Glyn Houston
Glyn Houston | |
---|---|
Born |
Clydach Vale, Glamorgan, Wales, UK | 23 October 1925
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1949–1996 |
Spouse(s) |
Shirley Lawrence (m. 1956) |
Children | 2 |
Relatives | Donald Houston (brother) |
Glyn Houston (born 23 October 1925) is a Welsh actor best known for his television work. He is the younger brother of film actor Donald Houston.[1]
Early life
Houston was born in Clydach Vale, Glamorgan, Wales.[1] He served in the army during the Second World War, and was briefly a stand-up comedian performing to soldiers during the war.[2] He made his first film appearance in The Blue Lamp in 1950.[3]
Career
Houston had a role as "Duncan Thomas", literary agent, in the 1980s British sitcom Keep It in the Family. He appeared in a number of films including The Great Game.[4] In the 1970s he played Lord Peter Wimsey's valet Bunter opposite Ian Carmichael in the teleplays of several of Dorothy Sayers tales. His performance was praised in the New York Times.[5]
Other credits included My Good Woman (1973–1974), A Horseman Riding By (1978), Inspector Morse, It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Minder and Doomwatch, as well as the recurring character "Det Supt Jones" in Softly, Softly. He has also appeared twice as different characters in Doctor Who — as "Professor Owen Watson" in The Hand of Fear (1976)[6] and as "Colonel Ben Wolsey" in The Awakening (1984).[7] He also played Brother Cadfael in a 1979 BBC Radio 4 adaptation of One Corpse Too Many. Houston has over two hundred television and film credits,[1] dating back as early as 1950.[8] Houston won a BAFTA Cymru special award in April 2008.[8]
Personal life
Houston is married to the actress and model Shirley Lawrence and had two children.[3] In May 2000 he unveiled a Mining Memorial in his native Rhondda at the Rhondda Heritage Park. He led the tributes to the thousands of miners who died and suffered during 150 years of mining in the South Wales coalfield.[9] He released an autobiography titled Glyn Houston, A Black and White Actor in December 2009.[2]
Selected filmography
- The Blue Lamp (1950) - Barrow Boy (uncredited)
- Waterfront (1950) - Sailor (uncredited)
- Trio (1950) - Ted (segment "The Verger")
- The Clouded Yellow (1950) - Lancastrian Bus Conductor (uncredited)
- Home to Danger (1951) - Minor Role (uncredited)
- High Treason (1951) - Railway Shunter (uncredited)
- I Believe in You (1952) - Passerby (uncredited)
- Wide Boy (1952) - George
- The Gift Horse (1952) - Assistant Engineer (uncredited)
- Girdle of Gold (1952) - Dai Thomas
- The Great Game (1953) - Ned Rutter
- The Cruel Sea (1953) - Phillips
- Turn the Key Softly (1953) - Bob
- Stryker of the Yard (1953)
- Hell Below Zero (1954)[10] - Borg
- River Beat (1954) - Charlie Williamson
- The Rainbow Jacket (1954) - (uncredited)
- The Sleeping Tiger (1954) - Bailey
- Betrayed (1954) - Paratrooper Corporal (uncredited)
- The Sea Shall Not Have Them (1954) - Knox
- The Happiness of Three Women (1954) - Morgan
- Passage Home (1955) - Charley Boy
- Lost (1956) - Bus Driver (uncredited)
- Private's Progress (1956) - Corporal on Sick Call (uncredited)
- Who Done It? (1956) - Arresting Policeman (uncredited)
- The Long Arm (1956) - Detective-Sergeant in 'Q' car
- High Flight (1957) - Controller Leuchars
- The Birthday Present (1957) - Police Officer in Court (uncredited)
- The One That Got Away (1957) - Harry 'Hurricane' (uncredited)
- A Night to Remember (1958) - Stoker (uncredited)
- A Cry from the Streets (1958) - Police Sergeant (uncredited)
- Nowhere to Go (1958) - Box Office Clerk (uncredited)
- Tiger Bay (1959) - Detective at Police Station (uncredited)
- Breakout (1959) - Man in pub (uncredited)
- Jet Storm (1959) - Michaels
- Follow a Star (1959) - Fred (Steam Cleaner) (uncredited)
- Sink the Bismarck! (1960) - Seaman on 'Prince of Wales' (uncredited)
- The Battle of the Sexes (1960) - 2nd Porter
- Circus of Horrors (1960) - Carnival Barker (uncredited)
- There Was a Crooked Man (1960) - Smoking Machinist
- The Bulldog Breed (1960) - Gym Instructor (uncredited)
- Payroll (1961) - Frank Moore
- The Wind of Change (1961) - Det. Sgt. Parker
- The Green Helmet (1961) - Pit Manager
- Flame in the Streets (1961) - Hugh Davies
- Emergency (1962) - Inspector Harris
- Mix Me a Person (1962) - Sam
- Solo for Sparrow (1962) - Inspector Sparrow
- A Stitch in Time (1963) - Cpl. Welsh, St. John's Ambulance Brigade
- Panic (1963) - Mike
- One Way Pendulum (1965) - Detective Inspector Barnes
- The Secret of Blood Island (1965) - Berry
- The Brigand of Kandahar (1965) - Marriott
- Invasion (1965) - Police Sergeant Draycott
- Headline Hunters (1968) - Gresham
- Are You Being Served? (1977) - Cesar Rodriguez
- A Horseman Riding By (1978, TV Series) - John Rudd
- The Sea Wolves (1980) - Peters
- If You Go Down in the Woods Today (1981) - Ticket Collector
- Conspiracy (1989) - William Brain
- Old Scores (1991) - Aneurin Morgan
- The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1993) - Grewgious
References
- 1 2 3 BFI | Film & TV Database - Houston, Glyn
- 1 2 WalesOnline - Lifestyle - Actor Glyn Houston opens up in new autobiography
- 1 2 WalesOnline - News - South Wales Valleys - Actor Glyn Houston’s autobiography
- ↑ WalesOnline - News - South Wales Valleys - Glyn Houston's book date
- ↑ TV View: Sidekicks - Dimmer Than the Stars, Yet...
- ↑ BBC - Doctor Who Classic Series Episode Guide - The Hand of Fear
- ↑ BBC - Doctor Who Classic Series Episode Guide - The Awakening
- 1 2 WalesOnline - What's On - Actor Glyn Houston’s one regret
- ↑ BBC News | Wales | Memorial marks mining tragedies
- ↑ The Pittsburgh Press: 19 November 1953 - Google News Archive Search
External links
- Glyn Houston on IMDb