British actors died in 1979
Here are 16 famous actors from United Kingdom died in 1979:
Michael Darbyshire
Michael Darbyshire (November 27, 2014-November 20, 1979 Windsor) was a British actor.
He appeared in numerous stage productions in London during the 1950s and 1960s, and later branched out into television and film. Some of his notable screen performances include roles in "The Avengers", "The Saint", and "Doctor Who". Darbyshire was also a respected acting teacher and contributed greatly to the development of young actors in the industry. He passed away in 1979 at the age of 64.
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Ronald Adam
Ronald Adam (December 31, 1896 Bromyard-March 28, 1979 London) a.k.a. Ronald George Hinings Adams, Ronald Adams, Ronald Adam OBE or Blake was a British actor, military officer, theatre manager, author and playwright. His children are called Jane Adam and David Adam.
Ronald Adam's acting career spanned over four decades, during which he made appearances in numerous films and television series. He had notable roles in films such as "The Way to the Stars" (1945), "Whisky Galore!" (1949), and "The Curse of the Werewolf" (1961). He was also a prolific writer, with several plays and books to his credit. His wartime experiences as a British Army officer during World War I and World War II inspired his plays "Flare Path" (1942) and "The Long Sunset" (1946). He also served as a manager of several West End theatres in London, including the Criterion Theatre and the Haymarket Theatre. Ronald Adam was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1953 for his services to drama.
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Jack Raine
Jack Raine (May 18, 1897 London-May 30, 1979 South Laguna) also known as Joihn Raine or Thomas Foster Raine was a British actor. He had one child, Patricia Raine.
Jack Raine began his acting career in the silent film era, and later transitioned to talkies. He appeared in nearly 80 films, including "The Saint in London" (1939), "The Man Who Knew Too Much" (1934), and "49th Parallel" (1941). Raine was also a prolific stage actor, and performed in several West End productions. In addition to his acting work, Raine was a talented singer and dancer. Later in life, he moved to the United States and continued to act in film and on television, including an appearance on the popular series "The Twilight Zone". Raine passed away in 1979 at the age of 82.
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Roddy McMillan
Roddy McMillan (March 23, 1923 Glasgow-July 9, 1979 Glasgow) was a British actor and playwright.
McMillan was best known for his roles in television and film, including his starring role in the BBC comedy-drama "Para Handy - Master Mariner." He also appeared in several films such as "The Shuttered Room" and "The Battle of the River Plate."
Aside from his acting career, McMillan was also an accomplished playwright, having written several successful plays such as "The Bevellers" and "The Flitting." He was a prominent figure in Scottish theatre, and his plays often focused on working-class life in Glasgow.
McMillan's legacy lives on through his contributions to the entertainment industry and Scottish theatre, and he remains a beloved figure in both communities.
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John Stuart
John Stuart (July 18, 1898 Edinburgh-October 17, 1979 London) otherwise known as John Alfred Louden Croall was a British actor. He had one child, Jonathan Croall.
Stuart began his acting career in the 1920s in the British theater scene, and later ventured into film and television. He appeared in numerous British films throughout the 1930s and 1940s, including "Cottage to Let" and "The Next of Kin." In the 1950s, he transitioned his career to television, appearing in popular shows such as "The Adventures of Robin Hood" and "The Saint."
Stuart was also a talented writer, and wrote several plays and adaptations, including a stage version of "Alice in Wonderland". Additionally, he served as the first director of the Oxford Playhouse in 1923.
Stuart was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) for his contributions to British theater and television in 1974, just five years before his death. His son, Jonathan Croall, is also a well-known British writer and biographer.
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Archie Duncan
Archie Duncan (May 26, 1914 Glasgow-July 24, 1979 London) was a British actor.
He is most well-known for his role as Little John in the 1950 Disney film "The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men". Duncan was also a regular on the BBC radio series "The Goon Show". He began his career on stage before transitioning to film and television. Duncan appeared in a number of TV series throughout his career, including "The Adventures of Robin Hood," "The Saint," and "Doctor Who". He also had a small role in the classic film "The Sea Wolves". In addition to his acting career, Duncan was also an accomplished musician and ballroom dancer. He passed away in 1979 at the age of 65.
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Frederick Piper
Frederick Piper (September 23, 1902 London-September 22, 1979 Berkshire) also known as Fred Piper was a British actor.
Piper began his stage career in the 1920s and later made his film debut in 1933. He is best known for his role as Joe Huggett in the 1950s radio and television series "The Huggetts." Piper also appeared in several films including "The Cruel Sea" (1953), "Carry On Sergeant" (1959), and "The Great Escape" (1963). He was awarded the OBE in 1976 for his services to drama. Piper continued to act until his death in 1979 at the age of 77.
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Basil Dignam
Basil Dignam (October 24, 1905 Sheffield-January 31, 1979 Westminster) was a British actor.
He began his acting career in the 1920s, performing in theater productions across the UK. Dignam appeared in over 75 films throughout his career, including The Man in the White Suit (1951), The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), and The Lion in Winter (1968), among others. He was also known for his roles on television, appearing in popular shows like Doctor Who, The Avengers, and Z-Cars. Dignam was a talented character actor who often played authority figures such as doctors, lawyers, and military officers. He continued to act until his death in 1979 at the age of 73.
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Richard Hearne
Richard Hearne (January 30, 1908 Norwich-August 23, 1979 Bearsted) a.k.a. Richard Lewis Hearne, Richard 'Mr. Pastry' Hearne, Mr. Pastry or Richard Lewis Hearne, OBE was a British comedian, actor, screenwriter and film producer.
He is best known for his character Mr. Pastry, an accident-prone buffoon, which he created and portrayed in numerous British television shows and films. Hearne began his career in entertainment as a stage performer, before transitioning to film and television in the 1940s. He went on to produce and write for several of his own productions, including the film "The Case of the Mukkinese Battle-Horn" which he also starred in as Mr. Pastry. Hearne's popularity continued into the 1960s when he hosted his own variety show "The Mr. Pastry Show". In 1963, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire for his contribution to entertainment.
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Michael Wilding
Michael Wilding (July 23, 1912 Leigh-on-Sea-July 8, 1979 Chichester) also known as Michael Charles Gauntlett Wilding, Michael Wilding Sr. or The "gentle" Wilding was a British actor. His children are called Michael Wilding Jr. and Christopher Edward Wilding.
Michael Wilding began his acting career in the 1930s and quickly became a successful stage and screen actor in England. He appeared in over 40 films, including "Under Capricorn" (1949) and "The Egyptian" (1954). Wilding was also known for his role as the suave and romantic love interest in several films, including "The Courtneys of Curzon Street" (1947) and "The Law and the Lady" (1951).
Outside of acting, Wilding was a successful businessman and owned a horse racing stable. He was married five times, including to actress Elizabeth Taylor from 1952-1957. The couple had two children together, Michael Jr. and Christopher. After his retirement from acting, Wilding moved to Sussex and focused on his horse racing and charitable activities. He passed away in 1979 at the age of 66.
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Felix Aylmer
Felix Aylmer (February 21, 1889 Corsham-September 2, 1979 Surrey) also known as Felix Edward Aylmer-Jones, Sir Felix Aylmer, Sir Felix Edward Aylmer Jones OBE or Felix Edward Aylmer Jones was a British actor. He had two children, David Aylmer and Jennifer Aylmer.
Aylmer began his acting career on the stage in 1911 and made his film debut in 1930. He went on to appear in over 100 films, including playing the role of the Archbishop of Canterbury in Laurence Olivier's film adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry V (1944). Aylmer was also well-known for his stage performances, particularly in Shakespearean roles, and was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company for many years. In addition to his acting work, Aylmer was also an accomplished author, with several published works to his name. He was awarded the OBE in 1950 and was later knighted in 1965 for his services to the theatre. Aylmer continued to act well into his seventies and died in 1979 at the age of 90.
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André van Gyseghem
André van Gyseghem (August 18, 1906 Eltham-October 13, 1979 London) also known as André Van Gyseghern or Andre Van Gyseghem was a British actor and theatrical producer. He had one child, Joanna Van Gyseghem.
Van Gyseghem was born in Eltham, London to a Belgian father and an English mother. He was educated at Wellington College and graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge. After completing his education, he embarked on a career in acting and began appearing in stage productions in the 1930s.
He became known for his roles in productions such as The Rivals, The Importance of Being Earnest, and The Hypochondriac. In addition to his work as an actor, Van Gyseghem was also a successful theatrical producer, and he produced several West End plays, including The Grass is Greener and The Chalk Garden.
Throughout his career, Van Gyseghem appeared in numerous films and television shows. Some of his most notable film roles include appearances in The Fallen Idol, The Man Who Never Was, and The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommel. On television, he appeared in several popular British series, including The Avengers, Doctor Who, and Z-Cars.
Van Gyseghem was married twice and had one child, Joanna Van Gyseghem, who followed in his footsteps and became an actress. He passed away on October 13, 1979 in London at the age of 73.
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Richard Beckinsale
Richard Beckinsale (July 6, 1947 Carlton-March 19, 1979 Sunningdale) also known as Richard Arthur Beckinsale was a British actor and comedian. He had two children, Kate Beckinsale and Samantha Beckinsale.
Richard Beckinsale started his acting career in 1969, appearing in the TV series "Coronation Street". He then went on to star in numerous British television comedies, including "The Lovers", "Porridge", and "Rising Damp". However, his career was cut short when he died unexpectedly from a heart attack at the age of 31. Despite his short career, Beckinsale is still remembered as one of the most talented and beloved actors of his time, and his influence can still be seen in the work of many young actors today.
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Tom Macauley
Tom Macauley (March 17, 1906 London-June 19, 1979 Lambeth) also known as Tom MacCauley, Tom McCauley, Chambré Thomas MacAulay Booth or Tom Macaulay was a British actor.
Tom Macauley began his acting career in the 1930s and went on to appear in several notable films such as "The First of the Few" (1942) and "Passport to Pimlico" (1949). He also made appearances on TV shows such as "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1955), "The Saint" (1963), and "The Avengers" (1967).
Aside from acting, Macauley was also a skilled musician, playing the violin and the piano. He even composed music for some of the productions he appeared in, including the musical revue "King's Rhapsody."
In addition to his acting and musical talents, Macauley was also an accomplished writer. He published several detective novels under the name Chambré Thomas MacAulay Booth, and his first novel, "Death in the Middle Watch," was adapted into a film in 1939.
Despite his many accomplishments, Macauley's career was cut short by his untimely death in 1979 at the age of 73.
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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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Leo Britt
Leo Britt (March 27, 1908 London-November 27, 1979 London) was a British actor.
He began his acting career in the 1930s in British films and television. He appeared in over 70 films, including "The Young Mr. Pitt" (1942), "The Ghost Camera" (1933) and "The Agony and the Ecstasy" (1965) among others. Britt was known for his versatility, as he played a variety of character roles ranging from charming to menacing. He also performed on stage, including a role in the London production of "The Sound of Music" in the 1960s. Despite his prolific acting career, he never achieved household name recognition. Britt passed away in London in 1979 at the age of 71.
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