Hugh Anthony Glanmor Williams (6 March 1904 – 7 December 1969) was a British actor and dramatist of Welsh descent.

Early life and career

Hugh Anthony Glanmor Williams (nicknamed "Tam") was born at

Bexhill-on-Sea Bexhill-on-Sea (often shortened to Bexhill) is a seaside town and civil parish situated in the county of East Sussex in South East England. An ancient town and part of the local government district of Rother, Bexhill is home to a number of ar ...

, Sussex to Hugh Dafydd Anthony Williams (1869-1905) and Hilda (née Lewis). The Williams family lived at Bedford Park, in Chiswick, West London. His paternal grandfather was Hugh Williams (1796-1874), a Welsh solicitor and

anti-establishment An anti-establishment view or belief is one which stands in opposition to the conventional social, political, and economic principles of a society. The term was first used in the modern sense in 1958, by the British magazine ''New Statesman'' ...

political activist. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He was a popular

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmospher ...

and

stage actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), ...

, who became a major film star in the British cinema of the 1930s. In 1930 he toured America in the cast of the

R.C. Sheriff Robert Cedric Sherriff, FSA, FRSL (6 June 1896 – 13 November 1975) was an English writer best known for his play '' Journey's End'', which was based on his experiences as an army officer in the First World War. He wrote several plays, many nov ...

play '' Journey's End'' and appeared in his first film '' Charley's Aunt'' during a spell in Hollywood. He then returned to Britain and became a mainstay of the British film industry. He made 57 film appearances as an actor between 1930 and 1967. He collaborated with his second wife on several plays, such as '' The Grass Is Greener'' and the screenplay for the subsequent film. He died from an Aortic aneurysm, aged 65, in London.

Marriages and grandchildren

He was married twice: *Gwynne Whitby (1925–1940) (two children) **Lou Williams **Prue Williams *

Margaret Vyner Margaret Leila Vyner, also known by her married name Margaret Williams (3 December 1914 in Armidale, New South Wales – 30 October 1993 in Reading, England) was an Australian-born model and actress who appeared in British films. She collaborated ...

(1940–1969) (three children): ** Hugo Williams (born 1942), poet ** Simon Williams (born 1946), actor who married Belinda Carroll and Lucy Fleming **Polly Williams (1950-2004), actress who married

Nigel Havers Nigel Allan Havers (born 6 November 1951) is an English actor. His film roles include Lord Andrew Lindsay in the 1981 British film ''Chariots of Fire'', which earned him a BAFTA nomination; as Dr. Rawlins in the 1987 Steven Spielberg war dram ...

and his grandchildren included: *Kate Dunn, actress *Amy Williams, actress *Tam Williams, actor

Filmography

* '' Charley's Aunt'' (1930) as Charlie Wykeham * '' A Night in Montmartre'' (1931) as Philip Borell * '' A Gentleman of Paris'' (1931) as Gaston Gerrard * '' Down Our Street'' (1932) as Charlie Stubbs * '' Insult'' (1932) as Captain Ramon Nadir * ''

In a Monastery Garden ''In a Monastery Garden'' is a piece of light classical music by Albert Ketèlbey, who composed it in 1915 after a visit to a real monastic garden, now the Benedictine monastery of St Augustine's Abbey, Chilworth in Surrey. It was especially s ...

'' (1932) as Paul Ferrier * '' White Face'' (1932) as Michael Seeley * '' Rome Express'' (1932) as Tony * '' This Acting Business'' (1933) as Hugh * '' After Dark'' (1933) as Richard Morton * '' The Jewel'' (1933) as Frank Hallam * ''

Bitter Sweet Bittersweet, bitter-sweet, or bitter sweet may refer to: Biology * A vine in the nightshade family, ''Solanum dulcamara'' * Some species of vines in the genus ''Celastrus'', including American bittersweet (''C. scandens'') and Oriental bitters ...

'' (1933) as Vincent * '' Sorrell and Son'' (1934) as Kit Sorrell as an Adult * ''

Elinor Norton ''Elinor Norton'' is a 1934 American drama film directed by Hamilton MacFadden and written by Rose Franken and Philip Klein. It is based on the 1933 novel, ''The State versus Elinor Norton'' by Mary Roberts Rinehart. The film stars Claire Trevor ...

'' (1934) as Tony Norton * ''

All Men Are Enemies ''All Men Are Enemies'' is a 1934 American pre-Code drama film directed by George Fitzmaurice and written by Lenore J. Coffee. The film stars Helen Twelvetrees, Mona Barrie, Hugh Williams, Herbert Mundin, Henry Stephenson and Walter Byron. T ...

'' (1934) as Tony Clarendon * '' Outcast Lady'' (1934) as Gerald March * '' Lieutenant Daring R.N.'' (1935) as Lt. Bob Daring * '' David Copperfield'' (1935) as Steerforth * ''

Let's Live Tonight ''Let's Live Tonight'' is a 1935 American musical comedy film directed by Victor Schertzinger and starring Lilian Harvey, Tullio Carminati and Janet Beecher. The film was made as part of an unsuccessful attempt to establish Harvey, who was a top ...

'' (1935) as Brian Kerry * '' The Happy Family'' (1936) as Victor Hutt * '' The Last Journey'' (1936) as Gerald Winter * '' The Amateur Gentleman'' (1936) as Ronald * ''

Her Last Affaire ''Her Last Affaire'' is a 1935 British drama film directed by Michael Powell and starring Hugh Williams, Viola Keats, Cecil Parker and Googie Withers. The wife of a politician is found dead at a country inn. It was based on the play ''S.O.S.'' b ...

'' (1936) as Alan Heriot * ''

The Man Behind the Mask ''The Man Behind the Mask'' is a 1936 British mystery film directed by Michael Powell and starring Hugh Williams, Jane Baxter, Ronald Ward, Maurice Schwartz, George Merritt, Henry Oscar and Peter Gawthorne. A man assaults and switches places wi ...

'' (1936) as Nick Barclay * '' The Windmill'' (1937) as Peter Ellington * '' Side Street Angel'' (1937) as Peter * '' The Perfect Crime'' (1937) as Charles Brown * '' Gypsy'' (1937) as Brazil * ''

Brief Ecstasy ''Brief Ecstasy'' is a 1937 British drama film directed by Edmond T. Gréville and starring Paul Lukas, Hugh Williams, Linden Travers and Marie Ney. It was made at Ealing Studios. Plot Cast * Paul Lukas a Professor Paul Bernardy * Hugh Wi ...

'' (1937) as Jim Wyndham * '' Premiere'' (1938) as Rene Nissen * '' The Dark Stairway'' (1938) as Dr. Thurlow * '' Bank Holiday'' (1938) as Geoffrey * ''

His Lordship Goes to Press ''His Lordship Goes to Press'' is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring June Clyde, Hugh Williams, Louise Hampton and Leslie Perrins. The film follows an American reporter who goes to work on a farm for an assignment ...

'' (1939) as Lord Bill Wilmer * '' Wuthering Heights'' (1939) as Hindley Earnshaw * '' Dead Men Tell No Tales'' (1939) as Detective Inspector Martin * '' Inspector Hornleigh'' (1939) as Bill Gordon, Ann's Brother * '' The Dark Eyes of London'' (1939) as Det. Insp. Larry Holt * '' Ships with Wings'' (1942) as Wagner, Papa's Pilot * '' The Day Will Dawn'' (1942) as Colin Metcalfe * '' One of Our Aircraft Is Missing'' (1942) as Frank Shelley, Observer/Navigator in B for Bertie * '' Secret Mission'' (1942) as Major Peter Garnett * ''

Talk About Jacqueline ''Talk About Jacqueline'' is a 1942 British comedy film directed by Harold French and Paul L. Stein and starring Hugh Williams, Carla Lehmann and Roland Culver. A woman tries to conceal her questionable past from her new husband. It was based o ...

'' (1942) as Dr. Michael Thomas * '' A Girl in a Million'' (1946) as Tony * '' Take My Life'' (1947) as Nicholas Talbot * ''

An Ideal Husband ''An Ideal Husband'' is a four-act play by Oscar Wilde that revolves around blackmail and political corruption, and touches on the themes of public and private honour. It was first produced at the Haymarket Theatre, London in 1895 and ran for ...

'' (1947) as Sir Robert Chiltern * ''

Elizabeth of Ladymead ''Elizabeth of Ladymead'' is a 1948 British Technicolor drama film directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Anna Neagle, Hugh Williams, Isabel Jeans and Bernard Lee. It charts the life of a British family between 1854 and 1945 and their involve ...

'' (1948) as John Beresford in 1946 * '' The Blind Goddess'' (1948) as Lord Brasted * '' The Romantic Age'' (1949) as Arnold Dickson * ''

Paper Orchid ''Paper Orchid'' is a 1949 British crime film directed by Roy Ward Baker, with a script written by Val Guest. It featured Hugh Williams, Hy Hazell and Garry Marsh, and was based on the 1948 novel of the same title by Arthur La Bern. It featur ...

'' (1949) as Frank McSweeney * '' Gift Horse'' (1952) as Captain David G. Wilson, Division Commander * '' The Holly and the Ivy'' (1952) as Richard Wyndham * '' Twice Upon a Time'' (1953) as James Turner * '' The Fake'' (1953) as Sir Richard Aldingham * ''

Star of My Night ''Star of My Night'' is a 1954 British romance film directed by Paul Dickson and starring Griffith Jones, Kathleen Byron and Hugh Williams. An adaptation of Paul Tabori's novel ''Le Soleil de ma Nuit'', it concerns a sculptor who becomes roman ...

'' (1954) as Arnold Whitman * '' The Intruder'' (1953) as Tim Ross * ''

Khartoum Khartoum or Khartum ( ; ar, الخرطوم, Al-Khurṭūm, din, Kaartuɔ̈m) is the capital of Sudan. With a population of 5,274,321, its metropolitan area is the largest in Sudan. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile, flowing n ...

'' (1966) as Lord Hartington * '' Doctor Faustus'' (1967) as Scholar

Writing credits

* '' The Grass is Greener (play)'' (1952) (book) * '' Plaintiff in a Pretty Hat'' (1957) (play) (with Margaret Williams) * '' The Grass Is Greener'' (1960) (screenplay) * '' The Irregular Verb To Love'' (1961) (play) (with Margaret Williams) * '' Charlie Girl'' (book) (with Margaret Williams)

Selected stage roles

* '' Journey's End'' (1930) * '' Grand Hotel'' (1931) * '' While Parents Sleep'' (1932) * '' Flowers of the Forest'' (1935)

Notable television appearances

* '' Masterpiece Playhouse'' in episode: '' Richard III'' (episode No. 1.2) (1950) * '' The Count of Monte Cristo'' playing Millet in episode: "Flight to Calais" * '' Colonel March of Scotland Yard'' playing Harold Hartley in episode: "The Talking Head" (episode No. 1.11) (1956) * ''

Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents ''Douglas Fairbanks Presents'' is a 1953-1956 syndicated half-hour dramatic anthology series. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was the host, and he sometimes starred in episodes. It was also known as ''Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Presents''. A total of 117 episod ...

'' as Shayar ''(sic!)'' in "Scheherezade" (episode No. 5.10) (1956) * '' The New Adventures of Charlie Chan'' playing Inspector Marlowe in episode: "Dateline Execution" (episode No. 1.18) (1957) * '' The New Adventures of Charlie Chan'' playing Inspector Marlowe in episode: "No Future for Frederick" (episode No. 1.23) (1958) * '' The New Adventures of Charlie Chan'' playing Inspector Marlowe in episode: "Safe Deposit" (episode No. 1.24) (1958)

References

Bibliography

* Sweet, Matthew. ''Shepperton Babylon: The Lost Worlds of British Cinema''. Faber and Faber, 2005.

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Hugh 1904 births 1969 deaths English people of Welsh descent English male film actors English male stage actors English male television actors People from Bexhill-on-Sea Deaths from throat cancer Deaths from cancer in England 20th-century English male actors Male actors from Sussex 20th-century English dramatists and playwrights English male dramatists and playwrights Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art 20th-century English male writers