Donald Houston

Donald Houston
Donald Daniel Houston (6 November 1923 – 13 October 1991) was a Welsh actor whose first two films—The Blue Lagoon (1949) with Jean Simmons, and A Run for Your Money (1949) with Alec Guinness—were highly successful. Later in his career he was cast in military roles and in comedies such as the Doctor and Carry On series.
Early life
Houston was born in 10 Thomas Street, Tonypandy, on Tuesday 6 November 1923 in the village of Clydach Vale, near Tonypandy, Glamorgan and was the elder brother of actor Glyn Houston and a sister, Jean.
His father Alexander Houston, was a professional football player from Scotland, and his mother Elsie M Jones, ran a milk round. Following the death of their mother at age 29, Donald and brother Glyn Houston were raised by their grandmother while their father had to leave Wales in order to find work.
After leaving school he worked at a local colliery before deciding to start an acting career. In 1940 he performed on stage with the Pilgrim Players. He served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War as a rear gunner and radio officer.
Acting career
Houston had a successful career as a character actor in British film and television, with prominent parts in several well-known films, including Yangtse Incident (1957), The Longest Day (1962, in which he appeared alongside Richard Burton), 633 Squadron (1964), Where Eagles Dare (1968, again with Burton) and The Sea Wolves (1981). He would sometimes indulge his Welsh accent, and at other times conceal it behind an English public school voice. His forte tended to be authority figures, often military, such as the brilliant but tough David Caulder, the head of Moonbase 3, or Dr Francis in "Thirteen to Centaurus" (from the anthology series Out of the Unknown).
He could also handle comedy, as he proved with Doctor in the House (1954) and the later Doctor in Distress (1963), both significant successes in Europe, and Carry On Jack (1963). Though preferring quality parts, he was not above journeyman work in films such as Maniac (1963) and Tales That Witness Madness (1973).
Death
He died on 13 October 1991, of a stroke.
The house in which he was born in Tonypandy, Rhondda is marked with a Blue Plaque historical marker. The unveiling ceremony was attended by Donald's daughter Sian, his granddaughter Michela, his sister Jean Rees and other family members and friends. Historian Peter Stead spoke about Donald Houston's British film career at the plaque unveiling ceremony.
Selected filmography
The Blue Lagoon (1949) as Michael Reynolds
A Run for Your Money (1949) as Dai
Dance Hall (1950) as Phil
Crow Hollow (1952) as Dr. Robert Amour
My Death Is a Mockery (1952)
The Red Beret (1953) as Taffy
The Large Rope (1953) as Tom Penney
Small Town Story (1953) as Tony Warren
Doctor in the House (1954) as Taffy Evans
The Happiness of Three Women (1954) as John
Devil's Point (1954) as Michael Mallard
The Flaw (1955) as John Millway
Doublecross (1956) as Albert Pascoe
Find the Lady (1956) as Bill
The Girl in the Picture (1957) as Jon Deering
Yangtse Incident (1957) as Lt Weston RN
The Surgeon's Knife (1957) as Dr. Alex Waring
A Question of Adultery (1958) as Mr. Jacobus
The Man Upstairs (1958) as Dr. Sanderson
Room at the Top (1959) as Charles Soames
Danger Within (1959) as Capt. Roger Byfold
The Mark (1961) as Austin
Twice Round the Daffodils (1962) as John Rhodes
The 300 Spartans (1962) as Hydarnes
The Longest Day (1962) as RAF Pilot
Maniac (1963) as Henri
Doctor in Distress (1963) as Maj. Tommy Ffrench
Carry On Jack (1963) as First Officer Jonathan Howett
633 Squadron (1964) as Group Capt. Don Barrett
Danger Man Episode: 'The Mirror's New' (TV series 1965) - Edward Bierce
A Study in Terror (1965) as Doctor Watson
Gideon's Way Episode: 'Fall High, Fall Hard' (TV series 1965) - Tony Erickson (his actor brother Glyn Houston also appeared in the episode)
Out of the Unknown Episode: 'Thirteen to Centaurus' (TV series 1965) - Dr. Francis
The Viking Queen (1967) as Maelgan
Where Eagles Dare (1968) as Capt. Olaf Christiansen
The Bushbaby (1969) as John Leeds
My Lover My Son (1970) as Robert
Now Take My Wife (1971) as Harry Love
Tales That Witness Madness (1973) as Sam Patterson (segment 1 "Mr. Tiger")
Voyage of the Damned (1976) as Dr. Glauner
The Sea Wolves (1980) as Hilliard
Clash of the Titans (1981) as Acrisius
References
External links
1923 births
1991 deaths
Welsh male film actors
Welsh male television actors
Welsh people of Scottish descent
People from Clydach Vale
20th-century Welsh male actors
British male comedy actors
Royal Air Force personnel of World War II
Royal Air Force officers