Wilfrid Lawson (born Wilfrid Lawson Worsnop; 14 January 1900 – 10 October 1966) was an English character actor of screen and stage.

Life and career

Lawson was born Wilfrid Lawson Worsnop in Bradford,

West Riding of Yorkshire The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county County of York, West Riding (the area under the control of West Riding County Council), abbreviated County ...

. He was educated at Hanson Boys' Grammar School, Bradford, and entered the theatre in his late teens, appearing on both the British and American stage throughout his career. He made his film début in ''

East Lynne on the Western Front ''East Lynne on the Western Front'' is a 1931 British comedy film directed by George Pearson and starring Herbert Mundin, Mark Daly and Alf Goddard. It was made at the Lime Grove Studios.Wood p.71 Plot During the First World War a group of B ...

'' (1931) and appeared in supporting roles until he took the lead in ''

The Terror The Reign of Terror (french: link=no, la Terreur) was a period of the French Revolution when, following the creation of the First Republic, a series of massacres and numerous public executions took place in response to revolutionary fervour, ...

'' (1938). In arguably his most celebrated film role, he played dustman-turned-lecturer Alfred P. Doolittle in the film version of

George Bernard Shaw George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence simply as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influence on Western theatre, culture and politics extended from ...

's ''

Pygmalion Pygmalion or Pigmalion may refer to: Mythology * Pygmalion (mythology), a sculptor who fell in love with his statue Stage * ''Pigmalion'' (opera), a 1745 opera by Jean-Philippe Rameau * ''Pygmalion'' (Rousseau), a 1762 melodrama by Jean-Jacques ...

'' (1938), alongside

Leslie Howard Leslie Howard Steiner (3 April 18931 June 1943) was an English actor, director and producer.Obituary ''Variety'', 9 June 1943. He wrote many stories and articles for ''The New York Times'', ''The New Yorker'', and ''Vanity Fair'' and was one o ...

and

Wendy Hiller Dame Wendy Margaret Hiller, (15 August 1912 – 14 May 2003) was an English film and stage actress who enjoyed a varied acting career that spanned nearly 60 years. Writer Joel Hirschorn, in his 1984 compilation ''Rating the Movie Stars'', desc ...

. He also had memorable leading roles in ''

Pastor Hall ''Pastor Hall'' is a 1940 British drama film directed by Roy Boulting and starring Wilfrid Lawson, Nova Pilbeam, Marius Goring, Seymour Hicks and Bernard Miles. The film is based on the play of the same title by German author Ernst Toller who ...

'' (1940), as a German village clergyman who denounces the new Nazi regime in 1934; '' Tower of Terror'' (1941) as the wild-eyed maniacal lighthouse keeper Wolfe Kristen; and the title role in '' The Great Mr. Handel'' (1942), a biopic of the 18th century composer, all three showing his broad range. He also made a number of films in America beginning with ''

Ladies in Love ''Ladies in Love'' (1936) is a romantic comedy film based upon the play by Leslie Bush-Fekete. It was directed by Edward H. Griffith and stars Janet Gaynor, Constance Bennett and Loretta Young. The film revolves around three roommates (Gaynor ...

'' (1936) and including

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 ...

's ''

The Long Voyage Home ''The Long Voyage Home'' is a 1940 American drama film directed by John Ford. It stars John Wayne, Thomas Mitchell and Ian Hunter. It features Barry Fitzgerald, Wilfrid Lawson, John Qualen, Mildred Natwick, and Ward Bond, among others. The f ...

'' (1940) alongside John Wayne. His last leading role was in ''

The Turners of Prospect Road ''The Turners of Prospect Road '' is a 1947 British drama film directed by Maurice J. Wilson and starring Wilfrid Lawson, Helena Pickard and Maureen Glynne. A pet greyhound wins a major race meeting.Gillett p.6 It was shot at Walton Studios. A ...

'' (1947). As a result of bouts of alcoholism, Lawson became difficult to work with, and throughout the 1950s his roles became increasingly small—even uncredited in some cases. Despite this he still gave memorable performances such as Prince Andrei Bolkonsky's father in

King Vidor King Wallis Vidor (; February 8, 1894 – November 1, 1982) was an American film director, film producer, and screenwriter whose 67-year film-making career successfully spanned the silent and sound eras. His works are distinguished by a vivid, ...

's ''

War and Peace ''War and Peace'' (russian: Война и мир, translit=Voyna i mir; pre-reform Russian: ; ) is a literary work by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy that mixes fictional narrative with chapters on history and philosophy. It was first published ...

'' (1956), Ed in '' Hell Drivers'' (1957) and Uncle Nat in '' Room at the Top'' (1958), filmed in Lawson's home town of Bradford. The 1960s saw something of a career resurgence, beginning with his turn as Black George in

Tony Richardson Cecil Antonio "Tony" Richardson (5 June 1928 – 14 November 1991) was an English theatre and film director and producer whose career spanned five decades. In 1964, he won the Academy Award for Best Director for the film ''Tom Jones''. Early ...

's '' Tom Jones'' (1963) and culminating in two of his most notable latter day performances: the decrepit butler Peacock in ''

The Wrong Box ''The Wrong Box'' is a 1966 British comedy film produced and directed by Bryan Forbes from a screenplay by Larry Gelbart and Burt Shevelove, based on the 1889 novel '' The Wrong Box'' by Robert Louis Stevenson and Lloyd Osbourne. It was made by ...

'' and the Dormouse in

Jonathan Miller Sir Jonathan Wolfe Miller CBE (21 July 1934 – 27 November 2019) was an English theatre and opera director, actor, author, television presenter, humourist and physician. After training in medicine and specialising in neurology in the late 1 ...

's television adaptation of '' Alice in Wonderland'' (both 1966). That same year saw his death, in London, from a heart attack. His brother was the supporting player Gerald Lawson (born Bernard Worsnop, 30 April 1897 – 6 December 1973) and a nephew was actor Bernard Fox (born Bernard Lawson, 10 May 1927 – 14 December 2016). Was the only actor Peter O’Toole really admired

Selected stage performances

* ''

Evensong Evensong is a church service traditionally held near sunset focused on singing psalms and other biblical canticles. In origin, it is identical to the canonical hour of vespers. Old English speakers translated the Latin word as , which became ...

'' (1932) * '' Peer Gynt'' * '' Richard III'' * ''The Father'' (Strindberg play) * ''

The Lower Depths ''The Lower Depths'' (russian: На дне, translit=Na dne, literally: ''At the bottom'') is a play by Russian dramatist Maxim Gorky written in 1902 and produced by the Moscow Arts Theatre on December 18, 1902 under the direction of Konstantin ...

'' (1962)

Filmography

* ''

'' (1931) - Dick Webb / Carlyle * '' Strike It Rich'' (1933) - Raikes * ''

Turn of the Tide ''Turn of the Tide'' (1935) is a British drama film directed by Norman Walker and starring John Garrick, Geraldine Fitzgerald and Wilfrid Lawson. It was the first feature film made by J. Arthur Rank. Lacking a distributor for his film, Rank se ...

'' (1935) - Luke Fosdyck * ''

'' (1936) - Ben Horvath * ''

White Hunter White hunter is a literary term used for professional big game hunting, big game hunters of European or North American backgrounds who plied their trade in Africa, especially during the first half of the 20th century. The activity continues in t ...

'' (1936) - Michael Varek * ''

The Man Who Made Diamonds ''The Man Who Made Diamonds'' is a 1937 British crime film directed by Ralph Ince and starring Noel Madison, James Stephenson and Lesley Brook. Plot summary A professor invents a way of manufacturing diamonds. Cast * Noel Madison ... Josep ...

'' (1937) - Gallanie * '' Bank Holiday'' (1938) - Police Sergt. * ''

'' (1938) - Mr. Goodman * '' Yellow Sands'' (1938) - Richard Varwell * ''

'' (1938) - Alfred Doolittle * ''

The Gaunt Stranger ''The Gaunt Stranger'' (released as ''The Phantom Strikes'' in the US) is a 1938 British mystery thriller film directed by Walter Forde. It stars Sonnie Hale, Wilfrid Lawson and Alexander Knox. Plot A notorious killer, long believed to have ...

'' (1938) - Maurice Meister * '' Stolen Life'' (1939) - Thomas E. Lawrence * ''

Allegheny Uprising ''Allegheny Uprising'' (released in the UK as ''The First Rebel'') is a 1939 American Adventure Western film directed by William A. Seiter and starring Claire Trevor and John Wayne. Based on the 1937 novel ''The First Rebel'' by Neil H. Swanson, ...

'' (1939) - "Mac" MacDougall * '' Dead Man's Shoes'' (1940) - Lucien Sarrou * ''

'' (1940) - Pastor Frederick Hall * ''

'' (1940) - Captain * ''

It Happened to One Man ''It Happened to One Man'' is a 1940 British drama film directed by Paul L. Stein and starring Wilfrid Lawson, Nora Swinburne and Marta Labarr. The screenplay was scripted by Paul Merzbach and Nina Jarcis, based on the play of the same name b ...

'' (1940) - Felton Quair * ''

The Farmer's Wife ''The Farmer's Wife'' is a 1928 British silent romantic comedy film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Jameson Thomas, Lillian Hall-Davis and Gordon Harker. It is adapted from a 1916 play of the same name by British novelist, poet an ...

'' (1941) - Churdles Ash * '' The Ghost Train'' (1941) - Minor Role (uncredited) * ''

The Man at the Gate ''The Man at the Gate'' is a 1941 British drama film directed by Norman Walker and starring Wilfrid Lawson. It was released in the U.S. as ''Men of the Sea''. Cast * William Freshman as George Foley * Hubert Harben as Rev.Trant * Mary Jerrold as ...

'' (1941) - Henry Foley * '' Danny Boy'' (1941) - Jack Newton * '' Jeannie'' (1941) - James McLean * '' Tower of Terror'' (1941) - Wolfe Kristan * ''

Hard Steel ''Hard Steel'' is a 1942 British drama film directed by Norman Walker and starring Wilfrid Lawson, Betty Stockfeld and John Stuart. It was based on the novel ''Steel Saraband'' by Roger Dataller. The film was one of four made by G.H.W. Product ...

'' (1942) - Walter Haddon * ''

The Night Has Eyes ''The Night Has Eyes'', released in the United States as ''Terror House'' by Producers Releasing Corporation and re-released in the US by Cosmopolitan Pictures in 1949 as ''Moonlight Madness'', is a 1942 British thriller film directed by Leslie ...

'' (1942) - Jim Sturrock * '' The Great Mr. Handel'' (1942) - George Frideric Handel * '' Thursday's Child'' (1943) - Frank Wilson * '' Fanny by Gaslight'' (1944) - Chunks * ''

'' (1947) - Will Turner * ''

The Prisoner ''The Prisoner'' is a 1967 British television series about an unnamed British intelligence agent who is abducted and imprisoned in a mysterious coastal village, where his captors designate him as Number Six and try to find out why he abruptl ...

'' (1955) - The Jailer * ''

Make Me an Offer ''Make Me an Offer'' is a 1954 Eastmancolor British comedy film directed by Cyril Frankel and starring Peter Finch, Adrienne Corri, Rosalie Crutchley and Finlay Currie. It is based on the 1952 novel of the same title by Wolf Mankowitz. It was d ...

'' (1955) - Charlie's Father * ''

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) - Irishman (uncredited) * '' Now and Forever'' (1956) - Gossage * ''

'' (1956) - Prince Bolkonsky * '' Doctor at Large'' (1957) - Dustman. with Cyst (uncredited) * ''

Miracle in Soho ''Miracle in Soho'' is a 1957 British drama film directed by Julian Amyes and starring John Gregson, Belinda Lee and Cyril Cusack. The film depicts the lives of the inhabitants of a small street in Soho and the romance between a local road-b ...

'' (1957) - Mr. Morgan (uncredited) * '' Hell Drivers'' (1957) - Ed * '' The Naked Truth'' (1957) - Walter - Contestant in T.V. Show (uncredited) * ''

Tread Softly Stranger ''Tread Softly Stranger'' is a 1958 British crime drama directed by Gordon Parry and starring Diana Dors, George Baker and Terence Morgan. The film was shot in black-and-white in film noir style, and its setting in an industrial town in northe ...

'' (1958) - Holroyd (uncredited) * '' Room at the Top'' (1959) - Uncle Nat (uncredited) * ''

Expresso Bongo ''Expresso Bongo'' is a 1958 West End musical and a satire of the music industry. It was first produced on the stage at the Saville Theatre, London, on 23 April 1958. Its book was written by Wolf Mankowitz and Julian More, with music by Davi ...

'' (1959) - Mr. Rudge (uncredited) * ''

The Naked Edge ''The Naked Edge'' is a 1961 thriller film starring Gary Cooper (in his final film role) and Deborah Kerr. The film was a British-American co-production distributed by United Artists, directed by Michael Anderson and produced by George Glass a ...

'' (1961) - Mr. Pom * ''

Nothing Barred ''Nothing Barred'' is a 1961 British black and white comedy film directed by Darcy Conyers and starring Brian Rix, Leo Franklyn and Naunton Wayne. Plot Penniless Lord Whitebait (Naunton Wayne) plans to save his dwindling fortunes by opening ...

'' (1961) - Albert * ''

Over the Odds ''Over the Odds'' is a 1961 British comedy film directed by Michael Forlong and starring Marjorie Rhodes, Glenn Melvyn, Cyril Smith, Esma Cannon and Thora Hird and Wilfrid Lawson. The screenplay concerns a bookmaker who struggles to cope wi ...

'' (1961) - Willie Summers * '' Postman's Knock'' (1962) - Postman * '' Go to Blazes'' (1962) - Scrap Dealer * ''

Becket ''Becket or The Honour of God'' (french: Becket ou l'honneur de Dieu) is a 1959 play written in French by Jean Anouilh. It is a depiction of the conflict between Thomas Becket and King Henry II of England leading to Becket's assassination in 117 ...

'' (1962) - Old Soldier (uncredited) * '' Tom Jones'' (1963) - Black George * ''

'' (1966) - Peacock, the Butler * ''

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) - King Priam (final film role)

Television and radio

* ''Tales from Dickens'' (1956) - Barrel Binacre * ''BBC Sunday-Night Theatre'' (1953–1958) - Luka, a pilgrim / Stephen Flesser / Cornelius Rockley / Michel / Henslowe / Flambeau * ''The Stone Faces'' by

J. B. Priestley John Boynton Priestley (; 13 September 1894 – 14 August 1984) was an English novelist, playwright, screenwriter, broadcaster and social commentator. His Yorkshire background is reflected in much of his fiction, notably in ''The Good Compa ...

with

Luise Rainer Luise Rainer ( , ; 12 January 1910 – 30 December 2014) was a German-American-British film actress. She was the first thespian to win multiple Academy Awards and the first to win back-to-back; at the time of her death, thirteen days shy of her ...

(broadcast 1957) * ''

Tales of the Vikings ''Tales of the Vikings'' is an American first-run syndicated television series, first telecast on 8 September 1959 and ran through June 2, 1960. The series was produced by Kirk Douglas' production company, Brynaprod. Plot Set in tenth century Sca ...

'' ("Pedigree", 1959) - Old Saxon * ''ITV Play of the Week'' (1960) - Old man * ''

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 ...

'' (1958–1961) - Satan * ''

Hancock Hancock may refer to: Places in the United States * Hancock, Iowa * Hancock, Maine * Hancock, Maryland * Hancock, Massachusetts * Hancock, Michigan * Hancock, Minnesota * Hancock, Missouri * Hancock, New Hampshire ** Hancock (CDP), New Hampshir ...

'' (ATV, 1963) - Paper Man * ''

Espionage Espionage, spying, or intelligence gathering is the act of obtaining secret or confidential information (intelligence) from non-disclosed sources or divulging of the same without the permission of the holder of the information for a tangib ...

'' ("The Frantick Rebel", 1964) Lunatic - King George III (uncredited) * ''Cluff'' (1964) - Bateson * ''

Z Cars ''Z-Cars'' or ''Z Cars'' (pronounced "zed cars") is a British television police procedural series centred on the work of mobile uniformed police in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby, near Liverpool. Produced by the BBC, it debut ...

'' (1965) - Towser * ''Theatre 625'' (1965) - Mr. Bourne * ''

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 ...

''/''Secret Agent'' ("Not So Jolly Roger", 1966) - Corrigan * ''The Hunchback of Notre Dame'' (1966) - King of the Beggars * ''

The Likely Lads ''The Likely Lads'' is a British sitcom created and written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais and produced by Dick Clement. Twenty episodes were broadcast by the BBC, in three series, between 16 December 1964 and 23 July 1966. However, only te ...

'' (1966) - Grandad * '' Alice in Wonderland'' (1966, TV Movie) - Dormouse * '' Three Sisters'' (Chekhov) BBC Home Service Radio 1965. Directed by

John Tydeman John Peter Tydeman OBE (30 March 1936 – 1 April 2020) was an English producer of radio and director of theatre plays. He was responsible for commissioning and directing the early plays of Caryl Churchill, Joe Orton, Tom Stoppard and Sue Townse ...

. Cast included

Paul Scofield David Paul Scofield (21 January 1922 – 19 March 2008) was a British actor. During a six-decade career, Scofield achieved the US Triple Crown of Acting, winning an Academy Award, Emmy, and Tony for his work. He won the three awards in a seve ...

, Ian McKellen,

Lynn Redgrave Lynn Rachel Redgrave (8 March 1943 – 2 May 2010) was an English actress. She won two Golden Globe Awards throughout her career. A member of the Redgrave family of actors, Lynn trained in London before making her theatrical debut in 1962. B ...

and Jill Bennett.

References

External links

Stage performances by Wilfred Lawson listed in the Theatre Archive, University of Bristol
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lawson, Wilfrid 1900 births 1966 deaths 20th-century English male actors Artists' Rifles soldiers English male film actors English male stage actors English male television actors Male actors from Bradford