Cecil Parker
From Alfred Hitchcock Wiki
- born: 03/Sep/1897 (Hastings, East Sussex, England, UK)
- died: 20/Apr/1971 (Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK)
Biography
Cecil Parker was an English character and comedy actor with a distinctive husky voice, who usually played supporting roles in his 91 films made between 1928 and 1969.
Born Cecil Schwabe in Hastings, Sussex, he began his theatrical career in London in 1922 after serving in World War I. He made his first film appearance in 1928 and subsequently became a familiar face in British, and occasionally American films, until his death in 1971. He appeared less often on television, but many of his films have remained popular and are often repeated.
He acted in two adaptations of A.J. Cronin's novels, "The Citadel" and "The Stars Look Down", in addition to appearing in "The Lady Vanishes" and "Under Capricorn", which were both directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Other films of his include "Swiss Family Robinson" and "I Was Monty's Double", as well as the comedies "A French Mistress", "The Ladykillers", "The Man in the White Suit", "The Court Jester", and "I Believe in You".
Part of his talent was that he was convincing in each film and made the viewer forget his previous roles. Often playing a touchy senior officer or British upper-class character, his last two films were true to form; "The Magnificent Two" with Morecambe and Wise and Richard Attenborough's "Oh! What A Lovely War".
Filmography
With Hitchcock...
- The Lady Vanishes (1938) - cast: Eric Todhunter
- Under Capricorn (1949) - cast: The Governor
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents - I Spy (05/Dec/1961) - cast: Lawyer