Actor and writer Colin Welland, who famously told Hollywood "the British are coming" when he won an Academy Award for "Chariots of Fire," has died. He was 81.
His family said in a statement Tuesday that Welland, who had Alzheimer's disease, died peacefully in his sleep late Monday.
Welland's long acting career included TV cop shows "Z-Cars" and "The Sweeney," Sam Peckinpah thriller "Straw Dogs" and the role of a kindly teacher in Ken Loach's 1969 drama "Kes," about an unhappy boy who finds solace by training a kestrel.
His writing credits included British television dramas and the 1979 film "Yanks," with Vanessa Redgrave and Richard Gere, but his biggest success was "Chariots of Fire" in 1981.
The film was based on the true story of two British athletes at the 1924 Olympics: devout Christian Eric Liddell, who refused to compete on a Sunday, and Jewish sprinter Harold Abrahams, who faced prejudice from the British sporting world.
Combining nostalgia with grit and buoyed by Vangelis' catchy electronic score, it was an unexpected hit and took four Oscars in 1982, including best picture and best original screenplay.
Brandishing his statuette, Welland – optimistically, it turned out – quoted Paul Revere's legendary phrase: "The British are coming!"
Welland is survived by his wife Patricia, four children and six grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements were not immediately available.
Mike Pierantozzi joins Movers+Shakers as exec creative director
Creative agency Movers+Shakers has appointed Mike Pierantozzi as executive creative director. In this new role, he will help guide the creative direction of Movers+Shakers’ socially-native campaigns. Pierantozzi will report to co-founder and chief creative officer Geoffrey Goldberg.
With nearly two decades of experience as a copywriter, creative director, and multi-platform storyteller, Pierantozzi brings a wealth of knowledge from his work with major brands including Kraft, Unilever, IBM, and Walmart. He has led the creation of award-winning campaigns for agencies like Red Tettemer, Ogilvy, The Brooklyn Brothers, TAXI, Saatchi & Saatchi, and most recently, Vayner, where he spearheaded culturally iconic work for Planters including “Death of Mr. Peanut.” He led the National Down Syndrome Society and Luvs account, whose “First Kid. Second Kid” campaign was awarded by the Effies, ADC, Clios and LIAs.
Outside of the office, Pierantozzi practices what he teaches brands. He’s gone viral multiple times on his own TikTok account, featuring comedic interactions with his son and a trombone. He’s accumulated 15K followers on TikTok.
“Mike brings a rare and awesome combination of deep social and platform experience, a keen eye for excellent storytelling, and a humble and kind approach to leadership,” said Goldberg. “Mike’s got a knack for turning brand stories into cultural movements, making him the perfect fit for Movers+Shakers. He’s got the kind of bold vision and attention to culture that fits perfectly with our mission to push creative boundaries and drive industry firsts. Plus, as a creator himself he has the innate ability to make people stop, laugh, and share--which is exactly what we’re about.”
“I’ve... Read More