Charles Victor (10 February 1896 – 23 December 1965) was a
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies.
** Britishness, the British identity and common culture
* British English, ...
actor
An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...
who appeared in many film and television roles between 1931 and 1965. He was born Charles Victor Harvey.
Born in Southport, Lancashire, England, Victor was a fourth-generation English music hall entertainer. He left school when he was 15 to team with his father in a song-and-dance act for five years. After leaving that act, he briefly worked with his brother in an automobile agency before going into English musical comedy. In 1929, he joined the
Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Birmingham Repertory Theatre, commonly called Birmingham Rep or just The Rep, is a producing theatre based on Centenary Square in Birmingham, England. Founded by Barry Jackson, it is the longest-established of Britain's building-based theatre ...
, which was headed by
Barry Jackson, and stayed with it for 10 years.
[ ]
Victor appeared in just over 100 films between 1938 and 1966. The size and importance of his roles varied greatly. For example, in 1957 he played the lead role, with top billing, in the comedy ''
There's Always a Thursday
''There's Always a Thursday'' is a 1957 British crime film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Charles Victor, Jill Ireland, Lloyd Lamble and Robert Raglan. Much of the film was shot at Southall Studios.
Premise
Comedy about a down-trod ...
'', whilst in the same year he had a bit part in the biopic ''
After the Ball''.
Late in life, Victor toured internationally in the role of Alfred Doolittle in ''
My Fair Lady
''My Fair Lady'' is a musical based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 play ''Pygmalion'', with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The story concerns Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons f ...
'', performing the role on ''
The Ed Sullivan Show
''The Ed Sullivan Show'' is an American television variety show that ran on CBS from June 20, 1948, to March 28, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in September 1971 by the '' CBS Sunday Night M ...
'' on 19 March 1961 during a tribute to
Alan Jay Lerner
Alan Jay Lerner (August 31, 1918 – June 14, 1986) was an American lyricist and librettist. In collaboration with Frederick Loewe, and later Burton Lane, he created some of the world's most popular and enduring works of musical theatre bot ...
and
Frederick Loewe.
Selected filmography
* ''
Return of the Frog'' (1938) as Customer in Night Club (uncredited)
* ''
Hell's Cargo
''Hell's Cargo'' is a 1939 British adventure film directed by Harold Huth and starring Walter Rilla, Kim Peacock and Robert Newton.
It was made at Elstree Studios.Wood p.100 The film is a remake of the 1938 French hit '' Alert in the Mediterran ...
'' (1939) as Mr. Martin
* ''
Where's That Fire?
''Where's That Fire?'' is a 1940 British comedy film, produced by Twentieth Century Fox, directed by Marcel Varnel and starring Will Hay, Moore Marriott and Graham Moffatt. It was the last film Will Hay made with his most famous comic foils, Mo ...
'' (1939) as Garage Owner (uncredited)
* ''
Laugh It Off'' (1940) as Colonel
* ''
Contraband'' (1940) as Hendrick
* ''
Dr. O'Dowd'' (1940) as Dooley
* ''
Old Mother Riley in Society
''Old Mother Riley in Society'' is a low budget 1940 black and white British comedy film, directed by John Baxter, and starring Arthur Lucan and Kitty McShane. It is the fifth in the long running Old Mother Riley series, and features the screen ...
'' (1940) as Sir John Morgan
* ''
You Will Remember
''You Will Remember'' is a 1941 British musical drama film directed by Jack Raymond and starring Robert Morley, Emlyn Williams and Dorothy Hyson. It portrays the life of the composer Leslie Stuart. Featured songs include, '' Tell Me Pretty Maid ...
'' (1941) as Pat Barrett
* ''
Major Barbara
''Major Barbara'' is a three-act English play by George Bernard Shaw, written and premiered in 1905 and first published in 1907. The story concerns an idealistic young woman, Barbara Undershaft, who is engaged in helping the poor as a Major in ...
'' (1941) as Bilton
* ''
Old Mother Riley in Business
''Old Mother Riley in Business'' is a 1941 British comedy film directed by John Baxter and starring Arthur Lucan, Kitty McShane and Cyril Chamberlain. It was the sixth in the long-running Old Mother Riley series of films. Old Mother Riley's pu ...
'' (1941)
* ''
East of Piccadilly
''East of Piccadilly'' released in the US as ''The Strangler'' is a 1941 British mystery film based on a story by Gordon Beckles. It was directed by Harold Huth and starring Judy Campbell, Sebastian Shaw, Niall MacGinnis, Henry Edwards, Mar ...
'' (1941) as Editor
* ''
This England'' (1941)
* ''
Atlantic Ferry
''Atlantic Ferry'' (alternate U.S. title: ''Sons of the Sea'') is a 1941 British film directed by Walter Forde and starring Michael Redgrave and Valerie Hobson. It was made at Teddington Studios.
Plot
In 1837 Liverpool, brothers Charles and ...
'' (1941) as Tim Grogan
* ''
He Found a Star
''He Found a Star'' is a 1941 British musical film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Vic Oliver, Sarah Churchill (actress), Sarah Churchill and Evelyn Dall. It concerns a frustrated stage manager who quits his job and, with his secre ...
'' (1941) as Ben Marsh
* ''
49th Parallel'' (1941) as Andreas
* ''
Ships with Wings
''Ships with Wings'' is a 1941 British war film directed by Sergei Nolbandov and starring John Clements, Leslie Banks and Jane Baxter. The film is set during the Battle of Greece (1940-1941). It depicts military aviation.
Plot
During the S ...
'' (1941) as MacDermott
* ''
Rush Hour'' (1941, Short) as Bus Inspector (uncredited)
* ''
The Missing Million
''The Missing Million'' is a 1942 British crime film directed by Philip Brandon and starring Linden Travers, John Warwick and Patricia Hilliard. It is adapted from the 1923 novel '' The Missing Million'' by Edgar Wallace. A millionaire is perse ...
'' (1942) as Nobby Knowles
* ''
Breach of Promise
Breach of promise is a common law tort, abolished in many jurisdictions. It was also called breach of contract to marry,N.Y. Civil Rights Act article 8, §§ 80-A to 84. and the remedy awarded was known as heart balm.
From at least the Middle ...
'' (1942) as Sir William
* ''
The Next of Kin
''The Next of Kin'', also known as ''Next of Kin'', is a 1942 Second World War propaganda film produced by Ealing Studios. The film was originally commissioned by the British War Office as a training film to promote the government message tha ...
'' (1942) as Joe, Irish seaman
* ''
The Foreman Went to France
''The Foreman Went to France'' (released in the USA as ''Somewhere in France'' ) is a 1942 British Second World War war film starring Clifford Evans, Tommy Trinder, Constance Cummings and Gordon Jackson. It was based on the real-life wartime ex ...
'' (1942) as Aircraft Spotter on Works Roof
* ''
They Flew Alone
''They Flew Alone'' (released in the US as ''Wings and the Woman'') is a 1942 British biopic about aviator Amy Johnson directed and produced by Herbert Wilcox and starring Anna Neagle, Robert Newton and Edward Chapman. It was distributed in the ...
'' (1942) as Postmaster
* ''
Let the People Sing'' (1942) as Bit Role (uncredited)
* ''
Lady from Lisbon
''Lady from Lisbon'' is a 1942 British comedy film directed by Leslie S. Hiscott and starring Francis L. Sullivan, Jane Carr, Martita Hunt and Charles Victor.
It was shot at the Riverside Studios in London. The film's sets were designed by t ...
'' (1942) as Porter
* ''
Seven Days' Leave'' (1942) as Mr. Charles Victor
* ''
Those Kids from Town'' (1942) as Vicar
* ''
The Peterville Diamond
''The Peterville Diamond'' is a 1942 British comedy film directed by Walter Forde and starring Anne Crawford, Donald Stewart and Renee Houston. It is also known by the alternative title ''Jewel Robbery''. - from the 1931 play of the same title; ...
'' (1943) as Dan
* ''
Squadron Leader X
''Squadron Leader X'' is a 1943 British World War II spy drama directed by Lance Comfort and starring Eric Portman and Ann Dvorak. The screenplay was adapted by Miles Malleson and Wolfgang Wilhelm from a short story by Emeric Pressburger.
Plo ...
'' (1943) as Marks
* ''
The Silver Fleet
''The Silver Fleet'' is a 1943 British war film written and directed by Vernon Sewell and Gordon Wellesley and produced by Powell and Pressburger under the banner of "The Archers".
Plot
Early during the World War II, Second World War, the Nazi ...
'' (1943) as Bastiaan Peters
* ''
When We Are Married
''When We Are Married'' is a comedy by the English dramatist, J. B. Priestley, written in 1934. It was first performed in London at the St. Martin's Theatre, London on 11 October 1938, and transferred to the larger Prince's Theatre in March 1 ...
'' (1943) as Mr. Northrup
* ''
The Bells Go Down
''The Bells Go Down'' is a 1943 black-and-white wartime film made by Ealing Studios. The reference in the title is to the alarm bells in the fire station that "go down" when a call to respond is made. The film is an ensemble piece that covers ...
'' (1943) as Bill, Dunkirk Survivor (uncredited)
* ''
Undercover
To go "undercover" (that is, to go on an undercover operation) is to avoid detection by the object of one's observation, and especially to disguise one's own identity (or use an assumed identity) for the purposes of gaining the trust of an indi ...
'' (1943) as Sergeant
* ''
The Saint Meets the Tiger
''The Saint Meets the Tiger'' is the title of a crime thriller produced by the British unit of RKO Pictures, produced in 1941, but not released until 1943. This was to be the last of the eight films in RKO's film series about the crimefighter ...
'' (1943) as Bittle
* ''
Rhythm Serenade
''Rhythm Serenade'' is a 1943 British musical film directed by Gordon Wellesley and starring Vera Lynn, Peter Murray-Hill and Julien Mitchell.
It was shot at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. The film's sets were designed by the art dire ...
'' (1943) as Mr. Martin
* ''
Escape to Danger
''Escape to Danger'' is a 1943 British thriller film directed by Lance Comfort and Victor Hanbury and starring Eric Portman, Ann Dvorak and Karel Stepanek.
Plot
During the Second World War a British schoolteacher working in Denmark is caught u ...
'' (1943) as Petty Officer Flanagan
* ''
My Learned Friend
''My Learned Friend'' is a 1943 British, black-and-white, comedy, farce, directed by Basil Dearden with his regular collaborator, Will Hay, as the film's star in the role of William Fitch. The principal supporting roles were taken by Claude H ...
'' (1943) as 'Safety' Wilson
* ''
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 ...
'' (1943) as Pub Owner
* ''
San Demetrio London
''San Demetrio London'' is a 1943 British World War II docudrama based on the true story of the 1940 salvage of the tanker MV ''San Demetrio'' by some of her own crew, who reboarded her after she had been set on fire by the German heavy cruiser ...
'' (1943) as Deckhand
* ''
It Happened One Sunday
''It Happened One Sunday'' is a 1944 British romantic comedy film directed by Karel Lamač and starring Robert Beatty, Barbara White and Marjorie Rhodes. Produced and distributed by Associated British it was shot at Welwyn Studios with sets d ...
'' (1944) as Frisco Kid
* ''
The Man from Morocco
''The Man from Morocco'' is a 1945 British action adventure film directed by Mutz Greenbaum as Max Greene and starring Anton Walbrook, Margaretta Scott andMary Morris. The film was shot at Welwyn Studios of Associated British.
Plot
A group o ...
'' (1945) as Bourdille
* ''
I Live in Grosvenor Square
''I Live in Grosvenor Square'' is a British comedy-drama romance war film directed and produced by Herbert Wilcox. It was the first of Wilcox's "London films" collaboration with his wife, actress Anna Neagle. Her co-stars were Dean Jagger a ...
'' (1945) as Taxi Driver
* ''
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) as Corporal Fitter
* ''
The Rake's Progress
''The Rake's Progress'' is an English-language opera from 1951 in three acts and an epilogue by Igor Stravinsky. The libretto, written by W. H. Auden and Chester Kallman, is based loosely on the eight paintings and engravings '' A Rake's Prog ...
'' (1945) as Old Sweat
* ''
Caesar and Cleopatra'' (1945) as 1st. Porter
* ''
Gaiety George
''Gaiety George'' is a 1946 British historical musical film directed by George King and Leontine Sagan and starring Richard Greene, Ann Todd and Peter Graves.Harper p.179 It is set in the late Victorian music hall, when an Irish impresario ...
'' (1946) as Danny Collier
* ''
This Man Is Mine'' (1946) as Hijacker
* ''
The Magic Bow
''The Magic Bow'' is a 1946 British musical film based on the life and loves of the Italian violinist and composer Niccolò Paganini. It was directed by Bernard Knowles. The film was entered into the 1946 Cannes Film Festival.
Cast
* Stewart ...
'' (1946) as Peasant Driver
* ''
While the Sun Shines
''While the Sun Shines'' is a 1947 British comedy film directed by Anthony Asquith and starring Barbara White, Ronald Squire, Brenda Bruce, Bonar Colleano, and Michael Allan. It was based on Terence Rattigan's 1943 play of the same name.
Plot ...
'' (1947) as Tube Train Conductor
* ''
Woman to Woman'' (1947) as Stage Manager
* ''
Meet Me at Dawn
Meet may refer to:
People with the name
* Janek Meet (born 1974), Estonian footballer
* Meet Mukhi (born 2005), Indian child actor
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''Meet'' (TV series), an early Australian television series which aired on ABC du ...
'' (1947) as 1st Client
* ''
Temptation Harbour
''Temptation Harbour'' is a British black and white crime/drama film directed by Lance Comfort, released in 1947 based on the novel ''Newhaven-Dieppe'' (''L'Homme de Londres'') by Georges Simenon. The film was made at Welwyn Studios with sets ...
'' (1947) as Gowshall
* ''
Green Fingers
''Green Fingers'' is a 1947 British drama film directed by John Harlow and starring Robert Beatty, Carol Raye and Nova Pilbeam.
The film title does not use the term green fingers in its normal context, alluding to an untaught and natural skil ...
'' (1947) as Joe Mansel
* ''
While I Live
''While I Live'' is a 1947 British drama film directed and co-written by John Harlow and starring Sonia Dresdel, Tom Walls and Carol Raye. ''While I Live'' is best remembered for its musical theme "The Dream of Olwen" composed by Charles Willi ...
'' (1947) as Sgt. Pearne
* ''
The Calendar'' (1948) as John Dory
* ''
Broken Journey
''Broken Journey'' (also known as ''Rescue'') is a 1948 British drama film directed by Ken Annakin and featuring Phyllis Calvert, James Donald, Margot Grahame, Raymond Huntley and Guy Rolfe. ''Broken Journey'' deals with people struggling to sur ...
'' (1948) as Harry Gunn
* ''
Vote for Huggett
''Vote for Huggett'' is a 1949 British comedy film directed by Ken Annakin and starring Jack Warner, Kathleen Harrison, Susan Shaw and Petula Clark. Warner reprises his role as the head of a London family, in the post-war years.
In this, the t ...
'' (1949) as Mr. Hall
* ''
Fools Rush In'' (1949) as Mr. Atkins
* ''
Landfall
Landfall is the event of a storm moving over land after being over water. More broadly, and in relation to human travel, it refers to 'the first land that is reached or seen at the end of a journey across the sea or through the air, or the fact ...
'' (1949) as Mona's Father
* ''
The Cure for Love
''The Cure for Love'' is a 1949 British comedy film starring and directed by Robert Donat. The cast also includes Renee Asherson and Dora Bryan. The film was based on a hit play of the same name by Walter Greenwood about a mild-mannered soldier ...
'' (1949) as Henry Lancaster
* ''
Waterfront'' (1950) as Bill
* ''
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) as Albert Pollard
* ''
The Fighting Pimpernel
''The Elusive Pimpernel'' is a 1950 British period adventure film by the British-based director-writer team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, based on the novel ''The Scarlet Pimpernel'' (1905) by Baroness Emmuska Orczy. It was rel ...
'' (1950) as Colonel Winterbotham
* ''
The Galloping Major'' (1951) as Sam Fisher
* ''
Calling Bulldog Drummond
''Calling Bulldog Drummond'' is a 1951 British crime film directed by Victor Saville and featuring Walter Pidgeon, Margaret Leighton, Robert Beatty, David Tomlinson and Bernard Lee.''Harrison's Reports'' film review; 20 October 1951, page 167. ...
'' (1951) as Insp. McIver
* ''
The Magic Box
''The Magic Box'' is a 1951 British Technicolor biographical drama film directed by John Boulting. The film stars Robert Donat as William Friese-Greene, with numerous cameo appearances by performers such as Peter Ustinov and Laurence Olivie ...
'' (1951) as Industry Man
* ''
Encore
An encore is an additional performance given by performers after the planned show has ended, usually in response to extended applause from the audience.Lalange Cochrane, in ''Oxford Companion to Music'', Alison Latham, ed., Oxford University Pre ...
'' (1951) as Mr. Bateman (segment "The Ant and the Grasshopper")
* ''
The Frightened Man
''The Frightened Man'' is a 1952 British crime film directed by John Gilling and starring Dermot Walsh, Barbara Murray and Charles Victor. It is also known by the alternative title of ''Rosselli and Son'' and was shot at Twickenham and Riverside ...
'' (1952) as Rosselli
* ''
Something Money Can't Buy
''Something Money Can't Buy'' is a 1952 British comedy drama film directed by Pat Jackson and starring Patricia Roc, Anthony Steel and Moira Lister. The film was made with backing from the NFFC as part of its British Film-Makers project with t ...
'' (1952) as Borough Treasurer
* ''
The Ringer'' (1952) as Inspector Wembury
* ''
Made in Heaven
''Made in Heaven'' is the fifteenth studio album by the British rock band Queen, released on 6 November 1995 by Parlophone Records in the United Kingdom and by Hollywood Records in the United States. It was the band's first and only release s ...
'' (1952) as Aubrey Topham
* ''
Appointment in London
''Appointment in London'' (known as ''Raiders in the Sky'' in the U.S.) is a 1953 British war film set during the Second World War and starring Dirk Bogarde. The film was directed by Philip Leacock and based on a story by John Wooldridge, who ...
'' (1952) as Dobbie
* ''
Those People Next Door'' (1953) as Joe Higgins
* ''
Street Corner'' (1953) as Muller
* ''
Murder Without Tears
''Murder Without Tears'' is a 1953 American thriller film directed by William Beaudine, starring Craig Stevens, Joyce Holden and Richard Benedict.
Cast
* Craig Stevens as Detective Sergeant Steve O'Malley
* Joyce Holden as Joyce Fitzgerald
...
'' (1953)
* ''
The Saint's Return
''The Saint's Return'' (released in the US as ''The Saint's Girl Friday'') is a British crime thriller film from 1953, produced by Hammer Film Productions in London.
It premiered in London under the original title on 12 October 1953 '' (1953) as Chief Insp. Claud Teal
* ''
Meet Mr. Lucifer
''Meet Mr. Lucifer'' is a black-and-white British comedy satire film released in 1953 starring Stanley Holloway. It was filmed at Ealing Studios, London, and is one of the Ealing comedies. The film is based on the play ''Beggar My Neighbour'' by ...
'' (1953) as Mr. Elder
* ''
The Girl on the Pier
''The Girl on the Pier'' is a 1953 British crime film produced by John Temple-Smith, directed by Lance Comfort and starring Veronica Hurst, Ron Randell, Brian Roper, Campbell Singer and Anthony Valentine.
Plot
Inspector Chubb (Charles Vict ...
'' (1953) as Inspector Chubb
* ''
The Love Lottery
''The Love Lottery'' is a 1954 British comedy film directed by Charles Crichton and starring David Niven, Peggy Cummins, Anne Vernon and Herbert Lom. Produced by Ealing Studios it was one of several Ealing Comedies that veered away from the stan ...
'' (1954) as Jennings
* ''
Fast and Loose'' (1954) as Lumper
* ''
The Rainbow Jacket
''The Rainbow Jacket'' is a 1954 British drama film directed by Basil Dearden, and featuring Robert Morley, Kay Walsh, Bill Owen, Honor Blackman and Sid James. It was made at Ealing Studios produced by Michael Balcon and Michael Relph and sho ...
'' (1954) as Voss
* ''
The Embezzler'' (1954) as Henry Paulson
* ''
For Better, for Worse'' (1954) as Fred
* ''
Police Dog'' (1955) as Sergeant
* ''
Value for Money
In economics, economic value is a measure of the benefit provided by a good or service to an economic agent. It is generally measured through units of currency, and the interpretation is therefore "what is the maximum amount of money a specif ...
'' (1955) as Lumm
* ''
An Alligator Named Daisy
''An Alligator Named Daisy'' is a 1955 British comedy film directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring Donald Sinden, Jeannie Carson, James Robertson Justice, Diana Dors, Roland Culver and Stanley Holloway.
Plot
Returning from a cricket match in I ...
'' (1955) as Police Sergeant (uncredited)
* ''
Dial 999'' (1955) as Tom Smithers
* ''
Now and Forever'' (1956) as Farmer Gilbert
* ''
Charley Moon'' (1956) as Miller Moon
* ''
The Extra Day
''The Extra Day'' is a 1956 British comedy-drama film directed by William Fairchild and starring Richard Basehart, Simone Simon and George Baker.
Plot
After the final scene of a film is lost by the driver taking it to the printing lab, the ca ...
'' (1956) as Bert
* ''
Eyewitness'' (1956) as Police Desk Sergeant
* ''
Home and Away'' (1956) as Ted Groves
* ''
Tiger in the Smoke
''Tiger in the Smoke'' is a 1956 British crime film directed by Roy Ward Baker (billed as Roy Baker) and starring Donald Sinden, Muriel Pavlow, Tony Wright, Bernard Miles and Christopher Rhodes. It is based on the 1952 novel '' The Tiger in the ...
'' (1956) as Will
* ''
There's Always a Thursday
''There's Always a Thursday'' is a 1957 British crime film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Charles Victor, Jill Ireland, Lloyd Lamble and Robert Raglan. Much of the film was shot at Southall Studios.
Premise
Comedy about a down-trod ...
'' (1957) as George Potter
* ''
The Prince and the Showgirl
''The Prince and the Showgirl'' (originally titled '' The Sleeping Prince'') is a 1957 British romantic comedy film starring Marilyn Monroe and Laurence Olivier, who also served as director and producer. The screenplay written by Terence Rattig ...
'' (1957) as Theatre Manager
* ''
After the Ball'' (1957) as Stagehand
* ''
Band of Angels
''Band of Angels'' is a 1957 psychological drama film set in the American South before and during the American Civil War, based on the 1955 novel of the same name by Robert Penn Warren. It starred Clark Gable, Yvonne De Carlo and Sidney Poitier ...
'' (1957) as Officer (uncredited)
* ''
Passion Holiday'' (1963) (uncredited)
* ''
Made in Paris
''Made in Paris'' is a 1966 American romantic comedy film starring Louis Jourdan, Ann-Margret, Richard Crenna, Edie Adams, and Chad Everett. The film was written by Stanley Roberts and directed by Boris Sagal.
Plot
A redheaded American girl fr ...
'' (1966) as Livingston (uncredited)
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Victor, Charles
English male film actors
English male television actors
1896 births
1965 deaths
People from Southport
Male actors from Lancashire
20th-century British male actors
20th-century English male actors