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Howard Lang
Howard Lang
Howard Lang
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Howard Lang (born Donald Yarranton; 20 March 1911 – 11 December 1989) was an English actor known for playing Captain William Baines in the BBC nautical drama The Onedin Line.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Lang was born in Marylebone, London, the son of Edward John Yarranton (1884–1954) and Clara Ann (née Malkin) (1888–1921).[1] His father had left the family's bookbinding business to become a senior commercial traveller for Winsor & Newton, the manufacturer of artists' materials.

Lang served for seven years in the Royal Navy including during World War II. In January 1941 he was appointed Temporary Sub-Lieutenant,[2] and in January 1942 Temporary Lieutenant,[3] a position he held until the end of the war.[4]

His younger brother from his father's second marriage was Sir Peter Yarranton (1924–2003), chairman of the United Kingdom Sports Council from 1989 to 1994, and a notable figure in the world of rugby union, both as a player and as an administrator, for more than 40 years.

Acting career

[edit]

For his role as seafaring Captain Baines in The Onedin Line (1971–1980) he gained international attention. In a 1977 interview in Radio Times Lang recalled a personal appearance in Norway:

When the series was first shown in Norway I was asked to make a personal appearance in a small shipbuilding town. As I was brought into Grimstad by sea I caught sight of huge crowds – all of 3,000 townsfolk out on the quay to greet me. I learned afterwards that I had been received as family because almost every home had an ancient photograph of an uncle, cousin or grandfather dressed and sideburned precisely as I appear on The Onedin Line.[5]

Lang's other parts included roles in The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970), Z-Cars, Softly, Softly, The Vise, and an appearance as caveman Horg in three of the four episodes of the first Doctor Who story, An Unearthly Child. He also played Winston Churchill in the 1983 TV miniseries The Winds of War.

He also played the role of Bert Hudd in the first production of Harold Pinter's first play,The Room.

In an early seafaring role, he had a cameo in Ben-Hur as the hortator aboard a Roman galley leading up to the epic battle with an enemy fleet.

Howard Lang died in West Hampstead, London in 1989.

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1946 Great Expectations Man at Magwitch's Trial Uncredited
1947 Jassy Juryman Uncredited
1950 The Mudlark Footman Uncredited
1951 Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. Officer aboard Cassandra Uncredited
1952 The Floating Dutchman Gaoler Uncredited
1953 The Missing Man Inspector Haslett Uncredited
Counterspy Policeman Uncredited
1954 The Blazing Caravan Publican Uncredited
The House Across the Lake Inspector Edgar Uncredited
Beau Brummell Heckler Uncredited
The Men of Sherwood Forest Town Crier
Devil's Point Marne, company executive Uncredited
1955 The Mysterious Bullet Davy Charlesworth
Stolen Time Scotland Yard detective
1956 Keep It Clean Police Sergeant
Eyewitness Cinema Commissionaire Uncredited
Destination Death Police Sgt Uncredited
The Battle of the River Plate Guns – HMS Exeter Uncredited
The Hideout Greeko
1957 The Crooked Sky Commissioner
The Big Chance Saw Mill Man
The Birthday Present Cellblock Officer Uncredited
1958 Dunkirk Chief, Sheerness Dockyard Uncredited
A Night to Remember Chief Officer Henry Wilde – Titanic Uncredited
Corridors of Blood Chief Inspector Uncredited
1959 Behemoth the Sea Monster Naval Commander Uncredited
Innocent Meeting Macey
A Woman's Temptation Uncredited
Man Accused Uncredited
Ben-Hur Hortator Uncredited
Date at Midnight Inspector
1960 Night Train for Inverness Sergeant
Jackpot George
The Trials of Oscar Wilde Court Usher
1961 Gorgo First Colonel
Feet of Clay Warder
The Curse of the Werewolf Irate Farmer Uncredited
1963 The Haunting Hugh Crain Uncredited
The Runaway Norring
1964 Nothing but the Best Jutson
1965 He Who Rides a Tiger Prison Governor
1966 A Woman's Temptation Uncredited
1967 Frankenstein Created Woman Guard Uncredited
1970 Perfect Friday Bank Commissionaire
1971 10 Rillington Place Man in Pub Uncredited
Macbeth Old Soldier Uncredited

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Episodes
1952–1955 BBC Sunday-Night Theatre Courier Pilot

Party Guest

Season 3, episode 29: ''Arrow to the Heart''

Season 6, episode 44: ''The Makepeace Story #3: Family Business''

1954 Fabian of the Yard Harry Season 1, episode 4: ''Bombs in Piccadilly''
1955 The Hole in the Wall 2nd Policeman TV movie
1955–1961 The Vise Police Sergeant

Policeman Marshall Warehouseman Mansfield Mr. Peters First Detective P.C. Price Jim

Season 2, episode 8: ''The Broken Link''

Season 5: (2 episodes)

Season 6: (4 episodes)

Season 7: (2 episodes)

1956 ITV Play of the Week George Hutton Season 1, episode 37: ''Come Read Me a Riddle''
The Adventures of the Big Man Balford Season 1: (3 episodes)
The Crime of the Century Mr. Barton Season 1: (2 episodes)
1956–1957 The Adventures of Robin Hood Landlord

Inn Patron with Password

Season 2: (2 episodes)
1957 Sword of Freedom Major Domo Season 1, episode 4: ''Caterina''
ITV Television Playhouse Watchman Season 2, episode 44: ''And So to Bed''
Overseas Press Club - Exclusive! Polish bosun Season 1, episode 11: ''The Unknown Man''
White Hunter Burrows Season 1, episode 4: ''The No-Account''
1957–1958 O.S.S. Bruehl

Jean First Farmer

Season 1: (3 episodes)
1958 African Patrol Brad

Collins

Season 1: (2 episodes)
The Adventures of William Tell Schmidt

Blacksmith Armour

Season 1: (3 episodes)
1959–1960 Interpol Calling Commander Siddons

Dutch Policeman

Season 1: (2 episodes)
1959–1962 Dixon of Dock Green 1st Carter

Paul Bennet

Season 5, episode 22: ''A Case for the Inland Revenue''

Season 9, episode 13: ''Cash and Carry''

1960 Man From Interpol Sergeant Season 1, episode 7: ''Love by Extortion''
The Strange World of Gurney Slade Season 1, episode 3
Knight Errant Limited Dr. O'Kelly Season 3, episode 10: ''The Conspirators''
1961 Rendezvous Goddard Season 1, episode 29: ''The Executioner''
1961–1962 Sir Francis Drake Richard Grenville Season 1: (15 episodes)
1962 The Cheaters Willie Season 2, episode 18: ''The Dashing Major''
1963 Richard the Lionheart First Shepard Season 1, episode 28: ''Capture''
Sergeant Cork Drayman Season 1, episode 1: ''Case of the Reluctant Window''
Doctor Who Horg Season 1: (3 episodes)
1964 Espionage Ted Newcombe Season 1, episode 19: ''Snow on Mount Kama''
HMS Paradise Commander Bell Season 1, episode 3: ''An Officer and a Gentleman''
Gideon's Way Sgt. Fowler Season 1, episode 6: ''The Lady Killer''
1964–1969 Z-Cars Brown

Inspector Jackson Tice

Season 4, episode 6: ''Somebody Said...''

Season 6: (3 episodes)

1965 The Scales of Justice Abbott Season 1, episode 6: ''Personal and Confidential''
Theatre 625 Grimmett Season 3, episode 10: '' The World of George Orwell: Coming Up for Air''
1966 The Wednesday Play Dart player Season 1, episode 54: ''A Walk in the Sea''
King of the River Captain Friar Season 1, episode 12: ''Flash Point''
1966–1969 Softly, Softly Dobson

Mr. Forbes Captain Donaldson

Season 1, episode 19: ''The Short Cut''

Season 3, episode 9: ''The Hunt'' Season 5, episode 5: ''Dead Aboard''

1968 Freewheelers Admiral Nash Season 1: (3 episodes)
Georgia Brown Sings Kurt Weill Narrator TV movie
1969 W. Somerset Maugham Clark Season 1, episode 4: ''The Letter''
Detective Packer Season 3, episode 7: ''Elimination Round''
1970 The Six Wives of Henry VIII Sir John Seymour Season 1, episode 3: ''Jane Seymour''
Macbeth Siward Season 1, episode 5
1971 The Persuaders! Coalition Club Member Season 1, episode 6: ''The Time and Place''
1971–1980 The Onedin Line Captain Baines Season 1: (15 episodes)

Season 2: (14 episodes)

Season 3: (13 episodes)

Season 4: (10 episodes)

Season 5: (10 episodes)

Season 6: (10 episodes)

Season 7: (10 episodes)

Season 8: (9 episodes)

1972 It's Murder But Is It Art Chief Constable Season 1 (3 episodes)
1974 King Thrushbeard and the Proud Princess King Geoffrey TV movie
1976 The Basil Brush Show Unknown
1983 The Winds of War Winston Churchill Season 1 (4 episodes)
1984 The Last Days of Pompeii Medon Season 2, episode 5
Jane Churchill Season 1; (3 episodes)
1985 The Pickwick Papers Tony Weller Season 1 (3 episodes)
1986 The Pyrates Captain Yardley TV movie, (final film role)

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Howard Lang

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Howard Lang (born Donald Yarranton; 20 March 1911 – 11 December 1989) was an English character actor renowned for his distinctive gravelly voice and authoritative screen presence, with a career spanning from the 1930s to the 1980s, most notably as the seafaring Captain William Baines in the BBC period drama series The Onedin Line (1971–1980). Born in Marylebone, London, to Edward and Clara Yarranton, Lang began his acting career in the late 1930s, making his film debut with small roles such as The Middle Watch (1940), but his early professional trajectory was interrupted by World War II, during which he served as a veteran in the Royal Navy. After the war, he resumed acting, building a reputation through supporting parts in British cinema and television, including historical epics like Ben-Hur (1959) as a Roman soldier and The Haunting (1963) in a key supporting role. Lang's television work further solidified his legacy, with memorable appearances such as the caveman Horg in the inaugural Doctor Who serial An Unearthly Child (1963), alongside recurring roles in series like Z-Cars, Softly, Softly, and The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970). His affinity for nautical themes persisted post-Navy, reflected in roles like Captain Yardley in The Pyrates (1986), until his death in West Hampstead, London, at age 78.

Early life

Childhood and family

Howard Lang was born Donald Yarranton on 20 March 1911 in , , . He was the son of Edward John Yarranton (1883–1954), a clerk, and Clara Ann Yarranton (née Malkin; 1887–1921). Lang's early family life was spent in , where his parents resided at the time of his birth. His mother passed away in 1921, after which his father remarried. From his father's second marriage came a younger half-brother, Sir Peter Yarranton (1924–2003), who later became a notable figure in British sports administration as chairman of and other organizations.

Military service

Howard Lang, born Donald Yarranton, enlisted in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve in January 1941 at the outset of his military service during . He underwent training and was assigned as a gunnery officer, reflecting the Navy's need for specialized personnel amid the escalating conflict. By 1942, Yarranton had been promoted to temporary and served as an instructor officer at HMS King Alfred, the Royal Navy's primary officer training establishment relocated to sites including during the war. In this role, he contributed to preparing new officers for naval duties, drawing on his prior experience in the service. His time in the Navy spanned the critical years of the war, involving the standard rigors of wartime naval life, though specific combat engagements are not documented in available records. Lang was demobilized by 1946, concluding approximately five years of active service that had interrupted his early acting pursuits. The discipline and authority gained from his naval roles as a gunnery officer and informed his later portrayals of commanding figures in nautical dramas, enhancing the authenticity of his performances.

Acting career

Debut and early roles

Following his service in the Royal Navy during World War II, Howard Lang resumed his acting career in 1946 with an uncredited role as a man sitting next to Pip at Magwitch's trial in David Lean's adaptation of Great Expectations. This marked his return to film after an interruption caused by military duties, during which he had briefly appeared in minor uncredited parts in 1940 productions such as The Middle Watch as a sailor and Convoy as a gunnery officer. His early post-war film roles remained small and often uncredited, including a juryman in Jassy (1947) and a footman in The Mudlark (1950), reflecting the competitive landscape of the British film industry where opportunities for character actors were limited. Lang's stage debut came later, in 1960, when he portrayed the menacing van driver Bert Hudd in a production of Harold Pinter's play at the Club; the role, directed by Pinter himself, showcased Lang's ability to convey quiet threat and domestic tension. This appearance helped establish his reputation in London's theatrical scene, though he continued to balance stage work with sporadic film cameos, such as an officer aboard HMS Cassandra in Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. (1951). By the late 1950s and early 1960s, Lang began securing initial television roles, appearing in anthology series like The Crime of the Century (1956) as Mr. Barton, a pivotal figure in a dramatization of the Crippen murder case. His early TV work extended to police procedurals, including guest spots in starting in the early 1960s, where he played authoritative figures that echoed his naval background, and Softly, Softly from its 1966 inception, often as captains or officials. These appearances provided steady employment amid the challenges of transitioning to the burgeoning medium of British television, where he gradually built a niche in rugged, no-nonsense character parts.

Rise to prominence

Lang's appearance as the hortator on a Roman in the Ben-Hur (1959) marked a significant early highlight in his career, showcasing his ability to portray authoritative figures in large-scale productions. This uncredited role, though brief, contributed to his growing reputation for character parts in historical spectacles. A breakthrough came in 1963 with his portrayal of the caveman Horg in the first Doctor Who serial, , appearing across three episodes and helping establish the series' prehistoric storyline. This role highlighted Lang's versatility in embodying rugged, primitive characters, drawing on his real-life naval background to add authenticity. Throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s, Lang took on mid-career television roles in various dramas, including Sir John Seymour in The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970) and appearances in police series like and Softly, Softly. These parts in historical and procedural shows solidified his presence on British television, emphasizing his skill in supporting roles that brought depth to ensemble casts. Lang's defining achievement arrived with the role of Captain William Baines in the series The Onedin Line (1971–1980), where he appeared in 89 of the 91 episodes, embodying a steadfast nautical companion that became synonymous with his career. This long-running portrayal of the loyal not only spanned nearly a decade but also cemented his nautical persona, contributing to the show's popularity as a maritime . Over his career from 1946 to 1986, Lang earned recognition for his versatile character acting, often infusing roles with a gruff reliability drawn from his service.

Later years and death

Notable later roles

In the 1980s, following the conclusion of his long-running role in , Howard Lang continued to secure significant television appearances that highlighted his commanding presence in historical and authoritative characters. His portrayal of in the 1983 ABC miniseries stood out as a major achievement, with Lang appearing across seven episodes as the resolute British Prime Minister navigating the onset of , drawing on his own naval experience to infuse the role with authenticity. Lang's television output in the mid-1980s included supporting roles in period adaptations that further emphasized his affinity for authoritative figures rooted in history and . In the 1984 miniseries , he played Medon, the steadfast father of a gladiator and a slave enduring Roman society's upheavals, contributing to the production's depiction of ancient moral dilemmas. The following year, in the BBC's (1985), Lang embodied Tony Weller, the pragmatic and humorous coachman father to Sam Weller, appearing in four episodes and delivering a folksy yet authoritative take on Charles Dickens's character amid the group's comedic misadventures. His final major screen role came in 1986 as Captain Yardley in the television movie The Pyrates, a swashbuckling comedy where he portrayed a seasoned pirate captain, rounding out his career with a nod to his earlier seafaring personas. In a reflection on his career, Lang expressed deep satisfaction with , noting that the role aligned perfectly with his lifelong passion for sailing—"Being a all my life, I was in my element"—and crediting chance encounters that led to its longevity, indicating a sense of fulfillment as he transitioned to these culminating projects.

Personal life and death

In his later years, Howard Lang resided in , . He died on 11 December 1989, aged 78, in , .

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRole
1940The Middle WatchSailor (uncredited)
1946Man Sitting Next to Pip at Magwitch's Trial (uncredited)
1947JassyPrison Officer (uncredited)
1948Servant (uncredited)
1948Bonnie Prince CharlieA Rebel (uncredited)
1950Golden SalamanderCustoms Official (uncredited)
1951Customs Official (uncredited)
1951High TreasonCalloway (uncredited)
1951Bit Role (uncredited)
1952Folly to Be WiseC.S.M. (uncredited)
1953Blueskin (uncredited)
1953British Soldier (uncredited)
1954(uncredited)
1954The Crowded Day(uncredited)
1954Forbidden CargoCustoms Officer (uncredited)
1954The Sea Shall Not Have Them (uncredited)
1954The Teckman MysteryDetective Inspector (uncredited)
1955Doctor at SeaMate (uncredited)
1955Josephine and MenBit Role (uncredited)
1955Passage HomeCrewman (uncredited)
1955Capt. Heggie
1955Adjutant (uncredited)
1956The Battle of the River PlateGuns – (uncredited)
1956EyewitnessCinema Manager (uncredited)
1956 Field (uncredited)
1956Keep It CleanPolice Sergeant (uncredited)
1956The Last Man to Hang?Prison Officer (uncredited)
1956Commandant of Prisoners (uncredited)
1956The Secret Place(uncredited)
1957The Birthday PresentCustoms Official (uncredited)
1957The One That Got AwaySergeant - (uncredited)
1957Bit Role (uncredited)
1958(uncredited)
1959Ben-HurHortator (uncredited)
1959Date at MidnightInspector (uncredited)
1959LibelDetective Sergeant (uncredited)
1959The Rough and the SmoothBit Role (uncredited)
1959Upstairs and Downstairs(uncredited)
1960JackpotGeorge (uncredited)
1960Night Train for InvernessSergeant (uncredited)
1960Court Usher (uncredited)
1961Garage Owner (uncredited)
1961Irate Farmer (uncredited)
1961Mr. Wilson (uncredited)
1962Seaman (uncredited)
1962The Longest DayBritish Soldier (uncredited)
1963The HauntingHugh Crain (uncredited)
1963The Mind Benders(uncredited)
1964Nothing But the Best(uncredited)
1964Warrior (uncredited)
1965He Who Rides a TigerPrison Governor (uncredited)
1965The HillMedical Officer (uncredited)
1966A Woman's Temptation(uncredited)
1967Guard (uncredited)
1970Perfect FridayBank Commissionaire (uncredited)
1971Man in Pub (uncredited)
1971Old Soldier (uncredited)

Television

Howard Lang's television career spanned over three decades, beginning with guest appearances in British anthology and adventure series in the 1950s and evolving into more prominent recurring roles in the and . His breakthrough came with the long-running nautical drama , where he portrayed the steadfast Captain William Baines across the majority of its episodes. Later work included historical and character-driven guest spots, often leveraging his authoritative presence in period pieces. The following is a chronological enumeration of his verified television appearances, focusing on series, miniseries, and guest roles up to 1986.
Year(s)TitleRoleEpisodesSource
1956The Crime of the CenturyMr. Barton1 (TV movie)IMDb
1956–1957Sir Boland2The Movie Database
1959Inspector1The Movie Database
1960The Four Just MenInspector1The Movie Database
1961The PursuersInspector1The Movie Database
1962Paul Bennett / 1st CarterMultiple (at least 2)IMDb IMDb
1963Horg3IMDb
1963The SaintInspector1The Movie Database
1964–1969Brown / Inspector Jackson / TiceMultipleIMDb DigiGuide
1965Theatre 625Grimmett1The Movie Database
1965The Man in Room 17Inspector1The Movie Database
1966King of the River Friar1The Movie Database
1966–1969Softly, Softly Donaldson / Mr. Forbes3IMDb
1970The Six Wives of Henry VIIISir John Seymour1IMDb
1971The Persuaders!Coalition Club Member1 (uncredited)IMDb
1971–1980 William Baines91IMDb
1983Miniseries (multiple episodes)TV Guide
1984JaneChurchill1The Movie Database
1984MedonMiniseries (3 episodes)TV Guide
1985Tony Weller4The Movie Database
1986The Pyrates Yardley1 (TV movie)IMDb
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