Graham Crowden

Graham Crowden
Born Clement Graham Crowden
(1922-11-30)30 November 1922
Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, UK
Died 19 October 2010(2010-10-19) (aged 87)
Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland, UK
Occupation Actor
Years active 1956–2008

Clement Graham Crowden (30 November 1922 – 19 October 2010)[1][2] was a Scottish actor. He was best known for his many appearances in television comedy dramas and films, often playing eccentric "offbeat" scientist, teacher and doctor characters.

Early life

Crowden was born in Edinburgh, the son of Anne Margaret (née Paterson) and Harry Graham Crowden.[3] He was educated at Clifton Hall School and the Edinburgh Academy before serving briefly in the Royal Scots Youth Battalion of the army until he was injured in a bizarre accident. During arms drill he was shot by his platoon sergeant, when the sergeant's rifle discharged.[4] The sergeant reportedly enquired "What is it now, Crowden?", to which Crowden replied "I think you've shot me, sergeant." He later found work in a tannery.

Acting career

Crowden had a long and distinguished theatrical career, most notably at Laurence Olivier's National Theatre where he performed as The Player King in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, the play by Tom Stoppard.

He occasionally played mad scientists in film, taking the role of Doctor Millar in the Mick Travis films of director Lindsay Anderson, O Lucky Man! (1973) and Britannia Hospital (1982) and also playing the sinister Doctor Smiles in the film of Michael Moorcock's first Jerry Cornelius novel, The Final Programme (1973). He also played the eccentric History master in Anderson's if.... (1968). In 1970, he appeared in the popular Thames Television series Callan as The Groper, a de-registered doctor, who had been in Wormwood Scrubs called on by Callan, when unofficial medical assistance was required (e.g. Series 3, "A Village Called G" and likely others between 1967–73 though some are now lost).

In 1975, he made an appearance in "No Way Out" – an episode of the British sitcom Porridge alongside Ronnie Barker, Brian Wilde, Richard Beckinsale and Fulton Mackay, as the prison doctor when Fletcher was complaining of an injured leg.

He was offered the role of the Fourth Doctor in Doctor Who in 1974, when Jon Pertwee left the role but turned it down, informing producer Barry Letts that he was not prepared to commit himself to the series for three years. The role ultimately went to Tom Baker. He appeared in The Horns of Nimon (1979) as a villain opposite Baker. This was the reason why Ian Marter was originally hired, as the producers and directors considered Crowden too old to be seen running about and taking on a larger physical role.

A regular role was in the BBC comedy-drama A Very Peculiar Practice (1986–88) as the alcoholic Dr. Jock McCannon. In 1990, he appeared as a lecherous peer in the BBC comedy Don't Wait Up and in 1991 he played a modest role in the Rumpole of the Bailey episode "Rumpole and the Quacks", portraying Sir Hector MacAuliffe, the head of a medical inquest into the potential sexual misconduct on the part of Dr. Ghulam Rahmat (portrayed by Saeed Jaffrey).

In 1990, he landed the role of Tom Ballard in the sitcom Waiting for God, opposite Stephanie Cole's character Diana Trent, as the two rebellious retirement home residents. The show ran for five years and was a major success.[5]

In 1994, Crowden played the part of Professor Pollux in the BBC TV adaptation of the John Hadfield novel Love on a Branch Line.

Crowden then voiced the role of Mustrum Ridcully in the 1997 animated Cosgrove Hall production of Terry Pratchett's Soul Music.

In 2001, he guest-starred in the Midsomer Murders episode "Ring Out Your Dead" and also played The Marquis of Auld Reekie in The Way We Live Now. Between 2001 and 2002, he played a role in the BBC Radio 4 comedy series The Leopard in Autumn. In 2003, he made a cameo appearance as a sadistic naval school teacher in The Lost Prince. In 2005–08, he starred in the BBC Radio 4 sci-fi comedy Nebulous as Sir Ronald Rolands. In 2008, he appeared as a guest star in Foyle's War.

For many years towards the end of his life, he lived in Mill Hill, London NW7.

Death

Crowden died on 19 October 2010 in Edinburgh after a short illness. Crowden is survived by his wife, Phyllida Hewat, whom he married in 1952, a son and three daughters, one of whom, Sarah, followed him into acting.

Filmography

Television roles

Year Title Role Notes
1964 HMS Paradise Commander Shaw
1964 Redcap: The Patrol Major Fraser
1965 Danger Man:That's Two Of Us Sorry Commander Braithwaite
1970 Catweazle:The Enchanted King Gobbling
1973 The Adventures of Black Beauty: Goodbye Beauty Mr. Crevace
1975 Porridge: Christmas Special – "No Way Out" Prison Physician
1977 '1990': Decoy Dr. Sondeberg
1977 Raffles: Home Affairs Sir Arthur Rumbold
1979–1980 Doctor Who: The Horns of Nimon Soldeed
1986–1988 A Very Peculiar Practice Dr. Jock McCannon
1986 All Passion Spent Herbert
1990–1994 Waiting for God Tom Ballard
1992 The Alleyn Mysteries: Final Curtain Sir Henry Ancred
1994 Love on a Branch Line Professor Pollux
2000 The 10th Kingdom Old Retainer
2001 Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible (Episode 'Curse of the Blood of the Lizard of Doom') Professor MacLewton
2002 Midsomer Murders (Episode: Ring Out Your Dead) Reggie Barton
2008Foyle's War (Episode 'Broken Souls') Sir John Sackville (Last appearance)

Films

References

  1. ↑ Randall, Nicholas (21 October 2010). "Stage and screen star Graham Crowden dies, aged 87". Edinburgh: The Scotsman.
  2. ↑ "Graham Crowden (obituary)". The Times. 21 October 2010. p. 65.
  3. ↑ Graham Crowden Biography (1922–2010)
  4. ↑ One biographical report of the shooting.
  5. ↑ BBC: Very quietly, Waiting For God became a huge success...

Michael Palin, Halfway to Hollywood, p. 162

External links

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