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Colin Gordon
Colin Gordon
Colin Gordon
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Colin Gordon (27 April 1911 – 4 October 1972) was a British actor. Although primarily a stage actor he made numerous appearances on television and in cinema films, generally in comedies. His stage career was mainly in the West End, but he was seen in the provinces in some touring productions.

Key Information

Biography

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Early years

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Gordon was born in British Ceylon, the son of William Arthur Gordon and his wife Lily Vera, née Troup.[1] He was educated at Marlborough College and Christ Church, Oxford.[1] He first appeared on the professional stage in repertory at the Palace Theatre, Watford from January to December 1934.[1] He made his first West End appearance in 1934 as the hind legs of Alfred, the carthorse, in a production of Toad of Toad Hall at the Royalty Theatre.[1] At the same theatre he played James in Frolic Wind (March 1935, described by The Stage as "a distinguished failure"),[2] and Peter in Closing At Sunrise (September 1935).[1] From 1936 to 1939 he directed the Fred Melville Repertory Company in Brixton.[1] He served in the army during the Second World War for six years.[1]

Gordon was taken ill whilst working in South Africa and brought home to Surrey, where he died at the age of 61. He was buried with his wife at St Andrew's Church, Didling in West Sussex.

Stage roles 1948–1970

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Date Theatre Play Role Notes
Mar 1948 Apollo The Happiest Days of Your Life Rupert Billings received the Clarence Derwent Award
Mar 1951 Wyndham's The Love of Four Colonels Colonel Desmond De S Rinder-Sparrow
Mar 1953 Globe The White Carnation Sir Horace Duncan
Oct 1953 Coronet The Little Hut Henry Broadway debut
Mar 1955 Duchess Misery Me! Julius Ring
Jul 1955 Duke of York's Wild Thyme Seymour Verity
Dec 1956 Aldwych The Touch of Fear Alec Barnes
Mar 1957 Arts The Wit to Woo Percy Trellis
Mar 1959 Guildford Repertory Members Only Percy Also director
May 1960 Theatre Royal, Windsor Handful of Tansy Sir Matthew Carr
Jun 1960 Everyman, Cheltenham I Seem to Know Your Face Percy Also director
Oct 1961 Theatre Royal, Windsor Mr Rhodes Dr Jameson
Mar 1964 On tour March Hares Dr Unwin
Aug 1964 On tour Alibi For a Judge Thomas Empton QC
Aug 1965 Savoy Alibi For a Judge Thomas Empton QC
Nov 1967 Duke of York's Relatively Speaking Philip took over the part from Michael Hordern
Jun 1969 Belgrade, Coventry Never Say Die Richard Blake
Mar 1970 Royal Court A Who's Who of Flapland Cast member
Source: Who's Who in the Theatre.[1]

Screen

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Gordon had a long career in British cinema and television from the 1940s to the 1970s, often playing government officials. His films include The Pink Panther and Casino Royale (both with Peter Sellers, alongside whom he made five films). In the ITC series The Prisoner (1967) he portrayed Number Two twice, in "The General" and "A. B. and C." .[3] Gordon was a regular in another ITC production, The Baron, playing civil servant Templeton-Green opposite Steve Forrest.[4] He also starred in The Invisible Man (1958 TV series) episode "Play to Kill", (series 1, episode 6, 1959); was the host and occasional narrator of the 1969 London Weekend Television series The Complete and Utter History of Britain, (which arose from a pre-Monty Python collaboration between Michael Palin and Terry Jones); and was the airport commandant in the 1967 Doctor Who story The Faceless Ones.[5][6] He was also in Bachelor Father and made two guest appearances in Steptoe and Son. In 1961 he appeared as the doctor in "The Lift" episode of Hancock's Half Hour.[7] In 1970 he appeared in the UFO episode "The Cat with Ten Lives". He also appeared as Walpole Gibb in the ATV/ITC series Hine in 1971.

Radio

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For many years, from 1953 onwards, he played Tony Fellows, fictional husband to wife 'Ann ', played by Diana Churchill (actress), and brother-in-law to David Alexander Bliss, (played by George Cole (actor)), in ' A Life of Bliss '.

Film roles

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References

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Sources

[edit]
  • Herbert, Ian, ed. (1977). Who's Who in the Theatre (sixteenth ed.). London and Detroit: Pitman Publishing and Gale Research. ISBN 978-0-273-00163-8.
  • Obituary, The Stage, 12 October 1972, page 20.
[edit]
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Colin Gordon

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Colin Gordon (27 April 1911 – 4 October 1972) was a British renowned for his versatile performances in , film, and television throughout the mid-20th century. Born in Ceylon (now ) to British parents, Gordon was educated at and , before embarking on an acting career that began on the West End stage in 1934. His early stage work included a debut role as the hind legs of a in a production of Toad of Toad Hall, followed by wartime service after which he resumed acting in notable plays such as The Little Hut (1953) and The White Carnation (1953). Gordon transitioned to screen roles in the late 1940s, appearing in films like Edward, My Son (1949) alongside and Grand National Night (1953), establishing himself as a reliable in British cinema. Among his most prominent film credits were the role of Tucker in (1963) and the Casino Director in Casino Royale (1967), the latter a satirical spoof in which he collaborated with for the fifth time. On television, Gordon gained cult status for portraying Number Two in two episodes ("A. B. and C." and "The General") of the acclaimed series (1967), as well as the Commandant in the Doctor Who story "" (1967). He also starred in the sitcom A Life of Bliss (1960–1963) as the bumbling Henry Bliss, earning the inaugural Clarence Derwent Award for his stage work earlier in his career. Gordon's career, marked by over 50 film and television appearances, concluded with The Body Beneath (1970), before his death from undisclosed causes in , , at age 61.

Early Life

Family Background and Childhood

Colin Gordon was born Colin Fraser Gordon on 27 April 1911 in British Ceylon, now . Little is documented about his immediate family, but he was the son of William Arthur Gordon and Lily Vera (née Troup). As a child of British colonial subjects, Gordon spent his early years in Ceylon. His family relocated to sometime in his childhood, transitioning him from the tropical island setting to the British mainland. This move paved the way for his formal education at .

Education and Initial Career Steps

Gordon was educated at , a public school in , , before attending , where he developed an early interest in the . Following his university studies, Gordon made his professional stage debut in repertory theater in 1934. Later that year, he achieved his West End debut at the Royalty Theatre, taking on the role of the hind legs of Alfred, the carthorse, in A. A. Milne's adaptation of Toad of Toad Hall. From 1936 to 1939, Gordon served as a director and producer with the Fred Melville Repertory Company at the Brixton Theatre, where he also acted in various productions, gaining practical experience in all aspects of regional theater management. His burgeoning career was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II, during which he enlisted in the British Army and served for six years, contributing to the war effort until 1945.

Stage Career

Pre-War and Wartime Roles (1934–1947)

Gordon made his professional stage debut in 1934, appearing in a West End production of Toad of Toad Hall at the Royalty Theatre, where he played the hind legs of the carthorse Alfred. This early role, following his classical education at —which provided a strong foundation in dramatic arts—marked the beginning of his commitment to theater amid the interwar cultural scene. From 1936 to 1939, Gordon shifted focus to repertory theater, serving as director, producer, and actor with the Fred Melville Repertory Company at the Melville Theatre in , . In this provincial setting, he contributed to a diverse of plays, honing his multifaceted skills in a hands-on environment that contrasted with the glamour of West End productions. The outbreak of profoundly disrupted Gordon's burgeoning career; he enlisted in the and served for six years, from 1939 to 1945, primarily in non-combat roles that left little opportunity for theatrical involvement. This extended halted his stage activities, as wartime conditions— including theater closures, , and evacuations—severely limited repertory operations across Britain, forcing many actors into alternative contributions to the . By 1947, as progressed, Gordon began transitioning back to civilian life, though his full return to would not occur until the following year.

Post-War Roles and Directing Work (1948–1970)

Following his wartime service, Colin Gordon resumed his stage career with a standout as Rupert Billings, the mild-mannered , in John Dighton's The Happiest Days of Your Life at the Apollo Theatre in , which opened on 29 March 1948 and ran for over two years. For this role, Gordon received the inaugural UK Clarence Derwent Award for best supporting male in a West End production, marking a significant breakthrough that solidified his reputation in British theatre. The production's success highlighted Gordon's skill in portraying flustered, bureaucratic characters, a trait that became a hallmark of his later work. In the early 1950s, Gordon appeared in several notable West End comedies, including the role of Colonel Desmond De S Rinder-Sparrow in Peter Ustinov's satirical The Love of Four Colonels at , which premiered on 28 March 1951 and explored themes of disillusionment through fantastical . He followed this with Sir Horace Duncan, a official, in R.C. Sherriff's The White Carnation at the from 5 January to 25 April 1953, a play blending mystery and . Later that year, Gordon made his Broadway debut as Henry in André Roussin's The Little Hut (adapted by ), first at the Lyric Theatre in in October 1953 before transferring to the Coronet Theatre in New York on 7 October 1953, where the lighthearted farce about a on a desert island ran for 24 performances. These roles at prestigious venues like the Globe and underscored his versatility in ensemble comedies during the decade. By the late , Gordon expanded into directing while continuing to perform, notably helming G.C. Chambers' Members Only at the Theatre on 9 March 1959 as part of his work with the Repertory Theatre, where he served as actor-director from 1957 onward. This period reflected a broader career arc toward character roles—often eccentric officials or hapless everymen—in touring and repertory productions, allowing him to balance and creative control amid the evolving British stage landscape of the .

Screen Career

Film Roles

Colin Gordon made his film debut in the late , transitioning from to cinema where his precise, often cynical portrayals of authority figures quickly found a niche in British productions. His early roles, influenced by his theatrical background in and drama, emphasized haughty officials and bureaucrats, contributing to the era's Studios-style satires on British society. Throughout the and , Gordon appeared in over 30 feature films, typically in supporting capacities that highlighted his talent for dry humor and subtle menace. Notable examples include his performance as the pompous Reginald Willoughby-Cruft in the black comedy The Green Man (1956), where he played a bumbling accomplice to a . He also featured as the Bank Manager in the crime drama Strongroom (1962), underscoring his suitability for roles involving institutional rigidity. Gordon's most prominent cinematic associations came through five collaborations with Peter Sellers, spanning light-hearted adventures and farces that amplified his reputation in international comedies. These included John and Julie (1955), a family road trip film; The Mouse That Roared (1959), where he voiced the BBC Announcer in the satirical invasion tale; The Pink Panther (1963), as the embassy official Tucker aiding Inspector Clouseau's bungled investigation; Casino Royale (1967), portraying the suave Casino Director amid the chaotic spy spoof; and Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River (1968), in a supporting comic role. Other significant films from the further exemplified his typecasting as government or professional figures, such as Mr. Hutton in the domestic comedy (1966). His work in these productions, often in ensemble casts, helped cement his status as a dependable whose understated performances added depth to post-war British film's exploration of class and . He also appeared as Hill in the comedy The Man in the White Suit (1951).
YearFilm TitleRole
1949Edward, My SonMinor role
1951Circle of DangerCol. Fairbairn
1956The Green ManReginald Willoughby-Cruft
1963Heavens Above!Prime Minister
1963Tucker
1967Casino RoyaleCasino Director

Television Roles

Colin Gordon's television career spanned the to the early , featuring a mix of guest spots, recurring roles, and hosting duties in British series, often portraying officious bureaucrats, authority figures, or comedic straight men. His work frequently aligned with the era's burgeoning sci-fi and genres, building on his established screen persona from films. One of his most memorable roles was as Number Two in the cult series (1967), where he appeared in two episodes: "The General," directed by Peter Graham Scott, and "A. B. and C.," directed by David Tomblin, portraying a nervous yet sinister administrator overseeing the Village's surveillance operations. In The Baron (1966–1967), Gordon had a recurring role as John Alexander Templeton-Green, a civil servant in the British Diplomatic Service who assigns covert missions to the , antique dealer John Mannering, across multiple episodes of the ITC adventure series. That same year, he guest-starred as the airport commandant in 's six-part serial "," playing a world-weary official dealing with alien threats at alongside the Second Doctor, . Gordon also made notable comedy appearances, including two guest spots in Steptoe and Son: as the Doctor in "The Holiday" (Series 1, Episode 5, 1962), where he advises the rag-and-bone men on health matters, and as tax inspector Mr. Greenwood in "Live Now, P.A.Y.E. Later" (Series 7, Episode 4, 1972), investigating the Steptoes' finances. In Hancock's Half Hour (1961), he played the Doctor in the episode "The Lift," assisting during a claustrophobic mishap. His sci-fi contributions extended to UFO (1970), where he portrayed filmmaker Albert Thompson in "The Cat with Ten Lives," uncovering an alien plot involving his cousin's possession. Additionally, in the spy comedy Hine (1971), Gordon recurred as the antagonistic civil servant Walpole Gibb, clashing with arms dealer Manfred Hine over bureaucratic hurdles at the Department of Arms Disposal Overseas. Earlier in his TV work, Gordon appeared in The Invisible Man (1959) as the Colonel in the episode "Play to Kill," investigating a blackmail scheme tied to an accidental hit-and-run. He also served as the irritable host of the satirical sketch series The Complete and Utter History of Britain (1969), linking absurd reenactments of historical events by Terry Jones and Michael Palin with deadpan commentary, establishing a precursor tone to Monty Python's Flying Circus. Over time, Gordon's television roles increasingly gravitated toward science fiction anthologies and situation comedies, reflecting the medium's shift toward genre experimentation while leveraging his knack for portraying flustered officials.

Radio Career

Key Radio Appearances

Colin Gordon's most prominent radio role was as Tony Fellows in the long-running A Life of Bliss, which premiered on 29 July 1953 and featured him alongside George Cole as the bumbling bachelor David Alexander Bliss. In the series, Gordon portrayed the exasperated husband of Ann Fellows (), serving as Bliss's pragmatic brother-in-law and providing comic contrast to the central character's absent-minded antics. Written by Godfrey Harrison, the domestic comedy revolved around everyday mishaps in suburban life, with Gordon's dry, precise delivery enhancing the ensemble dynamic. The series achieved significant popularity, airing for six series and a total of 118 episodes until , when it transitioned to television, though many radio installments are now lost. Gordon's consistent presence from the early episodes onward—taking over the role after initial casting changes—made him a staple of the show, contributing to its status as a beloved fixture that captured post-war British humor. His performance in A Life of Bliss exemplified his skill as a voice actor, drawing on vocal training from his extensive career to convey subtle irritation and wit without visual cues. These radio engagements complemented his broader career, allowing him to maintain a steady presence in while prioritizing and screen work.

Personal Life

Marriages and Family

Colin Gordon was married twice during his lifetime. His first marriage was to Sidney Eileen Short in 1936, with the union ending in in 1943; the couple had one child together. In 1945, Gordon married actress Zena Howard, known for her work in and television productions such as Overseas Press Club - Exclusive!; the marriage later ended in separation, though the exact date is not documented in available records.

Death

Colin Gordon died on 4 October 1972 in , , , at the age of 61. The cause of death was not publicly disclosed. His final on-screen role was as Mr. Greenwood in the episode "Live Now, P.A.Y.E. Later," which aired earlier in 1972. Prior to that, he appeared as in the The Body Beneath (1970).

References

  1. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/40754088/colin_fraser-gordon
  2. https://www.bornglorious.com/person/?pi=1108465
  3. https://www.tvinsider.com/people/colin-gordon/
  4. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/14263-colin-gordon?language=en-US
  5. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0330101/
  6. https://www.fandango.com/people/colin-gordon-250671/biography
  7. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/colin_gordon
  8. https://jamesbond.fandom.com/wiki/Colin_Gordon
  9. http://www.classicmoviehub.com/bio/colin-gordon
  10. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/14263-colin-gordon
  11. https://thegoonshow.co.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Colin_Gordon
  12. https://entertainment.ie/person/colin-gordon
  13. https://www.classicmoviehub.com/bio/colin-gordon
  14. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0330101/bio/
  15. https://theatricalia.com/play/h0/the-happiest-days-of-your-life/production/18m7
  16. https://www.westendtheatre.com/248062/news/awards/clarence-derwent-awards-uk-west-end-awards/
  17. https://www.gettyimages.com/photos/the-love-of-four-colonels
  18. https://theatricalia.com/person/v7a/colin-gordon
  19. https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-little-hut-2374
  20. https://calmview.bham.ac.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=XMS38/2137
  21. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050456/
  22. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055484/
  23. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057413/
  24. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061452/
  25. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/family_way
  26. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044876/
  27. https://cultbox.co.uk/features/lists/the-prisoner-six-of-the-best-number-two
  28. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0562913/characters/nm0330101
  29. https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/colin_gordon/
  30. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0595643/
  31. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0735633/
  32. https://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-shows-1970s/hine/
  33. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0612060/
  34. http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1377989/index.html
  35. https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/complete_utter_history_britain/
  36. https://www.oldtimeradiodownloads.com/comedy/a-life-of-bliss
  37. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04dmnc5
  38. https://www.comedy.co.uk/radio/a_life_of_bliss/shop/7384/a-life-of-bliss/
  39. https://fourble.co.uk/podcast/bbcbliss
  40. https://www.myclassicradio.net/comedy/a-life-of-bliss/
  41. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0710098/
  42. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065483/
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