Basil Dignam (24 October 1905 – 31 January 1979) was an English character actor.
Basil Dignam was born in
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serves as the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire a ...
, West Riding of Yorkshire. Before the acting, he tried many jobs, from a company clerk to a journalist. He acted on film and television between 1948 and 1978. He often appeared as an authority figure, such as
Mr Justice
There are various levels of judiciary in England and Wales—different types of courts have different styles of judges. They also form a strict hierarchy of importance, in line with the order of the courts in which they sit, so that judges ...
Poynter in '' Crown Court,'' as a police officer, army general or peer. Television appearances include ''
The Prisoner
''The Prisoner'' is a 1967 British television series about an unnamed British intelligence agent who is abducted and imprisoned in a mysterious coastal village, where his captors designate him as Number Six and try to find out why he abruptl ...
The Champions
''The Champions'' is a British espionage thriller/science fiction/occult detective fiction adventure television series. It was produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment production company, and consists of 30 episodes broadcast in the UK on IT ...
'' (1968), as Sir Frederick in episode 2 "The Invisible Man".
Personal life
He was married to actress
Mona Washbourne
Mona Lee Washbourne (27 November 1903 – 15 November 1988) was an English actress of stage, film, and television. Her most critically acclaimed role was in the film '' Stevie'' (1978), late in her career, for which she was nominated for a Gold ...
from 1940 until his death in 1979. His brother
Mark Dignam
Cuthbert Mark Dignam (20 March 1909 – 29 September 1989) was a prolific English actor.
Born in London, the son of a salesman in the steel industry, Dignam grew up in Sheffield, and was educated at the Jesuit College, where he appeared in num ...
was also a professional actor. Basil Dignam died, aged 73, in
Westminster
Westminster is an area of Central London, part of the wider City of Westminster.
The area, which extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street, has many visitor attractions and historic landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, B ...
, London.
Selected filmography
* ''
Maytime in Mayfair
''Maytime in Mayfair'' is a 1949 British musical comedy film directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Anna Neagle, Michael Wilding, Nicholas Phipps, and Tom Walls. It was a follow up to ''Spring in Park Lane''.
The film was one of the most p ...
'' (1949) – Commissionaire (uncredited)
* '' Smart Alec'' (1951) – Defending Counsel
* '' Two on the Tiles'' (1951) – Ship's Captain
* ''
The Lady with a Lamp
''The Lady with a Lamp'' is a 1951 British historical film directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Anna Neagle, Michael Wilding and Felix Aylmer. The film depicts the life of Florence Nightingale and her work with wounded British soldiers duri ...
'' (1951)
* ''
Appointment with Venus
''Appointment with Venus'' () is a novel by Jerrard Tickell published by Hodder & Stoughton in 1951, leading to a British film adaptation the same year and Venus fra Vestø, a Danish film adaptation in 1962. The story is based on a real incident ...
'' (1951) – R.A.M.C. Captain
* ''
His Excellency
Excellency is an honorific style given to certain high-level officers of a sovereign state, officials of an international organization, or members of an aristocracy. Once entitled to the title "Excellency", the holder usually retains the righ ...
'' (1952) – Security Officer
* ''
Hammer the Toff
''Hammer the Toff'' is a 1952 British crime film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring John Bentley and Patricia Dainton. The film was based on the 1947 novel of the same name by John Creasey, the 17th in the series featuring upper-class sle ...
The Quatermass Xperiment
''The Quatermass Xperiment'' (a.k.a. ''The Creeping Unknown'' in the United States) is a 1955 British science fiction horror film from Hammer Film Productions, based on the 1953 BBC Television serial '' The Quatermass Experiment'' written by ...
'' (1955) – Sir Lionel Dean (uncredited)
* ''
They Can't Hang Me
''They Can't Hang Me'' is a 1955 British drama film directed by Val Guest and starring Terence Morgan, Yolande Donlan and Anthony Oliver. It was based on a novel by Leonard Mosley. It was shot at Shepperton Studios near London. The film's sets ...
The Narrowing Circle
''The Narrowing Circle'' is a 1956 British crime film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Paul Carpenter, Hazel Court and Russell Napier. It is based on the 1954 novel of the same title by Julian Symons.Goble p.451 The film's sets we ...
'' (1956) – George Pacey
* ''
Private's Progress
''Private's Progress'' is a 1956 British comedy film based on the novel by Alan Hackney. It was directed and produced by John and Roy Boulting, from a script by John Boulting and Frank Harvey.
Plot
During the Second World War, young undergrad ...
'' (1956) – Col. Martin (uncredited)
* ''
Port of Escape
''Port of Escape'' is a 1956 British thriller film directed by Tony Young and starring Googie Withers, John McCallum, Bill Kerr and Joan Hickson.
Plot
Two sailors, one Australian and one American, are kicked off their ship when it docks in Lo ...
The Counterfeit Plan
''The Counterfeit Plan'' is a 1957 British crime film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring Zachary Scott and Peggie Castle.You Pay Your Money
''You Pay Your Money'' is a 1957 British crime drama film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Hugh McDermott, Jane Hylton and Honor Blackman. The thriller was one of the Butcher's Film Service's 1950s B film genre.Chibnall and McFarlane 20 ...
Son of a Stranger
''Son of a Stranger'' is a 1957 British film directed by Ernest Morris and starring James Kenney, Ann Stephens, and Victor Maddern.The Safecracker'' (1958) – Air Vice Marshal
* ''
Innocent Sinners
''Innocent Sinners'' is a 1958 British black and white film directed by Philip Leacock and starring Flora Robson.
It was based on the 1955 novel '' An Episode of Sparrows'' by Rumer Godden.
Plot
Olivia Chesney is too sick to leave home, som ...
'' (1958) – Mr. Dyson – Olivia's Solicitor (uncredited)
* '' Up the Creek'' (1958) – Coombes
* ''
The Spaniard's Curse
''The Spaniard's Curse'' is a 1958 British thriller film directed by Ralph Kemplen and starring Tony Wright, Lee Patterson, Michael Hordern, Susan Beaumont and Henry Oscar. It was shot at Walton Studios near London with sets designed by the ...
'' (1958) – Guy Stevenson (uncredited)
* '' A Cry from the Streets'' (1958) – Police Inspector (uncredited)
* ''
Carry On Sergeant
''Carry On Sergeant'' is a 1958 British comedy film about National Service starring William Hartnell, Bob Monkhouse and Eric Barker; it is the first in the series of ''Carry On'' films, with 31 entries released from 1958 to 1992. The film was ...
Carlton-Browne of the F.O.
''Carlton-Browne of the F.O.'' (U.S. title: ''Man in a Cocked Hat'') is a 1959 British comedy film made by the Boulting Brothers and starring Terry-Thomas, Peter Sellers, and Luciana Paluzzi. It centres on an inept Foreign Office (F.O.) diplom ...
'' (1959) – Security Officer
* ''
Sapphire
Sapphire is a precious gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum, consisting of aluminium oxide () with trace amounts of elements such as iron, titanium, chromium, vanadium, or magnesium. The name sapphire is derived via the Latin "sa ...
'' (1959) – Doctor Burgess (uncredited)
* ''
I'm All Right Jack
''I'm All Right Jack'' is a 1959 British comedy film directed and produced by John and Roy Boulting from a script by Frank Harvey, John Boulting and Alan Hackney based on the 1958 novel ''Private Life'' by Alan Hackney.
The film is a sequel t ...
'' (1959) – Minister of Labour
* ''
A Touch of Larceny
''A Touch of Larceny'' is a 1959 British-American black-and-white comedy film, produced by Ivan Foxwell, directed by Guy Hamilton, that stars James Mason, George Sanders, and Vera Miles. The film co-stars Harry Andrews, Rachel Gurney, and John ...
'' (1959) – Lt. Cmdr. Evans at P.R.O. (uncredited)
* '' The Spider's Web'' (1960) – Hugo
* '' Suspect'' (1960) – Dr Childs
* ''
The Pure Hell of St Trinian's
''The Pure Hell of St Trinian's'' is a 1960 British comedy film set in the fictional St Trinian's School. Directed by Frank Launder and written by him and Sidney Gilliat, it was the third in a series of four films.
Plot
The St. Trinian's ...
'' (1960) – Army Officer
* '' Sentenced for Life'' (1960) – Ralph Thompson
* '' Gorgo'' (1961) – Admiral Brooks
* ''
The Secret Partner
''The Secret Partner'' is a 1961 British thriller film directed by Basil Dearden and starring Stewart Granger, Haya Harareet and Bernard Lee. The screenplay concerns a shipping executive officer who is blackmailed by an evil dentist.
Plot
Jo ...
'' (1961) – Lyle
*''
The Fourth Square
''The Fourth Square'' is a 1961 British crime film directed by Allan Davis and starring Conrad Phillips, Natasha Parry and Delphi Lawrence. Part of the long-running series of Edgar Wallace Mysteries films made at Merton Park Studios, it is loos ...
'' (1961) - Inspector Forbes
* ''
The Court Martial of Major Keller
''The Court Martial of Major Keller'' is a 1961 British film directed by Ernest Morris and written by Brian Clemens. It stars Laurence Payne, Susan Stephen and Austin Trevor. The film recounts the court martial for murder of Major Keller, a Br ...
'' (1961) – Morrell
* ''
Fate Takes a Hand
''Fate Takes a Hand'' is a 1961 British anthology drama film.
Plot
The recovery of a mail bag stolen in a robbery 15 years before has varying consequences on the lives of five of the recipients of the letters, when the post office decide that ...
'' (1961) – Wheeler
* ''
Life for Ruth
''Life for Ruth'' is a 1962 British drama film produced by Michael Relph directed by Basil Dearden and starring Michael Craig, Patrick McGoohan and Janet Munro.
It was released in the US as Walk in the Shadow.
Plot
John Harris finds himself o ...
'' (1962) – Lawyer Mapleton
* ''
Lawrence of Arabia
Thomas Edward Lawrence (16 August 1888 – 19 May 1935) was a British archaeologist, army officer, diplomat, and writer who became renowned for his role in the Arab Revolt (1916–1918) and the Sinai and Palestine Campaign (1915–191 ...
'' (1962) – Cavalry General at Field Briefing (uncredited)
* ''
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) – Sir
Francis Walsingham
Sir Francis Walsingham ( – 6 April 1590) was principal secretary to Queen Elizabeth I of England from 20 December 1573 until his death and is popularly remembered as her "spymaster".
Born to a well-connected family of gentry, Wals ...
* ''
Master Spy
''Master Spy'', (also known as ''Checkmate''), is a 1963 British spy film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring Stephen Murray, June Thorburn and Alan Wheatley. The film was based on the short story "They Also Serve" by Gerald Anstruther a ...
'' (1963) – Richard Horton
* ''
Heavens Above!
''Heavens Above!'' is a 1963 British satirical comedy film starring Peter Sellers, directed by John and Roy Boulting, who also co-wrote along with Frank Harvey, from an idea by Malcolm Muggeridge. It is in a similar vein to the earlier collab ...
'' (1963) – Prison Governor
* ''
80,000 Suspects
''80,000 Suspects'' is a 1963 British drama film directed by Val Guest and starring Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson, Yolande Donlan, and Cyril Cusack. It concerns an outbreak of smallpox in Bath, England.
Plot
Commencing on New Year's Eve in the ...
'' (1963) – Medical Officer Boswell
* ''
Ring of Spies
''Ring of Spies'' (also known as ''Ring of Treason'') is a 1964 British spy film directed by Robert Tronson and starring Bernard Lee, William Sylvester and Margaret Tyzack. It is based on the real-life case of the Portland Spy Ring, whose activ ...
'' (1964) – 2nd Member at Lord's (uncredited)
* ''
Joey Boy
Joey Boy ( th, โจอี้ บอย; born 1975) or Apisit Opasaimlikit ( th, อภิสิทธิ์ โอภาสเอี่ยมลิขิต, ), is a Thai hip hop singer and producer known as The Godfather of Thai Hip Hop.
...
'' (1965) – General
* ''
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.
...
Where the Spies Are
''Where the Spies Are'' is a 1966 British comedy adventure film directed by Val Guest and starring David Niven, Françoise Dorléac, John Le Mesurier, Cyril Cusack and Richard Marner. It was based on the 1964 James Leasor book '' Passport to Obl ...
'' (1965) – Major Harding
* ''
Naked Evil
''Naked Evil'' is a black-and-white independent 1966 British horror film, written and directed by Stanley Goulder and starring Basil Dignam, Basil Dingnam, Anthony Ainley, Richard Coleman and John Ashley Hamilton. It was produced by Michael F. ...
'' (1966) – Jim Benson
* ''
The Jokers
''The Jokers'' is a 1967 British comedy film written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, and directed by Michael Winner. The film stars Michael Crawford and Oliver Reed as brothers who hatch a plot to steal the Crown Jewels.
Very much of i ...
I'll Never Forget What's'isname
''I'll Never Forget What's 'Isname'' (title on the original British posters and on the DVD cover) or ''I'LL NEVER FORGET WHAT'S 'iSNAME'' (title on the original print, trailer and soundtrack album) is a 1967 British comedy-drama film directed a ...
Twisted Nerve
''Twisted Nerve'' is a 1968 psychological thriller film directed by Roy Boulting and starring Hywel Bennett, Hayley Mills, Billie Whitelaw and Frank Finlay. The film follows a disturbed young man, Martin, who pretends, under the name of Geor ...
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain, also known as the Air Battle for England (german: die Luftschlacht um England), was a military campaign of the Second World War, in which the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) of the Royal Navy defende ...
'' (1969) – Tactical Records Officer (uncredited)
* ''
The Great White Hope
''The Great White Hope'' is a 1967 play written by Howard Sackler, later adapted in 1970 for a film of the same name.
The play was first produced by Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. and debuted on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre in October 1 ...
'' (1970) – English Official (uncredited)
* ''
10 Rillington Place
''10 Rillington Place'' is a 1971 British crime film. The film stars Richard Attenborough, Judy Geeson, John Hurt and Pat Heywood and was directed by Richard Fleischer, produced by Leslie Linder and Martin Ransohoff. It was adapted by Clive E ...
'' (1971) – Medical Board
* '' Persuasion'' (1971) - Sir Walter Elliot
* ''
A Lizard in a Woman's Skin
''A Lizard in a Woman's Skin'' ( it, Una lucertola con la pelle di donna) is a 1971 ''giallo'' film directed by Lucio Fulci and produced by Edmondo Amati and Robert Dorfmann. It stars Florinda Bolkan, Stanley Baker, Jean Sorel, Leo Genn, and ...
'' (1971) – The Commissioner (uncredited)
* ''
Young Winston
''Young Winston'' is a 1972 British biographical adventure drama war film covering the early years of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, based in particular on his 1930 book, ''My Early Life''. The first part of the film covers Churchill' ...
'' (1972) – Joseph Chamberlain
* ''
Soft Beds, Hard Battles
''Soft Beds, Hard Battles'' is a 1974 British comedy film directed by Roy Boulting, starring Peter Sellers (in several roles), Curt Jurgens, Lila Kedrova and Jenny Hanley. Sellers reunited with the Boulting brothers for this farce, in which the ...
'' (1974) – Brigadier
* ‘’
Edward the Seventh
''Edward the Seventh'' is a 1975 British historical drama series, made by ATV in 13 episodes.
Based on the biography of King Edward VII by Philip Magnus, it starred Annette Crosbie as Queen Victoria, Timothy West as the elder Edward VII, w ...