I don't think it really matters what the actor looks like, seeing as it's Death and you should only be able to see a skeleton anyway. I suppose you could get anyone with a reasonably clear deepish voice to speak into a bucket while standing in a cave for the right effect.

[quote:da32f7faf1="Maljonic"]I suppose you could get anyone with a reasonably clear deepish voice to speak into a bucket while standing in a cave for the right effect. [/quote:da32f7faf1]

Lol! What a cool job for an actor!

Not very up on actors, but I've alway had my own clear idea of death. And the Patrician for that matter.

Death to me is a middle sized skeleton (sompared to a human) with more of a bleach bone/creamy complexion. He doesnt have the grinning skull face, because that would ruin his image. I always Imagined you could see only a bit of his face at a time. His eyes arnt so much glowing as deep..and his mood makes him seem impartial, yet at times he tries. Also..It seems to me he has a few different voices. The BIG BOOMING death voice for when he wants to scare you/make a point, and the softer, kind of raspy booming voice for his regualar talk...more in the tone and loudness differance then in the actual depth and clarity.

The patrician would have to be somebody skinny and pale. Intelligent eyes, an impassive face, and an altogether image of a guy who could eat you alive at any moment...The way he talks and stares makes you feel like a mouse being grinned at by a hungry cat. Not a greaser by any means...more of a finely dressed down to earth guy. Definately not the fancy ribbons and lace pompous idiot either. Very simple..yet very commanding. Kind of like a toned down assasin *wink*

What about Tom Baker?

I've always thought as death as being (obviously) a skeleton who speaks in a thick thrummy humm that you can't understand, and there would be subtitles in CAPS, so there would be no actor for Death, just a sound design team. The subtitles would also help translate a lot of death's humor to the screen.

Thats a cool idea Zisteau, seeing as Death never really spoke did he and like you say lots of his jokes are in the way it's written. The only thing is... would it get anoying having to read it all the time rather than concentrating with what was going on the screen? Plus it could be confusing because how would the characters hear death?

I dont know anything about them actors so I will just go along with your judgement....

[quote:e627ea4e53="Wizzard"]Death to me is a middle sized skeleton (sompared to a human) with more of a bleach bone/creamy complexion. He doesnt have the grinning skull face, because that would ruin his image. [/quote:e627ea4e53]

I would have gone for a larger skeleton, something more intimidating and I could not imagine him without the grin. In many ways this is part of his personality.

[quote:e627ea4e53]I always Imagined you could see only a bit of his face at a time. His eyes arnt so much glowing as deep..and his mood makes him seem impartial, yet at times he tries.[/quote:e627ea4e53]

I like the idea of only seing a bit of his face at a time, as in we can only focus on one aspect of his physical appearance at a time as he is part of our imagineation, not sure how this would work on the big screen. The eyes, definitely. Glowing for me is a little unrealistic. Almost a shiny black colour that implies there is more hidden.

[quote:e627ea4e53]Also..It seems to me he has a few different voices. The BIG BOOMING death voice for when he wants to scare you/make a point, and the softer, kind of raspy booming voice for his regualar talk...more in the tone and loudness differance then in the actual depth and clarity. [/quote:e627ea4e53]

I'm not sure about the voice, it would have to be someone who coud throw his voice well but still sound the same person. I think it would be essential he sounded completely human as though he is mimiking the style.

In other words...I think the only death that would work is on in CGI Otherwise I just can't see make up and costumes pulling of the right effect.

I doubt any passably good Discworld movie could be made. What ever is done with Death would be a total travesty. I think Ian Mckellen could be an almost good Patrician when he was younger, but I don’t know who I’d chose for the role now…maybe if he got a bit of plastic surgery.

I think Death could be done right in a movie, just as long as don’t change his character to be more “menacing” or something like that. Now that I think of it Ian McKellen would be interesting as Death.

[quote:0fbb33d6df="fairyliquid"][quote:0fbb33d6df="Wizzard"]Death to me is a middle sized skeleton (sompared to a human) with more of a bleach bone/creamy complexion. He doesnt have the grinning skull face, because that would ruin his image. [/quote:0fbb33d6df]

I would have gone for a larger skeleton, something more intimidating and I could not imagine him without the grin. In many ways this is part of his personality. [/quote:0fbb33d6df]

I'm pretty sure that Death is described as being 7' tall in one of the earlier books.
As for his voice, it's a hard call but I think Brad Garrett (Robert - Everybody Loves Raymond) would be good.

Think about the last sequence in Monty Python's The Meaning of Life - I think John Cleese would make an ideal Discworld Death - this shows that he can do the obvious "menacing" bit that the character is based on, but he has the versatility to show the other aspects of the character - some of the bewilderment of Basil Fawlty that others around him are not seeing the world the way that he does would work very well for Death.

I think that we have to remember DEATH's deadpan style. Ideally a cross between Brian Blessed's tone and Jack Dee's emotionless delivery.

i devanatly think Cristerfer lee could play Death because on the anamted moves of "Weryd Sisters" and "Soul Music" his was brillant as the voce of Deth but the big question is who would play Susen? or lobsang?

[color=violet:04a3183727]I really love Bill Nighy, he is a fab actor, but I don't think he is my 'Death' - especially not the voice. I'm not entirely sure anyone who is already known could pull it off - a new face would be better IMO.


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patrick stewarts voice is completly wrong death should be computer animated (to get the eyes right...there is no other way) with the voice they use in the games. Of the choices christopher lee would be the best though.