Hugh Patrick McDermott (20 March 1906 – 29 January 1972) was a Scottish professional golfer turned actor, who made a number of film, stage, and television performances between 1936 and 1972. He specialised in playing Americans, so much so that most British film fans had no idea that he was actually Scottish.

Biography

He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1906, and was educated in

Davidson's Mains Davidson's Mains is a former village and now a district in the north-west of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is adjacent to the districts of Barnton, Cramond, Silverknowes, Blackhall and Corbiehill/House O'Hill. It was absorbed into Edinburgh as p ...

. Initially an instructor at

the Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh The Royal Burgess Golfing Society of Edinburgh is a Scottish golf club, which holds claim to be the oldest golfing society in the world, with references to it being instituted in 1735 dating from 1834. The club enjoys a parkland golf course, co ...

, he later toured South and Central America and won the Central America Open and later helped design a course in

Guatemala Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala, is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the north and west by Mexico, to the northeast by Belize, to the east by Honduras, and to the southeast by El Salvador. It is hydrologically b ...

. A trip to the United States kindled his interest in the film industry, and he made his screen debut in '' Well Done, Henry'' and followed it up with an appearance as HM Stanley in ''

David Livingstone David Livingstone (; 19 March 1813 – 1 May 1873) was a Scottish physician, Congregationalist, pioneer Christian missionary with the London Missionary Society, and an explorer in Africa. Livingstone was married to Mary Moffat Livings ...

''. In 1939, he appeared in the West End in N.C. Hunter's comedy ''

Grouse in June ''Grouse in June'' is a 1939 comedy play by N.C. Hunter, in which a group of Americans hunt for treasure lost on the Scottish coast when the Spanish Armada was washed ashore in 1588. After premiering at Richmond Theatre, it ran for 126 perfor ...

''. He made his final appearance in '' Chato's Land'' on film, and in '' The Amorous Prawn'' on stage in Edinburgh.BFI.org
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Filmography

* '' Well Done, Henry'' (1936) - Sevier * ''

The Captain's Table ''The Captain's Table'' is a 1959 British comedy film directed by Jack Lee and starring John Gregson, Donald Sinden, Peggy Cummins and Nadia Gray. The film is based on the 1954 novel of the same title by Richard Gordon, later adapted int ...

'' (1936) - Inspector Mooney * ''

'' (1936) - H.M. Stanley * '' The Wife of General Ling'' (1937) - Tracy * ''

The Divorce of Lady X ''The Divorce of Lady X'' is a 1938 British Technicolor romantic comedy film produced by London Films; it stars Merle Oberon, Laurence Olivier, Ralph Richardson and Binnie Barnes. It was film director, directed by Tim Whelan and produced by Alex ...

'' (1938) - Minor Role (uncredited) * '' His Lordship Goes to Press'' (1938) - Reporter (uncredited) * '' Hey! Hey! USA'' (1938) - Man on Phone (uncredited) * '' The Saint in London'' (1939) - Tim - Kussella's Chauffeur (uncredited) * '' Where's That Fire?'' (1940) - Jim Baker * '' For Freedom'' (1940) - Sam * '' Neutral Port'' (1940) - Jim Grey * ''

Spring Meeting ''Spring Meeting'' is a 1941 British comedy film directed by Walter C. Mycroft and Norman Lee and starring Enid Stamp-Taylor, Michael Wilding, Basil Sydney and Sarah Churchill. It was based on a 1938 play of the same title by Molly Keane (a ...

'' (1941) - Michael Byrne * '' "Pimpernel" Smith'' (1941) - David Maxwell * '' The Young Mr. Pitt'' (1942) - Mr. Melvill * '' The Seventh Veil'' (1945) - Peter Gay * '' This Man Is Mine'' (1946) - Bill Mackenzie * '' No Orchids for Miss Blandish'' (1948) - Dave Fenner * ''

Good-Time Girl ''Good-Time Girl'' is a 1948 British film noir-crime drama film directed by David MacDonald and starring Jean Kent, Dennis Price and Herbert Lom. A homeless girl is asked to explain her bad behaviour in the juvenile court, and says she's run a ...

'' (1948) - Al Schwartz * '' The Huggetts Abroad'' (1949) - Bob McCoy * '' Lilli Marlene'' (1950) - Steve * ''

Two on the Tiles ''Two on the Tiles'' is a 1951 British comedy film directed by John Guillermin and starring Herbert Lom, Hugh McDermott and Brenda Bruce. It was made at the Walton Studios by the independent Vandyke Productions for release as a second feature. ...

'' (1951) - Dick Lawson * '' Four Days'' (1951) - Francis Templar * '' Trent's Last Case'' (1952) - Calvin C. Bunner * '' The Wedding of Lilli Marlene'' (1953) - Steve Moray * '' The Love Lottery'' (1954) - Rodney Wheeler * '' Night People'' (1954) - Maj. Burns * '' Johnny on the Spot'' (1954) - Johnny Breakes * '' Devil Girl from Mars'' (1954) - Michael Carter * '' Malaga'' (1954) - Richard Farrell * '' As Long as They're Happy'' (1955) - Barnaby Brady * '' Thunder Rock'' (1955, TV film) - Streeter * ''

You Pay Your Money ''You Pay Your Money'' is a 1957 British 'B' crime drama film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Hugh McDermott, Jane Hylton and Honor Blackman. It was written by Michael Cronin and Rogers. Plot On a visit to Belgium, married couple Bob ...

'' (1957) - Bob Westlake * ''

A King in New York ''A King in New York'' is a 1957 British comedy film directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin in his last leading role. The film presents a satirical view of certain aspects of American politics and society. It was produced in Europe after Cha ...

'' (1957) - Bill Johnson (uncredited) * '' The Man Who Wouldn't Talk'' (1958) - Bernie * '' Delayed Flight'' (1964) - Lt. Col. Gavin Brampton * '' First Men in the Moon'' (1964) - Richard Challis * ''

Bindle (One of Them Days) ''Bindle (One of Them Days)'', also known as ''Bindle'' and ''One of Them Days'' is a 1966 British comedy film directed by Peter Saunders and starring Alfie Bass. It was written by Glyn Jones based on the ''Bindle'' books by Herbert Jenkins. ...

'' (1966) - American tourist * ''

The File of the Golden Goose ''The File of the Golden Goose'' is a 1969 British neo noir thriller film directed by Sam Wanamaker and starring Yul Brynner, Charles Gray and Edward Woodward. Its plot involves an American detective being sent to Britain to track down a majo ...

'' (1969) - Ray Moss * ''

Guns in the Heather A gun is a device that propels a projectile using pressure or explosive force. The projectiles are typically solid, but can also be pressurized liquid (e.g. in water guns or cannons), or gas (e.g. light-gas gun). Solid projectiles may be fr ...

'' (1969) - Carleton * '' The Adding Machine'' (1969) - Harry * '' The Games'' (1970) * '' Lawman'' (1971) - L.G. Moss * '' Captain Apache'' (1971) - Gen. Ryland * '' Chato's Land'' (1972) - Bartender (final film role)

References

External links

* 1906 births 1972 deaths Scottish male stage actors Scottish male film actors Scottish male television actors 20th-century Scottish male actors Scottish male golfers Male actors from Edinburgh Golfers from Edinburgh 20th-century Scottish sportsmen {{UK-screen-actor-stub