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Donald Houston

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Occupation
  
Actor

Years active
  
1949–1983


Name
  
Donald Houston

Role
  
Actor

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Full Name
  
Donald Daniel Houston

Born
  
6 November 1923 (
1923-11-06
)

Died
  
October 13, 1991, Coimbra, Portugal

Spouse
  
Brenda Hogan (m. 1949–1991)

Siblings
  
Glyn Houston, Jean Houston

Movies
  
The Blue Lagoon, A Study in Terror, Where Eagles Dare, The Viking Queen, Room at the Top

Similar People
  
Glyn Houston, Frank Launder, Don Chaffey, Brian G Hutton, Gerald Thomas

Karen from Yahoo Voices Interviews Donald Houston and Nelly about Mike & Ike Getting Back Together


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 Sir 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.

Contents

Donald Houston BBC Blogs Wales Donald Houston great Welsh actor

Early life

Donald Houston Donald Houston British actor 19231991

Houston was born in Tonypandy, Glamorgan, and was the elder brother of actor Glyn Houston and a sister, Jean. His father, Alex, was a professional football player from Scotland and his mother, Elsie, ran a milk round. After school he worked at Glamorganshire colliery before his first foray into acting came in 1940 when he performed on stage with the Pilgrim Players. He served in the Royal Air Force during World War II.

Acting career

Donald Houston Donald Houston Movies Bio and Lists on MUBI

He would sometimes indulge his Welsh accent as well as conceal it behind an English public school veneer. He 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), 633 Squadron (1964), The Longest Day (1962) (in which he appeared alongside Richard Burton), Where Eagles Dare (1968) (again with Burton) and The Sea Wolves (1981). His forte tended to be authority figures, often military, such as the brilliant but tough David Caulder, the head of Moonbase 3 or as Dr Francis in Thirteen to Centaurus (from the anthology series Out of the Unknown).

Donald Houston BBC News Film actor Donald Houstons Rhondda blue plaque honour

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 Tales That Witness Madness (1973) and Maniac (1963).

Donald Houston The Many Watsons Donald Houston Kieran McMullen

On 13 October 1991, Donald Houston died in Coimbra, Portugal at the age of 67.

Filmography

Actor
1984
The Brief (TV Series) as
Herr Geiser
- People (1984) - Herr Geiser
1983
Partners in Crime (TV Mini Series) as
Boris
- The Secret Adversary (1983) - Boris
1983
Jemima Shore Investigates (TV Series) as
Colonel Curtis
- A Model Murder (1983) - Colonel Curtis
1981
Clash of the Titans as
Acrisius
1980
The Sea Wolves as
Hilliard
1979
Border Country (TV Series) as
Twmi
- Heyday in the Blood (1979) - Twmi
1979
Heyday in the Blood (TV Movie)
1979
The Boy Merlin (TV Series) as
Dafydd
- The Lady and the Sword (1979) - Dafydd
- A Gathering of Armies (1979) - Dafydd
- The Tide of Vengeance (1979) - Dafydd
- The Round Table of Destiny (1979) - Dafydd
- The Book of Magic (1979) - Dafydd
- Red Dragon, White Dragon (1979) - Dafydd
1978
Bernie (TV Series)
- Episode #1.5 (1978)
1978
Return of the Saint (TV Series) as
Commander Denning
- The Armageddon Alternative (1978) - Commander Denning
1978
Shadows (TV Series) as
Dafydd
- The Boy Merlin (1978) - Dafydd
1976
Voyage of the Damned as
Dr. Glauner
1973
The Protectors (TV Series) as
Lockier
- Dragon Chase (1973) - Lockier
1973
Tales That Witness Madness as
Sam (segment "Mr. Tiger")
1973
Moonbase 3 (TV Series) as
Dr. David Caulder
- View of a Dead Planet (1973) - Dr. David Caulder
- Castor and Pollux (1973) - Dr. David Caulder
- Outsiders (1973) - Dr. David Caulder
- Achilles Heel (1973) - Dr. David Caulder
- Behemoth (1973) - Dr. David Caulder
- Departure and Arrival (1973) - Dr. David Caulder
1973
Justice (TV Series) as
Fielding
- A Libel Among Friends (1973) - Fielding
1973
The Adventurer (TV Series) as
Jan de Groote
- Double Exposure (1973) - Jan de Groote
1973
Public Eye (TV Series) as
Arthur Wellard
- The Trouble with Jenny (1973) - Arthur Wellard
1972
The Archers (Podcast Series) as
Dylan Evans
- Episode #1.5685 (1972) - Dylan Evans
- Episode #1.5680 (1972) - Dylan Evans
1971
Now, Take My Wife (TV Series) as
Harry Love
- There's a Lot of It About (1971) - Harry Love
- Housewives' Choice (1971) - Harry Love
- Rembrandt's Mother (1971) - Harry Love
- Keep the Home Fires Burning (1971) - Harry Love
- Things That Go Bump (1971) - Harry Love
- On the Wagon (1971) - Harry Love
- A Python Called Monty (1971) - Harry Love
- Thanks for the Memory (1971) - Harry Love
- Instant Orange (1971) - Harry Love
- The Singing Garbo (1971) - Harry Love
- Is There Anyone There? (1971) - Harry Love
- Claire's Demo (1971) - Harry Love
- One of Those Days (1971) - Harry Love
- Just Harry and Me (1971) - Harry Love
1971
Jason King (TV Series) as
Kenworthy
- A Deadly Line in Digits (1971) - Kenworthy
1971
Comedy Playhouse (TV Series) as
Harry Love
- Just Harry and Me (1971) - Harry Love
1971
Paul Temple (TV Series) as
Eric Margolis
- Cue Murder! (1971) - Eric Margolis
1971
ITV Playhouse (TV Series) as
Bill
- The Waters of Babylon (1971) - Bill
1970
Man at the Top (TV Series) as
George Devon
- Charity Begins at Home (1970) - George Devon
1970
My Lover, My Son as
Robert / Francesca's husband
1969
ITV Saturday Night Theatre (TV Series) as
Gerald Tyler
- Murder: The Blood Relation (1969) - Gerald Tyler
1969
The Bushbaby as
John Leeds
1969
Department S (TV Series) as
John Burnham
- The Ghost of Mary Burnham (1969) - John Burnham
1968
Where Eagles Dare as
Christiansen
1968
The Champions (TV Series) as
Richter
- The Survivors (1968) - Richter
1967
Man in a Suitcase (TV Series) as
George Masters
- Essay in Evil (1967) - George Masters
1967
The Fellows (TV Series) as
Det. Insp. Chandler
- Violence (1967) - Det. Insp. Chandler
1967
Trapped (TV Series) as
Martin
- Victor Victor (1967) - Martin
1964
ITV Play of the Week (TV Series) as
Lt. Col. Abel Winchip / Sgt. Hulme / Hunter / ...
- The Trial and Error of Colonel Winchip (1967) - Lt. Col. Abel Winchip
- Blue as His Eyes, the Tin Helmet He Wore (1966) - Sgt. Hulme
- Four Days to Fireworks (1965) - Hunter
- Drill Pig (1964) - The Narrator
1956
Armchair Theatre (TV Series) as
Psychoanalyst / David / Robert Hook / ...
- Any Number Can Play (1967) - Psychoanalyst
- What's Wrong with Humpty Dumpty? (1967) - David
- Pretty Polly (1966) - Robert Hook
- The Way of Love (1961) - Charlie Brogan
- Strangers in the Room (1961)
- Underground (1958) - Art
- The Same Sky (1956) - Jeff Smith
1967
The Viking Queen as
Maelgan
1964
ITV Sunday Night Drama (TV Series) as
David / John Probert
- Four Triumphant: St David (1966) - David
- Sunday Mystery Theatre: The Primitives (1964) - John Probert
1965
Out of the Unknown (TV Series) as
Dr. Francis
- Thirteen to Centaurus (1965) - Dr. Francis
1965
Secret Agent (TV Series) as
Bill Vincent / Edmund Bierce
- To Our Best Friend (1965) - Bill Vincent
- The Mirror's New (1965) - Edmund Bierce
1965
A Study in Terror as
Doctor Watson
1965
Tibetan Story (Short) as
Narrator (voice)
1965
Gideon C.I.D. (TV Series) as
Tony Erickson
- Fall High Fall Hard (1965) - Tony Erickson
1964
Love Story (TV Series) as
David Manning
- The Commuters (1964) - David Manning
1964
633 Squadron as
Group Capt. Don Barrett
1964
Festival (TV Series) as
The Onlooker
- Under Milk Wood (1964) - The Onlooker
1964
Carry on Jack as
First Officer Jonathan Howett
1963
Doctor in Distress as
Maj. Tommy Ffrench
1963
Maniac as
Henri
1961
Drama 61-67 (TV Series) as
Harry Blair / Hartley
- Drama '63: This Is Not King's Cross (1963) - Harry Blair
- Drama '61: The Takers (1961) - Hartley
1962
The Longest Day as
RAF Pilot
1962
The 300 Spartans as
Hydarnes
1962
BBC Sunday-Night Play (TV Series) as
Lavalette / Bobby Lowther
- Sword of Vengeance (1962) - Lavalette
- The Long Memory (1962) - Bobby Lowther
1962
Twice Round the Daffodils as
John Rhodes
1962
The Magical World of Disney (TV Series) as
John Canty
- The Prince and the Pauper: Long Live the Rightful King (1962) - John Canty
- The Prince and the Pauper: The Merciful Law of the King (1962) - John Canty
- The Prince and the Pauper: The Pauper King (1962) - John Canty
1962
The Prince and the Pauper as
John Canty
1961
Stryker of the Yard (TV Series)
- The Case of Express Delivery (1961)
1956
ITV Television Playhouse (TV Series) as
Rev. Phillip Mitchell / Jaris Kuyper
- Nannie (1961) - Rev. Phillip Mitchell
- Skipper Next to God (1956) - Jaris Kuyper
1961
The Mark as
Austin
1960
Armchair Mystery Theatre (TV Series) as
The husband
1959
Jessy (Short) as
Teacher
1959
Alan Melville Takes You from A-Z (TV Series) as
Actor, 'Under Milk Wood'
- U (1959) - Actor, 'Under Milk Wood'
1959
BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (TV Series) as
Colonel Caisar von Kahr / Elis Owen
- Treason (1959) - Colonel Caisar von Kahr
- A Father and His Son (1959) - Elis Owen
1959
Breakout as
Capt. Roger Byfold
1958
Room at the Top as
Charles Soames
1958
The Man Upstairs as
Sanderson
1958
A Question of Infidelity as
Mr. Jacobus
1958
September Tide (TV Movie) as
Evan Davies
1957
The Surgeon's Knife as
Dr. Alex Waring
1957
Under Milk Wood (TV Movie) as
Onlooker
1957
Battle Hell as
Lt Weston RN
1957
The Girl in the Picture as
Jon Deering
1956
Return to the Desert as
The Officer
1956
Assignment Foreign Legion (TV Series) as
Zub Rowski
- The Stool Pigeon (1956) - Zub Rowski
1956
Find the Lady as
Bill
1956
Lilli Palmer Theatre (TV Series) as
George
- Forecast Unsettled (1956) - George
1956
Doublecross as
Albert Pascoe
1956
No Man's Land (TV Movie) as
Major Karl von Seydler
1955
The Flaw as
John Millway
1954
Wishing Well as
John
1954
Devil's Harbor as
Michael Mallard
1954
Doctor in the House as
Taffy Evans
1953
Small Town Story as
Tony Warren
1953
The Long Rope as
Tom Penney
1953
Paratrooper as
Taffy
1953
Little Red Monkey (TV Movie) as
Colin Currie
1952
Point of No Return (Documentary short) as
Jack
1952
Crow Hollow as
Robert
1952
My Death Is a Mockery as
John Bradley
1950
Dance Hall as
Phil
1949
A Run for Your Money as
Dai
1949
Choir Practice (TV Movie) as
Cliff Lloyd
1949
The Blue Lagoon as
Michael Reynolds
1948
Chain Male (TV Movie) as
Tony Clefton-Britt
Writer
1953
Small Town Story (uncredited)
Soundtrack
1965
Secret Agent (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- To Our Best Friend (1965) - (performer: "Oh Shenandoah")
Self
1976
Poems and Pints (TV Series) as
Self - Reader
- Episode #4.4 (1976) - Self - Reader
1973
The World About Us (TV Series documentary) as
Self - Narrator
- The Claiming of the Amazon (1973) - Self - Narrator (voice)
1972
Sunstruck as
Self
1971
Bird's-Eye View (TV Series documentary) as
Poem Reading
- A Land for All Seasons (1971) - Poem Reading (voice)
1971
Omnibus (TV Series documentary) as
Self - Commentary
- The Mysterious Mr Eliot (1971) - Self - Commentary (voice)
1970
The Harry Secombe Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #2.3 (1970) - Self
1969
A Prince for Wales (Documentary) as
Narrator
1969
Survival (TV Series documentary) as
Self - narrator
- When a Park is not a Park? : Part 2 (1969) - Self - narrator
- When a Park is not a Park? : Part 1 (1969) - Self - narrator
1967
Dee Time (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode #2.10 (1967) - Self
1967
The Heart of Show Business (TV Special) as
Self - Performer
1966
Secombe and Friends (TV Special) as
Self - Guest
1964
One of the Family (Documentary short) as
Self - Narrator
1964
Tempo (TV Series documentary)
- A Vision of England (1964)
1960
A Letter for Wales (Documentary short) as
The Welshman
1959
Secombe and Friends (TV Mini Series) as
Self
- Episode #1.2 (1959) - Self
- Episode #1.1 (1959) - Self
1957
Every Valley (Documentary short) as
Narrator
Archive Footage
2021
Musings of the Classic Sherlock Holmes Actor (TV Series) as
Dr. Watson
- John Neville on Filming a Study in Terror and his Portrayal of Sherlock Holmes (2021) - Dr. Watson
2020
Can I Play with Madness? - David Wood & Leon Lissek re-visit Tales That Witness Madness (Video documentary short) as
Sam (uncredited)
2006
Carry on Quizzing (Video Game) as
First Officer Jonathan Howett (uncredited)
1996
The Man Who Ruined the British Film Industry (TV Movie documentary) as
Taffy Evans (uncredited)
1995
Heroes of Comedy (TV Series documentary)
- Joyce Grenfell (1995)
1993
Laugh with the Carry Ons (TV Series)

References

Donald Houston Wikipedia


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