Geoffrey Bayldon
Geoffrey Bayldon | |
---|---|
Born | |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1952–2010 |
Geoffrey Bayldon (born 7 January 1924 in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire) is a British actor. After playing roles in many dramas including Shakespeare, he became known for portraying the title role of the children's series Catweazle (1970–72), after turning down the opportunity to play both the First and Second Doctors in the long-running BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who. Bayldon's other long-running parts include the Crowman in Worzel Gummidge (1979–81) and Magic Grandad in the BBC television series Watch (1995).
Early life
Bayldon attended Bridlington School and Hull College of Architecture. He appeared in amateur theatricals and then trained at the Old Vic Theatre School.[1]
Career
Bayldon made several film appearances in the 1960s and 1970s, including King Rat (1965), To Sir, with Love (1967), Casino Royale (as Q) (1967), the Envy segment of The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins (1971), the Marc Bolan/T. Rex film Born To Boogie (1972), The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976), as well as the film versions of Steptoe and Son, Steptoe and Son Ride Again (1973) as the vicar, and Porridge (1979) as the Governor. Bayldon also appeared in several horror films; Dracula and Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed for Hammer Film Productions and The House That Dripped Blood, Asylum and Tales from the Crypt for Amicus Productions. In 2004, after many years of successful television work he appeared in the film Ladies in Lavender.
He did eventually appear in Doctor Who with a guest appearance as Organon in The Creature from the Pit (1979). Subsequently, he played an alternative First Doctor in two audio plays based on the Doctor Who television series by Big Finish Productions in the Doctor Who Unbound series: Auld Mortality (2003) and A Storm of Angels (2005).
Other notable television roles include, ITV Play of the Week (1957, 1959, 1964, 1967), The Avengers (1961 and 1967), Z-Cars (1963, 1968), Theatre 625 (1964-1968), The Wednesday Play (1968, 1969), ITV Sunday Night Theatre (1970, 1972), Space: 1999 (1976), The Tomorrow People (1976), Tales of the Unexpected (1980, 1983), Blott on the Landscape (1985), Star Cops (1987), Rumpole of the Bailey (1987), The Chronicles of Narnia (1989). He later took part in a number of BBC Schools programmes,[2] where he displayed a number of otherwise unexploited talents (such as singing). In 1993, he played Simplicio in the Open University video Newton's Revolution.
In 1986 Bayldon provided the vocals on Paul Hardcastle's The Wizard which was also used (without the vocal) as the theme for BBC1's Top of the Pops.
Among his more recent television appearances were the Five game show Fort Boyard (1998-2001), Waking the Dead (2004), Heartbeat (2004), Casualty (2006, after previous appearances in 1991, 1997 and 2004). His final television appearances before his retirement were New Tricks (2007) and My Family (2010).
TV and film credits
- The Stranger Left No Card (1952) - Hotel-receptionist
- Sword of Freedom TV series - The Physician (Episode, The Ship, 1957)
- Sword of Freedom TV series - Luigi (Episode, The Lion and the Mouse, 1957)
- Sword of Freedom TV series - Muzio (Episode, A Choice of Weapons, 1957)
- OSS TV series - Abwehr Lieutenant (Episode, Operation Dagger, 1957)
- The Vise TV series (Episode, The Baby-Sitter, 1957)
- The Life of Henry V (TV, 1957) - Pistol
- The Adventures of Robin Hood TV series - Cal (Episode, The Angry Village, 1957)
- The Adventures of Robin Hood TV series - Count De Severne (Episode, The Genius, 1958)
- Dracula (1958) - Porter
- A Night to Remember (1958) - Cyril Evans
- The Two-Headed Spy (1958) - Dietz
- The Camp on Blood Island (1958) - Foster
- The Rough and the Smooth (1959) - Ransom
- Whirlpool (1959) - Wendel
- Libel (1959) - Second Photographer
- An Age of Kings (Mini-series, 1960) - Edmund of York/Worcester/Chief Justice
- Man from Interpol (Episode, The International Diamond Incident, 1960)
- Suspect (1960) - Rosson
- You Can't Win TV series - Mr. Wishart (Episode, Epitaph on a Tin, 1961)
- Bomb in the High Street (1961) - Clay
- The Avengers - Professor Kilbride (Episode, The Deadly Air, 1961)
- The Webster Boy (1962) - Charlies Jamieson
- Disneyland (Episode, The Prince and the Pauper: The Pauper King, 1962)
- The Winter's Tale (1962) - Antigonus
- Suspense TV series - Dr. Corbally (Episode, Doctor Corbally and Certain Death, 1962)
- The Amorous Prawn (1962) - 2nd Telephone - Operator
- 55 Days at Peking (1963) - Smythe
- Z-Cars - Blake (Alarm Call, 1963)
- The Victorians (1963)
- Drama 60-67 - Matthew Dowd (Drama '63: Loop, 1963)
- Becket (1964) - Brother Philip
- Detective - Stephen Protheroe (End of Chapter, 1964)
- The Saint - Wilfred Garniman (The Scorpion, 1964)
- Ghost Squad - Hartmann (Rich Ruby Wine, 1964)
- The Massingham Affair - Mr. Lumley (6 episodes, 1964)
- Where the Spies Are (1965) - Lecturer
- Danger Man - Dickinson (A Very Dangerous Game, 1965)
- King Rat (1965) - Squadron leader Vexley
- The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre - Laine (Dead Man's Chest, 1965)
- Play of the Month - Cajetan (Luther, 1965)
- Life at the Top (1965) - Industrial Psychologist
- Sky West and Crooked (1966) - Rev. Phillip Moss
- Theatre 625 (The Family Reunion, 1966)
- The Saint - Marcel Legrand (The Art Collectors, 1967)
- Theatre 625 - Don Antonio Capitani (Incantation of Casanova, 1967)
- The Avengers - Clapham (Escape in Time, 1967)
- Casino Royale (1967) - Q
- Theatre 625 - Gordon Shiplake (Kittens Are Brave, 1967)
- To Sir, with Love (1967) - Weston
- Two a Penny (1968) - Alec Fitch
- Theatre 625 - Palmer (To See How Far It Is, 1968)
- Inspector Clouseau (1968) - Gutch
- A Dandy in Aspic (1968) - Lake
- Assignment K (1968) - The Boffin
- The Wednesday Play - Mr. Mileson (A Night with Mrs. Da Tanka, 1968)
- The First Lady - Albert Craig (King of Furness, 1968)
- Detective - Kingston (The Case of the Late Pig, 1968)
- Otley (1968) - Inspector Hewett
- Play of the Month - Archbishop of Rheims (Saint Joan, 1968)
- Z-Cars - Mr. Smayles (Breakdown: Part 1 & 2, 1968)
- The Wednesday Play - Henry Ramsden (A Child and a Half, 1969)
- Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969) - Police Doctor
- Journey to the Unknown (1969) - Mr. Plimmer (Episode 'The Last Visitor')
- Boy Meets Girl - Henry Matthews (Portrait of Jenny, 1969)
- Special Branch - Alex Rushmer (The Promised Land, 1969)
- The Bushbaby (1969) - Tilison
- Canterbury Tales (7 episodes, 1969)
- Codename - Blair (Opening Gambit, 1970)
- Danton (1970) - Couthon
- Scrooge (1970) - Pringle
- The Raging Moon (1971) - Mr. Latbury
- Say Hello to Yesterday (1971) - Makelaar
- The House That Dripped Blood (1971) - Theo von Hartmann (Segment 'The Cloak')
- Catweazle - Catweazle (26 episodes, 1970–71)
- Play of the Month - Sergei Voinitsev (Platonov', 1971)
- The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins (1971) - Vernon (Segment 'Envy')
- Napoleon and Love (Mini-series, 1972) - Prince van Mecklenburg
- Tales from the Crypt (1972) - Guide
- Born To Boogie (1972) - Waiter
- Asylum (1972) - Max Reynolds (Linking Segment)
- Van der Valk - Joseph Kettner (Blue Notes, 1972)
- Au Pair Girls (1972) - Mr. Howard
- The Adventures of Black Beauty - Professor Miles (The Viking Helmet: Part 1 & 2, 1972)
- Gawain and the Green Knight (1973) - Wiseman
- The Pathfinders - Dr. Pers Anderson (Unusual Ally, 1973)
- Special Branch - Sumner (All the King's Men, 1973)
- Steptoe and Son Ride Again (1973) - Vicar
- Armchair Theatre - Oom (That Sinking Feeling, 1973)
- Great Mysteries - Magistrate (The Ingenious Reporter, 1973)
- Alice Through the Looking Glass (television film, 1974) - White Knight
- Comedy Playhouse - Franklyn Sims (Franklyn and Johnnie, 1974)
- Play of the Month - Dyadin (The Wood Demon, 1974)
- Mother India (television film, 1975)
- Crown Court (The Murder Monitor, 1975)
- Edward the King (Mini-series, 1975) - Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman
- Under Western Eyes (television film, 1975) - Peters
- Abide with Me (television film, 1976)
- The Tomorrow People - Tirayaan (Into the Unknown: Part 1 t/m 4, 1976, part 1 alleen stem)
- The Slipper and the Rose (1976) - Archbishop
- Space: 1999 - Number Eight (One Moment of Humanity, 1976)
- BBC2 Playhouse - Mr. Smythe (The Mind Beyond: The Man with the Power, 1976)
- The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) - Dr. Claude Duval
- Charleston (1977) - Uncle Fred
- Just William - Great Man (William's Lucky Day, 1977)
- The Duchess of Duke Street - Collinghurst (Shadows, 1977)
- Devenish - Neville Liversedge (1977–78)
- Sky Hunter - Mr. Charles Trim (1978)
- The Famous Five - Mr. Gringle (Five Go to Billycock Hill, 1978)
- All Creatures Great and Small - Roland Partridge (Pride of Possession, 1978)
- Worzel Gummidge - The Crowman (1979–81)
- Porridge (1979) - Governor
- Doctor Who- Organon (The Creature from the Pit, 1979)
- The Monster Club (1980) - Psychiatrist
- Worzel Gummidge: A Cup o' Tea an' a Slice o' Cake (1980)
- Cribb - Oom Ezra Winter (Something Old, Something New, 1980)
- Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson - Hadlock (The Case of the Deadly Tower, 1980)
- Tales of the Unexpected - Dr. Applegate (Fat Chance, 1980)
- Lady Killers - Dr. French (My Perfect Husband, 1981)
- Juliet Bravo - Jack Lord (Journeys, 1981)
- Bergerac - Henry Bernard (Relative Values, 1981)
- Tales of the Unexpected - Sid (Down Among the Sheltering Palms, 1983)
- Hallelujah! - Mr. Sedgewick (Counselling, 1983|Luncheon Club, 1983)
- Bullshot (1983) - Col. Hinchcliff
- All Creatures Great and Small 1983 Christmas special (television film, 1983) - Mr. Mason
- Hallelujah! - Jacob Marley (A Goose for Mrs. Scratchit, 1984)
- Blott on the Landscape (Mini-series, 1985) - Ganglion
- Hold the Back Page (Fathers, Sons and Lovers, 1985)
- In Loving Memory - Balloonist (Up in the World, 1986)
- All Passion Spent (television film, 1986) - William
- "Theme" B side to single "Anatomy of love" by Shelleyan Orphan (1987)
- Cause célèbre (television film, 1987) - Humphreys
- Rumpole of the Bailey - Brinsley Lampitt (Rumpole and the Judge's Elbow, 1987)
- Star Cops - Ernest Wolfhartt (Other People's Secret, 1987)
- The Return of Sherlock Holmes - Sidney Johnson (The Bruce-Partington Plans, 1988)
- The Storyteller - Koning (Sapsorrow, 1988)
- Madame Sousatzka (1988) - Mr. Cordle
- The Tenth Man (television film, 1988)
- Dramarama - Visser (The Pisces Connection, 1989)
- All Creatures Great and Small - Geoff Hatfield (Where Sheep May Safely Graze, 1989)
- Prince Caspian and the Voyage of the Dawn Treader (television film, 1989) - Ramandu
- Campion - Rev. Swithin Cush (Mystery Mile: Part 1, 1990)
- TECX - Alec Siemens (Deep Water, 1990)
- Van der Valk - Nicolas Meijers (The Little Rascals, 1991)
- l'Amore necessario (1991) - Bernardo
- Casualty - Duncan Frain (Facing Up, 1991)
- Soldier Soldier - Jack Knight (Further Education, 1994)
- Never Mind (television film, 1994) - Ron
- Asterix in America (1994) - Getafix (Voice)
- Tom & Viv (1994) - Harwent
- Magic Grandad (1995)
- Last of the Summer Wine - Mr. Broadbent (Adopted by a Stray, 1995)
- Wycliffe - Gilbert Rawle (Wild Oats, 1995)
- Pie in the Sky - Seymour Flint (Black Pudding, 1995)
- The Biz (TV series) - Markov (1995)
- Faith in the Future - Mr. Quigley (Art Lovers, 1996)
- Cuts (television film, 1996) - Prof. Finiston
- Casualty - Alby James (Déjà Vu, 1997)
- The New Adventures of Robin Hood - Merlijn (The Legend of Olwyn, 1997)
- Casualty - James Ellington (A Taste of Freedom, 1997)
- Wycliffe - Rechter (Old Times, New Crimes, 1997)
- Heat of the Sun (Mini-series, 1998) - Rafe Goodwin
- Heartbeat - Follett (Spellbound, 1998)
- Peak Practice - Alby James (Once in a Lifetime, 1998|A Change of View, 1998)
- Where the Heart Is - Edward Smith (Love, 1998)
- Midsomer Murders - Arthur Prewitt (Blue Herrings, 2000)
- Where the Heart Is - Wally Vernon (Relative Strangers, 2002)
- Fort Boyard - professor (1998–2002)
- Looking for Victoria (television film, 2003) - Sir Henry Ponsonby
- Ladies in Lavender (2004) - Mr. Penhaligan
- Waking the Dead - Edward Atkinson (In Sight of the Lord, 2004)
- Casualty - Ralph Michaels (Inside Out, 2004)
- Heartbeat - Gilbert Percy (Money, Money, Money, 2004)
- Casualty - Wilf Simpson (Needle, 2006)
- New Tricks - Leonard Casey (God's Waiting Room, 2007)
- Love/Loss - Alfie Wainwright (2010)
- My Family - Joe (The Son'll Come Out, 2010)
References
- ^ Alan Curthoys & John Doyle (1985). Who's Who on Television, 1st Edition. Independent Television Books Ltd. ISBN 0-900727-72-1.
- ^ http://www.tv-ark.org.uk/schools/bbcschoolsprogrammes70s.html