Michell referred to him as "a natural shaman". Legacy Soon after Price's death, ballads commemorating him were composed and circulated throughout the local area for a number of years afterward. In 1896, an exhibition that commemorated his life was held in Cardiff, while a pamphlet biography of him was published to accompany it. A more significant biography of Price, written by Islwyn Nicholas, was published in 1940, entitled A Welsh Heretic. In 1947, the Cremation Society put up a plaque commemorating him in the town of Llantrisant, while a statue of him was unveiled in the town in 1982, depicting the doctor in his characteristic fox-skin headdress, arms outstretched. This was followed in 1992 when a memorial garden was named after him, and an exhibition about him opened in the town's visitor centre. In a 1966 book examining the history of Llantrisant, author Dillwyn Lewis described Price as being "one of the most controversial figures of modern times." The historian Ronald Hutton later described him as "both one of the most colourful characters in Welsh history, and one of the most remarkable in Victorian Britain" while his biographer Dean Powell considered him "the most notable individual in 19th century Wales". A commemorative green plaque was installed at Rudry Parish Hall in 2017 near Price's birthplace. In 2020, American actor Robert Downey Jr. cited Dr William Price as his inspiration for his portrayal of Dr Dolittle in the new Hollywood adaption Dolittle. Downey Jr. received harsh criticism for his Welsh accent: "... But when a Hollywood actor tries to do so in a Welsh accent inspired by a nudist Victorian druid, perhaps it's best that he doesn't speak at all." References Citations Sources External links William Price at 100 Welsh Heroes Ballad of the cremation of Dr William Price, 1893 Dr. Price of Llantrisant by Ap Idanfryn Price, William (1800–1893) at oxforddnb.com 1800 births 1893 deaths 19th-century Welsh medical doctors Anti-vivisectionists British anti-vaccination activists British modern pagans Chartists Cremation in the United Kingdom Neo-druids People from Caerphilly People from Llantrisant People from Machen People from Pontypridd Vegetarianism activists Welsh activists Welsh expatriates in France Welsh nationalists Welsh socialists