Reed was in about thirty films.

[Ronnie, · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Legend, A Hero, A Talent.
It's so sad when people hear the name Oliver Reed they think of alcohol. These people are wrong, He was one of the most cleverest kindest people to have ever entered the Film industry. A fabulous book,

[Brian Haining · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prior to reading this biography, I was aware of Oliver Reed through his portrayal of Bill Sykes in Oliver, the controversy about the film Women in Love, and of course through his drinking exploits.

I was interested in hearing about his chaotic upbringing during the war and the separation of his parents and subsequent issues at numerous schools.

I had a sense of sadness when the book covered his acting career, in that he was a charismatic actor and appeared in big films by the late '60's however his career appeared to fade away where he often appeared in obscure films and somehow didn't fulfill his potential.

His private life was something else! He didn't appear capable of a quiet night out, had little regard for his own health, safety of that of others. I would have felt nervous having a night out with him. Fitting that he died quickly in a pub during a heavy, competitive drinking session.

Very strange man and an interesting read

[Darla Ebert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thankfully, this biography of a talented actor is NOT about real evil spirits. The hint is more at the man Reed would become due to his alcoholism. As with so many artistic people, substance abuse ends the life way too soon. I recall one of Oliver Reed's earliest movies. Though he was mainly a co-star, I never forgot his performance. The movie came out in 1965 when I was a little girl and I watched a repeat a couple of years later. And so for many many years the solitary character as conceived by Reed has remained in my memory as authentic and chilling.

[Keith CARTER · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book about a great actor but ultimately a flawed human being. This book shows how Oliver played up to the public view of him, acting the drunken obnoxious boor. However, Oliver was a shy kind man who hid behind the hellraiser. But there is no doubt he could raise Cain when the devil took him, his friends like Keith Moon, etc made sure Oliver became infamous as well as famous. Definitely a recommended read.

[Rosemary Hazard · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a tortured soul; an actor of true talent with numerous inner demons and his struggle which led to an oh too early and senseless death. Oliver Reed was a very manly man, perhaps born too late to fit in the modern world but remarkably talented in several roles, destined for more, but lost in drink.

[Dan Strickland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A life truly lived here. He was much more than the hard drinking rabblerouser the media would have you believe. That said chapter 13 is something of legend, all to do with Reed and Keith Moons escapades. They don't make them like these guys anymore.

[Leo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Only a few pages in but already the author is describing scenes as though he were there, such as, 'The driver looked over his shoulder,' or, 'The train was half full.' This kind of silly embellishment means that sadly I won't be able to enjoy the book.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

The real life Jekyll and Hyde when he was good and sober he was kin d considerate and devoted to Animals
After a drink the Hyde side would come out he was violent, rude vile, arrogant and abusive and a danger to women!
Very interesting account of his life warts and all!

[S.K. Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading about his life and acting career.
I would recommend this book.

[James Fountain · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilarious romp through the life of a true entertainer and highly underrated actor. I loved the journey and the stories.

[Beattie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inherently interesting as it is about an interesting man, however I found it bitty and choppy and not particularly formatted well after the first few chapters.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, Oliver Reed, you were my second celebrity crush as a young girl, right after Marlon Brando in "The Wild One." A unique and forceful onscreen presence, this book fleshes out Reed's private life in an unflinching and surprisingly warm portrait of a hell-raising and hell-bent on self-destructing actor who died predictably but much too soon. A delight to watch in just about every movie he was in, his personal life was often a train wreck, but always lived on his own terms. As a lifelong fan, I found this painful to read. When the inevitable end approaches, you can't help but wish that someone would miraculously yank him back off the precipice just one more time. But of course, they can't. And don't.

[Stuart Chambers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't want to read this book. I didn't think it would come remotely close to Reed All About Me, penned by the man himself, and yet it did. The book was incredibly well written from cover to cover and I learnt allot about Oliver Reed that I genuinely didn't know !!! A very good book indeed about a man who didn't fit in and didn't want to fit in and of course I can associate with all of that : )

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned that I have a deep love for Oliver Reed.

[Tony Sacre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah my kinda guy!

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oliver Reed was a wonderfully crazy, drunken, sexy, jerk. And this was one of the most interesting biographies I have ever read.

[David]

You have to read this!

[Jem Wilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super character the book was always going to be good

[James Gent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a sad little book, really.