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Gordon Mulholland

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Gordon Mulholland (30 April 1921, Cape Town, South Africa – 30 June 2010, East London, South Africa) was a British actor best known for his performances in the TV soap opera The Villagers and the movie Jock of the Bushveld.

Early life

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He was born in Cape Town in 1921 to parents Sam Mulholland and Nell.[1] It was not a happy upbringing, he was the only child of five to survive childhood.[1]: 10  His mother was the main breadwinner while his father was described as crook and a drunkard.[1]: 10  He was eventually taken into care at Nazareth House. He attended Marist Brothers College but failed to complete matric.[1]: 10 

Career

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During World War 2, he joined army's entertainment corps and entertained the troops as a stand-up comedian in North Africa and Italy, performing with Sid James and Laurence Harvey.[1]: 10 [2] After the war ended he left for London and performed at variety and music halls including the Windmill Theatre.[1]: 10 [2] He eventually migrated to West End theatres performing in productions such as Guys and Doll, Kiss Me Kate and Brush up your Shakespeare.[1]: 10  He later starred in minor roles in British film productions.[2]

He returned to South Africa in 1967, making his career in theatre and on Springbok Radio with Adrian Steed and Cyril Green.[2][3]: 3  When television arrived in South Africa in 1976, he starred in The Villagers as mining boss Hilton McRae.[2] He performed in theatre with Rex Garner and Clive Scott and some of his major productions included Fiddler on the Roof and My Fair Lady.[1]: 10 

Marriage

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Mulholland was married twice. First to Muff Evans and his second wife was actress Diane Wilson whom he married in 1963 but divorced in 1972.[1]: 10 [2] He had three sons from the two marriages, Sean, Matthew and Jamie.[2]

Death

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Mulholland suffered a stroke in 2009, leaving his left side paralyzed and after spending a year in a nursing home, he brought back to East London and died at his son's home.[1]: 10 [4]: 5 

Selected filmography

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Film

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  • Treasure Island (1950) - Durgin
  • The Lady Craved Excitement (1950) - A Lunatic
  • Cheer the Brave (1951)
  • Hands of Space (1961)
  • Coast of Skeletons (1965) - Mr. Spyker
  • Der Rivonia-Prozess (1966) - Farmer (uncredited)
  • Kruger Miljoene (1967) - Balloon observer (voice, uncredited)
  • The Cape Town Affair (1967) - Warrant Officer du Plessis
  • The Professor and the Beauty Queen (1967) - Joe
  • Stop Exchange (1970)
  • Vengeance Cops (1971) - Capt. Venter (voice, uncredited)
  • Z.E.B.R.A. (1971) - Charles Lester (English version) (voice, uncredited)
  • One Away (1976) - Detective, 'Big man'
  • Mister Deathman (1977) - Dr. Halstead
  • Jock of the Bushveld (1986) - Tom Barnett
  • Act of Piracy (1988) - Captain Jenkins
  • Headhunter (1988) - Prof. Robert Sinclair
  • Rising Storm (1989) - Whitefish Aldana
  • River of Death (1989) - Fanjul
  • The Evil Below (1989) - Max Cash Senior
  • Accidents (1989) - Tom Black
  • Act of Piracy (1990) - Loring
  • Traitor's Heart (1999) - Donald Brody

Television

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  • The Villagers (1976-1978)
  • Westgate (1981) - Warren Bartlett
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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Barron, Chris (4 July 2010). "Gordon Mulholland". Sunday Times (South Africa).
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Gordon Mulholland dies, aged 89". News24. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  3. ^ "Celebrated 89-year-old actor Gordon Mulholland dies". The Citizen (South Africa). 2 July 2010.
  4. ^ Bailey, Candice (1 July 2010). "SA screen and stage star Gordon Mulholland dies". The Star (Johannesburg).