Nicknamed the ‘Queen of Crime’, Agatha Christie had released more than 60 novels during the long span of her career.
While the witty old Miss Marple is immensely popular among the readers of Agatha Christie, it’s Hercule Poirot that will go down in history as one of the most popular and cleverly written detectives of all time.
Considering the success that Agatha Christie’s books achieved, it’s no wonder that many of her novels have been televised on the big screens.
This series is considered by many a brilliant piece of art, but it wouldn’t achieve nearly as much success if it weren’t for David Suchet, the man who played the role of Poirot for many years and basically brought him to life for the viewers.
So how long did David Suchet play Poirot exactly and when did he stop?
When did he stop playing Poirot?
The “Poirot” series aired from 1989 to 2013, which means David Suchet stopped playing Poirot at that time, when his character died in the final episode.
In one interview, David opened up about his legendary role; he said that filming Hercule Poirot’s death was “one of the saddest and most difficult moments in his life”.
Considering that he played the character for more than two decades, it’s no wonder that the ending hit very close to home.
Sir David knew that he would be emotional and his only request was not to film the death scene last.
To this day, even 9 years after the final episode aired, families all across the world still love to watch the legendary detective as he solves the mysteries in his own unique way, using his “small grey cells”.
Sir David Suchet is now 75 years old and is enjoying his well-deserved retirement with his family, solving the ‘mysteries’ of ordinary life.
Why Did Suchet Stop Playing Poirot?
David Suchet’s decision to stop playing Poirot, despite being offered to continue with non-Agatha Christie stories, showcases his dedication to the original character and respect for the author’s work.
Suchet felt that after 25 years of portraying Agatha Christie’s Poirot, it was time to move on and not risk diluting the legacy of the character by extending it beyond the author’s original stories.
His decision to quit while he was ahead demonstrated his commitment to preserving the integrity of the character and the series.
In an interview for the Graham Norton Show, David revealed he was asked to continue playing, but he turned it down.
“I was actually offered to continue doing Poirot, but not with stories by Agatha Christie. “I had to think about that for a long time. And you know what? I was Agatha Christie’s Poirot, and I thought to myself, ‘25 years. Let’s quit while your head.’” He said.
“If it started to go sour, that would have been dreadful. And it was a hard decision, but I know it was the right one.” – David added.
Speaking on This Morning TV show, ruled out reprising Hercule Poirot’s role. “I have to say, I don’t know because of my age whether I might be too old now. If the silver screen did come along, I might be tempted.” – he explained.
Conclusion
David Suchet stopped playing Hercule Poirot after completing the entire series of adaptations of Agatha Christie’s stories featuring the Belgian detective. Suchet portrayed the character in the British television series “Agatha Christie’s Poirot” from 1989 to 2013.
Over the 24-year run, the series adapted all of the original Hercule Poirot novels and short stories by Christie. The final episode, titled “Curtain: Poirot’s Last Case,” was aired in 2013, marking the end of Suchet’s iconic portrayal of the character.
Since he had brought to life every one of Poirot’s stories, there was no further material to continue the series. After a long and successful career as Hercule Poirot, David Suchet decided to move on to other acting opportunities and projects.
