Kevin Billington
A deft director of intimate human collisions, he captured the quiet desperation of a crumbling marriage in 'The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer'.
1934–2021 (age 87)·British film director·Birthday: June 12·The Silent Generation
Biography
Kevin Billington's career was a study in understated, intelligent craftsmanship across stage and screen. Emerging from British television in the 1960s, he directed sharp plays and documentaries before making his cinematic mark with 'The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer', a prescient political satire co-written by Peter Cook and John Cleese. The film showcased Billington's talent for handling acerbic comedy and complex character dynamics. His most celebrated work, 'Interlude', was a lush, melancholic drama about an affair, noted for its emotional precision and the chemistry between its leads, Oskar Werner and Barbara Ferris. While he never sought the flash of an auteur, Billington built a respected body of work characterized by strong performances and clean, narrative-driven direction, moving seamlessly between television films, series like 'Reilly, Ace of Spies', and the occasional theatrical feature, always prioritizing the story's human core.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Kevin was born in 1934, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kevin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1934
#1 Movie
It Happened One Night
Best Picture
It Happened One Night
Kevin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1934Born
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1939Started school
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1947Became a teenager
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1950Could drive
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1952Could vote
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1955Turned 21
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1964Turned 30
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 40
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 50
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 60
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 70
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 80
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2021Died at 87
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
Key Achievements
- Directed the film 'Interlude', a critically praised drama about a doomed love affair, starring Oskar Werner and Barbara Ferris.
- Helmed the political satire 'The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer', a cult classic co-written by Peter Cook.
- Directed numerous productions for British television, including episodes of the acclaimed series 'Reilly, Ace of Spies'.
- His 1969 film 'The Last Grenade' was a war thriller starring Stanley Baker and Honor Blackman.
Did You Know?
He was married to actress Barbara Ferris, who starred in his film 'Interlude'.
Before directing, he worked as a trainee at the BBC and directed episodes of the popular series 'The Avengers'.
His brother was the film editor and director Richard Billington.
He directed a television adaptation of 'The Greek Tycoon' in 1981.
“A good satire should be so close to the truth it makes you nervous.”
