In the acclaimed 2005 HBO series, “Rome,” known for its raciness, grit and grime, it was English actor Kenneth Cranham who brought the series the requisite sense of sophistication and political intrigue.
Born in Scotland in 1944, Cranham has been a figure of film and stage nearly all his adult life. Early appearances included the British film “Oliver!” in 1968, and small roles on British television, including anthology series such as “Thirty-Minute Theater,” where he filled out episodes with bit parts, and later shows such as “Softly Softly,” and then “Z Cars” where he had a small recurring