Philip Stainton (9 April 1908 – 1 August 1961) was an English actor. Stainton appeared in several Ealing comedies and major international movies. He specialized in playing friendly or exasperated uniformed

policemen A police officer (also called a policeman and, less commonly, a policewoman) is a warranted law employee of a police force. In most countries, "police officer" is a generic term not specifying a particular rank. In some, the use of the ...

, but also appeared in other comic and straight roles in British and Australian productions. After beginning in

repertory A repertory theatre is a theatre in which a resident company presents works from a specified repertoire, usually in alternation or rotation. United Kingdom Annie Horniman founded the first modern repertory theatre in Manchester after withdrawi ...

, in the postwar years he worked steadily in bit and featured parts in theatrical films; twice being directed by

John Ford John Martin Feeney (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973), known professionally as John Ford, was an American film director and naval officer. He is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers of his generation. He ...

and once by

John Huston John Marcellus Huston ( ; August 5, 1906 – August 28, 1987) was an American film director, screenwriter, actor and visual artist. He wrote the screenplays for most of the 37 feature films he directed, many of which are today considered ...

when they shot on European or overseas locations. He first visited Australia as part of a touring company presenting

Agatha Christie Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, (; 15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fictiona ...

’s play ''

Witness for the Prosecution In law, a witness is someone who has knowledge about a matter, whether they have sensed it or are testifying on another witnesses' behalf. In law a witness is someone who, either voluntarily or under compulsion, provides testimonial evidence, e ...

''. Stainton and his actress wife immigrated to Australia in the late 1950s to appear in a series of live television plays as the medium was beginning in that country. From 1957 to 1959 he had the distinction to headline the first Australian

sitcom A sitcom, a Portmanteau, portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troup ...

Take That Take That are an English pop group formed in Manchester in 1990. The group currently consists of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen. The original line-up also featured Jason Orange and Robbie Williams. Barlow is the group's lead sin ...

'' which was broadcast in Melbourne by

HSV-7 HSV is a television station in Melbourne, Australia. It is part of the Seven Network, one of the three main commercial television networks in Australia, its first and oldest station. It launched in time for the 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Me ...

. He also adapted and produced a version of the gaslight melodrama ''

East Lynne ''East Lynne'' is an English sensation novel of 1861 by Ellen Wood, writing as Mrs Henry Wood. A Victorian best-seller, it is remembered chiefly for its elaborate and implausible plot, centring on infidelity and double identities. There have ...

'' which became a hit around the circuit of surviving music hall venues in the early 1960s and was subsequently revived. During a centenary performance at impresario George Miller's Bowl Music Hall (basement of The Capitol, Melbourne), he succumbed to a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which m ...

on 1 August 1961.Philip Stainton, and “East Lynne” entries in AusStage online database www.ausstage.edu.au

Filmography

* ''Eyes That Kill'' (1947) * '' Night Beat'' (1947) - Sgt. Black (uncredited) * '' Scott of the Antarctic'' (1948) - Second Questioner * '' The Blue Lagoon'' (1949) - Mr. Ansty * '' Passport to Pimlico'' (1949) - P.C.Spiller * '' Poet's Pub'' (1949) - Mr. Lott (uncredited) * '' Don't Ever Leave Me'' (1949) - Detective Inspector * '' Trottie True'' (1949) - Arthur Briggs (uncredited) * '' The Spider and the Fly'' (1949) - Café Manager * '' Boys in Brown'' (1949) - Principal Prison Officer * '' The Elusive Pimpernel'' (1950) - Jellyband * '' White Corridors'' (1951) - Sawyer * '' Appointment with Venus'' (1951) - Constable * '' Angels One Five'' (1952) - Police Constable * ''

The Quiet Man ''The Quiet Man'' is a 1952 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by John Ford. It stars John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Barry Fitzgerald, Ward Bond and Victor McLaglen. The screenplay by Frank S. Nugent was based on a 1933 ''Saturday Eveni ...

'' (1952) - Anglican Bishop (uncredited) * '' Made in Heaven'' (1952) - Stanley Grimes * ''

Monsoon A monsoon () is traditionally a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with annual latitudinal osci ...

'' (1952) - Putsi * ''

Innocents in Paris ''Innocents in Paris'' is a 1953 British-French international co-production comedy film produced by Romulus Films, directed by Gordon Parry and starring Alastair Sim, Ronald Shiner, Claire Bloom, Margaret Rutherford, Claude Dauphin, and Ji ...

'' (1953) - Nobby Clarke * '' Mogambo'' (1953) - John Brown-Pryce * ''

Hobson's Choice A Hobson's choice is a free choice in which only one thing is actually offered. The term is often used to describe an illusion that multiple choices are available. The most well known Hobson's choice is "I'll give you a choice: take it or leave ...

'' (1954) - Denton * '' Forbidden Cargo'' (1954) - Seaburyness Police Sergeant (uncredited) * '' Isn't Life Wonderful!'' (1953) - Dr. Mason * '' Up to His Neck'' (1954) - Mr. Woo * '' John and Julie'' (1955) - London Police Sergeant * '' The Woman for Joe'' (1955) - Sullivan * '' Cast a Dark Shadow'' (1955) - Charlie Man * '' The Ladykillers'' (1955) - The Sergeant * '' Who Done It?'' (1956) - Jimmy Maddox, Frankie's Agent * ''

Moby Dick ''Moby-Dick; or, The Whale'' is an 1851 novel by American writer Herman Melville. The book is the sailor Ishmael's narrative of the obsessive quest of Ahab, captain of the whaling ship '' Pequod'', for revenge against Moby Dick, the giant wh ...

'' (1956) - Bildad * ''

Reach for the Sky ''Reach for the Sky'' is a 1956 British biographical film about aviator Douglas Bader, based on the 1954 biography of the same name by Paul Brickhill. The film stars Kenneth More and was directed by Lewis Gilbert. It won the BAFTA Award for ...

'' (1956) - Police Constable

References

External links

* 1908 births 1961 deaths 20th-century English male actors English male film actors English male television actors Male actors from Worcestershire People from Kings Norton {{UK-film-actor-stub