Donald Daniel Houston (6 November 1923 – 13 October 1991) was a

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

actor whose first two films—'' The Blue Lagoon'' (1949) with Jean Simmons, and ''

A Run for Your Money ''A Run for Your Money'' is a 1949 Ealing Studios comedy film starring Donald Houston and Meredith Edwards as two Welshmen visiting London for the first time. The supporting cast includes Alec Guinness, Moira Lister and Hugh Griffith. Plot T ...

'' (1949) with

Alec Guinness Sir Alec Guinness (born Alec Guinness de Cuffe; 2 April 1914 – 5 August 2000) was an English actor. After an early career on the stage, Guinness was featured in several of the Ealing comedies, including ''Kind Hearts and Coronets'' (194 ...

—were highly successful. Later in his career he was cast in military roles and in comedies such as the ''

Doctor Doctor or The Doctor may refer to: Personal titles * Doctor (title), the holder of an accredited academic degree * A medical practitioner, including: ** Physician ** Surgeon ** Dentist ** Veterinary physician ** Optometrist *Other roles ** ...

'' and ''

Carry On Carry On may refer to: * ''Carry On'' (franchise), a British comedy media franchise *Carry-on luggage or hand luggage, luggage that is carried into the passenger compartment * ''Carry On'' (film), a 1927 British silent film * ''Carry On'' (novel), ...

'' series.

Early life

Houston was born in 10 Thomas Street, Tonypandy, on Tuesday 6 November 1923 in the village of Clydach Vale, near

Tonypandy Tonypandy is a town, community and electoral ward located in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales, lying in the Rhondda Fawr Valley. A former industrial coal mining town, the town was ...

Glamorgan , HQ = Cardiff , Government = Glamorgan County Council (1889–1974) , Origin= , Code = GLA , CodeName = Chapman code , Replace = * West Glamorgan * Mid Glamorgan * South Glamorgan , Motto ...

and was the elder brother of actor

Glyn Houston Glyn Houston (23 October 1925 – 30 June 2019) was a Welsh actor best known for his television work. He was the younger brother of film actor Donald Houston. Early life Glyndwr Desmond Houston was born at 10 Thomas Street, Tonypandy, Glamorgan ...

and a sister, Jean. His father Alexander Houston, was a professional football player from Scotland, and his mother Elsie M Jones, ran a milk round. Following the death of their mother at age 29, Donald and brother

were raised by their grandmother while their father had to leave Wales in order to find work. After leaving school he worked at a local

colliery Coal mining is the process of extracting coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from ...

before deciding to start an acting career. In 1940 he performed on stage with the Pilgrim Players. He served in the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...

during the

Second World War 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 vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

as a rear gunner and radio officer.

Acting career

Houston had a successful career as a character actor in British film and television, with prominent parts in several well-known films, including '' Yangtse Incident'' (1957), '' The Longest Day'' (1962, in which he appeared alongside

Richard Burton Richard Burton (; born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr.; 10 November 1925 – 5 August 1984) was a Welsh actor. Noted for his baritone voice, Burton established himself as a formidable Shakespearean actor in the 1950s, and he gave a memorable pe ...

), ''

633 Squadron ''633 Squadron'' is a 1964 British / American war film directed by Walter Grauman and starring Cliff Robertson, George Chakiris, and Maria Perschy. The plot, which involves the exploits of a fictional World War II British bomber squadron, wa ...

'' (1964), ''

Where Eagles Dare ''Where Eagles Dare'' is a 1968 war film directed by Brian G. Hutton and starring Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood and Mary Ure. It follows a joint British-American Special Operations Executive team of paratroopers raiding a castle (shot on lo ...

'' (1968, again with Burton) and ''

The Sea Wolves ''The Sea Wolves'' is a 1980 war film starring Gregory Peck, Roger Moore and David Niven. The film, which is based on the 1978 book ''Boarding Party'' by James Leasor, is a fictionalised account of Operation Creek during the Second World War. ...

'' (1981). He would sometimes indulge his Welsh accent, and at other times conceal it behind an English public school voice. His forte tended to be authority figures, often military, such as the brilliant but tough David Caulder, the head of ''

Moonbase 3 ''Moonbase 3'' is a British science fiction television programme that ran for six episodes in 1973. It was a co-production between the BBC, 20th Century Fox and the American ABC network. Created by ''Doctor Who'' producer Barry Letts and s ...

'', or Dr Francis in "Thirteen to Centaurus" (from the anthology series ''

Out of the Unknown ''Out of the Unknown'' is a British television science fiction anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and broadcast on BBC2 in four series between 1965 and 1971. Most episodes of the first three series were a dramatisation of a science f ...

''). He could also handle comedy, as he proved with ''

Doctor in the House ''Doctor in the House'' is a 1954 British comedy film directed by Ralph Thomas and produced by Betty Box. The screenplay, by Nicholas Phipps, Richard Gordon and Ronald Wilkinson, is based on the 1952 novel by Gordon, and follows a group of st ...

'' (1954) and the later '' Doctor in Distress'' (1963), both significant successes in Europe, and ''

Carry On Jack ''Carry On Jack'' is a 1964 British comedy film, the eighth in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992). Most of the usual ''Carry On'' team are missing from this film: only Kenneth Williams and Charles Hawtrey appear throughout, wi ...

'' (1963). Though preferring quality parts, he was not above journeyman work in films such as ''

Maniac Maniac (from Greek μανιακός, ''maniakos'') is a pejorative for an individual who experiences the mood known as mania. In common usage, it is also an insult for someone involved in reckless behavior. Maniac may also refer to: Film * ' ...

'' (1963) and ''

Tales That Witness Madness ''Tales That Witness Madness'' is a 1973 British anthology horror film produced by Norman Priggen, directed by veteran horror director Freddie Francis, written by actress Jennifer Jayne. The film was one of several in a series of anthology f ...

'' (1973).

Death

He died on 13 October 1991, of a stroke. The house in which he was born in Tonypandy, Rhondda is marked with a

Blue Plaque A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place in the United Kingdom and elsewhere to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person, event, or former building on the site, serving as a historical marker. The term i ...

historical marker. The unveiling ceremony was attended by Donald's daughter Sian, his granddaughter Michela, his sister Jean Rees and other family members and friends. Historian Peter Stead spoke about Donald Houston's British film career at the plaque unveiling ceremony.

Selected filmography

* '' The Blue Lagoon'' (1949) as Michael Reynolds * ''

'' (1949) as Dai * ''

Dance Hall Dance hall in its general meaning is a hall for Dance, dancing. From the earliest years of the twentieth century until the early 1960s, the dance hall was the popular forerunner of the discothèque or nightclub. The majority of towns and citi ...

'' (1950) as Phil * ''

Crow Hollow ''Crow Hollow'' is a 1952 British mystery film directed by Michael McCarthy and starring Donald Houston, Natasha Parry and Patricia Owens. It is based on the 1950 novel ''Crow Hollow'' by Dorothy Eden. In the film, newlywed Ann Amour survives ...

'' (1952) as Dr. Robert Amour * ''

My Death Is a Mockery My or MY may refer to: Arts and entertainment * My (radio station), a Malaysian radio station * Little My, a fictional character in the Moomins universe * ''My'' (album), by Edyta Górniak * ''My'' (EP), by Cho Mi-yeon Business * Market ...

'' (1952) * ''

The Red Beret ''The Red Beret'' (aka ''The Red Devils'', ''The Big Jump'' and retitled ''Paratrooper'' for the US release) is a 1953 British-American war film directed by Terence Young and starring Alan Ladd, Leo Genn and Susan Stephen. ''The Red Beret'' is ...

'' (1953) as Taffy * ''

The Large Rope ''The Large Rope'' (also known as ''The Long Rope'') is a 1953 British crime film directed by Wolf Rilla and starring Donald Houston, Susan Shaw and Robert Brown. Plot After his release from prison a man returns to his village, where he is acc ...

'' (1953) as Tom Penney * '' Small Town Story'' (1953) as Tony Warren * ''

'' (1954) as Taffy Evans * ''

The Happiness of Three Women ''The Happiness of Three Women'' is a 1954 British drama film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Brenda de Banzie, Donald Houston and Petula Clark. The film was released on the Odeon Circuit as a double bill with ''The Crowded Day''.Chibna ...

'' (1954) as John * ''

Devil's Point The Devil's Point (Scottish Gaelic: Bod an Deamhain) is a mountain in the Cairngorms of Scotland, lying to the west of the Lairig Ghru pass. The Gaelic name means "Penis of the Demon". The English name is a result of a visit to the area by Queen ...

'' (1954) as Michael Mallard * '' The Flaw'' (1955) as John Millway * '' Doublecross'' (1956) as Albert Pascoe * '' Find the Lady'' (1956) as Bill * '' The Girl in the Picture'' (1957) as Jon Deering * '' Yangtse Incident'' (1957) as Lt Weston RN * ''

The Surgeon's Knife ''The Surgeon's Knife'' is a 1957 British crime film directed by Gordon Parry and starring Donald Houston, Adrienne Corri and Lyndon Brook. It is an adaptation of the 1940 novel '' The Wicked Flee'' by Anne Hocking. Synopsis When his patient ...

'' (1957) as Dr. Alex Waring * ''

A Question of Adultery ''A Question of Adultery'' (U.S. title: ''The Case of Mrs. Loring'') is a 1958 British drama film directed by Don Chaffey and starring Julie London and Anthony Steel. The film was reportedly based on the 1948 play ''A Breach of Marriage'' by ...

'' (1958) as Mr. Jacobus * '' The Man Upstairs'' (1958) as Dr. Sanderson * '' Room at the Top'' (1959) as Charles Soames * ''

Danger Within ''Danger Within'' (American title: ''Breakout'') is a 1959 British war film set in a prisoner of war camp in Northern Italy during the summer of 1943. A combination of POW escape drama and whodunit, the movie is based upon the 1952 novel '' Deat ...

'' (1959) as Capt. Roger Byfold * '' The Mark'' (1961) as Austin * ''

Twice Round the Daffodils ''Twice Round the Daffodils'' is a 1962 British comedy film directed by Gerald Thomas and starring Juliet Mills, Donald Sinden, Donald Houston, Kenneth Williams, Ronald Lewis, Andrew Ray, Joan Sims and Jill Ireland. The film was adapted from the ...

'' (1962) as John Rhodes * ''

The 300 Spartans ''The 300 Spartans'' is a 1962 CinemaScope epic film depicting the Battle of Thermopylae. Made with the cooperation of the Greek government, it was shot in the village of Perachora in the Peloponnese. The working title was ''Lion of Sparta''. It ...

'' (1962) as Hydarnes * '' The Longest Day'' (1962) as RAF Pilot * ''

'' (1963) as Henri * '' Doctor in Distress'' (1963) as Maj. Tommy Ffrench * ''

'' (1963) as First Officer Jonathan Howett * ''

'' (1964) as Group Capt. Don Barrett * ''

Danger Man ''Danger Man'' (retitled ''Secret Agent'' in the United States for the revived series, and ''Destination Danger'' and ''John Drake'' in other overseas markets) is a British television series that was broadcast between 1960 and 1962, and again b ...

'' Episode: 'The Mirror's New' (TV series 1965) - Edward Bierce * '' A Study in Terror'' (1965) as Doctor Watson * ''

Gideon's Way ''Gideon's Way'' is a British television crime series made by ITC Entertainment and broadcast by ITV in 1964–1966, based on novels by John Creasey (writing as 'J. J. Marric'). The series was made at Elstree Studios in twin production with '' ...

'' Episode: 'Fall High, Fall Hard' (TV series 1965) - Tony Erickson (his actor brother Glyn Houston also appeared in the episode) * ''

'' Episode: 'Thirteen to Centaurus' (TV series 1965) - Dr. Francis * ''

The Viking Queen ''The Viking Queen'' is a 1967 Hammer adventure film directed by Don Chaffey and starring Don Murray. It is set in Roman Britain. The title of the film caused much confusion, because there are no Norse Vikings in the movie. However, there is a ...

'' (1967) as Maelgan * ''

'' (1968) as Capt. Olaf Christiansen * ''

The Bushbaby ''The Bushbaby'' is a 1969 American film based on the novel ''The Bushbabies'' (1965) by William Stevenson and adapted by Robert Maxwell. It was directed and produced by John Trent and stars Margaret Brooks and Lou Gossett in the leading roles, ...

'' (1969) as John Leeds * '' My Lover My Son'' (1970) as Robert * '' Now Take My Wife'' (1971) as Harry Love * ''

'' (1973) as Sam Patterson (segment 1 "Mr. Tiger") * ''

Voyage of the Damned ''Voyage of the Damned'' is a 1976 drama film directed by Stuart Rosenberg, with an all-star cast featuring Faye Dunaway, Oskar Werner, Lee Grant, Max von Sydow, James Mason, and Malcolm McDowell. The story was inspired by actual events conc ...

'' (1976) as Dr. Glauner * ''

'' (1980) as Hilliard * '' Clash of the Titans'' (1981) as Acrisius

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Houston, Donald 1923 births 1991 deaths Welsh male film actors Welsh male television actors Welsh people of Scottish descent People from Clydach Vale 20th-century Welsh male actors British male comedy actors Royal Air Force personnel of World War II Royal Air Force officers