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Maurice Denham

February 14, 2023

William Maurice Denham OBE (23 December 1909 – 24 July 2002) was an English character actor who appeared in over 100 films and television programmes in his long career.

Maurice Denham

OBE
Born
William Maurice Denham

(1909-12-23)23 December 1909
Beckenham, Kent, England
Died24 July 2002(2002-07-24) (aged 92)
Denville Hall, London, England
OccupationActor
Years active1934–1997
Spouse
Elizabeth Dunn
​
​
(m. 1936; died 1971)​
Children3

Family

Denham was born on 23 December 1909 in Beckenham, Kent, the son of Eleanor Winifred (née Lillico) and Norman Denham.[1] He was the third child of four: Norman Keith (1907), Winifred Joan (1908), and Charles (1915). He was educated at Tonbridge School and trained as a lift engineer. Like fellow actor James Robertson Justice, he played amateur rugby for Beckenham RFC.[2]

In 1936, he married Elizabeth Dunn, with whom he had two sons and a daughter: Christopher (born 1939), Timothy (born 1946) and Virginia (born 1948). Elizabeth died in 1971.[3]

He was awarded the OBE in 1992. He died on 24 July 2002, aged 92 at Denville Hall in North London.[3]

Career

Denham eventually became an actor in 1934, and appeared in live television broadcasts as early as 1938, continuing to perform in that medium until 1997.

Denham initially made his name in radio comedy series such as ITMA and Much Binding in the Marsh, which established him as a familiar radio character[4] (providing over sixty different voices, female as well as male, according to a radio interview in November 1988), and later provided all the voices for the animated version of Animal Farm (1954). British Pathé chose him to narrate the voiceover for their 1950's film, 'All in a Day'. He was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance as Blore in 1954's The Purple Plain. Other film credits include 23 Paces to Baker Street (1956), Night of the Demon (1957), Two-Way Stretch (1960), Sink the Bismarck! (1960), H.M.S. Defiant (1962), Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965), The Day of the Jackal (1973), Minder on the Orient Express (1985) and 84 Charing Cross Road (1987).

Among his television appearances were as the father in Talking to a Stranger (1966), The Lotus Eaters (1972–73), as Archbishop Lang in Edward & Mrs Simpson (1978), Gerrit Dou in Schalcken the Painter (1979), All Passion Spent with Dame Wendy Hiller (1986), as Mr Justice Gwent-Evans in an episode of Rumpole of the Bailey (1987), Behaving Badly (1989), Inspector Morse (1991) and as Sir Max Spence in an episode of Lovejoy ("Benin Bronze", 1992). He also appeared in the Sherlock Holmes story "The Last Vampyre" (1993), with Jeremy Brett starring as Sherlock Holmes. He also appeared (heavily made-up) in another Sherlock Holmes episode, starring Douglas Wilmer as Holmes, "The Retired Colourman", first shown by the BBC in 1965.

He made a guest appearance in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who in the 1984 serial The Twin Dilemma, the first story to star Colin Baker in the title role as the sixth Doctor. He later appeared in the Doctor Who radio serial The Paradise of Death in 1993 alongside Jon Pertwee. As The Honourable Mr Justice Stephen Rawley in two episodes in 1977 of the BBC TV prison comedy Porridge, he ends up sharing a cell with Ronnie Barker's Fletcher, whom he had sentenced.

In further radio work, he starred in a BBC Radio 4 version of the Oldest Member, based on stories by P.G. Wodehouse, from 1994 to 1999, as Rumpole in Rumpole: The Splendours and Miseries of an Old Bailey Hack, as Dr. Alexandre Manette in A Tale of Two Cities, as 'Father' in Peter Tinniswood's Winston series, and also as Chief Inspector Jules Maigret in several series beginning in 1976.[5] He also portrayed Hercule Poirot in a BBC radio dramatisation of The Mystery of the Blue Train (1985).

In his book British Film Character Actors (1982), Terence Pettigrew noted that Denham "had one of the best-known bald heads in British films. His face was a minor work of art, a bright-eyed pixie face hand-painted on an egg. It could be kindly, sympathetic, gnomish and infinitely expressive. He also had one of the most listenable and controlled of English-speaking voices, a legacy from his many years in radio."[4]

Selected filmography

References

  1. ^ "Maurice Denham Biography (1909-2002)". www.filmreference.com.
  2. ^ Beckenham Rugby Club
  3. ^ a b Barker, Dennis (26 July 2002). "Obituary: Maurice Denham". Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  4. ^ a b Pettigrew, Terrence (1982). British Film Character Actors: Great Names and Memorable Moments. Barnes and Nobles. pp. 43–44. ISBN 9780715382707.
  5. ^ "Maigret on the Radio". www.trussel.com.

External links

  • Maurice Denham at IMDb
  • Maurice Denham's stage performances listed in archive of Theatre Collection University of Bristol

February 14, 2023
maurice, denham, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, march, 201. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Maurice Denham news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message William Maurice Denham OBE 23 December 1909 24 July 2002 was an English character actor who appeared in over 100 films and television programmes in his long career Maurice DenhamOBEBornWilliam Maurice Denham 1909 12 23 23 December 1909Beckenham Kent EnglandDied24 July 2002 2002 07 24 aged 92 Denville Hall London EnglandOccupationActorYears active1934 1997SpouseElizabeth Dunn m 1936 died 1971 wbr Children3 Contents 1 Family 2 Career 3 Selected filmography 4 References 5 External linksFamily EditDenham was born on 23 December 1909 in Beckenham Kent the son of Eleanor Winifred nee Lillico and Norman Denham 1 He was the third child of four Norman Keith 1907 Winifred Joan 1908 and Charles 1915 He was educated at Tonbridge School and trained as a lift engineer Like fellow actor James Robertson Justice he played amateur rugby for Beckenham RFC 2 In 1936 he married Elizabeth Dunn with whom he had two sons and a daughter Christopher born 1939 Timothy born 1946 and Virginia born 1948 Elizabeth died in 1971 3 He was awarded the OBE in 1992 He died on 24 July 2002 aged 92 at Denville Hall in North London 3 Career EditDenham eventually became an actor in 1934 and appeared in live television broadcasts as early as 1938 continuing to perform in that medium until 1997 Denham initially made his name in radio comedy series such as ITMA and Much Binding in the Marsh which established him as a familiar radio character 4 providing over sixty different voices female as well as male according to a radio interview in November 1988 and later provided all the voices for the animated version of Animal Farm 1954 British Pathe chose him to narrate the voiceover for their 1950 s film All in a Day He was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance as Blore in 1954 s The Purple Plain Other film credits include 23 Paces to Baker Street 1956 Night of the Demon 1957 Two Way Stretch 1960 Sink the Bismarck 1960 H M S Defiant 1962 Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines 1965 The Day of the Jackal 1973 Minder on the Orient Express 1985 and 84 Charing Cross Road 1987 Among his television appearances were as the father in Talking to a Stranger 1966 The Lotus Eaters 1972 73 as Archbishop Lang in Edward amp Mrs Simpson 1978 Gerrit Dou in Schalcken the Painter 1979 All Passion Spent with Dame Wendy Hiller 1986 as Mr Justice Gwent Evans in an episode of Rumpole of the Bailey 1987 Behaving Badly 1989 Inspector Morse 1991 and as Sir Max Spence in an episode of Lovejoy Benin Bronze 1992 He also appeared in the Sherlock Holmes story The Last Vampyre 1993 with Jeremy Brett starring as Sherlock Holmes He also appeared heavily made up in another Sherlock Holmes episode starring Douglas Wilmer as Holmes The Retired Colourman first shown by the BBC in 1965 He made a guest appearance in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who in the 1984 serial The Twin Dilemma the first story to star Colin Baker in the title role as the sixth Doctor He later appeared in the Doctor Who radio serial The Paradise of Death in 1993 alongside Jon Pertwee As The Honourable Mr Justice Stephen Rawley in two episodes in 1977 of the BBC TV prison comedy Porridge he ends up sharing a cell with Ronnie Barker s Fletcher whom he had sentenced In further radio work he starred in a BBC Radio 4 version of the Oldest Member based on stories by P G Wodehouse from 1994 to 1999 as Rumpole in Rumpole The Splendours and Miseries of an Old Bailey Hack as Dr Alexandre Manette in A Tale of Two Cities as Father in Peter Tinniswood s Winston series and also as Chief Inspector Jules Maigret in several series beginning in 1976 5 He also portrayed Hercule Poirot in a BBC radio dramatisation of The Mystery of the Blue Train 1985 In his book British Film Character Actors 1982 Terence Pettigrew noted that Denham had one of the best known bald heads in British films His face was a minor work of art a bright eyed pixie face hand painted on an egg It could be kindly sympathetic gnomish and infinitely expressive He also had one of the most listenable and controlled of English speaking voices a legacy from his many years in radio 4 Selected filmography EditThe Man Within 1947 as Smuggler The Upturned Glass 1947 as Mobile Policeman They Made Me a Fugitive 1947 as Mr Fenshaw Holiday Camp 1947 as Camp Doctor Jassy 1947 as Jim Stoner Captain Boycott 1947 as Lt Col StrickLand Fame Is the Spur 1947 as Prison Doctor No 2 uncredited Take My Life 1947 as Defending Counsel The End of the River 1947 as Defending Counsel Easy Money 1948 as Detective Inspector Kirby Blanche Fury 1948 as Maj Fraser Escape 1948 as Crown Counsel Daybreak 1948 as Inspector Miranda 1948 as Cockle Vendor Oliver Twist 1948 as Chief of Police My Brother s Keeper 1948 as Supt Trent London Belongs to Me 1948 as Jack Rufus The Blind Goddess 1948 as Johnson The Butler Quartet 1948 as Coroner segment The Allen Corn Here Come the Huggetts 1948 as 1st Engineer Look Before You Love 1948 as Fosser Once Upon a Dream 1949 as Vicar The Blue Lagoon 1949 as Ship Captain It s Not Cricket 1949 as Otto Fisch A Boy a Girl and a Bike 1949 as Bill Martin Poet s Pub 1949 as PC Windle Don t Ever Leave Me 1949 as Mr Knowles Madness of the Heart 1949 as Simon Blake Landfall 1949 as Wing Cmdr Hewitt The Spider and the Fly 1949 as Colonel de la Roche Traveller s Joy 1950 as Fowler No Highway 1951 as Major Pearl uncredited Time Bomb 1953 as Jim Warrilow The Net 1953 as Prof Carrington uncredited Street Corner 1953 as Mr Dawson Malta Story 1953 as British Officer uncredited The Million Pound Note 1954 as Jonathan Reid Eight O Clock Walk 1954 as Horace Clifford The Purple Plain 1954 as Blore Carrington V C 1954 as Lt Col Reeve Animal Farm 1954 as All Animals voices Doctor at Sea 1955 as Easter Simon and Laura 1955 as Wilson 23 Paces to Baker Street 1956 as Inspector Grovening The Spanish Gardener 1956 as Pedro voice Checkpoint 1956 as Ted Thornhill Barnacle Bill 1957 as Crowley Night of the Demon 1957 as Professor Harrington The Captain s Table 1959 as Major Broster Our Man in Havana 1959 as Admiral Two Way Stretch 1960 as The Governor Sink the Bismarck 1960 as Commander Richards The Greengage Summer 1961 as Uncle William The Mark 1961 as Arnold Cartwright Invasion Quartet 1961 as Dr Barker Damn the Defiant 1962 as Mr Goss Ship s Surgeon The King s Breakfast 1963 as Narrator voice The Very Edge 1963 as Crawford Paranoiac 1963 as John Kossett Long Past Glory TV film 1963 as Charles The 7th Dawn 1964 as Tarlton Operation Crossbow 1965 as RAF Officer Hysteria 1965 as Hemmings Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines 1965 as Trawler Skipper The Alphabet Murders 1965 as Japp The Nanny 1965 as Dr Beammaster The Heroes of Telemark 1965 as Doctor The Uncle 1965 as Mr Ream The Night Caller 1965 as Dr Morley After the Fox 1966 as Chief of Interpol Jules Verne s Rocket to the Moon 1967 as Narrator voice uncredited The Long Duel 1967 as Governor Danger Route 1967 as Peter Ravenspur Torture Garden 1967 as Uncle Roger segment 1 Enoch Attack on the Iron Coast 1968 as Rear Admiral Sir Frederick Grafton Negatives 1968 as The Father Some Girls Do 1969 as Mr Mortimer Midas Run 1969 as Charles Crittenden A Touch of Love 1969 as Doctor Prothero The Best House in London 1969 as Editor of The Times The Virgin and the Gypsy 1970 as The Rector Countess Dracula 1971 as Master Fabio Castle Historian Sunday Bloody Sunday 1971 as Mr Greville Nicholas and Alexandra 1971 as Kokovtsov The Day of the Jackal 1973 as General Colbert Luther 1973 as Johann von Staupitz Fall of Eagles 1974 as Kaiser Wilhelm I Shout at the Devil 1976 as Mr Smythe Julia 1977 as Undertaker Secret Army Series 1 Episode 14 Good Friday 1977 as Father Girard Martin Luther Heretic 1983 as Father Staupitz The Chain 1984 as Grandpa Mr Love 1985 as Theo 84 Charing Cross Road 1987 as George Martin Miss Marple 4 50 from Paddington 1987 as Luther Crackenthorpe Inspector Morse 1991 as Lance Mandeville Casualty 1997 as Mr TurnbullReferences Edit Maurice Denham Biography 1909 2002 www filmreference com Beckenham Rugby Club a b Barker Dennis 26 July 2002 Obituary Maurice Denham Retrieved 27 April 2020 a b Pettigrew Terrence 1982 British Film Character Actors Great Names and Memorable Moments Barnes and Nobles pp 43 44 ISBN 9780715382707 Maigret on the Radio www trussel com External links EditMaurice Denham at IMDb Maurice Denham s stage performances listed in archive of Theatre Collection University of Bristol Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maurice Denham amp oldid 1131052763, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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