Bruce Seton
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Bruce Seton | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | 28 September 1969 London, England | (aged 60)
Occupation(s) | Actor, soldier |
Major Sir Bruce Lovat Seton of Abercorn, 11th Baronet (29 May 1909 – 28 September 1969), better known as Bruce Seton, was a British actor and soldier.[1]
Biography
Bruce Lovat Seton was born in Simla, British India, the younger of two sons of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Bruce Seton of Abercorn (1868-1934), 9th Baronet and his wife, Elma Armstrong, (died 1960)[2] and was educated at the Edinburgh Academy and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
He met fellow actor Tamara Desni Willhelm (1911-2008) on the set of Blue Smoke in 1936, became her second husband in 1937 in London and divorced in 1940.[3][4][5][6]
On the death of his brother, Alexander (Sandy) Hay Seton (1904-1963) who had no male heirs, Bruce inherited the former's Seton Baronetcy. He married second wife actor Antoinette Cellier (Florence Antoinette Glossop Cellier) in 1940 in London. His address at this time was 15 Learmonth Gardens, Edinburgh.[7] They had a daughter Lydia Antoinette Gordon Seton, born on 14 November 1941.[8] Since he had no male heirs on his death in 1969, the title passed to his cousin, Christopher Bruce Seton (1909–1988).[9]
Military career
Bruce was commissioned into the Black Watch in 1929 as a 2nd Lieutenant, but resigned his commission in 1932. A brief interruption in his acting career came during the Second World War and in November 1939 he held the rank of Captain in the 10th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), ending the war as Major (temporary). His service number was 44304 and he was awarded the Medal of Freedom.[6][8][10][11]
Acting career
Bruce began his acting career in the chorus line at Drury Lane Theatre[6] and in 1935 he starred in Ralph Ince's film Blue Smoke as character Don Chinko.[12]
He played Inspector Fabian of Scotland Yard in 1950s TV series Fabian of the Yard. The series was based on the career of the former Scotland Yard Detective Inspector Robert Fabian who usually appeared briefly before the final fade-out to wind up the story.[13]
Bruce's last role was as the voice of Beadle in The Wonderful World of Disney from 1962-63.[14]
He fenced and boxed in the Army and was a founder member with other actors of the Lord’s Taverners, a charity which raises funds to support participation in cricket.[6]
Selected filmography
- Flame in the Heather (1935)
- Blue Smoke (1935)
- The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1936)
- The End of the Road (1936)
- Annie Laurie (1936)
- Jack of All Trades (1936)
- The Vandergilt Diamond Mystery (1936)
- Wedding Group (1936)
- Love from a Stranger (1937)
- Father Steps Out (1937)
- Cafe Colette (1937)
- Melody of My Heart (1937)
- You're the Doctor (1938)
- Lucky to Me (1939)
- Miracles Do Happen (1939)
- Return to Yesterday (1940)
- The Middle Watch (1940)
- Scott of the Antarctic (1948)
- The Story of Shirley Yorke (1948)
- Whisky Galore! (1949)
- The Blue Lamp (1950)
- Paul Temple's Triumph (1950)
- Seven Days to Noon (1950)
- Portrait of Clare (1950)
- Blackmailed (1951)
- Worm's Eye View (1951)
- Take Me to Paris (1951)
- White Corridors (1951)
- Emergency Call (1952)
- The Cruel Sea (1953) - Tallow
- Mogambo (1953) - Wilson (uncredited)
- Eight O'Clock Walk (1954) - D. C. I.
- Doctor in the House (1954) - Police Driver (uncredited)
- Delayed Action (1954) - Sellars
- Fabian of the Yard (1954) - Supt. Robert Fabian
- Man of the Moment (1955) - Fabian of the Yard (uncredited)
- Handcuffs, London (1955) - Supt. Robert Fabian
- Breakaway (1956) - Webb
- Morning Call (1957) - Inspector S.G. Brown
- There's Always a Thursday (1957) - James Pelly
- West of Suez (1957) - Major Osborne
- The Crooked Sky (1957) - Inspector 'Mac' Macauley
- Zoo Baby (1957) - Zoo Superintendent
- Undercover Girl (1958) - Ted Austin
- The Heart of a Man (1959) - River Police Inspector (uncredited)
- Strictly Confidential (1959) - Inspector Shearing
- Hidden Homicide (1959) - Bill Dodd
- Make Mine a Million (1959) - Supt. James
- Violent Moment (1959) - Inspector Davis
- The 39 Steps (1959) - Policeman on Train (uncredited)
- John Paul Jones (1959) - 1st Villager
- Life in Danger (1959) - Landlord
- Carry on Constable (1960) - (uncredited)
- Trouble with Eve (1960) - Col. Digby-Phillpotts
- Operation Cupid (1960) - Representative
- The League of Gentlemen (1960) - Patrolman (uncredited)
- Upgreen - And at 'Em (1960)
- Just Joe (1960) - Charlie
- Gorgo (1961) - Prof. Flaherty
- Greyfriars Bobby: The True Story of a Dog (1961) - Prosecutor
- The Frightened City (1961) - Assistant Commissioner
- Freedom to Die (1961) - Felix
- Ambush in Leopard Street (1962) - Nimmo
- The Pot Carriers (1962) - Prison Officer I / C Cell Block
- Dead Man's Evidence (1962) - Col. James Somerset
- Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow (1963) - Beadle
Sources
References
- ^ "Bruce Seton". BFI.
- ^ "Family of Sir Bruce SETON of Abercorn, 9th Baronet and Elma ARMSTRONG". Hamish Haynes.
- ^ "Bruce Seton (1909 - 1969) - Find A Grave Memorial". findagrave.com.
- ^ "Daily Record and Mail, Thursday February 15,1940 - Married Hour After Divorce" (PDF). Scotland's People.
- ^ "Online records show actor 'remarried one hour after divorce'". The Scotsman.
- ^ a b c d "Bruce Seton". Scotland's People.
- ^ "Marriage Record Bruce Lovat Seton and Florence Antoinette Glossop Cellier". Scotland's People.
- ^ a b "Person Page - 57442". The Peerage.
- ^ http://www.hamishhaynes.com/ft/fam7.html
- ^ "Record Details for Bruce Lovat Seton (Cameronians (Scottish Rifles))". Forces War Records.
- ^ "Supplement to the London Gazette, 23 May, 1947" (PDF). The Gazette.
- ^ "Cast of Blue Smoke". Artist Direct.
- ^ "Fabian of the Yard (1954) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast - AllMovie". AllMovie.
- ^ "Walt Disney Treasures: Dr. Syn - The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh DVD Review". dvdizzy.com.
External links
- Use dmy dates from November 2012
- Baronets in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia
- British male film actors
- British Army personnel of World War II
- Black Watch officers
- Cameronians officers
- Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst
- 1909 births
- 1969 deaths
- People from Shimla
- British male television actors
- 20th-century British male actors