Alcoholism killed: British actress

Press, 11 October 1982, Page 18

Alcoholism killed: British actress

NZPA London The stage and screen star, Vivien Merchant, former wife of the playwright, Harold Pinter, died" from chronic alcoholism, a coroner has ruled.

"Tragically, this lady drank herself to death." said the Southwark, south London Coroner, Dr David Vernon Foster.

“The pathological report shows quite clearly there were no other cause's."

A post-mortem examination showed she had a severe degree of jaundice and had suffered internal bleeding as a result of drinking, Dr Foster said.

Miss Merchant. 53. died at King's College Hospital. Miss Merchant, born Ada Thompson in Manchester, married Mr Pinter in 1956 when both were struggling provincial stock company ac-

tors. She rose to national fame in the early 1960 s playing the leads in Mr Pinter's plays, "The Room,” “The Homecoming." "The Lover”’ and "Tea Party."

The couple were divorced in 1980 but Miss Merchant held up Mr Pinter's remarriage proceedings to the writer and socialite. Lady Antonia Fraser, for six weeks by refusing to sign the divorce papers. Miss Merchant made her stage debut in 1945 at the age of 14, playing a little girl in a production of “Jane Eyre." She later played with the Royal, Shakespeare Company for several seasons. She played in the movie. "Alfie." w'ith Michael Caine in 1966 and was nominated for an Academy Award. She also appeared in "Accident" in 1967 and Alfred Hitchcock’s “Frenzy" in 1972.