Michael Allinson

Biography

John Michael Allinson was born on 30 December 1920 in London, the son of British painter and sculptor Adrian Allinson, founding member of the avant garde London Group of painters. He was the grandson of doctor and nutritionist Thomas Allinson, the founder of the Allinson Bread Company. He attended Ryeford Hall, Wycliffe College, Gloucestershire and the University of Lausanne. Allinson was trained for the stage at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Allinson served as a Captain during World War II.

Allinson emigrated to the United States in the summer of 1958. He became a naturalised United States citizen on 30 November 1964.

Acting career

Allinson performed extensively on Broadway, where he took over the role of Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady during the 1960 season opposite Pamela Charles as Eliza Doolittle, having toured as standby for Rex Harrison. On Broadway he also created the role of "Warnie" in the original production of Shadowlands, starring Nigel Hawthorne and Jane Alexander. He appeared as Hobson in the short lived musical Arthur, based on the Dudley Moore film of the same name.

He appeared on Broadway productions in, among other shows, An Ideal Husband, Oliver!, Angel Street, Coco, Sleuth, and Hostile Witness. He was President Emeritus of the Players' Club, installed after the exit of Lynn Redgrave. Allinson understudied both Rex Harrison and George Rose in the production of Kingfisher and did a one-man show about George Orwell in his later years.

Allinson appeared in many films, his last role being "Sir David" in Syriana.

Family

His wife, the late Judi Schiver, was a dancer in the original Broadway production of Camelot; they had two sons.

Death

Michael Allinson died on his 90th birthday in 2010, in Los Angeles, California.