Anthony Douglas Gillon Dawson (18 October 1916 – 8 January 1992) was a Scottish actor, best known for his supporting roles as villains in films such as

Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featur ...

's ''

Dial M for Murder ''Dial M for Murder'' is a 1954 American crime thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Ray Milland, Grace Kelly, Robert Cummings, Anthony Dawson, and John Williams. Both the screenplay and the successful stage play on which it was b ...

'' (1954) and '' Midnight Lace'' (1960), and playing Professor Dent in the

James Bond The ''James Bond'' series focuses on a fictional British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short-story collections. Since Fleming's death in 1964, eight other authors hav ...

film '' Dr. No'' (1962). He also appeared as

Ernst Stavro Blofeld Ernst Stavro Blofeld is a character (arts), fictional character and villain from the James Bond series of novels and films, created by Ian Fleming. A criminal mastermind with aspirations of world domination, he is the archenemy of the Secret In ...

in '' From Russia with Love'' (1963) and '' Thunderball'' (1965).

Life

Dawson was born in

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

, the son of Ida Violet (Kittel) and Eric Francis Dawson.

Career

Following

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA; ) is a drama school in London, England, that provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in the Bloomsbury area of Central London, close to the Senat ...

training and

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

service, he made his film debut in 1943's ''

They Met in the Dark ''They Met in the Dark'' is a 1943 British comedy thriller film directed by Karel Lamač and starring James Mason, Joyce Howard and Edward Rigby. The screenplay concerns a cashiered Royal Naval officer and a young woman who join forces to solve ...

''. He went on to appear in such classic British films as ''

The Way to the Stars ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (1945), '' The Queen of Spades'' (1948) and ''

The Wooden Horse ''The Wooden Horse'' is a 1950 British Second World War war film directed by Jack Lee and starring Leo Genn, David Tomlinson and Anthony Steel. It is based on the book of the same name by Eric Williams, who also wrote the screenplay. The ...

'' (1950), before moving to America in the early 1950s. It was while there that he appeared on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

in the play, and then the subsequent

film of ''

'' (1954), playing C. A. Swann/Captain Lesgate. In the film, he is

blackmail Blackmail is an act of coercion using the threat of revealing or publicizing either substantially true or false information about a person or people unless certain demands are met. It is often damaging information, and it may be revealed to fa ...

ed by Tony Wendice (

Ray Milland Ray Milland (born Alfred Reginald Jones; 3 January 1907 – 10 March 1986) was a Welsh-American actor and film director. His screen career ran from 1929 to 1985. He is remembered for his Academy Award and Cannes Film Festival Award-winning ...

) into murdering his wife Margot (

Grace Kelly Grace Patricia Kelly (November 12, 1929 – September 14, 1982) was an American actress who, after starring in several significant films in the early to mid-1950s, became Princess of Monaco by marrying Prince Rainier III in April 1956. Kelly ...

). In his unpublished memoirs, ''Rambling Recollections'', Dawson reminisced about getting the part: He had two other memorable roles on his return to

Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...

, including the evil Marques Siniestro in

Hammer A hammer is a tool, most often a hand tool, consisting of a weighted "head" fixed to a long handle that is swung to deliver an impact to a small area of an object. This can be, for example, to drive nails into wood, to shape metal (as wi ...

's ''

The Curse of the Werewolf ''The Curse of the Werewolf'' is a 1961 British horror film based on the novel '' The Werewolf of Paris'' by Guy Endore. The film was made by the British company Hammer Film Productions and was shot at Bray Studios on sets that were constru ...

'' (1961) and henchman Professor Dent in the first

film, '' Dr. No'' (1962). Throughout his career he could often be found in the films of director Terence Young, including the aforementioned ''Dr. No'', ''

They Were Not Divided ''They Were Not Divided'' is a 1950 British war film, which depicted the Guards Armoured Division in Second World War Europe. It was written and directed by Terence Young, a former Guards officer who served in the campaigns depicted in the fi ...

'' (1950), ''

Valley of Eagles ''Valley of Eagles'' (US release title ''Valley of the Eagles'') is a 1951 British thriller film written and directed by Terence Young and starring Jack Warner, Nadia Gray and John McCallum.The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders ''The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders'' is a 1965 British historical comedy film directed by Terence Young and starring Kim Novak, Richard Johnson, and Angela Lansbury. It is based on the 1722 novel ''Moll Flanders'' by Daniel Defoe. Pl ...

'' (1965), '' Triple Cross'' (1966), ''

Red Sun ''Red Sun'' (french: Soleil rouge, it, Sole rosso) is a 1971 Franco-Italian international co-production Spaghetti Western film directed by Terence Young and starring Charles Bronson, Toshirō Mifune, Alain Delon, Ursula Andress, and Capucine. ...

'' (1971), '' Inchon'' (1982) and ''

The Jigsaw Man "The Jigsaw Man" is a science fiction short story by American writer Larry Niven, set in the ''Known Space'' universe. The story was first published in Harlan Ellison's anthology '' Dangerous Visions'', and is included in Niven's collections ''Al ...

'' (1983). Young also cast him as the physical presence of

in his Bond films '' From Russia with Love'' (1963) and '' Thunderball'' (1965), stroking the ubiquitous white cat. His face was never seen, however, and Blofeld's voice was provided by

Eric Pohlmann Eric Pohlmann (german: Erich Pohlmann; born Erich Pollak; 18 July 1913 – 25 July 1979) was an Austrian theatre, film and television character actor who worked mostly in the United Kingdom. He is known for voicing Ernst Stavro Blofeld, th ...

. Dawson appeared alongside fellow Bond veterans

Adolfo Celi Adolfo Celi (; 27 July 1922 – 19 February 1986) was an Italian film actor and director. Born in Curcuraci, Messina, Sicily, Celi appeared in nearly 100 films, specialising in international villains. Although a prominent actor in Italian ...

Lois Maxwell Lois Ruth Maxwell (born Lois Ruth Hooker; 14 February 1927 – 29 September 2007) was a Canadian actress who portrayed Miss Moneypenny in the first fourteen Eon-produced ''James Bond'' films (1962–1985). She was the first actress to play the ...

and

Bernard Lee John Bernard Lee (10 January 190816 January 1981) was an English actor, best known for his role as M in the first eleven Eon-produced James Bond films. Lee's film career spanned the years 1934 to 1979, though he had appeared on stage from ...

in the Italian Bond knockoff ''

O.K. Connery ''O.K. Connery'', released in America as ''Operation Kid Brother'', is a 1967 Italian Eurospy comedy film shot in Technicolor and Techniscope and directed by Alberto De Martino. The Spy-Fi plot involves the brother of the British spy James Bond, ...

''. After the early 1960s, his roles got progressively smaller, but he continued to act until his death.

Death

He died in

Sussex Sussex (), from the Old English (), is a historic county in South East England that was formerly an independent medieval Anglo-Saxon kingdom. It is bounded to the west by Hampshire, north by Surrey, northeast by Kent, south by the English ...

of cancer at the age of 75 in January 1992.

Selected filmography

* ''

Charley's (Big-Hearted) Aunt ''Charley's (Big-Hearted) Aunt'' is a 1940 British comedy film directed by Walter Forde, starring Arthur Askey and Richard Murdoch as Oxford 'scholars'. The film is one of many to be based on the 1892 Victorian farce ''Charley's Aunt'' by Brando ...

'' (1940) – Student (uncredited) * ''

'' (1943) – 2nd Code Expert * ''

'' (1945) – Bertie Steen * ''

Beware of Pity ''Beware of Pity'' is a 1946 British romantic drama film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Lilli Palmer, Albert Lieven and Cedric Hardwicke. It is based on the novel of the same name by Stefan Zweig. A paraplegic young baroness mistakes co ...

'' (1946) – Lt. Blannik * ''

School for Secrets ''School for Secrets'' (also known as ''Secret Flight'') is a 1946 British black-and-white film written and directed by Peter Ustinov and starring Ralph Richardson. In leading supporting roles were David Tomlinson, Raymond Huntley, Finlay Curri ...

'' (1946) – Flt. Lt. Norton * '' The Queen of Spades'' (1949) – Fyodor * ''

'' (1950) – Michael * ''

'' (1950) – Pomfret * ''

The Woman in Question ''The Woman in Question'' (released in the United States as ''Five Angles on Murder'') is a 1950 British Murder-mystery film directed by Anthony Asquith and starring Jean Kent, Dirk Bogarde and John McCallum. After a woman is murdered, the comp ...

'' (1950) – Inspector Wilson (uncredited) * ''

I'll Get You for This ''I'll Get You for This'' (released in the US as ''Lucky Nick Cain'') is a 1951 British thriller film by Joseph M. Newman starring George Raft, Coleen Gray, and Enzo Staiola. It was made from an adaptation by George Callahan and William Ro ...

'' (1951) – Secret Agent (uncredited) * ''

The Long Dark Hall ''The Long Dark Hall'' is a 1951 British mystery, suspense, courtroom-drama, crime film directed by Reginald Beck and Anthony Bushell and starring Rex Harrison, Lilli Palmer and Raymond Huntley. It was based on the 1947 novel ''A Case to Answe ...

'' (1951) – The Man * ''

Valley of Eagles ''Valley of Eagles'' (US release title ''Valley of the Eagles'') is a 1951 British thriller film written and directed by Terence Young and starring Jack Warner, Nadia Gray and John McCallum.Dial M for Murder ''Dial M for Murder'' is a 1954 American crime thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Ray Milland, Grace Kelly, Robert Cummings, Anthony Dawson, and John Williams. Both the screenplay and the successful stage play on which it was b ...

'' (1954) – C. J. Swann / Captain Lesgate * ''

That Lady ''That Lady'' is a 1955 British-Spanish historical romantic drama film directed by Terence Young and produced by Sy Bartlett and Ray Kinnoch. It stars Olivia de Havilland, Gilbert Roland, and Paul Scofield. The film is based on a 1946 hist ...

'' (1955) – Don Inigo * ''

Hour of Decision The ''Hour of Decision'' was a live weekly radio broadcast produced by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. First broadcast in 1950 by the American Broadcasting Company, it was a half-hour program featuring sermons from noted evangelist Bi ...

'' (1957) – Gary Bax * '' Action of the Tiger'' (1957) – Security Officer * ''

The Haunted Strangler ''The Haunted Strangler'' (also known as ''Grip of the Strangler'' and originally titled ''The Judas Hole'') is a 1958 British horror film directed by Robert Day. It was adapted from "Stranglehold", a story which screenwriter Jan Read had writte ...

'' (1958) – Supt. Burk * ''

Tiger Bay Tiger Bay ( cy, Bae Teigr) was the local name for an area of Cardiff which covered Butetown and Cardiff Docks. Following the building of the Cardiff Barrage, which dams the tidal rivers, Ely and Taff, to create a body of water, it is re ...

'' (1959) – Barclay * ''

Libel Defamation is the act of communicating to a third party false statements about a person, place or thing that results in damage to its reputation. It can be spoken (slander) or written (libel). It constitutes a tort or a crime. The legal defini ...

'' (1959) – Gerald Loddon * '' Midnight Lace'' (1960) – Roy Ash * '' Offbeat'' (1961) – James Dawson * ''

'' (1961) – The Marques Siniestro * '' Dr. No'' (1962) – Professor R.J. Dent * ''

Seven Seas to Calais ''Seven Seas to Calais'' (in Italy ''Il dominatore dei sette mari'') is a 1962 Italian adventure film in Eastmancolor and CinemaScope, produced by Paolo Moffa, directed by Rudolph Maté (his final film) and Primo Zeglio, that stars Rod Taylor, K ...

'' (1962) – Lord Burleigh * '' From Russia with Love'' (1963) – Ernst Stavro Blofeld (body only, credited as ?) * ''

The Yellow Rolls-Royce ''The Yellow Rolls-Royce'' is a 1964 British dramatic composite film written by Terence Rattigan, produced by Anatole de Grunwald, and directed by Anthony Asquith, the trio responsible for '' The V.I.P.s'' (1963). Apparently adapting an idea fr ...

'' (1964) – Mickey (uncredited) * '' Change Partners'' (1965) – Ben Arkwright * ''

The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders ''The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders'' is a 1965 British historical comedy film directed by Terence Young and starring Kim Novak, Richard Johnson, and Angela Lansbury. It is based on the 1722 novel ''Moll Flanders'' by Daniel Defoe. Pl ...

'' (1965) – Officer of Dragoons * '' Thunderball'' (1965) – Ernst Stavro Blofeld (body only, uncredited) * ''

Death Rides a Horse ''Death Rides a Horse'' ( it, Da uomo a uomo, lit=As man to man) is a 1967 Italian Spaghetti Western directed by Giulio Petroni, written by Luciano Vincenzoni and starring Lee Van Cleef and John Phillip Law. Plot Bill (John Phillip Law), a boy ...

'' (1966) – Burt Cavanaugh * '' Triple Cross'' (1966) – Major Stillman * ''

Your Turn to Die ''Your Turn to Die'' ( it, Troppo per vivere... poco per morire, french: Qui êtes-vous inspecteur Chandler?) is a 1967 Italian-French crime-thriller movie directed by Michele Lupo. Plot A gang of criminals, in agreement with a model, set their ...

'' (1967) – Dr. Evans * ''

Dirty Heroes ''Dirty Heroes'' ( it, Dalle Ardenne all'inferno), is a 1967 Italian war film directed by Alberto De Martino and starring Frederick Stafford. Cast * Frederick Stafford - Joe Mortimer, Sesame * Daniela Bianchi - Kristina von Keist * John Ireland ...

'' (1967) – American Colonel * ''

Operation Kid Brother ''O.K. Connery'', released in America as ''Operation Kid Brother'', is a 1967 Italian Eurospy comedy film shot in Technicolor and Techniscope and directed by Alberto De Martino. The Spy-Fi plot involves the brother of the British spy James Bond, ...

'' (1967) – Alpha * '' The Rover'' (1967) – Captain Vincent * ''

Hell Is Empty ''Hell is Empty'' is a 1967 British crime film. It began filming in 1965 under the direction of Bernard Knowles. Filming was suspended and later resumed by John Ainsworth after Martine Carol's death. It also starred Anthony Steel, Shirley Anne ...

'' (1967) – Paul Grant * '' A Sky Full of Stars for a Roof'' (1968) – Samuel Pratt * ''

Battle of Neretva Case White (german: Fall Weiss), also known as the Fourth Enemy Offensive ( sh, Četvrta neprijateljska ofenziva/ofanziva), was a combined Axis strategic offensive launched against the Yugoslav Partisans throughout occupied Yugoslavia during W ...

'' (1969) – Gen. Morelli * '' Rosolino Paternò, soldato...'' (1970) – Italian General * ''

Deadlock In concurrent computing, deadlock is any situation in which no member of some group of entities can proceed because each waits for another member, including itself, to take action, such as sending a message or, more commonly, releasing a lo ...

'' (1970) – Anthony Sunshine * ''

'' (1971) – Hyatt * ''

The Valachi Papers The Valachi Papers may refer to: *'' The Valachi Papers (book)'', 1968 book by Peter Maas *''The Valachi Papers (film) ''The Valachi Papers'' is a 1972 Italian-French crime neo noir directed by Terence Young. It is an adaptation of the 1968 no ...

'' (1972) – Federal Investigator * '' The Big Game'' (1973) – Burton (uncredited) * ''

Massacre in Rome ''Massacre in Rome'' ( it, Rappresaglia) is a 1973 Italian war drama film directed by George Pan Cosmatos about the Ardeatine massacre which occurred at the Ardeatine caves in Rome, 24 March 1944, committed by the Germans as a reprisal for a par ...

'' (1973) –

Wilhelm Harster Wilhelm Harster (21 July 1904 – 25 December 1991) was a German policeman and war criminal. A high-ranking member in the Schutzstaffel, SS and a Holocaust perpetrator during the Nazi era, he was twice convicted for his crimes by the Netherlands a ...

* '' Inchon'' (1981) – Gen. Collins * ''

'' (1983) – Vicar * ''

Pirates Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence by ship or boat-borne attackers upon another ship or a coastal area, typically with the goal of stealing cargo and other valuable goods. Those who conduct acts of piracy are called pirates, v ...

'' (1986) – Spanish Officer * ''

Ghoulies II ''Ghoulies'' is an American comedy horror film series that consists of four films released from 1985 to 1994. The films center on a group of small demonic creatures that have a wide range of twisted appearances. Films Overview ''Ghoulies'' ...

'' (1988) – Priest * '' Run for Your Life'' (1988) – Colonel Moorcroft * ' (1990) – Roy

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Dawson, Anthony 1916 births 1992 deaths Deaths from cancer in England Scottish male stage actors Scottish male film actors Scottish male television actors Male actors from Edinburgh Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art 20th-century Scottish male actors British military personnel of World War II