British actors born in 1919
Here are 18 famous actors from United Kingdom were born in 1919:
Donald Pleasence
Donald Pleasence (October 5, 1919 Worksop-February 2, 1995 Saint Paul de Vence) also known as Donald Henry Pleasence, Donald Pleasance, Don Pleasence, Donald Henry Pleasence, OBE or Donald Plesance was a British actor, soldier and voice actor. He had five children, Angela Pleasence, Miranda Pleasence, Lucy Pleasance, Polly Jo Pleasence and Jean Pleasence.
Pleasence began his acting career on stage and later transitioned to film and television. He appeared in numerous films throughout his career, including "The Great Escape," "You Only Live Twice," "Escape from New York," and "Halloween," where he played the iconic character of Dr. Samuel Loomis. He was also known for his roles in horror films, such as "The House That Dripped Blood" and "Prince of Darkness."
Apart from acting, Pleasence served in the Royal Air Force during World War II and was a prisoner of war for a brief period. He was also a keen linguist and spoke several languages fluently. In addition to his acting career, Pleasence lent his voice to several animated projects, including the voice of the Narrator in "The Wind in the Willows."
Pleasence was recognized for his contributions to the entertainment industry with numerous awards, including an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Sitges Film Festival. He passed away in 1995 in Saint Paul de Vence, France, at the age of 75.
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Richard Todd
Richard Todd (June 11, 1919 Dublin-December 3, 2009 Little Humby) also known as Richard Andrew Palethorpe-Todd, Richard Todd OBE or Richard Andrew Palethorpe Todd was a British actor, soldier and film director. He had five children, Seamus Palethorpe-Todd, Peter Palethorpe-Todd, Andrew Palethorpe-Todd, Flora Palethorpe-Todd and Jeremy Palethorpe-Todd.
Todd began his acting career in 1948 after serving in the British Army during World War II, where he was part of the Parachute Regiment. He gained fame for his role in the 1949 film "The Hasty Heart", for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Todd went on to star in numerous films, television series, and stage productions throughout his career.
In addition to his acting work, Todd also directed two films and was awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to drama in 1993.
Todd was married twice in his lifetime, first to Catherine Grant-Bogle in 1949 until her death in 1978. He then married Virginia Mailer in 1986, who survived him after his death in 2009 at the age of 90. Todd was widely regarded as one of the leading actors of his generation and is remembered for his outstanding performances in several classic films.
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John Gregson
John Gregson (March 15, 1919 Liverpool-January 8, 1975 Porlock Weir) also known as Harold Thomas Gregson or Harold John Gregson was a British actor.
He initially worked as an architect before transitioning to acting in the 1940s. Gregson gained popularity for his roles in British films such as "The Lavender Hill Mob" and "Genevieve". He also appeared in TV series such as "Gideon's Way" and "No Hiding Place". Gregson was known for his affable on-screen persona and his ability to portray both comedic and dramatic roles. He was married to actress Ida Reddish and they had three children together. Gregson died of a heart attack at the age of 55 while on holiday in Somerset, England.
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Nigel Stock
Nigel Stock (September 21, 1919 Malta-June 23, 1986 London) also known as Nigel Hector Munro Stock or Stock, Nigel was a British actor and military officer. He had one child, Robert Stock.
Nigel Stock initially joined the British Army and served during World War II before embarking on a successful acting career. He made his debut on stage in 1948 and went on to appear in numerous stage productions in the UK, the US, and Canada. Stock also appeared in several British television shows and films, such as "The Saint," "The Avengers," "The Doctor Who," and "The Great Escape." He is perhaps best known for his role as Dr. Watson in the 1965 film "A Study in Terror" and on the BBC radio series based on the Sherlock Holmes stories. Despite his success on the stage and screen, Stock remained humble and was admired for his kind and approachable nature. He passed away in London in 1986, leaving behind a legacy as a versatile and talented performer.
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Maurice Browning
Maurice Browning (May 11, 1919-December 1, 1983 Middlesex) also known as Maurice Allen Albert Browning was a British actor.
He was best known for his work on stage in London's West End theaters, but also appeared in several films and television shows throughout his career. Browning began acting in his youth and continued to perform throughout his life, earning critical acclaim for his roles in productions such as "The Mousetrap" and "Look Back in Anger". In addition to his work in the entertainment industry, Browning was also a World War II veteran, having served as a pilot in the Royal Air Force. He passed away at the age of 64 in Middlesex, England.
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Ivor Barry
Ivor Barry (April 12, 1919 Merthyr Tydfil-December 12, 2006 Woodland Hills) was a British actor. He had one child, Bronwen Barry.
Ivor Barry started his acting career in theatrical productions in London. He served in WWII and after his army stint, he moved to Canada and continued his acting career there. He was a prolific actor and appeared in numerous films and TV shows, including notable roles in "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "The Outer Limits". He was also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Apart from acting, he was also an expert in aeronautics and worked as a pilot for a brief period.
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Don Smoothey
Don Smoothey (April 11, 1919 Fulham-) is a British actor and comedian.
Throughout his career, Don Smoothey appeared in various films, TV shows, and stage productions. He started out as a comedian in the 1940s and later transitioned to acting in the 1950s. Smoothey gained widespread recognition for his roles in films such as "The Lavender Hill Mob" (1952), "Lolita" (1962), and "Deadfall" (1968).
In addition to his film work, Smoothey was a regular on British television, appearing in popular shows such as "The Benny Hill Show" and "Are You Being Served?" He also performed on stage, notably in the West End production of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum".
Smoothey continued to act well into his 70s, retiring from the industry in the late 1990s. He was known for his dry wit, impeccable comic timing, and ability to bring charm and humor to any role he played.
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Maxwell Reed
Maxwell Reed (April 2, 1919 Larne-August 16, 1974 London) was a British actor.
He began his acting career in the theater before transitioning to film in the 1940s. Reed appeared in numerous films throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, including "The Crimson Pirate" (1952), "Sapphire" (1959), and "The Hellfire Club" (1961). He was also known for his off-screen high-profile relationships, including an engagement to actress Joan Collins.
In addition to acting, Reed was a skilled pianist and worked as a hotel manager in the Bahamas in the 1960s before returning to London. He died of cancer at the age of 55.
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Michael Langham
Michael Langham (August 22, 1919 Bridgwater-January 15, 2011 Cranbrook) otherwise known as Michael Seymour Langham was a British actor, television director, film director and theatre director. He had one child, Chris Langham.
Langham is best known for his work as a theatre director, particularly his time as the artistic director of the Stratford Festival in Ontario, Canada. He held this position from 1956 to 1967, during which time he directed many of Shakespeare's plays, as well as other classics such as Molière's Tartuffe and Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie. He also directed operas for the festival.
Aside from his work in theatre, Langham also directed films and television shows. His film directorial debut was with the 1969 movie "David Copperfield", and he later directed episodes of popular television shows such as "The Twilight Zone" and "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour".
Throughout his career, Langham received numerous awards for his contributions to the performing arts, including the Order of Canada and the Governor General's Performing Arts Award. He is remembered as a respected and influential figure in the world of theatre.
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Ian Wallace
Ian Wallace (July 10, 1919 London-October 12, 2009 Highgate) also known as Wallace, Ian, Ian Bryce Wallace or Ian Bryce Wallace, OBE was a British singer and actor. He had two children, Rosemary Wallace and John Wallace.
Ian Wallace began his career as a singer, performing in many popular operas such as "Rigoletto" and "La Traviata". He also worked as a director of operas and was associated with major opera houses such as the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and the Metropolitan Opera. Apart from singing, he also acted in films and television shows, notably in the movie "The House That Dripped Blood" and the TV show "Z Cars". He was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his contributions to opera in 1983. In addition to his successful career, Ian Wallace was also a skilled painter and had several exhibitions of his paintings.
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David Kossoff
David Kossoff (November 24, 1919 Hackney Central-March 23, 2005 Hatfield, Hertfordshire) was a British actor and screenwriter. His children are called Simon Kossoff and Paul Kossoff.
Kossoff began his acting career in the late 1940s and appeared in numerous British films and television series throughout the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. One of his most notable roles was as the narrator of the popular children's television show "The Tales of the Riverbank" in the 1960s.
In addition to acting, Kossoff also wrote for television and the theater. He wrote several plays, including "The Mouse That Roared," which was adapted into a film starring Peter Sellers. He also wrote for television series such as "The Avengers" and "The Saint."
Kossoff was known for his strong Jewish identity and often spoke about his experiences growing up in a Jewish family in London. He wrote a book about his Jewish heritage called "The Book of Witnesses," which explores the lives of Jewish people throughout history.
Towards the end of his life, Kossoff suffered from Alzheimer's disease and he passed away in 2005 at the age of 85. His legacy as an actor, writer, and advocate for Jewish culture lives on.
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Alan Young
Alan Young (November 19, 1919 North Shields-) also known as Angus Young or Al Young is a British actor and voice actor.
Alan Young appeared in over 100 television shows and films throughout his career. He is best known for his role as Wilbur Post in the popular television series "Mr. Ed." Young's career began in radio, where he starred as the title character in the CBS show "The Alan Young Show" from 1944 to 1949. He also provided the voice for Scrooge McDuck in numerous Disney productions, including the television series "DuckTales" and the video game "Kingdom Hearts." Young was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011. He passed away in 2016 at the age of 96.
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Shaun Sutton
Shaun Sutton (October 14, 1919 Hammersmith-May 14, 2004 Norfolk) a.k.a. Shaun Alfred Graham Sutton or Shaun Alfred Graham Sutton OBE was a British screenwriter, actor, television producer, television director and film producer.
He was best known for his work as a producer on several iconic BBC television series, including "Doctor Who," "Z-Cars," and "The Forsyte Saga." Sutton began his career as an actor, but quickly transitioned to writing and producing for radio and television. He was instrumental in the development of the British television industry, and his contributions were recognized with an OBE in 1978. Sutton remained active in television production throughout his career, and continued to work on projects until his death in 2004.
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Humphrey Lestocq
Humphrey Lestocq (January 23, 1919 Chiswick-January 29, 1984 London) also known as Humphrey Lestocq Gilbert was a British actor.
He began his acting career in 1939 with a small role in the film "Dead Men are Dangerous" and went on to appear in several films including "The Saint in London" (1939) and "The Saint's Vacation" (1941). During World War II, Lestocq served in the British Armed Forces and was a prisoner of war in Germany for four years.
After the war, he continued his acting career and appeared in numerous British television shows and films such as "The Avengers," "The Prisoner," and "The Satanic Rites of Dracula." Lestocq was also a regular on the BBC Radio program "The Archers" where he played the character of Jack Woolley for over 10 years.
In addition to his acting work, Lestocq was also a skilled musician and played the piano and accordion. He was married twice and had four children. Lestocq passed away in 1984 at the age of 65.
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Darcy Conyers
Darcy Conyers (July 19, 1919 Tanganyika-November 1, 1973) a.k.a. D'Arcy Conyers was a British film producer, film director, actor, screenwriter and television director.
Throughout his career, Darcy Conyers worked on a variety of projects, including notable films such as "The Smallest Show on Earth" and "The Mouse That Roared", both of which he directed. He also directed episodes of popular British television shows such as "The Avengers" and "The Saint". Additionally, Conyers acted in several films during the 1930s and 1940s, before transitioning to behind-the-scenes work. He is remembered as an influential figure in British cinema and television during the mid-20th century.
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Peter Butterworth
Peter Butterworth (February 4, 1919 Bramhall-January 16, 1979 Coventry) also known as Butterscotch or Peter William Shorrocks Butterworth was a British actor, comedian and soldier. He had two children, Tyler Butterworth and Emma Butterworth.
Butterworth began his career in entertainment as a wartime forces radio presenter for the British Army during World War II. After the war, he joined the Windmill Theatre in London as a variety performer, and later began appearing in British films and television shows in the 1950s. He became best known for his roles in the "Carry On" comedy film series, where he played characters such as Mr. Fiddler and Hubert Hawkins.
Butterworth also appeared in other films, including "The Love Lottery" and "The Wildcats of St. Trinian's," as well as on TV shows such as "That's Your Funeral" and "Turn Out the Lights." In 1978, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire for his services to entertainment. He passed away the following year at the age of 59 due to a heart attack.
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Robin Bailey
Robin Bailey (October 5, 1919 Hucknall-January 14, 1999 London Borough of Wandsworth) a.k.a. William Henry Mettam Bailey was a British actor. He had one child, Simon Bailey.
Bailey was a highly regarded stage actor and played in numerous productions throughout his career, including the West End productions of "No Time for Comedy" and "Separate Tables". He also appeared in several films, such as "The Dam Busters" and "The Admirable Crichton". Bailey was also a radio actor, and was well-known for his role as Inspector Morse in the BBC Radio 4 adaptations of the series. In addition to his acting career, Bailey was a talented singer and released several albums of traditional English songs. He was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1991 for his contributions to drama.
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Mark Singleton
Mark Singleton (March 2, 1919 England-July 1, 1986 London) also known as Mark Frederick Singleton was a British actor.
He began his acting career in the 1940s, and appeared in several British television shows and films throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Some of his notable roles include appearances in films like "The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb" (1964), and "The Face of Fu Manchu" (1965). Singleton also had a successful career in theatre, and appeared in productions at prestigious venues such as the West End's Lyric Theatre. He was known for his strong stage presence and versatile acting abilities. Despite his success as an actor, Singleton was also a talented writer, and authored several plays throughout his career. He passed away in London in 1986 at the age of 67.
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