Howard Marion-Crawford

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Howard Marion-Crawford (born January 17, 1914 in London , United Kingdom , † November 24, 1969 in Chelsea (London) ) was a British actor , subscribed to English-stiff state officials, high-ranking military, dignitaries and best friends of the respective film or television heroes.

Life

The son of an officer of the Irish Guards who fell in World War I went to school at Clifton College in Bristol and then received his artistic training at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London in the early / mid-1930s . After some engagements with British radio, Marion-Crawford made his film debut in 1935. Drafted when the Second World War broke out, he followed in his father's footsteps and also reported to the Irish Guards. Seriously wounded at the beginning of his assignment, Marion-Crawford was quickly retired and was able to continue acting. He first became famous around 1945 together with his partner Marjorie Westbury as private detective Paul Temple in the BBC radio play series of the same name by Francis Durbridge .

In the 1950s and 1960s, Marion-Crawford's role subject became that of the often a little pompous, sometimes fluffy and pompous gentleman-snob, with whom he, always "very British", fueled cliché Britishism in films. Marion-Crawford continuously played supporting roles of the kind "hero's best friend" such as in the mid-1950s in the Sherlock Holmes television series, where he played alongside Holmes actor Ronald Howard the Dr. Watson gave, and most recently in several films made between 1965 and 1968 about the Chinese master criminal Dr. Fu Man Chu . There it was seen as the Watson variation Dr. Petrie, the "buddy" of Fu Man Chu's opponent Nayland Smith (played by various actors). His Dr. Petrie made the Londoner known beyond England's borders. However, Howard Marion-Crawford could no longer fully enjoy the fame that was setting in, he died in 1969. The cause of death was an excess of alcohol in combination with sleeping pills.

Marion-Crawford, who in the last years of his life also appeared in front of television cameras several times (most recently three episodes of the legendary series Mit Schirm, Charme und Melone , including the horror story " Der Geist des Duke von Benedict ", 1967) was married four times. One of his spouses was the actress Mary Wimbush (1924-2005).

Filmography (selection)

Radio plays (selection)

  • 1946: A Case for Paul Temple

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Marion-Crawford, Howard
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British actor
DATE OF BIRTH January 17, 1914
PLACE OF BIRTH London , UK
DATE OF DEATH November 24, 1969
Place of death Chelsea (London) , England