Sir Ian McKellen said that Charleson played "Hamlet" so well it was as if he had rehearsed the role all his life.
He died seven weeks after playing "Hamlet" in Richard Eyre's production at the Olivier Theatre.
His name was used posthumously for the Ian Charleson Awards, which have
been presented annually since 1991 to reward the best classical stage
performances by actors aged under 30.
Studied architecture at Edinburgh University, but apparently this area
was his weakest point: He once designed a model of a magnificent bridge
without foundations.
Close friend of David Rintoul. They met at Edinburgh University and became roommates during drama training in London.