David Stanley Kernan (born 23 June 1938) is an English actor and singer, best known as an interpreter of the songs of
Stephen Sondheim.
He has appeared in stage musicals and was a soloist in British TV variety shows of the 1960s and 1970s including ''
That Was the Week That Was
''That Was the Week That Was'', informally ''TWTWTW'' or ''TW3'', is a satirical television comedy programme that aired on BBC Television in 1962 and 1963. It was devised, produced, and directed by Ned Sherrin and Jack (aka John) Duncan, and pr ...
'' (1962–3).
Career
Theatre
In 1970 he appeared in the original London production of the musical ''
1776 (musical)''. He played the role of Count Malcolm in the original London production of Sondheim's ''
A Little Night Music
''A Little Night Music'' is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. Inspired by the 1955 Ingmar Bergman film ''Smiles of a Summer Night'', it involves the romantic lives of several couples. Its title is a ...
''. In 1977 he was nominated for a
for his appearance in the original Broadway cast of ''
Side by Side by Sondheim
''Side by Side by Sondheim'' is a musical revue featuring the songs of Broadway and film composer Stephen Sondheim. Its title is derived from the song "Side by Side by Side" from '' Company''.
History
The musical had its origins when David ...
''. He also made two appearances on BBC TV's long running Edwardian Old Time Music Hall variety show, ''The Good Old Days'', in the 1970s and 80s.
In 1986 he conceived and directed the Broadway production of ''Jerome Kern Goes to Hollywood'', a musical revue. He also collaborated with
Dick Vosburgh
Richard Kennedy Vosburgh (27 August 1929 – 18 April 2007) was a Grammy-nominated, Tony-nominated American-born comedy writer and lyricist working chiefly in Britain.
Early life
Vosburgh was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He persuaded his ...
and
Robin Ray
Robin Ray (17 September 1934 – 29 November 1998[Roger T. Stearn, "Ray, Robin (1 ...](_blank)
on a production of ''Noel/Cole Let's do it'', celebrating the work of Noël Coward and Cole Porter. Originally a one-off production at the Barbican in aid of the Terence Higgins Trust, it later opened the 1994 season of the Performing Arts Foundation of Memphis Tennessee and ran for a season at
Chichester Festival Theatre
Chichester Festival Theatre is a theatre and Grade II* listed building situated in Oaklands Park in the city of Chichester, West Sussex, England. Designed by Philip Powell and Hidalgo Moya, it was opened by its founder Leslie Evershed-Mart ...
before touring.
Television
In the 1970s television period drama ''
Upstairs, Downstairs'', he played the role of Captain Charles Hammond, the young lover of
Lady Marjorie Bellamy
The Lady Marjorie Helen Sybil Bellamy (''nee'' Talbot-Carey; 6 May 1860 or 12 July 1864 – 15 April 1912) is a fictional character in the ITV drama '' Upstairs, Downstairs''. She was portrayed by Rachel Gurney.
Early life
Lady Marjorie ...
, in the episode "
Magic Casements".
He also had a small but memorable role in two separate episodes of "
The Avengers" - as an amateur radio enthusiast and chess player in "Never, Never Say Die," and as a shoe salesman in "Quick Quick, Slow Death."
He co-starred as Mr. Kodaly opposite
Robin Ellis
Anthony Robin Ellis (born 8 January 1942) is a British actor and cookbook writer best known for his role as Captain Ross Poldark in 29 episodes of the BBC classic series ''Poldark'', adapted from a series of books by the British author Winsto ...
in the 1980s TV version of the popular Christmas musical, "
She Loves Me
''She Loves Me'' is a musical with a book by Joe Masteroff, music by Jerry Bock, and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick.
The musical is the third adaptation of the 1937 play '' Parfumerie'' by Hungarian playwright Miklós László, following the 194 ...
."
Movies
Kernan also had small roles in several films, including ''
Gaolbreak
''Gaolbreak'' is a 1962 British crime film directed by Francis Searle and starring Peter Reynolds, Avice Landone and Carol White.
Plot
A family of thieves plan a jewellery store robbery. One of them is the safecracking expert, and when he i ...
'' (1962), ''
Mix Me a Person
''Mix Me a Person'' is a 1962 British crime drama film directed by Leslie Norman, starring Anne Baxter, Donald Sinden, Adam Faith, Walter Brown and Carole Ann Ford. The screenplay concerns a young London criminal who is faced with being hang ...
'' (1962), ''
Farewell Performance
''Farewell Performance'' is a 1963 British crime film directed by Robert Tronson and starring David Kernan, Frederick Jaeger and Delphi Lawrence. It is considered a lost film and is on the BFI National Archive's 75 Most Wanted List of missi ...
'' (1963), ''
Zulu'' (1964), ''
Otley
Otley is a market town and civil parish at a bridging point on the River Wharfe, in the City of Leeds metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, the population was 13,668 at the 20 ...
'' (1968), ''
Up the Chastity Belt
''Up the Chastity Belt'' (also released as ''Naughty Knights'' in the United States) is a 1971 British comedy film directed by Bob Kellett and starring Frankie Howerd. It was a spin-off from the TV series '' Up Pompeii!''
Plot
Eleanor of Aquit ...
'' (1971) and ''
Carry On Abroad
''Carry On Abroad'' is a 1972 British comedy film, the 24th release in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992). The film features series regulars Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Joan Sims, Bernard Bresslaw, Barbara Windsor, Kenneth Con ...
'' (1972).
Filmography
References
External links
*
David KernanBFI
The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves film-making and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery (United Kingdom), National Lot ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kernan, David
1938 births
English male musical theatre actors
English male singers
Living people
Male actors from London
English male film actors