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1-50 of 284
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Joss Ackland, the distinguished English actor who has appeared in over 100 movies, scores of plays and a plethora of television programs in his six-decade career, was born Sidney Edmond Jocelyn Ackland on February 29, 1928, in North Kensington, London. After attending London's Central School of Speech and Drama, the 17-year-old Ackland made his professional stage debut in "The Hasty Heart" in 1945.
Although he first appeared on film in John Boulting's and Roy Boulting's Oscar-winning thriller Seven Days to Noon (1950) in an uncredited bit role, he made his credited debut in a supporting role in Vernon Sewell's Ghost Ship (1952). He would not again grace the big screen until the end of the decade. Instead, Ackland spent the latter half of the 1940s and the first half of the 1950s honing his craft in regional theatrical companies.
In 1955 he left the English stage behind and moved to Africa to manage a tea plantation, an experience that likely informed his heralded performance 20 years later in White Mischief (1987). In his two years in Africa he wrote plays and did service as a radio disc jockey. Upon his return to England in 1957, he joined the Old Vic company.
From 1962-64 he served as associate director of the Mermaid Theatre. Subsequently, his stage acting career primarily was in London's commercial West End theater, where he made a name for himself in musicals. He was distinguished as Captain Hook in the musical version of "Peter Pan" and as Juan Peron in "Evita". In the straight theater he was a memorable Falstaff in William Shakespeare's "Henry IV Parts 1 & 2" and as Captain Shotover in George Bernard Shaw's "Heartbreak House". In the 1960s Ackland began appearing more regularly in films, and his career as a movie character actor picked up rapidly in the 1970s and began to flourish in the 1980s. It has shown little sign of abating in the 21st century, even though he's well into his 70s.
In addition to his performance in "White Mischief", among his more notable turns as an actor before the camera came in the BBC-TV production of Shadowlands (1986), in which he played 'C.S. Lewis', and in Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) as the ruthless South African heavy, Arjen Rudd.
He is the father of seven children, whom he listed as his "hobby" in a 1981 interview. On December 31, 2000, Joss Ackland was named a Commander of the British Empire on the New Year's Honours List for his 50 years of service to the English stage, cinema and television.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Cathryn Harrison was born on 25 May 1959 in London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Black Moon (1975), Images (1972) and The Dresser (1983). She was married to Paul Laing. She died on 1 October 2018 in Plymouth, Devon, England, UK.- Danny Schiller was born on 29 April 1935 in Hendon, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Erik the Viking (1989), Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978) and Lorna Doone (1976). He died on 8 May 2003 in Devon, England, UK.
- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Soundtrack
Noel Harrison was born on 29 January 1934 in London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (1966), The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) and The Citadel (1960). He was married to Margaret Benson, Sara Lee Eberts Tufnell and Lori Chapman. He died on 19 October 2013 in Devon, England, UK.- Actor
- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Drewe Henley was born in 1940 in Malvern, Worcestershire, England, UK. He was an actor and director, known for Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977), Space: 1999 (1975) and Wuthering Heights (1967). He was married to Linda Lee Henley, Felicity Kendal and Jacqueline Pearce. He died on 14 February 2016 in Exeter, Devon, England, UK.- Actor
- Writer
Reg Varney was born on 11 July 1916 in Canning Town, London, England, UK. He was an actor and writer, known for Holiday on the Buses (1973), Down the 'Gate (1975) and The Best Pair of Legs in the Business (1973). He was married to Lilian Emma Flavell. He died on 16 November 2008 in Budleigh Salterton, Devon, England, UK.- Music Department
- Sound Department
- Soundtrack
Eric Arthur Tomlinson was born in Preston, Lancashire, on 8 January 1931. Whilst working as an aeronautical engineer for Fairey Aviation Company, he became interested in recording sound and music. After working on jazz albums with the likes of John Dankworth, he moved to film music, recording the James Bond theme for Dr. No (1962). Over the years, whilst working at EMI's Abbey Road studios he recorded such film soundtracks as Amadeus (1984), Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) and Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) in addition to working alongside composers including Burt Bacharach and recording Frank Sinatra's only album not to have been made in America. Eric retired in the mid-1990s, living with his second wife Joy in Devon, where he died on 24 November 2015.- Actor
- Composer
Hugh Sinclair was born on 19 May 1903 in St George Hanover Square, London, England, UK. He was an actor and composer, known for The Saint's Vacation (1941), The Saint Meets the Tiger (1941) and The Secret Four (1939). He was married to Mary Rosalie Williams and Valerie Taylor. He died on 29 December 1962 in Slapton, Devon, England, UK.- David Ellison was born in 1939 in Stalybridge, Lancashire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Juliet Bravo (1980), The Franchise Affair (1988) and Stanley's Dragon (1994). He died on 10 June 2010 in Beer, Devon, England, UK.
- Martin Wyldeck was born on 11 January 1914 in Warwickshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Swizzlewick (1964), Night Must Fall (1964) and Rob Roy (1961). He was married to Betty Clayton. He died on 29 April 1988 in Exeter, Devon, England, UK.
- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Director
Dick Bush was born on 2 December 1931. He was a cinematographer and director, known for Sorcerer (1977), Victor/Victoria (1982) and The Philadelphia Experiment (1984). He died on 4 August 1997 in Devon, England, UK.- Ian Wilson was born on 2 July 1901 in Hampstead, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Wicker Man (1973), The Good Companions (1957) and The Day of the Triffids (1963). He died in December 1987 in Exeter, Devon, England, UK.
- Writer
- Script and Continuity Department
Leigh Jackson was born on 15 July 1950 in Shortlands, Kent, England, UK. He was a writer, known for Warriors (1999), To the Ends of the Earth (2005) and Grange Hill (1978). He died on 27 March 2003 in Bampton, Devon, England, UK.- Director
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Bob Spiers was born on 27 September 1945 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was a director and producer, known for Spice World (1997), Fawlty Towers (1975) and Absolutely Fabulous (1992). He was married to Sophie Richardson and Anne Spiers. He died on 8 December 2008 in Widecombe, Devon, England, UK.- Kathleen St. John was born on 15 January 1908 in Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire, England, UK. She was an actress, known for The Quatermass Conclusion (1979), Trail of the Pink Panther (1982) and Wilderness Road (1986). She died on 27 June 1996 in Barnstaple, Devon, England, UK.
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Casting Director
- Production Manager
John P.R. (Pat) MacDonnell was born in Berkamstead in 1920, the son of a Royal Marine Captain. Following his parents divorce he became the stepson of paper magnate Ralph Reed, who was later knighted for his wartime service organizing recycling and rationing as Paper Controller for the Board of Trade.
After leaving Ottershaw College in 1936 at the age of 15, Pat worked for a number of independent production companies before 1940. These included UK Films Ltd., Baxter & Barter, British National Films Ltd., Julius Hagen Productions and John Stafford Productions. Most of this early experience was on quota quickies, the majority of which were directed by John Baxter.
During this period, Pat trained in Camera Departments as a Runner, Clapper-loader, Focus-puller and Camera Operator, and was occasionally asked to light small sets. He also assisted in Cutting Rooms as well as Sound, Props, Wardrobe and Stills Departments, developing a broad range of skills and knowledge. He also had a particular interest in Make-Up at that time and spent several weeks studying its techniques at his own expense, and this interest later contributed to his close friendship with George Blackler.
At the outbreak of WWII he was working at Sound City, Shepperton, and when the War Office commandeered the studios he was probably seconded along with other studio staff to the secret manufacture of fake aircraft and artillery for use as decoys in the Middle East. Saunders-Roe moved their operations to Shepperton after their nearby factory was hit in an air-raid, and Pat was later employed in a key position testing parts for their flying-boats. Incidentally, Vickers-Armstong took over Nettlefold Studios in similar circumstances, and built three huge aircraft hangars there, which made excellent sound stages after the war.
In February 1943 Pat joined the Rank Organisation as a 3rd Assistant Director with Two Cities Films Ltd. at Denham, and was soon off to Ireland for location shooting on Henry V (1944). A few weeks later, having just turned 18, Vicky Fuggle arrived at Denham to work as a Production Secretary for RKO Radio British Productions Ltd. initially on Herbert Wilcox's Yellow Canary (1943) and then on Victor Hanbury's Hotel Reserve (1944). They met when Pat returned to Denham for 'Henry V' studio filming in June 1943, and married in February 1946.
Vicky was also briefly involved with Henry V. Her diary records that on New Year's Day 1944 she took music notes for Laurence Olivier and William Walton in Denham's Theatre 1. During this period she was regularly loaned out by RKO in various capacities. While working on Yellow Canary she became PA to Anna Neagle in her 'spare time'. In January 1944 Vicky took over from Maude Spector (who had moved on to assist Casting Director Irene Howard at Two Cities) as secretary to Victor Hanbury, and in March moved again to work for RKO Production Manager Ernest Holding. In addition to her normal duties, she typed several drafts of the treatment and script for Great Day (1945) with screenwriter John Davenport, including one session of re-writes at The London Clinic, where he was being treated for gout. She also continued to handle dictation and fan-mail for Miss Neagle.
In late August 1944, due to her voluntary work for Belgian refugees as well as her considerable secretarial skills, Vicky was chosen as a temporary PA for Samuel Goldwyn, who was in the UK for a few weeks on behalf of Eastern European refugees, and needed someone who could assist with that as well as handling a good deal of movie correspondence.
On completion of 'Henry V' in February 1944, Pat transferred from Two Cities to Independent Producers as 2nd A.D. on They Knew Mr. Knight (1946), before joining Adele Raymond, first as her assistant, and then as Co-Casting Director.
On Gabriel Pascal's Caesar and Cleopatra (1945) he had two jobs. In addition to casting both crowd and character parts, he was also 2nd A.D.
Other work as Casting Director included I Know Where I'm Going! (1945); A Matter of Life and Death (1946); Great Expectations (1946); Green for Danger (1946); Take My Life (1947) and Black Narcissus (1947).
Vicky (now MacDonnell) was also involved with Great Expectations. She joined 'Cineguild' just as music recording for Brief Encounter (1945) was being completed, and was secretary to Ronald Neame and David Lean throughout the period of the Dickens adaptations. She left in May 1947 to have her first child shortly after shooting began on Oliver Twist (1948). Indeed it was anticipated that Vicky's baby would appear in the opening sequence as the newborn Oliver, and the shooting schedule was arranged around his due date; but in the event little Anthony was somewhat overdue, and sadly missed out on the title role.
The industry and the ACT were far less concerned about demarcation in those days, and Pat was able to work in a fairly wide variety of jobs with Independent Producers. He was 2nd A.D on I See a Dark Stranger (1946); Assistant Production Manager on Captain Boycott (1947); 1st A.D (2nd Unit) on Blanche Fury (1948), and on Dulcimer Street (1948), Oliver Twist (1948) and The Passionate Friends (1949) he did Production Administration. He was both Production Manager and 1st A.D. on three documentaries made at Pinewood, and became Assistant to Chief Production Manager Tom White. In this capacity he was associated with Independent Producers entire slate for a while, including The Woman in the Hall (1947); The Red Shoes (1948); Sin of Esther Waters (1948); Don't Ever Leave Me (1949) and The Hidden Room (1949), one of three films directed in England by Edward Dmytryk while he was blacklisted in Hollywood.
In 1948 Pat was loaned to Gainsborough Pictures as a 2nd A.D. for Once Upon a Dream (1949) and returned to Independent for Stop Press Girl (1949) as 2nd Unit Location Manager. On The Blue Lagoon (1949) he was 2nd A.D again, and then Relief Location Manager on Dear Mr. Prohack (1949).
Pat co-directed and managed the production of 'The Dark World', a short charity appeal about blindness. He was 1st A.D on numerous commercials and directed a few, including one for 'Dreft' featuring 'Patricia Medina'.
He also directed the National Anthem film which was screened at every performance in Rank cinemas from 1948 until the coronation in 1953, when it was finally replaced.
Pat's final job in the industry was as Assistant Director on the Location Unit of Treasure Island (1950), after which he took ownership of an advertising publication, The Helston and District Free Gazette. The family moved to Cornwall and later to North Devon. He died in Ilfracombe in May 1964.
His children include musician and agent Tony MacDonnell, actor Chris MacDonnell and editor John MacDonnell. Among his grandchildren are 1st A.D. Joanna MacDonnell, agent and former actress Sarah MacDonnell and great granddaughter, actor Emily Carey- Freda Bamford was born on 11 February 1909 in Ashford, Middlesex, England, UK. She was an actress, known for The Avengers (1961), North and South (1966) and BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950). She was married to Ian Atkins. She died on 15 May 1986 in Torbay, Devon, England, UK.
- Gwenllian Davies was born in 1914 in Bedlinog, Glamorgan, Wales, UK. She was an actress, known for Kinky Boots (2005), Onegin (1999) and According to Bex (2005). She died on 24 July 2007 in Torbay, Devon, England, UK.
- Writer
- Actor
- Producer
Jethro was born on 8 March 1948 in St Buryan, Cornwall, England, UK. He was a writer and actor, known for Mick Miller: In the Club (2005), Jethro: The Beast of Bodmin Moor (1997) and Let It Be All Right on the Night (1987). He died on 14 December 2021 in Plymouth, Devon, England, UK.- Actress
- Writer
- Soundtrack
Denise trained at the College of Dramatic Art and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music. She began her career in rep. at the Gateway Theatre in Edinburgh and then transferred to the Palladium Theatre, also in Edinburgh, where she appeared in various variety shows. She worked as an interviewer for BBC radio before finding work as an actress on the West End stage. Her theatre credits include West End productions of 'High Spirits', 'The Beggars Opera' and 'Let's Get a Divorce' and numerous productions at the Mermaid Theatre. Denise appeared in the feature films "Waltz of the Toreadors", "Georgy Girl" and "Far From the Madding Crowd" and made many television appearances, most notably the "Stanley Baxter" series, "Do Not Adjust Your Set", "Captain Fantastic" and "Girls About Town". Denise's pastime interests include sea angling and playing the flute.- Roger Gage was born in November 1928 in Bath, Somerset, England, UK. He was an actor, known for World Theatre (1959), BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950) and Villette (1957). He was married to Burda Cann and Joan Plowright. He died on 13 March 2018 in Devon, England, UK.
- Mary Norton was born on 10 December 1903 in Highbury, London, England, UK. She was a writer, known for Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971), The Secret World of Arrietty (2010) and The Borrowers Reboot. She was married to Lionel Boncey and Robert Norton. She died on 29 August 1992 in Hartland, Bideford, Devon, England, UK.
- Actress
- Additional Crew
Margo was an accomplished and vivacious actress who trained as a dancer. She worked steadily,mainly on stage and television until her retirement. She began her career in Stars in Battledress at the end of World War 2. Her first big break was as Noelle Gordon's understudy in Brigadoon, in London in the late 1940s. Other musicals included Wedding in Paris, The Water Gypsies, Maggie May and Showboat. She was a member of the National Theatre from 1965-9 and toured with the company led by Sir Lawrence Oliver when they went to Canada. For many years she was in panto, often as a fairy, and worked with Ricki Fulton. She played Caribosse the wicked witch in Sleeping Beauty at Glasgow. Margo appeared in Z Cars, Take Three Girls, Crossroads and Scotch and Rye. She was the murder victim in the long running 'Mousetrap'. She once told me that she had a longer career because believed she was a character actress. She retired to Devon, and a later marriage to John, who had been a love of her youth. She was still able to do the splits and cartwheels on her seventieth birthday. Unfortunately, she passed away due to cancer. Margo remarked that of her movies, she never realised one was so raunchy until it was released, as she missed that part!- Bartlett Mullins was born on 13 August 1904 in Crosby, Lancashire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Nicholas Nickleby (1957), Half a Sixpence (1967) and The Likely Lads (1964). He died on 15 May 1992 in Devon, England, UK.
- Actor
- Writer
Alexander Von Giannini was born on 6 June 1958 in Northamptonshire to an English mother and an Italian father and was educated in England and Luxembourg, where his father worked for the European Commission. In fact he reckoned that he changed schools thirteen times in line with his father's work. Prior to acting he was the lead singer - as Sandy Fontaine - of rockabilly group Coast To Coast, with whom he appeared on TV's 'Top of the Pops' but got into acting after meeting Steven Berkoff and trained at the East 15 school in Essex. On television he appeared in many populist series such as 'The Bill' and 'Inspector Morse' and also wrote two short films 'The other Side of My Sleep' and 'Strawberries'. A prolific stage performer, frequently in musicals including 'Oklahoma!' and 'Oh What a Lovely War' Alex was appearing in a revival of 'Mack and Mabel' in Plymouth, Devon, when he died unexpectedly on October 2nd 2015. He leaves a widow, Jennifer Secombe, daughter of comic actor and singer Harry Secombe, whom he married in 1998.