John Carson (actor)
| John Derek Carson-Parker | |
|---|---|
| Born |
28 February 1927 Colombo, Ceylon |
| Died |
5 November 2016 (aged 89) Cape Town, South Africa |
| Occupation | actor |
| Years active | 1946-2016 |
| Spouse(s) | Luanshya Greer |
John Carson (28 February 1927 – 5 November 2016) was an English actor known for his appearances in film and television.
Making his film debut in 1947, he carved out a career appearing in low-budget British films such as Seven Keys (1961); Smokescreen (1964); and Master Spy (1964). His saturnine looks and sinister voice (sometimes compared with James Mason) led to him starring in a number of horror films including The Night Caller (1965); The Plague of the Zombies (1965); The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970); Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970); and Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter (1972).[1]
Beside his appearances in horror films he was also known for his many villainous turns in adventure series of the 1960s, such as The Adventures of Robin Hood; The Avengers; The Saint; Adam Adamant Lives!; The Baron; Man in a Suitcase; The Champions and Department S.
His long and varied list of television credits include Emergency - Ward 10; Ivanhoe; William Tell; Armchair Theatre; Maigret; Out of the Unknown; Emma (as Mr. Knightley); Dixon of Dock Green; Crown Court; The New Avengers; Telford's Change; Secret Army; The Professionals; Tales of the Unexpected; Hammer House of Horror; Doctor Who (Snakedance); Shaka Zulu and Poirot. He was also the voice-over performer in Sunsilk TV commercials.[2]
Carson died in Cape Town, South Africa, on 5 November 2016 at the age of 89.[3]
Selected filmography
- Conspiracy in Teheran (1946)
- Quentin Durward (1955) - Duke of Orléans
- Ramsbottom Rides Again (1956) - (uncredited)
- Intent to Kill (1958) - Hospital Receptionist
- The Lady Is a Square (1959) - Reporter (uncredited)
- Seven Keys (1961) - Norman
- Locker 69 (1962) - Miguel Terila
- Guns of Darkness (1962) - First Officer
- The Set Up (1963) - Insp. Jackson
- Master Spy (1963) - Richard Colman
- Accidental Death (1963) - Paul Lanson
- Smokescreen (1964) - Trevor Bayliss
- Act of Murder (1964) - Tim Ford
- The Night Caller (1965) - Major
- The Plague of the Zombies (1966) - Squire Clive Hamilton
- Thunderbird 6 (1968)
- The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970)
- Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970)
- Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter (1974)
- City of Blood (1987)
- Coastwatcher (1989)
- Schweitzer (1990)
- The Sheltering Desert (1992)
- Woman of Desire (1993)
- Mandela and de Klerk (1997)
- I Dreamed of Africa (2000) - Pembroke Headmaster
- The Deal (2008) - Nigel Bland
- Doomsday (2008) - George Dutton
TV
- Emergency - Ward 10
- Ivanhoe
- The Adventures of William Tell
- Armchair Theatre
- The Avengers
- Maigret
- Out of the Unknown
- Emma (as Mr. Knightley)
- Dixon of Dock Green
- Crown Court
- The New Avengers
- Telford's Change
- Secret Army
- The Professionals
- Tales of the Unexpected
- Hammer House of Horror
- Doctor Who (Snakedance)
- Shaka Zulu
- Poirot
References
- ↑ Madeline Smith and John Carson Join Hammer Horror: The Warner Bros. Years Documentary
- ↑ Hadoke, Toby (8 November 2016). "John Carson obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ↑ Carson