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| Zulu actor Ivor Emmanuel dies, 80 | Zulu actor Ivor Emmanuel dies, 80 |
| (3 days later) | |
| Ivor Emmanuel, renowned for his rendition of Welsh song Men of Harlech in the classic film Zulu, has died. | Ivor Emmanuel, renowned for his rendition of Welsh song Men of Harlech in the classic film Zulu, has died. |
| He was born in 1927, in Pontrhydyfen, near Port Talbot, the same village as fellow actor Richard Burton. | He was born in 1927, in Pontrhydyfen, near Port Talbot, the same village as fellow actor Richard Burton. |
| The Hollywood star helped give him his theatrical break, and he became a popular TV name in the 1950s. | The Hollywood star helped give him his theatrical break, and he became a popular TV name in the 1950s. |
| He will probably be best remembered for 1964's Zulu, showing the British Army, many of them Welsh, defying an attack at Rorke's Drift in South Africa. | He will probably be best remembered for 1964's Zulu, showing the British Army, many of them Welsh, defying an attack at Rorke's Drift in South Africa. |
| Roles on Broadway followed and he made guest appearances on shows such as Morecombe and Wise and Benny Hill. | Roles on Broadway followed and he made guest appearances on shows such as Morecombe and Wise and Benny Hill. |
| Emmanuel began his working life in the mines and steelworks of south Wales after a stray German bomb killed his father, mother and sister during World War II. | Emmanuel began his working life in the mines and steelworks of south Wales after a stray German bomb killed his father, mother and sister during World War II. |
| At the age of 20 he unsuccessfully auditioned for the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. | At the age of 20 he unsuccessfully auditioned for the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. |
| It was Ivor who held Zulu together - he was the lynchpin Ellen Baker, widow of Zulu star and producer Stanley Baker | It was Ivor who held Zulu together - he was the lynchpin Ellen Baker, widow of Zulu star and producer Stanley Baker |
| Not long after, Richard Burton, who was two years older, helped him win a part in Oklahoma in London's West End, which launched his career. | Not long after, Richard Burton, who was two years older, helped him win a part in Oklahoma in London's West End, which launched his career. |
| A leading role in the Welsh language music programme Gwlad y Gan (Land of Song) in the late 1950s helped give him a large following. | |
| But to modern audiences he will probably be best remembered for the film Zulu which dramatised the 1879 battle for Rorke's Drift. | But to modern audiences he will probably be best remembered for the film Zulu which dramatised the 1879 battle for Rorke's Drift. |
| At a crucial moment, as the British troops wait for another onslaught, he leads them in a stirring performance of Men of Harlech to counteract the Zulu war chants. | At a crucial moment, as the British troops wait for another onslaught, he leads them in a stirring performance of Men of Harlech to counteract the Zulu war chants. |
| The film was produced by and starred fellow Welshman Stanley Baker, whose widow Ellen said: "It is a terribly sad day. | The film was produced by and starred fellow Welshman Stanley Baker, whose widow Ellen said: "It is a terribly sad day. |
| "It was Ivor who held Zulu together - he was the lynchpin and I just adored him. He was the sweetest most gentle man." | "It was Ivor who held Zulu together - he was the lynchpin and I just adored him. He was the sweetest most gentle man." |
| Richard Burton's niece Sian Owen said: "He was renowned for his voice. | Richard Burton's niece Sian Owen said: "He was renowned for his voice. |
| "It was amazing with Ivor - even though he was a big star in his own right he never really realised it, which is what made him even more charming." | "It was amazing with Ivor - even though he was a big star in his own right he never really realised it, which is what made him even more charming." |