6) Oliver Reed In Gladiator
Oliver Reed lived life decadently, and frequently inebriated. For almost all his adult life he was a heavy drinker, often embarking on marathon binging sessions with friends (he claimed to have drunk 106 pints of beer in two days prior to getting married to his second wife).
So, it was no surprise that he died midway through shooting Gladiator, from a heart attack that co-star Omid Djalili claimed was brought on by his partaking in a drinking competition.
Reed’s few remaining scenes were completed using the magic of CGI, stand-ins and a mannequin, but it doesn’t diminish from what is one of his finest performances ever.
As Proximo, the gladiator who long ago fought to win his freedom, Reed is tough, debonair and in moments – despite the occasionally ropey work CGI’ing him into the picture – quietly touching.