Michael Craig (actor)

Michael Craig
Born Michael Francis Gregson
(1928-01-27) 27 January 1928
Poona, British India (now Maharashtra, India)
Occupation Actor
Years active 1949–present
Spouse(s) Babette Collier
Susan Walker
Children 3; including Jessica Gregson
Relatives Richard Gregson (brother)
Natasha Gregson Wagner (niece)

Michael Francis Gregson (born 27 January 1928), known professionally as Michael Craig, is a British actor and scriptwriter, known for his work in theatre, film and television[1] both in the United Kingdom and Australia.[2]

Biography

Craig was born Michael Francis Gregson[3] in Poona, British India, the son of Donald Gregson, a captain in the 3rd Indian Cavalry.[3]

Acting career

Craig began his career in the theatre — his first job was as an assistant stage manager at the Castle Theatre, Farnham in 1950.[4] His stage credits include A Whistle in the Dark (Apollo Theatre, 1961), Wars of the Roses (RSC Season at Stratford 1963–64), Funny Girl (with Barbra Streisand at the Prince of Wales Theatre 1964), Pinter's The Homecoming (Music Box Theatre, Broadway 1966–67) and the lead role in Trying at the Finborough Theatre in 2008.[4][5]

Craig's film career started in 1949 as an extra.[6] He was then talent spotted whilst working at the Oxford Playhouse, and gained his first speaking part in 1953 in Malta Story.[7] Groomed as a star by the Rank organisation, he appeared in a number of films, including Campbell's Kingdom (1957), Sea of Sand (1958), The Silent Enemy (1958), Sapphire (1959), Doctor in Love (1960), Mysterious Island (1961), The Iron Maiden (1962), Modesty Blaise (1966), Turkey Shoot (1982), Ride a Wild Pony (1975) and Appointment with Death (1988).[6] He received a BAFTA Best actor nomination for his performance in Sea of Sand (1958).[8]

His television credits include appearing in: Arthur of the Britons (1973), The Emigrants (1976), Rush (1976), The Professionals (1980), Shoestring (1980), The Timeless Land (1980), Triangle (1981–83), Tales of the Unexpected (1982), Robin of Sherwood (1986), Doctor Who (in the serial Terror of the Vervoids 1986), the Australian series G.P. (1989–95), Brides of Christ (1991), Grass Roots (2000) and Always Greener (2003).[9]

Scriptwriting credits

Craig's scriptwriting credits include the ABC-TV trilogy The Fourth Wish (1974), which starred John Meillon in his award-winning performance as the father of a dying boy. He also wrote the screenplay for the feature film of The Fourth Wish (1976), which was produced following the success of the television series.[4] Alongside his brother, Richard Gregson and co-writer Bryan Forbes, Craig was Academy Award nominated for his screenplay of The Angry Silence (1960).[10]

Personal life

Twice married, his first wife was Babette Collier, his second is Australian actress Susan Walker.[7] He is the father of Jessica Gregson; his brother is film producer Richard Gregson, and from Richard's marriage to Natalie Wood, he is the uncle of actress Natasha Gregson Wagner.[11] In 2005 he released his autobiography The Smallest Giant: An Actor's Life.[12]

Selected filmography

References

  1. ↑ "Michael Craig". BFI.
  2. ↑ "Sunday Brunch - Michael Craig". www.abc.net.au. 3 June 2007.
  3. 1 2 Stated in Craig's autobiography, The Smallest Giant: An Actor's Life
  4. 1 2 3 "The Timeless Land" from the ABC television series, Australian Broadcasting Commission, Sydney, 1980. ISBN 0-642-97469-1
  5. ↑ "Michael Craig - Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
  6. 1 2 "Michael Craig - Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos - AllMovie". AllMovie.
  7. 1 2 McFarlane, Brian (16 May 2016). "The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition". Oxford University Press – via Google Books.
  8. ↑ "1959 Film British Actor - BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org.
  9. ↑ "Michael Craig". www.aveleyman.com.
  10. ↑ "The 33rd Academy Awards - 1961".
  11. ↑ "Michael Craig". IMDb.
  12. ↑ "The Smallest Giant - Michael Craig - 9781741145656 - Allen & Unwin - Australia". www.allenandunwin.com.
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