George Authur Woodbridge (16 February 1907 – 31 March 1973) was an English actor who appeared in films, television, and theatre ranging from the 1930s to the 1970s. George became well known for his ruddy-cheeked complexion and

West Country The West Country (occasionally Westcountry) is a loosely defined area of South West England, usually taken to include all, some, or parts of the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Bristol, and, less commonly, Wiltshire, Glouce ...

accent, this meant he often played publicans, policemen or yokels, most prominently in horror and comedy films alongside

Christopher Lee Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee (27 May 1922 – 7 June 2015) was an English actor and singer. In a long career spanning more than 60 years, Lee often portrayed villains, and appeared as Count Dracula in seven Hammer Horror films, ultimat ...

and

Peter Cushing Peter Wilton Cushing (26 May 1913 – 11 August 1994) was an English actor. His acting career spanned over six decades and included appearances in more than 100 films, as well as many television, stage, and radio roles. He achieved recognition ...

Personal life

Woodbridge was born in Exeter, England,McFarlane, Brian (28 February 2014). ''The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition''. Oxford University Press. p. 839; where he was raised and lived most of his life. He died in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

in 1973.

Career

Woodbridge became a Chief Steward in the Merchant Navy before becoming an actor, first appearing on the London stage in 1928. He made his film debut in 1940 in '' The Big Blockade'', he went on to appear in films such as '' Green for Danger'' (1946), '' The Fallen Idol'' (1948), '' The Queen of Spades'' (1949), ''

Stryker of the Yard ''Stryker of the Yard'' (also known as ''Stryker of Scotland Yard'' and ''Scotland Yard Cases'' ) is a 1953 British crime film directed by Arthur Crabtree and starring Clifford Evans, Susan Stephen, Jack Watling and Eliot Makeham. A second c ...

'' (1953), ''

An Inspector Calls ''An Inspector Calls'' is a play written by English dramatist J. B. Priestley, first performed in the Soviet Union in 1945 and at the New Theatre in London the following year. It is one of Priestley's best-known works for the stage and is co ...

'' (1954), and ''

Richard III Richard III (2 October 145222 August 1485) was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 26 June 1483 until his death in 1485. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty. His defeat and death at the Bat ...

'' (1955). His horror film roles include the innkeeper in ''

Dracula ''Dracula'' is a novel by Bram Stoker, published in 1897. As an epistolary novel, the narrative is related through letters, diary entries, and newspaper articles. It has no single protagonist, but opens with solicitor Jonathan Harker taki ...

'' (1958) and its sequel '' Dracula: Prince of Darkness'' (1966), as well as parts in ''

The Revenge of Frankenstein ''The Revenge of Frankenstein'' is a 1958 Technicolor British horror film made by Hammer Film Productions. Directed by Terence Fisher, the film stars Peter Cushing, Francis Matthews, Michael Gwynn and Eunice Gayson. In the United States, it was ...

'' (1958), ''

Jack the Ripper Jack the Ripper was an unidentified serial killer active in and around the impoverished Whitechapel district of London, England, in the autumn of 1888. In both criminal case files and the contemporaneous journalistic accounts, the killer ...

'' (1959), '' The Flesh and the Fiends'' (1959), '' The Curse of the Werewolf'' (1961), '' The Reptile'' (1966) and '' Doomwatch'' (1972). He also appeared in two M.R. James adaptations on television, in the '' Mystery and Imagination'' episode "Room 13" and the 1968 ''

Omnibus Omnibus may refer to: Film and television * ''Omnibus'' (film) * Omnibus (broadcast), a compilation of Radio or TV episodes * ''Omnibus'' (UK TV series), an arts-based documentary programme * ''Omnibus'' (U.S. TV series), an educational progr ...

'' episode, "

Whistle and I'll Come to You "Whistle and I'll Come to You" is a 1968 BBC television drama adaptation of the 1904 ghost story 'Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad' by M. R. James. It tells of an eccentric and distracted professor who happens upon a strange whistle wh ...

". His jovial manner lent itself to comedy films as well, including '' An Alligator Named Daisy'' (1955), ''

Three Men in a Boat ''Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog)'',The Penguin edition punctuates the title differently: ''Three Men in a Boat: To Say Nothing of the Dog!'' published in 1889, is a humorous account by English writer Jerome K. Jerome of a tw ...

'' (1956), '' Two-Way Stretch'' (1960), '' Raising the Wind'' (1961), '' What a Carve Up!'' (1961), '' Only Two Can Play'' (1962), '' Nurse on Wheels'' (1963), ''

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 collabor ...

'' (1963), '' Carry On Jack'' (1963), '' Take a Girl Like You'' (1970), '' All the Way Up'' (1970), and '' Up Pompeii'' (1971). He also appeared as the sergeant in the

featurettes during the 1950s. He first appeared on television before 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 World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

, and went on to appear in ''

Jude the Obscure ''Jude the Obscure'' is a novel by Thomas Hardy, which began as a magazine serial in December 1894 and was first published in book form in 1895 (though the title page says 1896). It is Hardy's last completed novel. The protagonist, Jude Fawley ...

'' (1971), '' Adam Adamant Lives!'', ''

Armchair Theatre ''Armchair Theatre'' is a British television drama anthology series of single plays that ran on the ITV network from 1956 to 1974. It was originally produced by ABC Weekend TV. Its successor Thames Television took over from mid-1968. The Canad ...

'', ''

Benny Hill Alfred Hawthorne "Benny" Hill (21 January 1924 – 20 April 1992) was an English comedian, actor, singer and writer. He is remembered for his television programme ''The Benny Hill Show'', an amalgam of slapstick, burlesque and double ente ...

'', ''

Dixon of Dock Green ''Dixon of Dock Green'' was a BBC police procedural television series about daily life at a fictional London police station, with the emphasis on petty crime, successfully controlled through common sense and human understanding. It ran from 19 ...

'', ''

The Forsyte Saga ''The Forsyte Saga'', first published under that title in 1922, is a series of three novels and two interludes published between 1906 and 1921 by the English author John Galsworthy, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature. They chronicle the vici ...

'', ''

The Persuaders! ''The Persuaders!'' is an action-comedy series starring Tony Curtis and Roger Moore, produced by ITC Entertainment, and initially broadcast on ITV and ABC in 1971. The show has been called 'the last major entry in the cycle of adventure se ...

'' and '' Softly Softly''. He gained popularity late in his career as the titular puppet-maker in the children's TV show '' Inigo Pipkin''. He died five weeks into the filming of the second series, an occurrence which was dealt with in the programme's storyline. The series continued for another seven years however under the title, '' Pipkins''.

Selected filmography

* '' Tower of Terror'' (1941) - Gruppenfuhrer Rudolf Jurgens * '' The Black Sheep of Whitehall'' (1942) - Male Nurse * '' The Big Blockade'' (1942) - Quisling * '' The Day Will Dawn'' (1942) - Journalist Sitting at Bar in Pub (uncredited) * ''

The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp ''The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp'' is a 1943 British romantic drama war film written, produced and directed by the British film making team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. It stars Roger Livesey, Deborah Kerr and Anton Walbrook. ...

'' (1943) - Man with Debris Clearing Unit (uncredited) * '' Escape to Danger'' (1943) - (uncredited) * '' I See a Dark Stranger'' (1946) - Walter * ''

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 set ...

'' (1947) - Frost * '' Green for Danger'' (1947) - Det.-Sgt. Hendricks * ''

The October Man ''The October Man'' is a 1947 mystery film/film noir starring John Mills and Joan Greenwood, written by novelist Eric Ambler, who also produced. A man is suspected of murder, and the lingering effects of a brain injury he sustained in an earlie ...

'' (1947) - Grey * ''

Blanche Fury ''Blanche Fury'' is a 1948 British Technicolor drama film directed by Marc Allégret and starring Valerie Hobson, Stewart Granger and Michael Gough. It was adapted from a 1939 novel of the same title by Joseph Shearing. In Victorian era Engla ...

'' (1948) - Aimes * '' Escape'' (1948) - Farmer Browning (uncredited) * '' My Brother Jonathan'' (1948) - Stevens * '' The Red Shoes'' (1948) - Doorman - Covent Garden (uncredited) * '' The Fallen Idol'' (1948) - Police Sergeant * '' Silent Dust'' (1949) - Foreman * '' The Queen of Spades'' (1949) - Vassili * '' Children of Chance'' (1949) - Butcher * ''

Double Confession ''Double Confession'' is a 1950 British crime film directed by Ken Annakin and starring Derek Farr, Joan Hopkins, William Hartnell and Peter Lorre. The screenplay, written by William Templeton, is based on the novel, ''All On A Summer's ...

'' (1950) - Sgt. Sawnton * ''

The Black Rose ''The Black Rose'' is a 1950 American-British adventure film directed by Henry Hathaway and starring Tyrone Power and Orson Welles. Talbot Jennings' screenplay was loosely based on a 1945 novel of the same name by Canadian author Thomas B. C ...

'' (1950) - Warder (uncredited) * '' The Naked Heart'' (1950) - Samuel Chapdelaine * '' Murder in the Cathedral'' (1951) - 2nd Tempter * ''

Cloudburst A cloudburst is an extreme amount of precipitation in a short period of time, sometimes accompanied by hail and thunder, which is capable of creating flood conditions. Cloudbursts can quickly dump large amounts of water, e.g. 25 mm of pre ...

'' (1951) - Sergeant Ritchie * '' The Crimson Pirate'' (1952) - Pirate (uncredited) * '' The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan'' (1953) - Reporter * '' The Flanagan Boy'' (1953) - Police Inspector (uncredited) * ''

'' (1953) - Sgt. Hawker * ''

'' (1954) - Fish & Chip Shop Owner * ''

Conflict of Wings ''Conflict of Wings'' is a 1954 British comedy drama film directed by John Eldridge and starring John Gregson, Muriel Pavlow and Kieron Moore. The film is based on a novel of the same title by Don Sharp who later became a noted director. It ...

'' (1954) - 'Old Circular' * '' For Better, for Worse'' (1954) - Alf * '' The Crowded Day'' (1954) - Mr. Bunting's Friend * '' Third Party Risk'' (1954) - Inspector Goldfinch * '' Isn't Life Wonderful!'' (1954) - Cockie * '' The Green Carnation'' (1954) - Farmer * '' Mad About Men'' (1954) - Fisherman Outside Pub (uncredited) * '' Companions in Crime'' (1954) - Sergeant Hawker * '' Passage Home'' (1955) - Yorkie * '' The Constant Husband'' (1955) - Old Bailey Warder (uncredited) * ''

'' (1955) - Lord Mayor of London * '' An Alligator Named Daisy'' (1955) - PC Jorkins (uncredited) * ''

A Yank in Ermine ''A Yank in Ermine'' is a 1955 British comedy film directed by Gordon Parry and starring Peter Thompson, Noelle Middleton, Harold Lloyd Jr. and Diana Decker, and featuring Jon Pertwee and Sid James. It was adapted by John Paddy Carstairs from h ...

'' (1955) - Landlord * '' Lost'' (1956) - Mr. Carter, garage proprietor/taxi driver (uncredited) * '' Now and Forever'' (1956) - Policeman Charlie (uncredited) * ''

Eyewitness Eyewitness or eye witness may refer to: Witness * Witness, someone who has knowledge acquired through first-hand experience ** Eyewitness memory ** Eyewitness testimony Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Eyewitness'' (1956 film), a Britis ...

'' (1956) - Hospital Security Man * ''

'' (1956) - Policeman * '' The Passionate Stranger'' (1957) - 1st Landlord * ''

The Good Companions ''The Good Companions'' is a novel by the English author J. B. Priestley. Written in 1929, it follows the fortunes of a concert party on a tour of England. It is Priestley's most famous novel and established him as a national figure. It wo ...

'' (1957) - Ripe Gentleman * '' A King in New York'' (1957) - Member of Atomic Commission * '' High Flight'' (1957) - Farmer * ''

A Tale of Two Cities ''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long imprisonment in the ...

'' (1958) - Dover Innkeeper (uncredited) * ''

'' (1958) - Landlord * '' The Moonraker'' (1958) - Captain Lowry * ''

'' (1958) - Janitor * '' The Son of Robin Hood'' (1958) - Little John * '' Breakout'' (1959) - Landlord (uncredited) * ''

'' (1959) - Blake * ''

The Siege of Pinchgut ''The Siege of Pinchgut'' (released in the US as ''Four Desperate Men'') is a 1959 British thriller filmed on location in Sydney, Australia, and directed by Harry Watt. It was the last film produced by Ealing Studios, and was entered into the ...

'' (1959) - Newspaper Editor (uncredited) * '' The Mummy'' (1959) - Police Constable * '' Two-Way Stretch'' (1960) - Chief P.O. Jenkins * '' The Flesh and the Fiends'' (1960) - Dr. Ferguson * '' The Curse of the Werewolf'' (1961) - Dominique * '' Raising the Wind'' (1961) - Yorkshire Orchestra Leader * '' What a Carve Up!'' (1961) - Dr. Edward Broughton * '' Only Two Can Play'' (1962) - Farmer (uncredited) * '' The Iron Maiden'' (1962) - Mr. Ludge * '' Nurse on Wheels'' (1963) - Mr. Beacon * ''

'' (1963) - Bishop * '' The Scarlet Blade'' (1963) - Town Crier (uncredited) * '' Carry On Jack'' (1963) - Ned * '' The Secret of My Success'' (1965) - Pub Regular (uncredited) * '' Dracula: Prince of Darkness'' (1966) - Landlord * '' Take a Girl Like You'' (1969) - Harry - Publican * '' Where's Jack?'' (1969) - Hangman * '' All the Way Up'' (1970) - Landlord * '' Up Pompeii'' (1971) - Fat Bather * '' Doomwatch'' (1972) - Ferry Skipper * '' Diamonds on Wheels'' (1973) - PC Andrew

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Woodbridge, George 1907 births 1973 deaths English male stage actors English male film actors English male television actors Actors from Exeter 20th-century English male actors Male actors from Devon