Isolated by ortons success, halliwell had turned turned to drugs and. Fifty years ago the playwright joe orton was bludgeoned to death by his boyfriend at the peak. Kenneth leith halliwell 23 june 1926 9 august 1967 was a british actor, writer and collagist. Often clad from head to foot in black leather, joe revelled in lowlife sleaze, constantly cruising the redlight. When he meets halliwell at the royal academy of dramatic art they are both acting students, it is the bettereducated halliwell who teaches joe about literature and art. In 1962 aspiring writer joe orton 193367 and his partner and mentor kenneth halliwell 192667 were each sentenced to six months imprisonment for malicious damage to. On 9 august 1967, kenneth halliwell bludgeoned 34yearold orton to death at their home in islington, london with nine hammer blows to the head, and then. They were found guilty and each sentenced to six months imprisonment for their elaborate literary prank. Halliwell were each sentenced to six months imprisonment for.
Malicious damage orton and halliwell islington council. Playwright joe orton was murdered by his gay lover kenneth halliwell at their north london home in 1967. Joe orton was battered round the head nine times with a hammer by his lover the murderer, kenneth halliwell, then killed himself after the. Library book covers defaced by joe orton and kenneth halliwell.
The life of joe orton,and his partner, kenneth halliwell. Why i blame myself for the murder of sixties playwright. Fifty years after joe ortons murder, why is his sister still looking for. Who was kenneth halliwell, when did he kill joe orton and. Joe ortons boyfriend, kenneth halliwell ended up murdering the man he supposedly loved and committing suicide the same day. Read about the library books defaced by joe and kenneth here islington local history centre holds the full collection of books defaced by joe orton and kenneth halliwell. Joe orton defaced book cover prints go on sale bbc news.
Why i blame myself for the murder of sixties playwright joe orton, by. Police came to the door of joe orton, the man who would one day be one of the most famous playwrights in the united kingdom, and his partner kenneth halliwell s onebedroom apartment at 9 a. He was the mentor, boyfriend and murderer of playwright joe orton. He was the mentor, partner and the eventual murderer of playwright joe orton.
The life and crimes of kenneth halliwell and joe orton, by simon shepherd, it is clear that halliwell was a tragic, tortured individual, more on account of his sexuality. Halliwell, who feared orton had been planning to leave him, then took a fatal overdose. Documentary on the playwright joe orton who was murdered by his boyfriend kenneth halliwell in 1967. In 1962 aspiring writer joe orton and his partner and mentor kenneth. Because were queers life and times of kenneth halliwell. For more details on visiting the centre call 020 7527 7988 or email. Fifty years since his murder at the hands of his lover kenneth halliwell, the film charts joe s brief meteoric rise and tragic demise, and. A successful playwright was murdered in his prime by his jealous gay lover. Kenneth halliwell murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers. Kenneth halliwell born in 1926, died august 9, 1967 was a british actor and writer.
A show celebrating queer art at londons tate britain includes examples of library books defaced by the british playwright joe orton and his lover, kenneth halliwell, for which both were jailed. Joes plays include loot,entertaining mr sloane, ruffian on the stair. Both men were struggling actors who became struggling writers. Library dust jackets altered with surreal jokes, which saw playwright joe orton and his boyfriend kenneth halliwell serve six months in prison in the 1960s are finally seeing the light of day. Orton met kenneth halliwell at rada in 1951 and moved into a west hampstead flat with him and two other students in june of that year. After winning a scholarship to rada in 1951, he met kenneth halliwell, an actor and writer seven years his senior. Joe ortens life came to a tragic end when he was just 34 years old after boyfriend kenneth halliwell discovered he had. In january 1959, joe orton and kenneth halliwell began their campaign of theft.
In 1962 aspiring writer joe orton 193367 and his partner and mentor kenneth halliwell 192667 were each sentenced to six months imprisonment for malicious damage to islington public library books. Joe orton was played by the actor kenny doughty in the 2006 bbc film kenneth williams. The rebellious leicesterborn playwright was jailed after he and his partner kenneth halliwell vandalised books at a library in islington. John kingsley orton 1 january 1933 9 august 1967, known under the pen name of joe. On august 9 1967, joe orton was struck nine times with a hammer by his lover, kenneth halliwell, in their islington flat.
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