English actor Oliver Reed was one of Britain’s most magnetic screen presences, celebrated worldwide for his commanding performances in films like 'Oliver!' (1968), 'Women in Love' (1969), and later 'Gladiator' (2000). At the height of his career in the 1970s, he ranked among the most popular stars at the British box office, admired for his rugged charisma and intensity that translated across international audiences.
But Reed was equally infamous for his hard-drinking lifestyle, a reputation that often overshadowed his artistry. Over four decades, his off-screen antics became as legendary as his performances, and when he collapsed in a Maltese pub in May 1999 during the filming of Ridley Scott's 'Gladiator,' many felt the tragic end was inevitable.
Reed’s story is one of brilliance and excess, a legend forged on screen and undone in life. Step inside the gallery to explore the highs, the heartbreaks, his lifelong battle with addiction, and the legacy he left behind.