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Wilfrid Lawson (actor)

January 01, 1970

Wilfrid Lawson (born Wilfrid Lawson Worsnop; 14 January 1900 – 10 October 1966) was an English character actor of screen and stage.[1]

Wilfrid Lawson
Born
Wilfrid Lawson Worsnop

(1900-01-14)14 January 1900
Bradford, Yorkshire, England
Died10 October 1966(1966-10-10) (aged 66)
London, England
OccupationActor
Years active1918–1966
SpouseLillian (née Fenn)
RelativesBernard Fox (nephew)

Life and career edit

Lawson was born Wilfrid Lawson Worsnop in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire. He was educated at Hanson Boys' Grammar School, Bradford, and entered the theatre in his late teens, appearing on both the British and American stage throughout his career.

He made his film début in East Lynne on the Western Front (1931) and appeared in supporting roles until he took the lead in The Terror (1938). In arguably his most celebrated film role, he played dustman-turned-lecturer Alfred P. Doolittle in the film version of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion (1938), alongside Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller.

He also had memorable leading roles in Pastor Hall (1940), as a German village clergyman who denounces the new Nazi regime in 1934; Tower of Terror (1941) as the wild-eyed maniacal lighthouse keeper Wolfe Kristen; and the title role in The Great Mr. Handel (1942), a biopic of the 18th century composer, all three showing his broad range. He also made a number of films in the United States, beginning with Ladies in Love (1936) and including John Ford's The Long Voyage Home (1940) alongside John Wayne. His last leading role was in The Turners of Prospect Road (1947).

As a result of bouts of alcoholism,[2] Lawson became difficult to work with, and throughout the 1950s his roles became increasingly small—even uncredited in some cases. Despite this he still gave memorable performances such as Prince Andrei Bolkonsky's father in King Vidor's War and Peace (1956), Ed in Hell Drivers (1957) and Uncle Nat in Room at the Top (1958), filmed in Lawson's home town of Bradford.

The 1960s saw something of a career resurgence, beginning with his turn as Black George in Tony Richardson's Tom Jones (1963) and culminating in two of his most notable latter day performances: the decrepit butler Peacock in The Wrong Box and the Dormouse in Jonathan Miller's television adaptation of Alice in Wonderland (both 1966). That same year saw his death, in London, from a heart attack.

His brother was the supporting player Gerald Lawson (born Bernard Worsnop, 30 April 1897 – 6 December 1973) and a nephew was actor Bernard Fox (born Bernard Lawson, 10 May 1927 – 14 December 2016).

Selected stage performances edit

Filmography edit

Television and radio edit

References edit

  1. ^ Gilder, Rosamond (2013). Senelick, Laurence (ed.). The actor as biographer. Routledge. p. 126. ISBN 978-1-1347-2375-1. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  2. ^ "Why Do Actors Drink?". Movieline. 1 May 1994. Retrieved 15 December 2016.

External links edit

  • Stage performances by Wilfred Lawson listed in the Theatre Archive, University of Bristol
  • Wilfrid Lawson at IMDb

January 01, 1970
wilfrid, lawson, actor, wilfrid, lawson, born, wilfrid, lawson, worsnop, january, 1900, october, 1966, english, character, actor, screen, stage, wilfrid, lawsonbornwilfrid, lawson, worsnop, 1900, january, 1900bradford, yorkshire, englanddied10, october, 1966, . Wilfrid Lawson born Wilfrid Lawson Worsnop 14 January 1900 10 October 1966 was an English character actor of screen and stage 1 Wilfrid LawsonBornWilfrid Lawson Worsnop 1900 01 14 14 January 1900Bradford Yorkshire EnglandDied10 October 1966 1966 10 10 aged 66 London EnglandOccupationActorYears active1918 1966SpouseLillian nee Fenn RelativesBernard Fox nephew Contents 1 Life and career 2 Selected stage performances 3 Filmography 4 Television and radio 5 References 6 External linksLife and career editLawson was born Wilfrid Lawson Worsnop in Bradford West Riding of Yorkshire He was educated at Hanson Boys Grammar School Bradford and entered the theatre in his late teens appearing on both the British and American stage throughout his career He made his film debut in East Lynne on the Western Front 1931 and appeared in supporting roles until he took the lead in The Terror 1938 In arguably his most celebrated film role he played dustman turned lecturer Alfred P Doolittle in the film version of George Bernard Shaw s Pygmalion 1938 alongside Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller He also had memorable leading roles in Pastor Hall 1940 as a German village clergyman who denounces the new Nazi regime in 1934 Tower of Terror 1941 as the wild eyed maniacal lighthouse keeper Wolfe Kristen and the title role in The Great Mr Handel 1942 a biopic of the 18th century composer all three showing his broad range He also made a number of films in the United States beginning with Ladies in Love 1936 and including John Ford s The Long Voyage Home 1940 alongside John Wayne His last leading role was in The Turners of Prospect Road 1947 As a result of bouts of alcoholism 2 Lawson became difficult to work with and throughout the 1950s his roles became increasingly small even uncredited in some cases Despite this he still gave memorable performances such as Prince Andrei Bolkonsky s father in King Vidor s War and Peace 1956 Ed in Hell Drivers 1957 and Uncle Nat in Room at the Top 1958 filmed in Lawson s home town of Bradford The 1960s saw something of a career resurgence beginning with his turn as Black George in Tony Richardson s Tom Jones 1963 and culminating in two of his most notable latter day performances the decrepit butler Peacock in The Wrong Box and the Dormouse in Jonathan Miller s television adaptation of Alice in Wonderland both 1966 That same year saw his death in London from a heart attack His brother was the supporting player Gerald Lawson born Bernard Worsnop 30 April 1897 6 December 1973 and a nephew was actor Bernard Fox born Bernard Lawson 10 May 1927 14 December 2016 Selected stage performances editEvensong 1932 Peer Gynt Richard III The Father Strindberg play The Lower Depths 1962 Filmography editEast Lynne on the Western Front 1931 Dick Webb Carlyle Strike It Rich 1933 Raikes Turn of the Tide 1935 Luke Fosdyck Ladies in Love 1936 Ben Horvath White Hunter 1936 Michael Varek The Man Who Made Diamonds 1937 Gallanie Bank Holiday 1938 Police Sergt The Terror 1938 Mr Goodman Yellow Sands 1938 Richard Varwell Pygmalion 1938 Alfred Doolittle The Gaunt Stranger 1938 Maurice Meister Stolen Life 1939 Thomas E Lawrence Allegheny Uprising 1939 Mac MacDougall Dead Man s Shoes 1940 Lucien Sarrou Pastor Hall 1940 Pastor Frederick Hall The Long Voyage Home 1940 Captain It Happened to One Man 1940 Felton Quair The Farmer s Wife 1941 Churdles Ash The Ghost Train 1941 Minor Role uncredited The Man at the Gate 1941 Henry Foley Danny Boy 1941 Jack Newton Jeannie 1941 James McLean Tower of Terror 1941 Wolfe Kristan Hard Steel 1942 Walter Haddon The Night Has Eyes 1942 Jim Sturrock The Great Mr Handel 1942 George Frideric Handel Thursday s Child 1943 Frank Wilson Fanny by Gaslight 1944 Chunks The Turners of Prospect Road 1947 Will Turner The Prisoner 1955 The Jailer Make Me an Offer 1955 Charlie s Father An Alligator Named Daisy 1955 Irishman uncredited Now and Forever 1956 Gossage War and Peace 1956 Prince Bolkonsky Doctor at Large 1957 Dustman with Cyst uncredited Miracle in Soho 1957 Mr Morgan uncredited Hell Drivers 1957 Ed The Naked Truth 1957 Walter Contestant in T V Show uncredited Tread Softly Stranger 1958 Holroyd uncredited Room at the Top 1959 Uncle Nat uncredited Expresso Bongo 1959 Mr Rudge uncredited The Naked Edge 1961 Mr Pom Nothing Barred 1961 Albert Over the Odds 1961 Willie Summers Postman s Knock 1962 Postman Go to Blazes 1962 Scrap Dealer Becket 1962 Old Soldier uncredited Tom Jones 1963 Black George The Wrong Box 1966 Peacock the Butler The Viking Queen 1967 King Priam final film role Television and radio editTales from Dickens 1956 Barrel Binacre BBC Sunday Night Theatre 1953 1958 Luka a pilgrim Stephen Flesser Cornelius Rockley Michel Henslowe Flambeau The Stone Faces by J B Priestley with Luise Rainer broadcast 1957 Tales of the Vikings Pedigree 1959 Old Saxon ITV Play of the Week 1960 Old man Armchair Theatre 1958 1961 Satan Hancock ATV 1963 Paper Man Espionage The Frantick Rebel 1964 Lunatic King George III uncredited Cluff 1964 Bateson Z Cars 1965 Towser Theatre 625 1965 Mr Bourne Danger Man Secret Agent Not So Jolly Roger 1966 Corrigan The Hunchback of Notre Dame 1966 King of the Beggars The Likely Lads 1966 Grandad Alice in Wonderland 1966 TV Movie Dormouse Three Sisters Chekhov BBC Home Service Radio 1965 Directed by John Tydeman Cast included Paul Scofield Ian McKellen Lynn Redgrave and Jill Bennett References edit Gilder Rosamond 2013 Senelick Laurence ed The actor as biographer Routledge p 126 ISBN 978 1 1347 2375 1 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help Why Do Actors Drink Movieline 1 May 1994 Retrieved 15 December 2016 External links editStage performances by Wilfred Lawson listed in the Theatre Archive University of Bristol Wilfrid Lawson at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wilfrid Lawson actor amp oldid 1208590100, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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