Henry Tomlinson, James Adam Tomlinson, David Tomlinson, William Tomlinson
Spouse
Audrey Freeman (m. 1953–2000), Mary Lindsay Hiddingh (m. 1943–1943)
Movies
Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Love Bug, The Wooden Horse, Quiet Wedding
Similar People
Karen Dotrice, Glynis Johns, Robert Stevenson, Matthew Garber, Dick Van Dyke
Let s go fly a kite mary poppins david tomlinson
David Cecil MacAlister Tomlinson (7 May 1917 – 24 June 2000) was an English stage, film and television actor and comedian. Having been described as both a leading man and a character actor, he is primarily remembered for his roles as authority figure George Banks in Mary Poppins, fraudulent magician Professor Emelius Browne in Bedknobs and Broomsticks and as hapless antagonist Peter Thorndyke in The Love Bug. In 2002, two years after his death, Tomlinson was posthumously inducted as a Disney Legend.
Tomlinson was born in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire on 7 May 1917, to Florence Elizabeth Tomlinson (née Sinclair-Thomsona) (1890-1986) and a well-respected London solicitor father Clarence Samuel Tomlinson (1883-1978). He attended Tonbridge School and left to join the Grenadier Guards for 16 months. His father then secured him a job as a clerk at Shell Mex House.
His stage career grew from amateur stage productions to his 1940 film debut in Quiet Wedding. His career was interrupted when he entered Second World War service as a Flight Lieutenant in the RAF. During the war, he served as a flight instructor in Canada and made three films. His flying days continued after the war and he crashed a Tiger Moth plane near his back garden after he lost consciousness while flying.
Film career
David Tomlinson was best known for his role as George Banks, head of the Banks family, in the Disney film Mary Poppins (1964). Mary Poppins brought Tomlinson continued work with Disney, asking him to appear in The Love Bug (1968) and Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971). Throughout the rest of Tomlinson's film career, he never steered far from comedies. His final acting appearance was in The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu (1980), which was also the final film of Peter Sellers, who died shortly prior to its release. Tomlinson retired from acting at age 63 to spend more time with his family.
Personal life and death
Tomlinson was first married to Mary Lindsay Hiddingh, daughter of L. Seton Lindsay, the vice president of the New York Life Insurance Company. She had been widowed in 1941 when her husband, Major A.G. Hiddingh, was killed in action, leaving her to care for their two young sons. Tomlinson married Mary in September 1943. On 2 December 1943, Hiddingh killed herself and her two sons in a murder-suicide by jumping from a hotel in New York City.
Tomlinson's second wife was actress Audrey Freeman (born 12 November 1931), whom he married on 17 May 1953, and the couple remained together for 47 years until his death. They had four sons: David Jr. (born 1954), William (born 1960), Henry (born 1962) and James (born 1956).
Tomlinson died peacefully in his sleep at King Edward VII's Hospital, Westminster, at 4 a.m. on 24 June 2000, after suffering from a sudden stroke. He was 83 years old. He was interred at his estate grounds in Mursley, Buckinghamshire.
More Alchetron Topics
Filmography
Actor
1980
The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu as
Sir Roger Avery
1979
Dominique as
Lawyer
1978
The Water Babies as
Sir John / Voice of Polar Bear
1977
Wombling Free as
Roland Frogmorton
1976
Hawaii Five-O (TV Series) as
Blake
- Nine Dragons (1976) - Blake
1975
Bons baisers de Hong-Kong as
Sir John Mac Gregor
1971
Bedknobs and Broomsticks as
Emelius
1968
The Love Bug as
Peter Thorndyke
1967
Comedy Playhouse (TV Series) as
Charles Pinfold
- Loitering with Intent (1967) - Charles Pinfold
1967
Jackanory (TV Series) as
Storyteller
- William's Treasure Trove (1967) - Storyteller
- William's Evening Out (1967) - Storyteller
- The Knights of the Square Table (1967) - Storyteller
- Mary Poppins (2018) - (performer: "The Life I Lead")
2013
Saving Mr. Banks (performer: "Let's Go Fly a Kite")
2009
The Boys (Documentary) (performer: "Let's Go Fly a Kite", "Substitutiary Locomotion", "A Man Has Dreams")
2000
Gossip (writer: "Head", "Disconnected Child")
1990
Disney Sing Along Songs: I Love to Laugh! (Video short) (performer: "Jolly Holiday")
1971
Bedknobs and Broomsticks (performer: "With a Flair", "Eglantine", "Portobello Road", "The Beautiful Briny", "Substitutiary Locomotion" - uncredited)
1964
Mary Poppins (performer: "The Life I Lead", "Jolly Holiday", "A British Bank (The Life I Lead)", "Fidelity Fiduciary Bank", "A Man Has Dreams", "Let's Go Fly a Kite" - uncredited)
1952
Castle in the Air (performer: "There Goes Your Heart")
Thanks
2014
Special Collector's Edition (TV Series) (in memory of - 1 episode)
- Mary Poppins: 1ª Edición (2014) - (in memory of)
2001
Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse (Video) (in memory of)
Self
1963
This Is Your Life (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- The Night of 1000 Lives (2000) - Self
- Petula Clark (1996) - Self
- David Tomlinson (1991) - Self
- Robert Morley (1974) - Self
- Honor Blackman (1969) - Self
- Michael Bentine (1963) - Self
1987
Wogan (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #12.33 (1992) - Self
- Episode #7.149 (1987) - Self
- Episode #7.136 (1987) - Self
1985
Movie Memories (TV Series) as
Self - Guest
- Episode #5.1 (1985) - Self - Guest
1971
The Golden Shot (TV Series) as
Self
- Golden Shot 200 (1971) - Self
- Episode #3.53 (1971) - Self
1966
The Eamonn Andrews Show (TV Series) as
Self - Guest
- Episode #3.5 (1966) - Self - Guest
1966
Call My Bluff (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #1.18 (1966) - Self
1965
Blackpool Night Out (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #2.9 (1965) - Self
1962
Juke Box Jury (TV Series) as
Self - Panellist
- Episode #1.296 (1965) - Self - Panellist
- Episode #1.178 (1962) - Self - Panellist
- Episode #1.161 (1962) - Self - Panellist
1958
Variety Club of Great Britain Awards for 1957 (TV Special documentary short) as
Self - Presenter
1955
Find the Link (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #2.6 (1955) - Self
- Episode #2.5 (1955) - Self
- Episode #2.4 (1955) - Self
- Episode #2.3 (1955) - Self
- Episode #2.2 (1955) - Self
- Episode #2.1 (1955) - Self
1948
Play the Game (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 19 June 1948 (1948) - Self
Archive Footage
2021
A Night with David Tomlinson (Video documentary short) as
Self
2020
Stu's Show (Podcast Series)
- Karen Dotrice (2020)
2018
20/20 (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Mary Poppins Returns: Behind the Magic (2018) - Self
2014
Special Collector's Edition (TV Series) as
Mr. Banks
- Mary Poppins: 1ª Edición (2014) - Mr. Banks
2013
Saving Mr. Banks as
Mr. Banks (uncredited)
2009
Pogo: Expialidocious (Music Video) as
Mr. George W. Banks (uncredited)
2009
The Boys (Documentary) as
George Banks / Emelius (uncredited)
2008
The Age of Believing: The Disney Live Action Classics (TV Movie documentary)
2001
Music Magic: The Sherman Brothers - Bedknobs and Broomsticks (Video documentary short) as
Mr. Emelius Browne
1988
Best of British (TV Series documentary)
- All in the Game (1988)
- Action Men (1988)
1988
Disney Sing-Along-Songs: You Can Fly (Video short) as
Emelius Brown
1987
Disney Sing-Along-Songs: Heigh-Ho (Video short) as
Mr. Banks
1979
The Magical World of Disney (TV Series) as
Peter Thorndyke
- The Love Bug (1979) - Peter Thorndyke
1972
The Dick Cavett Show (TV Series) as
Prof. Emelius Browne from film BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS
- Angela Lansbury/Billy Eckstine/Janet Flanner/Roy Jenkins (1972) - Prof. Emelius Browne from film BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS
