Jack Watson (actor)
Jack Watson | |
---|---|
Watson in the trailer for The Devil's Brigade (1968) | |
Born |
Thorney, Cambridgeshire, England, UK | 14 May 1915
Died |
4 July 1999 84) Bath, Somerset, England, UK | (aged
Years active | 1951-1994 |
Spouse(s) | Betty Garland (1943-1999) (his death) (3 children) |
Jack Watson (15 May 1915 – 4 July 1999), was an English actor who appeared in many British films and television dramas from the 1950s onwards.
Watson was born in Thorney, Cambridgeshire, the son of a Gaiety Girl, Barbara Hughes, and music hall comedian, Nosmo King, with whom he often appeared on stage as straight man, known simply as Hubert. During the Second World War, he was a physical training instructor in the Royal Navy, and his physique was much in evidence in many of his subsequent screen roles. During the war he was resident compère of Navy Mixture.
After the war, his talent as an impersonator resulted in his becoming a regular on BBC radio programmes such as Take it from Here, Hancock's Half Hour and The Clitheroe Kid, gradually making the transition to television. His first major role was in Coronation Street where he became Elsie Tanner's (Pat Phoenix) first lover. Probably his best-known television role was as Llud, Arthur's craggy sidekick in Arthur of the Britons. His last major TV role was in the award-winning Edge of Darkness (1985). He died 14 years later at the age of 84.
His films included Peeping Tom, This Sporting Life, Grand Prix, Tobruk, The McKenzie Break, The Devil's Brigade and The Wild Geese. In total he appeared in over 70 films.
Filmography
- Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951) - Capt. Sylvester (uncredited)
- Peeping Tom (1960) - Chief Insp. Gregg
- Konga (1961) - Supt. Brown
- Fate Takes a Hand (1961) - Bulldog
- The Queen's Guards (1961) - Sergeant Johnson
- Time to Remember (1962) - Insp. Bolam
- Out of the Fog (1962) - Sgt. Harry Tracey
- On the Beat (1962) - Police Sergeant
- Master Spy (1963) - Capt. Foster
- Five to One (1963) - Insp. Davis
- This Sporting Life (1963) - Len Miller
- The Gorgon (1964) - Ratoff
- The Hill (1965) - Jock McGrath
- The Night Caller (1965) - Sgt. Hawkins
- The Idol (1966) - Police Inspector
- Grand Prix (1966) - Jeff Jordan
- Tobruk (1967) - Sgt. Maj. Tyne
- The Devil's Brigade (1968) - Cpl. Peacock
- The Strange Affair (1968) - Quince
- Decline and Fall... of a Birdwatcher (1968) - Gallery Warder
- Every Home Should Have One (1970) - McLaughlin
- The McKenzie Break (1970) - Gen. Kerr
- Kidnapped (1971) - James Stewart
- Tower of Evil (1972) - Hamp
- From Beyond the Grave (1974) - Sir Michael Sinclair (segment 4 "The Door")
- 11 Harrowhouse (1974) - Miller, 11 Harrowhouse Security
- Juggernaut (1974) - Chief Engineer Mallicent
- The Four Musketeers (1974) - Busigny
- Schizo (1976) - William Haskin
- The Purple Taxi (1977) - Sean
- The Wild Geese (1978) - R.S.M. Sandy Young
- North Sea Hijack (1980) - Olafsen
- The Sea Wolves (1980) - Maclean
- Masada (1981) - Decurion
- Marco Polo (1982) - Old Sailor
- Diana (1984) - Uncle Mark
- Christopher Columbus (1985) - Father Marchena
- Tangiers (1982) - Donovan