Philip Friend
Philip Wyndham Friend (20 February 1915 in Horsham, Sussex – 1 September 1987 in Chiddingfold, Surrey) was a British film and television actor. Career. Britain. Friend went to Bradfield College where he became interested in acting. He began appearing in musical comedies in 1935, and was soon working on the West End. He was in a production of "French Without Tears" that was on Broadway. He returned to London and was busy on the stage until war broke out after which he joined the Royal Fusiliers. Friend had small roles in British films like "Inquest" (1939), "The Midas Touch  (1940), and Old Bill and Son" (1941). He was in "Dangerous Moonlight" (1941), "'Pimpernel' Smith" (1941), "Sheepdog of the Hills" (1941), "Back-Room Boy" (1942), "The Day Will Dawn" (1942), "The Next of Kin" (1942), "In Which We Serve" (1942), "The Young Mr. Pitt" (1942), and "We Dive at Dawn" (1943). Friend had bigger parts in "The Bells Go Down" (1943) with Tommy Trinder, "Warn That Man" (1943) with Gordon Harker and "The Flemish Farm" (1943), and could be seen in "Two Thousand Women" (1944). He had a decent sized role in "Great Day" (1945). Friend returned to the stage  with "Pink String and Sealing Wax" and "The First Gentleman". Hollywood. In February 1946 Friend signed a contract with David O. Selznick who brought the actor to Hollywood. Selznick wound up not using Friend in any of his films. Friend had a support part in "My Own True Love" (1948) with Phyllis Calvert. He could also be seen in "Enchantment" (1948). Friend was a British soldier in "Sword in the Desert" (1949) at Universal. They liked his work and signed him to a contract, casting him in the lead of "Buccaneer's Girl" (1950) with Yvonne de Carlo. Friend was  kept at Universal for "Spy Hunt" (1950), then the studio dropped him. They hired him back to play the villain in "Smuggler's Island" (1951). He was in "Thunder on the Hill" (1951). Friend had the star role in "The Highwayman" (1952) for Monogram Pictures. Friend began appearing on TV in such shows as "The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse" and "Kraft Theatre". On Broadway he was meant to join the cast of "Faithfully Yours" but Equity objected. Instead he starred in "Jane" in 1952. Return to Britain. Friend returned home to be in "Desperate Moment" (1953). He had support roles  in "Background" (1952), "The Diamond" (1954), "" (1956), "Cloak Without Dagger" (1956) and "The Betrayal" (1956). He also appeared regularly on British TV shows such as "The Errol Flynn Theatre". Friend's later work included "Son of Robin Hood" (1958), "The Solitary Child" (1958), "Web of Suspicion"(1959),"The Fur Collar" (1962), "Stranglehold" (1962), and "The Vulture" (1966). One of his last appearances was in the TV movie "Suez 1956" (1979). Personal life. Friend was married to the actress Eileen Erskine, and they had two sons.