Trivia

In preparing for his role of Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire (1981), Charleson read the Bible from beginning to end.

He appeared in two Best Picture Academy Award winners in consecutive years: Chariots of Fire (1981) and Cuộc Đời Gandhi (1982).

Sir Ian McKellen said that Charleson played "Hamlet" so well it was as if he had rehearsed the role all his life. Charleson had taken over the role, at very short notice, after Daniel Day Lewis suddenly walked out of the production after claiming he had a disturbing, supernatural experience on stage where he saw the ghost of his dead father, Cecil Day Lewis.

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.

He appeared in two Best Picture Academy Award winners: Chariots of Fire (1981) and Cuộc Đời Gandhi (1982). John Gielgud and Richard Griffiths also appeared in both films.