Character guide
Mordred
from Camelot
Mordred is King Arthur's illegitimate son and the schemer who brings down the Round Table in Camelot, Lerner and Loewe's 1960 musical.
- Show
- Camelot
- Broadway premiere
- 1960
- Role
- Supporting
- Music by
- Frederick Loewe
Mordred on stage vs screen
Broadway compared with the 1967 film
The film version of Mordred loses his big number. His solo, The Seven Deadly Virtues, sung on Broadway by Roddy McDowall (not a trained singer) and preserved on the original cast album, was cut from the 1967 film, even though David Hemmings, who played Mordred on screen, was the only classically trained singer among the film's principal cast.
His purpose is unchanged: Arthur's illegitimate son arrives to bring down the Round Table, and in the film he persuades Arthur to stay out hunting all night so that Lancelot and Guenevere can be caught together. Aaron Sorkin's revised book for the 2023 Broadway revival makes Morgan le Fay Mordred's mother.
Who is Mordred?
Mordred arrives at Camelot late in the story as Arthur's son from a past liaison, resentful at being kept from the court and determined to claim power for himself. He is charming and manipulative, using the court's own rules of justice against Arthur by publicly exposing the affair between Guenevere and Lancelot.
Unlike the show's other major characters, Mordred has no real loyalty to Camelot's ideals, and his cynicism serves as the direct counterforce to everything Arthur has tried to build, making him the engine of the kingdom's downfall.
Mordred's role in Camelot
Mordred is a supporting role built for a sharp character actor, defined by the sardonic number The Seven Deadly Virtues, in which he mocks the very ideals Arthur lives by. The part rewards wit and menace over vocal power, since Mordred's threat is intellectual and political rather than physical.
Roddy McDowall originated the role in 1960, bringing a slippery charm to the part, and it has remained a favorite role for actors who enjoy playing a clever, unapologetic villain.
Mordred: frequently asked questions
What show is Mordred from?
Mordred is a supporting character in Camelot, which opened in 1960.
Is Mordred a lead or supporting role?
Mordred is a supporting role, serving as the story's antagonist.
Who wrote the music for Camelot?
Frederick Loewe wrote the music, with Alan Jay Lerner writing the lyrics and book.
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