# Nigel Stock (actor)

Nigel Stock (21 September 1919 – 23 June 1986) was a British actor who played character roles in many films and television dramas. He played Dr. Watson in the BBC's television adaptations of the Sherlock Holmes stories between 1964 and 1968, and is known for his supporting roles as a solidly reliable English soldier or bureaucrat in several war and historical film dramas. He also played the title role in Owen, M.D. (1971—73).

## Early life

Stock was born in Malta, the son of an Army captain. He grew up in India before attending St Paul's School, London and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where he earned the Leverhulme Exhibition, Northcliffe Scholarship, and the Principal's Medal.

## Military service

Stock served in the Second World War with the London Irish Rifles and the Assam Regiment of the Indian Army in Burma, China and Kohima. He was honourably discharged with the rank of Major, having twice been mentioned in dispatches.

## Acting

Stock made his stage debut in 1931, and during his career achieved numerous classical and contemporary credits at various distinguished theatres, including the Old Vic and on Broadway, with productions of The Winter's Tale, Macbeth, She Stoops to Conquer, Uncle Vanya. His start in films came with uncredited bit parts in The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1938) and Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939). In 1937 he made his first credited film appearance in Lancashire Luck.
After his wartime service, Stock returned to acting. His film appearances included popular releases such as Brighton Rock (1947), The Dam Busters (1955), Victim (1961), The Great Escape (1963), The Lion in Winter and The Lost Continent (both 1968), and Russian Roulette (1975).
Between 1964 and 1968, Stock became a household name in the UK for his portrayal of Dr. Watson in a series of Sherlock Holmes dramas for BBC television. Later in life, he portrayed the mentor of Sherlock Holmes in Young Sherlock Holmes. His other numerous television credits included Danger Man (1965), The Avengers (1964 & 1966), The Prisoner (1967), The Doctors (1969–71), Owen, M.D. (1971–73), Quiller (1975), Van der Valk (1977), the Doctor Who serial Time Flight (1982), Yes Minister (1982), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979) and for a BBC dramatisation of A Tale of Two Cities (1980) as well as The Pickwick Papers (1985) as Mr. Pickwick.
Stock and his third wife, Richenda Carey, had just appeared together on stage in the world premiere of Mumbo Jumbo in May 1986, when, on 23 June 1986, he died of a heart attack, aged 66.

## Personal life and death

Stock was married three times. He married his first wife, Catherine Hodnett, in 1943; the couple had one son and divorced in 1947. His second marriage was to Sonia Williams in 1951. They divorced in 1980 after having three children together. Stock's third marriage was to actress Richenda Carey in 1979. They remained married until his death.
Stock was found dead of natural causes on Monday 23 June 1986 at his home in north London. He was 66 years old.

## Radio

* Giles Cooper - The return of General Forefinger (1961)
* Wimsey - Have His Carcase (BBC radio; 1981) as Inspector Umpelty
* Space Force (1984–85) as Magnus Carter
* 221B (1986) as Dr Watson

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1936 | The Man Who Could Work Miracles | Office Boy | uncredited |
| 1937 | Lancashire Luck | Joe Lovejoy | |
| 1938 | Break the News | Stage Boy | uncredited |
| 1938 | Luck of the Navy | | uncredited |
| 1939 | Goodbye, Mr. Chips | John Forrester | uncredited |
| 1939 | Sons of the Sea | Rudd | |
| 1947 | It Always Rains on Sunday | Ted Edwards | |
| 1947 | Brighton Rock | Cubitt | |
| 1951 | The Lady with a Lamp | George Winch | |
| 1952 | Derby Day | Jim Molloy | |
| 1953 | Appointment in London | Co-Pilot | uncredited |
| 1953 | Malta Story | Giuseppe Gonzar aka Ricardi | |
| 1954 | Aunt Clara | Charles Willis | |
| 1955 | The Night My Number Came Up | The Pilot | |
| 1955 | The Dam Busters | Flying / Off. F. M. Spafford, D.F.C., D.F.M. | |
| 1956 | Eyewitness | Barney | |
| 1956 | The Battle of the River Plate | Chief Officer, Tairoa, Prisoner on Graf Spee | uncredited |
| 1958 | The Silent Enemy | Able Seaman Fraser | |
| 1960 | Never Let Go | Regan | |
| 1961 | Victim | Phip | |
| 1962 | H.M.S. Defiant | Senior Midshipman Kilpatrick | |
| 1962 | The Password Is Courage | Cole | |
| 1963 | The Great Escape | Flt. Lt. Dennis Cavendish "The Surveyor" | |
| 1964 | Nothing but the Best | Ferris | |
| 1964 | Weekend at Dunkirk | Un soldat brûlé | |
| 1964 | The High Bright Sun | Lt. Col. N. Park | |
| 1967 | The Night of the Generals | Otto | |
| 1968 | The Lost Continent | Dr. Webster | |
| 1968 | The Lion in Winter | William Marshal | |
| 1970 | Cromwell | Sir Edward Hyde | |
| 1973 | Bequest to the Nation | George Matcham | |
| 1975 | Russian Roulette | Ferguson | |
| 1975 | Operation Daybreak | General | |
| 1980 | The Mirror Crack'd | Inspector Gates | 'Murder at Midnight' |
| 1983 | Yellowbeard | Admiral | |
| 1985 | Young Sherlock Holmes | Rupert T. Waxflatter | |

### Television

* Edgar Wallace Mysteries (Episode: 'To Have and to Hold) (1963) – George Matthews - (Working Title: BFI: 'Sleep Long, My Love')
* Espionage (TV series) ('Medal for a Turned Coat', episode) (1964) - Harry Forbes
* The Prisoner (TV series) ('Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling', episode) (1967) - The Colonel