Philip Sayer (26 October 1946 – 19 September 1989), Year of 1958, started his acting career treading the boards in school productions, most notably in the female role in the school’s production of Shaw’s play, ‘The Devil’s Disciple’. Robin Holland, in TOD 26, recalled “the cringe-making memory I have was having to kiss the minister’s wife in front of the British general to convince him of my false identity. What an embarrassment for a sixth-former and a second-former to have to endure every rehearsal and every performance! Happily, the second-former (Phillip Sayer), who was probably the only performer with any real talent, went on to a glittering career as a professional actor”. Philip’s performance was so convincing that he was said to have made “such an attractive, convincing wife of Parson Anderson that a lady in the audience enquired of a member of staff from which of the local girls’ high schools we had borrowed her” (School Magazine, Vol 100).
Geoff Abbott, Year of ’58, remembers “being spellbound at Philip’s antics, his cheek mainly, and his talent and nerve! He could ‘flirt’ with staff and get away with it – Sir, can’t we study…… instead of this… etc”.
Philip left school after ‘O’ Levels to train as an actor and worked for stage, film and television. Appearances include:
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream (play 1972)
- Miss Julie(film, 1972)
- Adult Fun(film, 1972)
- The Rocky Horror Show (London stage show, 1974)
- Whodunnit? – Time to Dye (TV Series, 1976)
- Crown Court (TV Series, 1976)
- Sebastiane(film, 1976)
- Rock Follies of 77 (television 1977)
- Van der Valk – Man of Iron (TV Series, 1977)
- BBC2 Play of the Week – Oscar Wilde – Fearless Frank (TV Series, 1978)
- Play for Today – The After-Dinner Joke (TV Series, 1978)
- ITV Playhouse – The Reaper (TV series, 1979)
- Shoestring – The Mayfly Dance (TV Series, 1980)
- Afurika Monogatarik.a. The Green Horizon(film, 1980)
- ITV Playhouse – A Ferry Ride Away (TV Series, 1981)
- BBC2 Playhouse – Bobby Wants to Meet Me (TV Series, 1981)
- Xtro(film 1983)
- Slayground(film 1983)
- Shades of Darkness (TV series, 1983)
- Dead on Time (Short, 1983)
- The Hunger(1983), a horror film starting Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie, based on Whitley Strieber’s novel (see below)
- D.(1985)
- Inside Out (TV series, 1985)
- Arthur the King(TV Movie, 1985)
- Bluebell as Marcel Leibovici (television 1986)
- Shanghai Surprise(film, 1986)
- Floodtideas Dr Ramsey (television 1987–1988)
- Star Trapas Basil Underwood (TV Movie, 1988)
- Edens Lost (Swedish TV movie, 1991) (released after Sayer’s death)
After his death, Brian May (who had never met the actor) attended the memorial service and subsequently wrote the song “Just One Life” as a tribute.
Lyrics to Just One Life
I did not know you, our lives never touched
‘Til the day they gathered, to bid you farewell
And they painted your picture and as I looked around
I felt I saw you in the words and the sound
Your talent came flowing, through the stories they tell
And through the faces of those who loved you so well
Your life gave them a treasure, a piece of themselves
Something they carry, and still serves them well
Just one life, just one life, just one life
That is born, and is, and is gone, just one life
And I’m so glad to know you, as I know you now
Perhaps inside you, you were messed up like me
But to them you were whole and strong and a friend in their need
And what you left behind you and what swept over me
Says that your life’s work rolls on and on, a piece of eternity
Just one life, just one life, just one life
That is born, and is, and is gone, just one life
Did you ever have a chance to find out
What life is all about
I did not know you, our lives never touched
‘Til the day we gathered, to say our farewell
A Scholarship fund was set up at LAMDA in Philip’s memory. Sayer Clinics are named after and in his memory.