Patrick Holt (31 January 1912 – 12 October 1993) was an English film and

television 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 (), lite ...

Biography

Born Patrick G. Parsons in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, Holt spent some of his childhood in

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

with his uncle, after which he was sent to

Christ's Hospital Christ's Hospital is a public school (English independent boarding school for pupils aged 11–18) with a royal charter located to the south of Horsham in West Sussex. The school was founded in 1552 and received its first royal charter in 1553. ...

, a famous

charity school Charity schools, sometimes called blue coat schools, or simply the Blue School, were significant in the history of education in England. They were built and maintained in various parishes by the voluntary contributions of the inhabitants to ...

in Britain. Here he formed a close friendship with a boy in the same boarding house, the future film star

Michael Wilding Michael Charles Gauntlet Wilding (23 July 1912 – 8 July 1979) was an English stage, television, and film actor. He is best known for a series of films he made with Anna Neagle; he also made two films with Alfred Hitchcock, '' Under Capric ...

. He started his acting career in repertory theatres, and in 1939, landed a leading part on the London stage, but when 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 opposi ...

broke out he joined the army. His army service saw him in

Burma Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John Wells explai ...

Singapore Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bor ...

and India, often on secret missions behind enemy lines, and he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Career

After the war, he joined the J. Arthur Rank charm school and after supporting roles in films such as ''

Hungry Hill Hungry Hill or Knockday ( ga, Cnoc Daod) is the highest of the Caha Mountains on the Beara Peninsula in Munster, Ireland. Etymology The first part of the Irish name ''Cnoc Daod'' means "hill". The second part may be a dialectal variant of ...

'', '' Frieda'' and '' The October Man'' (all 1947), steadily established himself as a lead actor in films of the late 1940s, including '' The Mark of Cain'' (1947), '' My Sister and I'' (1948), '' Marry Me'' and ''

A Boy, a Girl and a Bike ''A Boy, a Girl and a Bike'' is a 1949 British romantic comedy film directed by Ralph Smart and starring John McCallum, Honor Blackman and Patrick Holt. The film's art direction was by George Provis. The film concerns the romantic escapades an ...

'' (both 1949). His leading man status in prestige films was brief and he found himself as the star of 'B' movies during the fifties and early sixties, with the film writer David Quinlan calling him "the

Dennis Price Dennistoun Franklyn John Rose Price (23 June 1915 – 6 October 1973) was an English actor, best remembered for his role as Louis Mazzini in the film '' Kind Hearts and Coronets'' (1949) and for his portrayal of the omnicompetent valet Jeeve ...

of the B film." These second features included ''

Guilt Is My Shadow ''Guilt Is My Shadow'' is a 1950 British drama film directed by Roy Kellino and starring Elizabeth Sellars, Patrick Holt and Peter Reynolds. In the film, a woman is haunted by her conscience after she kills a man and hides the body. It is base ...

'' (1950), '' Stolen Assignment'' (1955), '' Miss Tulip Stays the Night'' (1955) and ''

Suspended Alibi ''Suspended Alibi'' is a 1957 black and white British crime film directed by Alfred Shaughnessy and starring Patrick Holt, Honor Blackman and Lloyd Lamble. The film was produced by Robert Dunbar for Association of Cinematograph Television and All ...

'' (1957), with his final lead roles coming in the 1962 films '' Serena'', '' Flight from Singapore'' ''and Night of the Prowler''. During this period he also took on supporting roles in bigger budget movies such as '' Ivanhoe'' (1952) and '' I Was Monty's Double'' (1958). He also appeared on stage during the decade and in 1953 co-starred with

Anna Neagle Dame Florence Marjorie Wilcox (''née'' Robertson; 20 October 1904 – 3 June 1986), known professionally as Anna Neagle, was an English stage and film actress, singer, and dancer. She was a successful box-office draw in the British cinema ...

in the musical '' The Glorious Days'' in the West End. He was one of many leading men and women of the 1950s who struggled to maintain their status as leads beyond the early 1960s. However, by evolving into a character actor, he sustained his career into old age, working on stage and television as well as in the cinema, and he was still listed in the Spotlight casting directory at the time of his death. Later film appearances include '' Guns at Batasi'' (1964), '' Thunderball'' (1965), ''

Young Winston ''Young Winston'' is a 1972 British biographical adventure drama war film covering the early years of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, based in particular on his 1930 book, ''My Early Life''. The first part of the film covers Churchill' ...

'' (1972) and '' The Wild Geese'' (1978), while television included '' The Avengers'', '' The Saint'', ''

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 ...

'', ''

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 ...

'', '' Crown Court'', '' Shabby Tiger'', '' Survivors'', ''

Poldark ''Poldark'' is a series of historical novels by Winston Graham, published from 1945 to 1953 and continued from 1973 to 2002. The first novel, '' Ross Poldark'', was named for the protagonist of the series. The novel series was adapted twice ...

'' and ''

Emmerdale ''Emmerdale'' (known as ''Emmerdale Farm'' until 1989) is a British soap opera that is broadcast on ITV1. The show is set in Emmerdale (known as Beckindale until 1994), a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, ...

''.

Personal life

His first wife was the actress Sonia Holm. In 1954, he married

Sandra Dorne Sandra Dorne (born Joan Smith; 19 June 1924 – 25 December 1992) was a British actress. Career Also known as Sandra Holt, Dorne was often known in the 1950s as the B-film Diana Dors. As a platinum blonde, she was a regular female lead ...

, with whom he had occasionally co-starred.

Selected filmography

* '' The Challenge'' (1938) - Minor Role (uncredited) * '' The Return of the Frog'' (1938) - Cadet with Question (uncredited) * ''

Sword of Honour The ''Sword of Honour'' is a trilogy of novels by Evelyn Waugh which loosely parallel Waugh's experiences during the Second World War. Published by Chapman & Hall from 1952 to 1961, the novels are: ''Men at Arms'' (1952); ''Officers and Gent ...

'' (1939) - Lord Talmadge * ''

Convoy A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support and can help maintain cohesion within a unit. It may also be used ...

'' (1940) - Holt (uncredited) * ''

'' (1947) - Ward * '' Frieda'' (1947) - Alan * '' The October Man'' (1947) - Harry Carden * '' Master of Bankdam'' (1947) - Lemuel Pickersgill * '' When the Bough Breaks'' (1947) - Robert Norman * '' The Mark of Cain'' (1947) - John Howard * '' My Sister and I'' (1948) - Roger Crisp * ''

Portrait from Life ''Portrait from Life'' (also known as ''Lost Daughter'', and in the U.S. as ''The Girl in the Painting'') is a 1948 British drama film directed by Terence Fisher and starring Mai Zetterling, Robert Beatty and Guy Rolfe. Plot A British Army offi ...

'' (1948) - Ferguson * ''

'' (1949) - Sam Walters * '' Marry Me!'' (1949) - Martin Roberts * '' Boys in Brown'' (1949) - Tigson * ''

'' (1950) - Kit * '' The Magic Box'' (1951) - Sitter in Bath Studio * ''

13 East Street ''13 East Street'' is a 1952 British crime thriller film directed by Robert S. Baker and starring Patrick Holt, Sandra Dorne and Sonia Holm.Mackillop & Sinyard p.180 It was shot at Twickenham Studios with some location shooting around Londo ...

'' (1952) - Inspector Gerald Blake * '' Come Back Peter'' (1952) - John Neilson * '' Ivanhoe'' (1952) - Philip DeMalvoisin * '' Circumstantial Evidence'' (1952) - Michael Carteret * '' John Wesley'' (1954) - Thomas Maxfield * '' A Stranger Came Home'' (1954) - Job Crandall * '' The Golden Link'' (1954) - Terry Maguire * '' The Men of Sherwood Forest'' (1954) - King Richard * '' The Dark Avenger'' (1955) - Sir Ellys * '' Miss Tulip Stays the Night'' (1955) - Andrew Dax * '' Stolen Assignment'' (1955) - Henry Crossley * '' Alias John Preston'' (1955) - Sylvia's Husband in Dream * ''

The Gelignite Gang ''The Gelignite Gang'' is a black and white 1956 British crime film directed by Terence Fisher and Francis Searle, starring Wayne Morris and Sandra Dorne. The film was released in the U.S. as ''The Dynamiters''. Plot American insurance invest ...

'' (1956) - John Rutherford * '' The Girl in the Picture'' (1957) - Inspector Bliss * ''

Operation Murder ''Operation Murder'' is a 1957 British crime film. It was described by Allmovie as "another of the multitude of inexpensive Danzinger Brothers productions, released throughout the English-speaking world by United Artists." Premise A scheme by t ...

'' (1957) - Dr. Bowen * ''

'' (1957) - Paul Pearson * ''

There's Always a Thursday ''There's Always a Thursday'' is a 1957 British crime film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Charles Victor, Jill Ireland, Lloyd Lamble and Robert Raglan. Much of the film was shot at Southall Studios. Premise Comedy about a down-trod ...

'' (1957) - Middleton * ''

Fortune Is a Woman ''Fortune Is a Woman'' is a 1957 black and white British-American film noir crime film directed by Sidney Gilliat and starring Jack Hawkins and Arlene Dahl. Its plot concerns an attempted insurance fraud that goes badly wrong. In the United Stat ...

'' (1957) - Fred Connor * '' I Was Monty's Double'' (1958) - Col. Dawson * '' Further Up the Creek'' (1958) - First Lieutenant (uncredited) * '' Too Hot to Handle'' (1960) - Inspector West * '' The Challenge'' (1960) - Max * ''

Dentist on the Job ''Dentist on the Job'' is a 1961 British comedy film directed by C. M. Pennington-Richards, the sequel to ''Dentist in the Chair'' (1960). It was released in the US with the title ''Get On with It!''. The film was co-written by Hugh Woodhouse ...

'' (1961) - Newsreader * ''

The Frightened City ''The Frightened City'' is a 1961 British neo-noir gangster film about extortion rackets and gang warfare in the West End of London. It stars Herbert Lom, John Gregson and a pre-Bond Sean Connery, who plays a burglar called Paddy Damion. He ...

'' (1961) - Supt. Dave Carter * '' Serena'' (1962) - Inspector Gregory * '' Flight from Singapore'' (1962) - Squadron Leader Hill * '' Night of the Prowler'' (1962) - Robert Langton * ''

Girl in the Headlines ''Girl in the Headlines'' (AKA ''The Model Girl Murder Case'') is a 1963 British detective film directed by Michael Truman and starring Ian Hendry, Ronald Fraser, Jeremy Brett, and Jane Asher. It is based on the 1961 novel ''The Nose on my Fa ...

'' (1963) - Walbrook * '' Guns at Batasi'' (1964) - Captain * '' Genghis Khan'' (1965) - Kuchluk * '' Thunderball'' (1965) - Group Captain Dawson (uncredited) * '' The Fighting Prince of Donegal'' (1966) * '' The Vulture'' (1967) - Jarvis, the butler * '' Hammerhead'' (1968) - Huntzinger * ''

The Desperados ''The Desperados'' is a 1969 American Western film directed by Henry Levin and starring Vince Edwards and Jack Palance. Plot A ruthless preacher, Parson Josiah Galt, leads a band of Southern marauders during the Civil War that includes his s ...

'' (1969) - Haller * '' The Magic Christian'' (1969) - Duke in Sotheby's * '' Cromwell'' (1970) - Captain Lundsford * '' No Blade of Grass'' (1970) - David Custance * ''

When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth ''When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth'' (titled ''When Dinosaurs Ruled the World'' in the U.K.) is a 1970 British prehistoric dinosaur film from Hammer Films, written and directed by Val Guest, and starring Victoria Vetri. It was produced by Aida Yo ...

'' (1970) - Ammon * ''

'' (1972) - Colonel Martin * ''

Psychomania ''Psychomania'' (originally released in the United States as ''The Death Wheelers'') is a 1973 British outlaw biker horror film starring Nicky Henson, Beryl Reid, George Sanders (in his final film) and Robert Hardy. Plot Tom Latham, an am ...

'' (1973) - Sergeant * '' Diamonds on Wheels'' (1974) - Steward * '' The Amorous Milkman'' (1975) - Tom * ''

Legend of the Werewolf ''Legend of the Werewolf'' is a 1975 British horror film directed by Freddie Francis. It stars Peter Cushing, Ron Moody and Hugh Griffith. Plot At midnight on Christmas Eve in the mid-19th century, somewhere in Russia, two fugitives fleeing pe ...

'' (1975) - Dignitary * '' Let's Get Laid'' (1978) - The Commissioner * '' The Wild Geese'' (1978) - Skyjacker * ''

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. In ...

'' (1980) - Barker * '' Priest of Love'' (1981) - Arthur Lawrence * '' The Whistle Blower'' (1987) - Irate Driver * ''

Playing Away Infidelity (synonyms include cheating, straying, adultery, being unfaithful, two-timing, or having an affair) is a violation of a couple's emotional and/or sexual exclusivity that commonly results in feelings of anger, sexual jealousy, and riv ...

'' (1987) - The Colonel * '' Strike It Rich'' (1990) - Lecherous Man with Wink (final film role)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Holt, Patrick 1912 births 1993 deaths English male film actors English male television actors People from Cheltenham Male actors from Gloucestershire 20th-century English male actors People educated at Christ's Hospital British people in colonial India British Army personnel of World War II British Army officers