George Sewell
George Sewell | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | 2 April 2007 London, UK | (aged 82)
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1963–2006 |
Spouse | Helen Logan Davies (1961–2007; his death) |
Children | 1 |
George Sewell (31 August 1924 – 2 April 2007) was an English actor, best known for his television roles, but also active on stage and in films.[1]
Early life and early career
The son of a
Following his
Acting career
Theatre
Sewell had not considered acting until, aged 35,
Television
For many years, Sewell was the gritty face of crime and law enforcement in a huge array of television series. Amongst his early roles, he was the tallyman in the television play
In 1973, Euston Films re-invigorated the TV series Special Branch, formerly a videotaped series starring Derren Nesbitt.[9] Sewell was brought in to play the lead character of DCI Alan Craven.[10] The show ran for two seasons with Sewell, and served as a stylistic forerunner of crime drama The Sweeney (in which Sewell also appeared, this time as a villain). Sewell was to parody this role as Supt Frank Cottam in the Jasper Carrott/Robert Powell comedy, The Detectives.[11]
He also played a Detective Baker who turned out to be a burglar in the Rising Damp episode The Prowler.[12]
He also played Ray Walker in Heartbeat (series 9 episode 20).
Later roles
Later television appearances include Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979), in which he played Mendel, and the Doctor Who story Remembrance of the Daleks (1988), in which he played builder's merchant and fascist leader Ratcliffe.[13][14] He also appeared frequently in films, notably This Sporting Life (1963), Poor Cow (1967) and Get Carter (1971).[15]
He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1973 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews while filming scenes for the TV series Special Branch.[citation needed]
Personal life and death
George Sewell died from cancer on 2 April 2007 at the age of 82.[16] His brother, Danny Sewell, a former boxer, also became an actor.[16]
Filmography
Film
Film | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
1963 | This Sporting Life | Jeff | |
1963 | Sparrows Can't Sing | Bert | |
1963 | A Place to Go | Market Trader | Uncredited. |
1963 | The Informers | Fred Hill | |
1966 | Kaleidoscope | Billy | |
1967 | Deadlier Than the Male | Car Park Assassin | Uncredited. |
1967 | Robbery | Ben | |
1967 | Poor Cow | Customer in Pub | Scenes deleted. |
1968 | The Vengeance of She | Harry | |
1969 | The Haunted House of Horror | Bob Kellett | |
1969 | Doppelgänger | Mark Neuman | |
1971 | Get Carter[17] | Con McCarty | |
1973 | Diamonds on Wheels | Henry Stewart | |
1973 | UFO - Allarme rosso... attacco alla Terra! | Col. Alec E. Freeman | Italian-language series UFO compilation film. |
1973 | Kill Straker, a Question of Priorities | Col. Alec E. Freeman | UFO compilation film, known in the Italian-language series as "UFO - Distruggete Base Luna". |
1974 | UFO - Prendeteli vivi! | Col. Alec E. Freeman | Italian-language series UFO compilation film. |
1974 | UFO - Contatto Radar... stanno atterrando...! | Col. Alec E. Freeman | Italian-language series UFO compilation film. |
1974 | Invasion: UFO | Col. Alec E. Freeman | UFO compilation film, known in the Italian-language series as "UFO - Annientate SHADO... Uccidete Straker... Stop". |
1975 | Operation Daybreak | Heinz Panwitz, Chief Investigator | |
1975 | Barry Lyndon | Barry's Second | |
1979 | Running Blind |
Slade | |
1979 | Winterspelt | Colonel | |
1981 | If You Go Down in the Woods Today | Knocker | |
1998 | Let's Stick Together | Carter |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1965-1967 | Z-Cars | Det. Insp. Brogan/Joe Carter/Harris | |
1969-1971 | Paul Temple | Sammy Carson | |
1969 | Public Eye | Jakeman | episode: Welcome to Brighton? |
1969 | The Expert | Louis Scammell | episode: Protection (with Danny Sewell as Teddy Scammell |
1970 | Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) | Eric Jansen | episode: Vendetta for a Dead Man |
1970 | Manhunt | Pierre Allard | |
1970 | UFO | Col. Alec Freeman | |
1971 | Public Eye | Harry Brierly | |
1972 | Home and Away | Winslow Scott | |
1973-1974 | Special Branch | Det. Chief Insp. Alan Craven | |
1975 | Rising Damp | Baker | "The Prowler", 10 January 1975 |
1978 | The Sweeney | Vic Tolman | "Bait", 19 October 1978 |
1979 | Running Blind |
Slade | |
1979 | Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy | Mendel | |
1980 | The Gentle Touch | Dave Connally | |
1981 | Minder | Frank | episode: Rembrandt Doesn't Live Here Any More |
1982-1983 | Andy Robson | Peter Mueller | |
1984 | Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense | Det. Inspector Grant | episode: Mark of the Devil |
1987-1990 | Home James! | Robert Palmer | |
1988 | Doctor Who | Ratcliffe | Remembrance of the Daleks |
1993-1997 | The Detectives | Superintendent Cottam | |
2000 | Heartbeat | Ray Walker |
References
- ^ "Obituary at www.thestage.co.uk".
- ^ a b c d Purser, Philip (11 April 2007). "Guardian, 11 April 2007". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ a b c d "The Times, 14 April 2007". London. 14 April 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
- ^ "George Sewell". aveleyman.com.
- ^ "BFI Screenonline: U.F.O. (1970-71)". screenonline.org.uk.
- ^ "One Way Home (1970)". BFI. Archived from the original on 15 May 2019.
- ^ "The Ugly Side of War (1970)". BFI. Archived from the original on 15 May 2019.
- ^ "Intent to Steal (1970)". BFI. Archived from the original on 15 May 2019.
- ^ "BFI Screenonline: Special Branch (1969-74)". screenonline.org.uk.
- ^ "A Copper Called Craven (1973)". BFI. Archived from the original on 15 May 2019.
- ^ "Never without Protection (1994)". BFI. Archived from the original on 15 May 2019.
- ^ "The Prowler (1975)". BFI. Archived from the original on 15 May 2019.
- ^ "BFI Screenonline: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979) Credits". screenonline.org.uk.
- ^ "BBC - Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide - Remembrance of the Daleks - Details". bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "George Sewell". BFI. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016.
- ^ a b Purser, Philip (10 April 2007). "Obituary: George Sewell" – via theguardian.com.
- ^ Sewell obit in The Telegraph
External links
- George Sewell at IMDb
- The Guardian obituary