Alexander Knox (16 January 1907 – 25 April 1995) was a Canadian actor and writer. He appeared in over 100 film, television, and theatrical productions over a career spanning from the 1920s until the late 1980s. He was nominated for an

Oscar Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to: People and fictional and mythical characters * Oscar (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters named Oscar, Óscar or Oskar * Oscar (footballer, born 1954), Brazilian footballer ...

and won a

Golden Globe The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally held every Januar ...

for his performance as American President

Woodrow Wilson Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was the 28th president of the United States, serving from 1913 to 1921. He was the only History of the Democratic Party (United States), Democrat to serve as president during the Prog ...

in the 1944 film '' Wilson''. However, his career in the United States was hampered by

McCarthyism McCarthyism is a political practice defined by the political repression and persecution of left-wing individuals and a Fear mongering, campaign spreading fear of communist and Soviet influence on American institutions and of Soviet espionage i ...

, and he spent the rest of his career in the United Kingdom. Knox portrayed Control in the 1979

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

miniseries adaptation of John le Carre's '' Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy''. He acted in such films as '' Europe '51'', '' The Vikings'', '' The Longest Day'', '' The Damned'', and ''

Modesty Blaise ''Modesty Blaise'' is a British comic strip featuring a fictional character of the same name, created by author Peter O'Donnell and illustrator Jim Holdaway in 1963. The strip follows Modesty Blaise, an exceptional young woman with many talen ...

''. He often worked with director

Joseph Losey Joseph Walton Losey III (; January 14, 1909 – June 22, 1984) was an American film and theatre director, producer, and screenwriter. Born in Wisconsin, he studied in Germany with Bertolt Brecht and then returned to the United States. Hollywood ...

, a fellow American blacklistee living in the UK. Aside from his acting career, Knox was also an author, writing adventure novels set in the

Great Lakes The Great Lakes, also called the Great Lakes of North America, are a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes spanning the Canada–United States border. The five lakes are Lake Superior, Superior, Lake Michigan, Michigan, Lake Huron, H ...

area during the 19th century as well as plays and detective novels.

Life and career

Knox was born in Strathroy, Ontario, where his father was the minister of the Presbyterian Church. He graduated from the

University of Western Ontario The University of Western Ontario (UWO; branded as Western University) is a Public university, public research university in London, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land, surrounded by residential neighbourhoods and the Thame ...

. He moved to Boston, Massachusetts, to perform on stage with the Boston Repertory Theatre. After the company folded following the stock market crash of 1929, Knox returned to London, Ontario, where, for the next two years, he worked as a reporter for '' The London Advertiser'' before moving to London, England, where, during the 1930s, he appeared in several films. He also appeared in various roles at the Old Vic such as the Judge in

George Bernard Shaw George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influence on Western theatre, culture and politics extended from the 188 ...

's ''Geneva''. Canadian novelist

Robertson Davies William Robertson Davies (28 August 1913 – 2 December 1995) was a Canadian novelist, playwright, critic, journalist, and professor. He was one of Canada's best known and most popular authors and one of its most distinguished " men of letters" ...

described his performance thus: "To this role he brought a dignity which did much to heighten the effect of the famous court-scene which makes up the third act...". In 1939, at the Malvern Festival, he acted in Shaw's In Good King Charles's Golden Days. His own play ''Old Master'' was also staged. He starred opposite

Jessica Tandy Jessie Alice Tandy (7 June 1909 – 11 September 1994) was a British actress. An icon in the film industry, she appeared in over 100 stage productions and had more than 60 roles in film and TV, receiving an Academy Award, four Tony Awards, a BAF ...

in the 1940 Broadway production of '' Jupiter Laughs'' and as Friar Laurence in

Romeo and Juliet ''The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet'', often shortened to ''Romeo and Juliet'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare about the romance between two young Italians from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's ...

with Vivien Leigh and

Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier ( ; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director. He and his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud made up a trio of male actors who dominated the British stage of the m ...

. Then in 1944, he was chosen by Darryl F. Zanuck to star in '' Wilson'' (1944), the biographical film about American President

, for which he won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for the

Academy Award for Best Actor The Academy Award for Best Actor is an award presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It has been awarded since the 1st Academy Awards to an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading ...

. However, during the McCarthy Era, his liberal views and work with the Committee for the First Amendment hurt his career, but he was not

blacklisted Blacklisting is the action of a group or authority compiling a blacklist of people, countries or other entities to be avoided or distrusted as being deemed unacceptable to those making the list; if people are on a blacklist, then they are considere ...

, and he returned to Britain. Knox had major roles in '' The Sea Wolf'' (1941), '' None Shall Escape'' (1944), '' Over 21'' (1945), '' Sister Kenny'' (1946), '' Man In The Saddle'' (1951), '' Paula'' (1952), '' Europa '51'' (1952), and '' The Vikings'' (1958), as well as supporting roles late in his career, such as in '' The Damned'' (1963), ''

'' (1966), '' Nicholas and Alexandra'' (1971), '' Joshua Then and Now'' (1985; his last film role) and the miniseries '' Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy''. He depicted Governor Hudson Inverest in "The Latin Touch", the second episode of the first season of '' The Saint'' in 1962.

Writing

He wrote several adventure novels: ''Bride of Quietness'' (1933), '' Night of the White Bear'' (1971), '' The Enemy I Kill'' (1972; republished as ''Totem Dream'' in 1973), '' Raider's Moon'', and '' The Kidnapped Surgeon''. He also wrote plays and at least three detective novels under a pseudonym before 1945.Clara Thomas, ''Canadian Novelists 1920-1945'', Toronto: Longmans, Green & Company, 1946, p. 75. Thomas notes, "he refuses to divulge" his pen name.

Personal life

Knox was married to American actress Doris Nolan (1916–1998) from 1944 until his death in 1995. They starred together in the 1949 Broadway play ''The Closing Door'', which Knox also wrote. They had a son Andrew Joseph Knox (born 1947; died by suicide in 1987) who became an actor and appeared in '' Doctor on the Go'', and who was married to Imogen Hassall. Knox died in

Berwick-upon-Tweed Berwick-upon-Tweed (), sometimes known as Berwick-on-Tweed or simply Berwick, is a town and civil parish in Northumberland, England, south of the Anglo-Scottish border, and the northernmost town in England. The 2011 United Kingdom census recor ...

from bone cancer on April 25, 1995.

Complete filmography

* '' The Ringer'' (1931) (uncredited) * ''

Rembrandt Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (; ; 15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), mononymously known as Rembrandt was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and Drawing, draughtsman. He is generally considered one of the greatest visual artists in ...

'' (1936) as Ludwick's Assistant (uncredited) * ''The Tiger'' (1936 TV movie) as American Liaison Officer * ''Everyman'' (1937 TV movie) as Everyman * ''Polly'' (1937 TV movie) as Cawwawkee * ''Deirdre'' (1938 TV movie) as Naisi * '' The Gaunt Stranger'' (1938) as Dr. Lomond * '' The Four Feathers'' (1939) (uncredited) * '' Cheer Boys Cheer'' (1939) as Saunders * '' The Sea Wolf'' (1941) as Humphrey Van Weyden * '' This Above All'' (1942) as Rector * '' Commandos Strike at Dawn'' (1942) as German Captain * '' None Shall Escape'' (1944) as Wilhelm Grimm * '' Wilson'' (1944) as

* '' Over 21'' (1945) as Max W. Wharton * '' Sister Kenny'' (1946) as Dr. McDonnell * '' The Judge Steps Out'' (1948) as Judge Thomas Bailey * '' The Sign of the Ram'' (1949) as Mallory St. Aubyn * '' Tokyo Joe'' (1949) as Mark Landis * '' I'd Climb the Highest Mountain'' (1951) as Tom Salter * '' Two of a Kind'' (1951) as Vincent Mailer * '' Saturday's Hero'' (1951) as Professor Megroth * '' The Son of Dr. Jekyll'' (1951) as Dr. Curtis Lanyon * '' Man in the Saddle'' (1951) as Will Isham * '' Paula'' (1952) as Dr. Clifford Frazer * '' Europa '51'' (1952) as George Girard * '' The Sleeping Tiger'' (1954) as Dr. Cilve Esmond * '' The Divided Heart'' (1954) as The Chief Justice * '' The Night My Number Came Up'' (1955) as Owen Robertson * '' Alias John Preston'' (1955) as Dr. Peter Walton * '' Reach for the Sky'' (1956) as Mr. Joyce * '' High Tide at Noon'' (1957) as Stephen MacKenzie * '' Hidden Fear'' (1957) as Hartman * '' Davy'' (1958) as Sir Giles * '' Chase a Crooked Shadow'' (1958) as Chandler Brisson * '' The Vikings'' (1958) as Father Godwin * '' Intent to Kill'' (1958) as Dr. McNeil * '' Passionate Summer'' (1958) as Leonard Pawley * '' The Two-Headed Spy'' (1958) as Gestapo Leader Müller * ''

Operation Amsterdam ''Operation Amsterdam'' is a 1959 black and white British action film, directed by Michael McCarthy (film director), Michael McCarthy, and featuring Peter Finch, Eva Bartok and Tony Britton. It is based on a true story as described in the book ' ...

'' (1959) as Walter Keyser * '' The Wreck of the Mary Deare'' (1959) as Petrie * ''

Oscar Wilde Oscar Fingal O'Fflahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 185430 November 1900) was an Irish author, poet, and playwright. After writing in different literary styles throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular and influential playwright ...

'' (1960) as Sir Edward Clarke * '' Crack in the Mirror'' (1960) as President * '' The Share Out'' (1962) as Col. Calderwood * '' The Longest Day'' (1962) as Maj. Gen.

Walter Bedell Smith General (United States), General Walter Bedell "Beetle" Smith (5 October 1895 – 9 August 1961) was a senior officer (armed forces), officer of the United States Army who served as General Dwight D. Eisenhower's chief of staff at Allied Forc ...

* '' The Damned'' (1963) as Bernard * '' In the Cool of the Day'' (1963) as Frederick Bonner * '' Man in the Middle'' (1964) as Col. Burton * ''

Woman of Straw ''Woman of Straw'' is a 1964 British crime thriller directed by Basil Dearden and starring Gina Lollobrigida and Sean Connery. It was written by Robert Muller (screenwriter), Robert Muller and Stanley Mann, adapted from the 1954 novel ''La Femme ...

'' (1964) as Detective Inspector * '' Crack in the World'' (1965) as Sir Charles Eggerston * '' Mister Moses'' (1965) as Rev. Anderson * '' The Psychopath'' (1966) as Frank Saville * ''

'' (1966) as Minister * ''

Khartoum Khartoum or Khartum is the capital city of Sudan as well as Khartoum State. With an estimated population of 7.1 million people, Greater Khartoum is the largest urban area in Sudan. Khartoum is located at the confluence of the White Nile – flo ...

'' (1966) as Sir Evelyn Baring * ''

Accident An accident is an unintended, normally unwanted event that was not deliberately caused by humans. The term ''accident'' implies that the event may have been caused by Risk assessment, unrecognized or unaddressed risks. Many researchers, insurers ...

'' (1967) as University Provost * ''

The 25th Hour ''The 25th Hour'' is the 2001 debut novel by David Benioff. A film adaptation, for which Benioff wrote the screenplay, was directed by Spike Lee and released in 2002. Background The idea for the book came when Benioff returned home to New Yor ...

'' (1967) as D.A. * '' Bikini Paradise'' (1967) as Commissioner Lighton * '' You Only Live Twice'' (1967) as American President (uncredited) * ''

How I Won the War ''How I Won the War'' is a 1967 British black comedy film directed and produced by Richard Lester and starring Michael Crawford, Jack MacGowran, Roy Kinnear, Lee Montague, and John Lennon in his only non-musical acting role. The screenplay was b ...

'' (1967) as American General * '' Villa Rides'' (1968) as President Madero * '' Shalako'' (1968) as Henry Clarke * '' Fräulein Doktor'' (1969) as Gen. Peronne * '' Run a Crooked Mile'' (1969 TV movie) as Sir Howard Nettleton * '' Skullduggery'' (1970) as Buffington * ''When We Dead Awaken'' (1970 TV movie) as Rubek * '' Puppet on a Chain'' (1971) as Colonel De Graaf * '' Nicholas and Alexandra'' (1971) as The American Ambassador * ''Truman at Potsdam'' (1976 TV movie) as Henry L. Stimson * '' Holocaust 2000'' (1977) as Meyer * '' Churchill and the Generals'' (1979 TV movie) as Henry Stimson - Secretary of War * ''Suez 1956'' (1979 TV movie) as John Foster Dulles * '' Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy'' (1979 TV mini-series) as Control - Chief of Circus * ''Cry of the Innocent'' (1980 TV movie) as Thornton Donegin * '' Gorky Park'' (1983) as General * ''Helen Keller: The Miracle Continues'' (1984 TV movie) as Mr. Gilman * '' The Last Place on Earth'' (1985 TV serial as Sir Clements Markham * '' Joshua Then and Now'' (1985) as Senator Hornby

Selected stage roles

* '' Smoky Cell'' by

Edgar Wallace Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1 April 1875 – 10 February 1932) was a British writer of crime and adventure fiction. Born into poverty as an illegitimate London child, Wallace left school at the age of 12. He joined the army at age 21 and was ...

(1930) * '' Jupiter Laughs'' by

A.J. Cronin Archibald Joseph Cronin (Cronogue) (19 July 1896 – 6 January 1981) was a Scottish physician and novelist. His best-known novel is '' The Citadel'' (1937), about a Scottish physician who serves in a Welsh mining village before achieving succes ...

(1944) * '' Return to Tyassi'' by Benn Levy (1950)

References

Notes

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Knox, Alexander 1907 births 1995 deaths Best Drama Actor Golden Globe (film) winners Canadian male stage actors Canadian male film actors Canadian male novelists Canadian expatriate male actors in the United States Canadian expatriate male actors in the United Kingdom Hollywood blacklist People from Strathroy-Caradoc Deaths from bone cancer in England University of Western Ontario alumni 20th-century Canadian male actors 20th-century Canadian novelists 20th-century Canadian male writers Male actors from Ontario