Harry Landis

Harry Landis (born 25 November 1931) is a British actor and director.

For the American First World War veteran, see Harry Richard Landis.
Harry Landis
Born25 November 1931 (1931-11-25) (age 88)
Stepney, London, England, UK
OccupationActor
Years active1954–present

He has had a long career in theatre, film and television spanning over sixty years.

Career

He started acting aged 15 at the Unity Theatre known as the theatre of the trade union and labour movement.. Shortly after he won a scholarship to the Central School of Speech and Drama. His first job was touring in Shakespeare with the Elizabethan Theatre Company. After a spell in Repertory theatre he got a leading role in A Hill in Korea as a cockney conscript. Other films followed, Bitter Victory, Edge of Sanity, Ransom, The Informers, Private Potter, Dunkirk and Operation Bullshine.

His first TV appearance was in Episode One of Dixon of Dock Green and he appeared in several subsequent episodes as well as the final episode 25 years later. He appeared in over 200 TV shows before deciding to return to theatre.

This career move coincided with the 1956 change in British theatre led by The Royal Court Theatre, and his background at The Unity Theatre made him very suitable for many subsequent roles. Roles included Arnold Wesker's "The Kitchen" followed by Frank Norman's "Insideout". Then came John Osborne's "Time Present" at the Duke of York Theatre, "Journeys End" at the Cambridge Theatre and "A Winter Tale", "Ring Around the Moon" and "The Government Inspector" all at The Royal Exchange, Manchester. He also appeared in "Ticket-of-Leave Man at the National Theatre.

He then turned to directing and after directing a few productions at the Unity Theatre including a well received production of Death of A Salesman he became the Artistic Director of the Marlowe Theatre Canterbury where he directed some 40 plays and two Pantomimes. He went on to direct national tours of "The Long The Short and the Tall" and "The Return of Sherlock Holmes".

In between directing, he played in many TV shows in such as "Minder" and continues to do so with shows including "Casualty" and "Friday Night Dinner".

He was president of Equity for six years[1] and is a board member of the Equity Charitable Trust[2] as well as Chairman of The Unity Theatre Trust Fund.[3]

Filmography

References
  1. https://www.equity.org.uk/media/1296/arc-2004-minutes.pdf
  2. https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/02341733/officers
  3. https://www.unitytheatre.org.uk/
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