''King of Texas'' is a 2002 American

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

television film based on

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

's ''

King Lear ''King Lear'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his power and land between two of his daughters. He becomes destitute and insane ...

'' and directed by

Uli Edel Ulrich "Uli" Edel (; born 11 April 1947) is a German film and television director, best known for his work on films such as ''Last Exit to Brooklyn'' and '' Body of Evidence.'' His '' Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny'' won a Golden Globe for ...

Plot

The film takes the plot of

's ''

'' and places it in the Republic of Texas during the 19th century.

Patrick Stewart Sir Patrick Stewart (born 13 July 1940) is an English actor who has a career spanning seven decades in various stage productions, television, film and video games. He has been nominated for Olivier, Tony, Golden Globe, Emmy, and Screen Actors ...

stars as John Lear, a wealthy

cattle baron Cattle baron is a historic term for a local businessman and landowner who possessed great power or influence through the operation of a large ranch with many beef cattle. Cattle barons in the late 19th century United States were also sometimes re ...

and analog to King Lear. In the story, Lear divides his property among his daughters, only to be rejected by the eldest two of them once they have it.

Cast

as John Lear (King Lear) *

Marcia Gay Harden Marcia Gay Harden (born August 14, 1959) is an American actress. She is the recipient of accolades including an Academy Award and a Tony Award, in addition to nominations for a Critics' Choice Movie Award and three Primetime Emmy Awards. Born ...

as Mrs. Susannah Lear Tumlinson (Goneril) *

Lauren Holly Lauren Holly (born October 28, 1963) is an American actress. She has played the roles of Deputy Sheriff Maxine Stewart in the television series ''Picket Fences'', NCIS Director Jenny Shepard in the series '' NCIS'', Dr. Betty Rogers on '' Motiv ...

as Mrs. Rebecca Lear Highsmith (Regan) *

Roy Scheider Roy Richard Scheider (; November 10, 1932 – February 10, 2008) was an American actor and amateur boxer. Described by AllMovie as "one of the most unique and distinguished of all Hollywood actors", he gained fame for his leading and supporting ...

as Henry Westover (Earl of Gloucester) * David Alan Grier as Rip (amalgam of Earl "Caius" of Kent and The Fool) * Colm Meaney as Henry Tumlinson (Duke of Albany) *

Patrick Bergin Patrick Connolly Bergin (born 4 February 1951) is an Irish actor and singer perhaps best known for his leading role opposite Julia Roberts in '' Sleeping with the Enemy'' (1991), the title character in Robin Hood (1991 film), terrorist Kevin ...

as Mr. Highsmith (Duke of Cornwall) *

Matt Letscher Matthew Letscher is an American actor, director and playwright, known for his roles as Captain Harrison Love in the 1998 American swashbuckler film ''The Mask of Zorro'' and as Colonel Adelbert Ames in the 2003 American film '' Gods and General ...

as Emmett Westover (Edmund of Gloucester) *

Liam Waite Liam Waite (born Liam Owen East; March 20, 1971) is an American actor. He is the stepson of Ralph Waite. He is known for portraying a Mars Police Force Officer in John Carpenter's ‘’Ghost of Mars’’ & portraying a father figure in televis ...

as Thomas Westover (Edgar of Gloucester) * Steven Bauer as Menchaca (King of France) *

Julie Cox Julie Cox is an English actress. She played Princess Irulan in the Sci Fi Channel's 2000 miniseries ''Frank Herbert's Dune'' and its 2003 sequel, ''Frank Herbert's Children of Dune''. She also played The Childlike Empress in ''The Neverending ...

as Claudia Lear (Cordelia) *

Richard Lineback Richard D. Lineback (born February 4, 1952) is an American actor who appeared in the films ''Speed'', ''Twister'' and '' Varsity Blues''. He played Deputy Dodd in '' Friday the 13th: A New Beginning''. Lineback has appeared in many roles on the ...

as Warnell (Oswald) *

Roger Cudney Roger Cudney (June 22, 1936 – July 5, 2021) was an American actor, singer, dubbing director, radio and television announcer. Biography Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Cudney was known for starring in numerous Mexican films and telenovelas in which he ...

as Smithwick

Awards and nominations

Satellite Award The Satellite Awards are annual awards given by the International Press Academy that are commonly noted in entertainment industry journals and blogs. The awards were originally known as the Golden Satellite Awards. The award ceremonies take place ...

*Nominated, '' Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television'' - Patrick Stewart *Nominated, '' Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television'' - Roy Scheider *Nominated, '' Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television'' - Marcia Gay Harden Western Heritage Awards *Won, ''Best Television Feature Film''

References

External links

* * * 2002 television films 2002 films 2002 Western (genre) films American Western (genre) television films Films based on King Lear Films directed by Uli Edel Films set in Texas Films shot in Mexico Modern adaptations of works by William Shakespeare TNT Network original films 2000s English-language films {{US-tv-film-stub