Jack Watson (actor)

Jack Watson (actor)
Jack Watson (14 May 1915 – 4 July 1999) was an English actor who appeared in many British films and television dramas from the 1950s onwards.
Early life
Watson was born in Thorney, Cambridgeshire. He was the son of a Gaiety Girl, Barbara Hughes, and a music hall comedian, Nosmo King. Watson often appeared on stage with his father as straight man, where he was known simply as Hubert.
Military service
During the Second World War he was a physical training instructor in the Royal Navy, and his physique was much in evidence in many of his subsequent screen roles.
Career
During the war Watson was resident compère of the BBC radio comedy The Navy Mixture. After the war, his talent as an impersonator resulted in his becoming a regular on BBC radio programmes such as Take it from Here, Hancock's Half Hour and The Clitheroe Kid. He gradually made the transition to television, where his first major role was in Coronation Street, in which he became Elsie Tanner's (Pat Phoenix) first lover. Watson appeared in Coronation Street as Bill Gregory on and off between 1961 and 1984 ; his final episode in 1984 was also the final episode for Pat Phoenix who played his love interest Elsie Tanner in the series. He was one of the villains in the 1966 episode of The Avengers entitled 'Silent Dust' ', chasing Diana Rigg on horseback with a whip. He also appeared as the publican in the 1967 episode of the same series entitled 'The Living Dead'. He appeared as a powerful but shell-shocked ex-soldier in Dr. Finlay's Casebook, in an episode entitled "Not qualified" which formed part of the 8th series of the popular British programme. Probably his best-known television role was as Llud, Arthur's craggy sidekick in Arthur of the Britons. His last major TV role was in the award-winning Edge of Darkness (1985).
Watson appeared in over 70 films, including: On the Beat (1962) in which he played a police sergeant, Peeping Tom, This Sporting Life, Grand Prix, Tobruk, The McKenzie Break, The Devil's Brigade and The Wild Geese (1978), plus in the Music video of Intaferon - Steam Hammer Sam (published 1983).
Filmography
Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951) – Capt. Sylvester (uncredited)
Peeping Tom (1960) – Chief Insp. Gregg
Konga (1961) – Supt. Brown
Fate Takes a Hand (1961) – Bulldog
The Queen's Guards (1961) – Sergeant Johnson
Time to Remember (1962) – Insp. Bolam
Out of the Fog (1962) – Sgt. Harry Tracey
On the Beat (1962) – Police Sergeant
Master Spy (1963) – Capt. Foster
Five to One (1963) – Insp. Davis
This Sporting Life (1963) – Len Miller
The Gorgon (1964) – Ratoff
The Hill (1965) – Jock McGrath
Night Caller from Outer Space (1965) – Sgt. Hawkins
The Idol (1966) – Police Inspector
Grand Prix (1966) – Jeff Jordan
Tobruk (1967) – Sgt. Maj. Tyne
The Devil's Brigade (1968) – Cpl. Peacock
The Strange Affair (1968) – Quince
Decline and Fall... of a Birdwatcher (1968) – Gallery Warder
Every Home Should Have One (1970) – McLaughlin
The McKenzie Break (1970) – Gen. Kerr
Kidnapped (1971) – James Stewart
Tower of Evil (1972) – Hamp
From Beyond the Grave (1974) – Sir Michael Sinclair (segment 4 "The Door")
11 Harrowhouse (1974) – Miller, 11 Harrowhouse Security
Juggernaut (1974) – Chief Engineer Mallicent
The Four Musketeers (1974) – Busigny
Schizo (1976) – William Haskin
The Purple Taxi (1977) – Sean
The Wild Geese (1978) – R.S.M. Sandy Young
North Sea Hijack (1980) – Olafsen
The Sea Wolves (1980) – Maclean
Masada (1981) – Decurion
Marco Polo (1982) – Old Sailor
Diana (1984) – Uncle Mark
Tangiers (1982) – Donovan
Christopher Columbus (1985) – Father Marchena
Personal life
Watson married Betty Garland, a BBC engineer, in 1943 and remained married until his death in 1999. They had two daughters and a son. He lived in Bath, England.
Death
He died on 4 July 1999, aged 84, of blood cancer.
References
External links
1915 births
1999 deaths
English male film actors
English male television actors
People from Fenland District
Royal Navy personnel of World War II
Male actors from Cambridgeshire
20th-century English male actors
Royal Navy sailors
Deaths from blood cancer
Deaths from cancer in England