Alan Wheatley
| Alan Wheatley | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 19 April 1907 Tolworth, Surrey |
| Died | 30 August 1991 (aged 84) Westminster, London |
| Occupation | Actor |
Alan Wheatley (19 April 1907 – 30 August 1991), born Tolworth, Surrey, was a radio announcer who turned to stage and screen acting in the 1930s and was much seen in British films, being a television actor during the black and white era.
Wheatley left his job as an industrial psychologist to start an acting career. The suave, debonair actor with the golden voice made his film debut in the 1936 film Conquest of the Air, which was not released until four years later. During the Second World War, he worked for BBC Radio, both as an actor and as an announcer.
He is probably best known for his role as the Sheriff of Nottingham in the TV series The Adventures of Robin Hood in the 1950s, where he played the malevolent adversary to Richard Greene's squeaky clean Robin Hood. Wheatley was the Sheriff in the first three series but had only a few appearances in the fourth and final series, his place being taken by a Deputy Sheriff played by John Arnatt. The programme, which began in 1955, was one of ITV's first adventure series, made with a view to getting a screening in America. It lasted for four years and 143 episodes, Wheatley's character becoming one of those whom viewers loved to hate.
He had roles in Danger Man and The Avengers; and was the first person killed by a Dalek in an episode of Doctor Who, when he played Thal leader Temmosus in 1964. He was also an early Sherlock Holmes in a 1951 BBC TV series.
His film credits include: Caesar and Cleopatra (1945), The Rake's Progress (1945), Brighton Rock (1947), Calling Paul Temple (1948), Spaceways (1953), Simon and Laura (1955), A Jolly Bad Fellow (1964), and Tomorrow at Ten (1964) amongst others. He also appeared in Inn for Trouble (1960), a big screen spin-off from the popular TV comedy series The Larkins.
Wheatley also managed to appear in two versions of the thriller play Rope in 1950 and 1953.
As well as television and film, stage performances were dominant in his career and he could be seen to majestic effect in Clifford Bax's The House of Borgia in 1935, as well as taking the lead in This Way to the Tomb - performed in London and Paris. He also played the tormented soul, Harry, in The Family Reunion.
Alan Wheatley also collaborated with the BBC English by Radio in a series of programmes for teaching English. He acted as "grandfather" in the series Ann and her Grandfather together with Brenda Cleather who acted as his granddaughter. His unforgettable readings of English poetry for the English by Radio audience include Thomas Gray's Elegy and readings from Shakespeare with Jill Balcon.
He also voiced a "Elizabethan Express" film (video, 1954) in a poetry style. As well he was narrator and commentator for the films "Power Links" 1973, "English Country Church" 1967, "Oil in Pakistan" 1956 and the English version of "La Fenetre Ouverte" 1952 ("Open Window" aka "Landscape Painting in Western Europe"). He also starred as Abanaza in Aladdin, the Cole Porter musical Pantomime, at the London Coliseum in 1960.
He also played the Abbe in the BBC radio series The Count of Monte Cristo with the young Andrew Sachs playing Dante.
This popular and well-respected actor died in Westminster in 1991 [1] of a heart attack, at the age of 84.
[edit] Selected filmography
- Appointment with Crime (1946)
- Jassy (1947)
- Calling Paul Temple (1948)
- It's Not Cricket (1949)
- Small Town Story (1953)
- The Limping Man (1953)
- Simon and Laura (1955)
- Inn for Trouble (1960)
- Shadow of the Cat (1961)
- Master Spy (1964)
- Tomorrow at Ten (1964)
[edit] References
- ^ GRO Register of Deaths: SEP 1991 15 1514 WESTMINSTER - Alan Wheatley, DoB = 19 Apr 1907 aged 84
