Biography
Jack Birkett (1934–2010) was a British actor, dancer, mime artist and singer, often billed as Orlando or The Incredible Orlando. He was a leading performer with Lindsay Kemp’s theatre company from the 1960s and appeared in several films directed by Derek Jarman.
His film roles include Borgia Ginz in Jubilee (1978), Caliban in The Tempest (1979), the Blind Man in The Bride (1985), the Pope in Caravaggio (1986) and Pontius in The Garden (1990). He also appeared in Jonathan Miller’s television production of Troilus and Cressida (1981). Birkett began to lose his sight in 1966 and was completely blind for the later part of his career. He retired from performing in the 1990s and died in London on 10 May 2010.
