Kenneth Halliwell

Kenneth Halliwell (1926? - August 9 1967) was raised in a somewhat split household. Basically ignored by his father, and coddled by his mum, it was a great negative turning point in his life when his mum died while Ken was quite young. Quite alone at this point, his life continued to be rather banal until, at the age of 18, he found his father dead with his head in a gas oven. He performed a few everyday activites, then called the ambulance.

Related Topics:
1926 - August 9 - 1967

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It was, then, at RADA he met the person who would make his name as recognisable as it was going to get, Joe Orton. Both struggling actors (without great talent) as well as struggling writers (obviously better here), they had things in common that lead to the beginning of their relationship. Kenneth, in those early years, seems to be a tutor of sorts to Joe, who hadn't really pursued writing, and seriously helped to mold the term 'Ortonesque'. (They collaborated on several things, as well, such as a novel called "The Boy Hairdresser", which wasn't published until after their deaths.)

Related Topics:
RADA - Joe Orton

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The reason for Halliwell's 'breakdown' is looked upon, generally, as jealousy at one thing or another. Whatever it was, it was serious as all hell, because one night he just could not take it anymore, and did an act so absolutely gruesome, so perfectly Ortonesque, it provides Halliwell with a slightly recognisable name and adds another author to a series of tragic gay stories.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He killed Joe by 9 blows with a hammer, then poisoned himself shorty afterwords. Despite the violence of the murder, it was Ken who actually died first.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~