Leonard Meyer Sachs (26 September 1909 – 15 June 1990) was a South African-born British actor.

Life and career

Sachs was born in the town of

Roodepoort Roodepoort is a town in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Formerly an independent municipality, Roodepoort became part of the Johannesburg municipality in the late 1990s, along with Randburg and Sandton. Johannesburg's most famous botanical g ...

, in the then

Transvaal Colony The Transvaal Colony () was the name used to refer to the Transvaal region during the period of direct British rule and military occupation between the end of the Second Boer War in 1902 when the South African Republic was dissolved, and the ...

, present day South Africa. He was Jewish. He emigrated to the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

in 1929 and had many television and film roles from the 1930s to the 1980s, including Mowbray in the 1950 BBC Television version of '' Richard II'',

John Wesley John Wesley (; 2 March 1791) was an English people, English cleric, Christian theology, theologian, and Evangelism, evangelist who was a leader of a Christian revival, revival movement within the Church of England known as Methodism. The soci ...

in the 1954 film of the same name and Lord Mount Severn in ''

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 ...

'' from 1976. He founded an Old Time Music Hall, named the Players' Theatre, in Villiers Street, Charing Cross, London. He appeared as the Chairman of the

Leeds City Varieties The Leeds City Varieties is a Grade II* listed music hall in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. History Leeds City Varieties was built in 1865 as an adjunct to the White Swan Inn in Swan Street by architect George Smith for Charles Thornton. Alon ...

in the long-running BBC television series '' The Good Old Days'', which ran from 1953 to 1983, and became known for his elaborate, sesquipedalian introductions of the performers. Sachs was honoured in a 1977 episode of '' This Is Your Life''. Sachs appeared in ''

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 ...

'' with Patrick McGoohan. He had two appearances in the science fiction series ''

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the u ...

'': as Admiral Gaspard de Coligny in ''

The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve ''The Massacre'' (also known as ''The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve'') is the completely missing fourth serial of the third season in the British science fiction television series '' Doctor Who'', which was first broadcast in four weekly pa ...

'' in 1966 and as Lord President

Borusa Borusa is a fictional character in the series ''Doctor Who'', a member of the race of Time Lords from Gallifrey. Within the context of the series, Borusa is a former teacher of the Doctor who appears in four serials. Notably, Borusa was portraye ...

in ''

Arc of Infinity ''Arc of Infinity'' is the first serial of the 20th season of the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'', which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts on BBC1 from 3 to 12 January 1983. The serial is set in Amsterdam a ...

'' in 1983. He also appeared in the 1985 Royal Variety Performance in a tribute to ''The Good Old Days''.

Personal life

Sachs married the actress Eleanor Summerfield in 1947. The couple had two sons, the actor

Robin Sachs Robin Sachs (5 February 1951 – 1 February 2013) was an English actor, active in the theatre, television and films. He was also known for his voice-over work in films and video games. Born to a theatrical family, Sachs studied at the Royal Acad ...

and Toby Sachs. In January 1984, he was fined £75 for " importuning men for an immoral purpose" at

Notting Hill Gate tube station Notting Hill Gate is a London Underground station near Notting Hill, London, located on the street called Notting Hill Gate. On the Central line, it is between Holland Park to the west and Queensway to the east. On the District line and Circ ...

. Sachs died from kidney failure in on 15 June 1990 in

Westminster Westminster is an area of Central London, part of the wider City of Westminster. The area, which extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street, has many visitor attractions and historic landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, Bu ...

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, at the age of 80.Death of 'Good Old Days' Star
The Courier, 16 June 1990, p. 3

Selected filmography

* ''

The Secret of Stamboul ''The Secret of Stamboul'', also known as ''The Spy in White'', is a 1936 British thriller film, taken from the 1935 novel ''The Eunuch of Stamboul'' by Dennis Wheatley, directed by Andrew Marton and starring Valerie Hobson, James Mason and Fr ...

'' (1936) – Arif * '' State Secret'' (1950) – Dr. Poldoi * ''

The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan ''The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan'' (also known as ''Gilbert & Sullivan'' and ''The Great Gilbert and Sullivan'') is a 1953 British musical drama film dramatisation of the collaboration between Gilbert and Sullivan. Librettist W. S. Gilbert a ...

'' (1953) – Smythe * ''

'' (1954) – John Wesley * '' Malaga'' (1954) – Paul Dupont * ''

The Men of Sherwood Forest ''The Men of Sherwood Forest'' is a 1954 British adventure film directed by Val Guest and starring Don Taylor, Reginald Beckwith, Eileen Moore and David King-Wood. The film follows the exploits of Robin Hood and his followers. Doreen Carwit ...

'' (1954) – Sheriff of Nottingham * ''

Gentlemen Marry Brunettes ''Gentlemen Marry Brunettes'' is a 1955 American Technicolor musical romantic comedy film directed by Richard Sale, who co-wrote the screenplay with Mary Loos, based on the 1927 novel ''But Gentlemen Marry Brunettes'' by Anita Loos, aunt of Mary ...

'' (1955) – M. Dufy * ''Count of Twelve'' (1955) – Mark Dyson (episode "Blind Man's Bluff") * ''

The Gamma People ''The Gamma People'' is a 1956 British-American black-and-white science fiction film, produced by John Gossage, directed by John Gilling, that stars Paul Douglas, Eva Bartok, and Leslie Phillips. The film was distributed by Columbia Pictures and ...

'' (1956) – Telegraph Clerk * ''

Odongo ''Odongo'' or ''Odongo Adventure on the African Frontier'' is a 1956 British Warwick Films CinemaScope African adventure drama film directed by John Gilling and starring Rhonda Fleming, Macdonald Carey and Juma. The screenplay concerns a white ...

'' (1956) – Game Warden * ''

Face in the Night ''Face in the Night'' is a 1957 British crime film directed by Lance Comfort and starring Griffith Jones, Lisa Gastoni and Vincent Ball. It was based on the novel ''Suspense'' by prolific crime writer Bruce Graeme. The film was released in th ...

'' (1957) – Victor * '' After the Ball'' (1957) – Richard Warner * '' Seven Thunders'' (1957) – German Officer (uncredited) * ''

Man from Tangier ''Man from Tangier'' (released in the United States as ''Thunder over Tangier'') is a 1957 British crime film directed by Lance Comfort and starring Robert Hutton (actor), Robert Hutton, Lisa Gastoni and Martin Benson (actor), Martin Benson. Pl ...

'' (1957) – Heinrich * '' The Man Who Wouldn't Talk'' (1958) – Professor Horvard * ''

Behemoth the Sea Monster ''The Giant Behemoth'' is a 1959 British-American science fiction giant monster film directed by Eugène Lourié, with special effects by Willis H. O'Brien, Pete Peterson, Irving Block, Jack Rabin, and Louis de Witt. The film stars Gene Evans ...

'' (1959) – Scientist * '' The Dover Road Mystery'' (1960) – Herbert Roberts * ''

Beyond the Curtain ''Beyond the Curtain'' is a 1960 British drama film written and directed by Compton Bennett, and starring Richard Greene and Eva Bartok. Plot A refugee from East Germany finds herself trapped in her home city of Dresden when a plane she is t ...

'' (1960) – Waiter * ''

Oscar Wilde Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 185430 November 1900) was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular playwrights in London in the early 1890s. He is ...

'' (1960) – Richard Legallienne * ''

The Siege of Sidney Street ''The Siege of Sidney Street'' is a 1960 British historical drama film co-directed by Robert S. Baker and Monty Berman. It stars Donald Sinden, Nicole Berger and Kieron Moore. The film dramatises the 1909 Tottenham Outrage - a bungled wag ...

'' (1960) – Svaars (uncredited) * ''

The Bulldog Breed ''The Bulldog Breed'' is a 1960 British comedy film starring Norman Wisdom and directed by Robert Asher. Plot Norman Puckle (Norman Wisdom), a well-meaning but clumsy grocer's assistant, cannot seem to do anything right. After being rejected b ...

'' (1960) – Yachtsman (uncredited) * ''

Five Golden Hours ''Five Golden Hours'' is a 1961 Italian-British comedy film directed by Mario Zampi and written by Hans Wilhelm, starring Ernie Kovacs, Cyd Charisse and George Sanders, and featuring Dennis Price and John Le Mesurier. Plot Aldo Bondi (Kovacs) ...

'' (1961) – Mr. Morini * ''

Konga Konga () is a locality situated in Tingsryd Municipality, Kronoberg County, Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of ...

'' (1961) – Bob's Father * ''

Taste of Fear ''Taste of Fear'' is a 1961 British thriller film directed by Seth Holt. The film stars Susan Strasberg, Ronald Lewis, Ann Todd, and Christopher Lee in a supporting role. It was released in the United States as ''Scream of Fear''. Plot After ...

'' (1961) – Mr. Spratt * '' Pit of Darkness'' (1961) – Clifton Conrad * ''

Bomb in the High Street ''Bomb in the High Street'' is a 1963 British drama film directed by Peter Bezencenet and Terry Bishop. It stars Ronald Howard, Terry Palmer, and Suzanna Leigh. Premise A gang of villains carry out a bank robbery disguised as soldiers, creati ...

'' (1961) – Freeling * ''

Locker Sixty-Nine ''Locker Sixty-Nine'' is a 1962 British film based on a story by Edgar Wallace, and an episode of the ''Edgar Wallace Mysteries''. Cast * Eddie Byrne as Simon York * Paul Daneman as Frank Griffiths * Walter Brown as Craig * Penelope Horner as Jul ...

'' (1962) – Spencer * ''

She Knows Y'Know ''She Knows Y'Know'' is a 1962 black and white British comedy film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring comedienne Hylda Baker. The film takes its title from Hylda Baker's best known catch-phrase. The BFI describes the film, which was made ...

'' (1962) – John Dawson * '' Freud: The Secret Passion'' (1962) – Brouhardier * '' Stranglehold'' (1963) – The Dutchman * ''

Panic Panic is a sudden sensation of fear, which is so strong as to dominate or prevent reason and logical thinking, replacing it with overwhelming feelings of anxiety and frantic agitation consistent with an animalistic fight-or-flight reactio ...

'' (1963) – Len Collier * ''

The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders ''The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders'' is a 1965 British historical comedy film directed by Terence Young and starring Kim Novak, Richard Johnson, and Angela Lansbury. It is based on the 1722 novel '' Moll Flanders'' by Daniel Defoe. ...

'' (1965) – Prison Doctor * '' Thunderball'' (1965) – Group Captain Pritchard * '' Once Is Not Enough'' (1975) – Dr. Peterson

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sachs, Leonard 1909 births 1990 deaths British male television actors British male film actors South African male television actors South African male film actors South African Jews South African emigrants to the United Kingdom Bisexual male actors LGBT entertainers from South Africa LGBT actors from England LGBT Jews People from Roodepoort People prosecuted under anti-homosexuality laws Jewish British male actors 20th-century British male actors 20th-century LGBT people