Charles Victor (10 February 1896 – 23 December 1965) was a

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actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...

who appeared in many film and television roles between 1931 and 1965. He was born Charles Victor Harvey. Born in Southport, Lancashire, England, Victor was a fourth-generation English music hall entertainer. He left school when he was 15 to team with his father in a song-and-dance act for five years. After leaving that act, he briefly worked with his brother in an automobile agency before going into English musical comedy. In 1929, he joined the

Birmingham Repertory Theatre Birmingham Repertory Theatre, commonly called Birmingham Rep or just The Rep, is a producing theatre based on Centenary Square in Birmingham, England. Founded by Barry Jackson, it is the longest-established of Britain's building-based theatre ...

, which was headed by Barry Jackson, and stayed with it for 10 years. Victor appeared in just over 100 films between 1938 and 1966. The size and importance of his roles varied greatly. For example, in 1957 he played the lead role, with top billing, in the comedy ''

There's Always a Thursday ''There's Always a Thursday'' is a 1957 British crime film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Charles Victor, Jill Ireland, Lloyd Lamble and Robert Raglan. Much of the film was shot at Southall Studios. Premise Comedy about a down-trod ...

'', whilst in the same year he had a bit part in the biopic '' After the Ball''. Late in life, Victor toured internationally in the role of Alfred Doolittle in ''

My Fair Lady ''My Fair Lady'' is a musical based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 play '' Pygmalion'', with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The story concerns Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons ...

'', performing the role on ''

The Ed Sullivan Show ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' is an American television variety show that ran on CBS from June 20, 1948, to March 28, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in September 1971 by the '' CBS Sunday Night M ...

'' on 19 March 1961 during a tribute to Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe.

Selected filmography

* '' Return of the Frog'' (1938) as Customer in Night Club (uncredited) * '' Hell's Cargo'' (1939) as Mr. Martin * '' Where's That Fire?'' (1939) as Garage Owner (uncredited) * '' Laugh It Off'' (1940) as Colonel * '' Contraband'' (1940) as Hendrick * '' Dr. O'Dowd'' (1940) as Dooley * ''

Old Mother Riley in Society ''Old Mother Riley in Society'' is a low budget 1940 black and white British comedy film, directed by John Baxter, and starring Arthur Lucan and Kitty McShane. It is the fifth in the long running Old Mother Riley series, and features the screen ...

'' (1940) as Sir John Morgan * '' You Will Remember'' (1941) as Pat Barrett * ''

Major Barbara ''Major Barbara'' is a three-act English play by George Bernard Shaw, written and premiered in 1905 and first published in 1907. The story concerns an idealistic young woman, Barbara Undershaft, who is engaged in helping the poor as a Major in ...

'' (1941) as Bilton * ''

Old Mother Riley in Business ''Old Mother Riley in Business'' is a 1941 British comedy film directed by John Baxter and starring Arthur Lucan, Kitty McShane and Cyril Chamberlain. It was the sixth in the long-running Old Mother Riley series of films. Old Mother Riley's pu ...

'' (1941) * ''

East of Piccadilly ''East of Piccadilly'' released in the US as ''The Strangler'' is a 1941 British mystery film based on a story by Gordon Beckles. It was directed by Harold Huth and starring Judy Campbell, Sebastian Shaw, Niall MacGinnis, Henry Edwards, Mar ...

'' (1941) as Editor * '' This England'' (1941) * '' Atlantic Ferry'' (1941) as Tim Grogan * '' He Found a Star'' (1941) as Ben Marsh * '' 49th Parallel'' (1941) as Andreas * ''

Ships with Wings ''Ships with Wings'' is a 1941 British war film directed by Sergei Nolbandov and starring John Clements, Leslie Banks and Jane Baxter. The film is set during the Battle of Greece (1940-1941). It depicts military aviation. Plot During the S ...

'' (1941) as MacDermott * '' Rush Hour'' (1941, Short) as Bus Inspector (uncredited) * ''

The Missing Million ''The Missing Million'' is a 1942 British crime film directed by Philip Brandon and starring Linden Travers, John Warwick and Patricia Hilliard. It is adapted from the 1923 novel '' The Missing Million'' by Edgar Wallace. A millionaire is perse ...

'' (1942) as Nobby Knowles * ''

Breach of Promise Breach of promise is a common law tort, abolished in many jurisdictions. It was also called breach of contract to marry,N.Y. Civil Rights Act article 8, §§ 80-A to 84. and the remedy awarded was known as heart balm. From at least the Middle ...

'' (1942) as Sir William * ''

The Next of Kin ''The Next of Kin'', also known as ''Next of Kin'', is a 1942 Second World War propaganda film produced by Ealing Studios. The film was originally commissioned by the British War Office as a training film to promote the government message tha ...

'' (1942) as Joe, Irish seaman * '' The Foreman Went to France'' (1942) as Aircraft Spotter on Works Roof * '' They Flew Alone'' (1942) as Postmaster * '' Let the People Sing'' (1942) as Bit Role (uncredited) * '' Lady from Lisbon'' (1942) as Porter * '' Seven Days' Leave'' (1942) as Mr. Charles Victor * '' Those Kids from Town'' (1942) as Vicar * '' The Peterville Diamond'' (1943) as Dan * '' Squadron Leader X'' (1943) as Marks * ''

The Silver Fleet ''The Silver Fleet'' is a 1943 British war film written and directed by Vernon Sewell and Gordon Wellesley and produced by Powell and Pressburger under the banner of "The Archers". Plot Early during the World War II, Second World War, the Nazi ...

'' (1943) as Bastiaan Peters * ''

When We Are Married ''When We Are Married'' is a comedy by the English dramatist, J. B. Priestley, written in 1934. It was first performed in London at the St. Martin's Theatre, London on 11 October 1938, and transferred to the larger Prince's Theatre in March 1 ...

'' (1943) as Mr. Northrup * ''

The Bells Go Down ''The Bells Go Down'' is a 1943 black-and-white wartime film made by Ealing Studios. The reference in the title is to the alarm bells in the fire station that "go down" when a call to respond is made. The film is an ensemble piece that covers ...

'' (1943) as Bill, Dunkirk Survivor (uncredited) * ''

Undercover To go "undercover" (that is, to go on an undercover operation) is to avoid detection by the object of one's observation, and especially to disguise one's own identity (or use an assumed identity) for the purposes of gaining the trust of an ind ...

'' (1943) as Sergeant * '' The Saint Meets the Tiger'' (1943) as Bittle * '' Rhythm Serenade'' (1943) as Mr. Martin * '' Escape to Danger'' (1943) as Petty Officer Flanagan * '' My Learned Friend'' (1943) as 'Safety' Wilson * '' They Met in the Dark'' (1943) as Pub Owner * '' San Demetrio London'' (1943) as Deckhand * '' It Happened One Sunday'' (1944) as Frisco Kid * '' The Man from Morocco'' (1945) as Bourdille * '' I Live in Grosvenor Square'' (1945) as Taxi Driver * ''

The Way to the Stars ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (1945) as Corporal Fitter * ''

The Rake's Progress ''The Rake's Progress'' is an English-language opera from 1951 in three acts and an epilogue by Igor Stravinsky. The libretto, written by W. H. Auden and Chester Kallman, is based loosely on the eight paintings and engravings '' A Rake's Prog ...

'' (1945) as Old Sweat * '' Caesar and Cleopatra'' (1945) as 1st. Porter * '' Gaiety George'' (1946) as Danny Collier * '' This Man Is Mine'' (1946) as Hijacker * '' The Magic Bow'' (1946) as Peasant Driver * '' While the Sun Shines'' (1947) as Tube Train Conductor * '' Woman to Woman'' (1947) as Stage Manager * '' Meet Me at Dawn'' (1947) as 1st Client * ''

Temptation Harbour ''Temptation Harbour'' is a British black and white crime/drama film directed by Lance Comfort, released in 1947 based on the novel ''Newhaven-Dieppe'' (''L'Homme de Londres'') by Georges Simenon. The film was made at Welwyn Studios with sets ...

'' (1947) as Gowshall * ''

Green Fingers ''Green Fingers'' is a 1947 British drama film directed by John Harlow and starring Robert Beatty, Carol Raye and Nova Pilbeam. The film title does not use the term green fingers in its normal context, alluding to an untaught and natural skil ...

'' (1947) as Joe Mansel * '' While I Live'' (1947) as Sgt. Pearne * '' The Calendar'' (1948) as John Dory * ''

Broken Journey ''Broken Journey'' (also known as ''Rescue'') is a 1948 British drama film directed by Ken Annakin and featuring Phyllis Calvert, James Donald, Margot Grahame, Raymond Huntley and Guy Rolfe. ''Broken Journey'' deals with people struggling to sur ...

'' (1948) as Harry Gunn * ''

Vote for Huggett ''Vote for Huggett'' is a 1949 British comedy film directed by Ken Annakin and starring Jack Warner, Kathleen Harrison, Susan Shaw and Petula Clark. Warner reprises his role as the head of a London family, in the post-war years. In this, the t ...

'' (1949) as Mr. Hall * '' Fools Rush In'' (1949) as Mr. Atkins * ''

Landfall Landfall is the event of a storm moving over land after being over water. More broadly, and in relation to human travel, it refers to 'the first land that is reached or seen at the end of a journey across the sea or through the air, or the fact ...

'' (1949) as Mona's Father * ''

The Cure for Love ''The Cure for Love'' is a 1949 British comedy film starring and directed by Robert Donat. The cast also includes Renee Asherson and Dora Bryan. The film was based on a hit play of the same name by Walter Greenwood about a mild-mannered soldier ...

'' (1949) as Henry Lancaster * '' Waterfront'' (1950) as Bill * '' The Woman in Question'' (1950) as Albert Pollard * '' The Fighting Pimpernel'' (1950) as Colonel Winterbotham * '' The Galloping Major'' (1951) as Sam Fisher * ''

Calling Bulldog Drummond ''Calling Bulldog Drummond'' is a 1951 British crime film directed by Victor Saville and featuring Walter Pidgeon, Margaret Leighton, Robert Beatty, David Tomlinson and Bernard Lee.''Harrison's Reports'' film review; 20 October 1951, page 167. ...

'' (1951) as Insp. McIver * '' The Magic Box'' (1951) as Industry Man * '' Encore'' (1951) as Mr. Bateman (segment "The Ant and the Grasshopper") * ''

The Frightened Man ''The Frightened Man'' is a 1952 British crime film directed by John Gilling and starring Dermot Walsh, Barbara Murray and Charles Victor. It is also known by the alternative title of ''Rosselli and Son'' and was shot at Twickenham and Riverside ...

'' (1952) as Rosselli * '' Something Money Can't Buy'' (1952) as Borough Treasurer * '' The Ringer'' (1952) as Inspector Wembury * ''

Made in Heaven ''Made in Heaven'' is the fifteenth studio album by the British rock band Queen, released on 6 November 1995 by Parlophone Records in the United Kingdom and by Hollywood Records in the United States. It was the band's first and only release s ...

'' (1952) as Aubrey Topham * ''

Appointment in London ''Appointment in London'' (known as ''Raiders in the Sky'' in the U.S.) is a 1953 British war film set during the Second World War and starring Dirk Bogarde. The film was directed by Philip Leacock and based on a story by John Wooldridge, who ...

'' (1952) as Dobbie * '' Those People Next Door'' (1953) as Joe Higgins * '' Street Corner'' (1953) as Muller * '' Murder Without Tears'' (1953) * '' The Saint's Return'' (1953) as Chief Insp. Claud Teal * '' Meet Mr. Lucifer'' (1953) as Mr. Elder * '' The Girl on the Pier'' (1953) as Inspector Chubb * ''

The Love Lottery ''The Love Lottery'' is a 1954 British comedy film directed by Charles Crichton and starring David Niven, Peggy Cummins, Anne Vernon and Herbert Lom. Produced by Ealing Studios it was one of several Ealing Comedies that veered away from the stan ...

'' (1954) as Jennings * '' Fast and Loose'' (1954) as Lumper * ''

The Rainbow Jacket ''The Rainbow Jacket'' is a 1954 British drama film directed by Basil Dearden, and featuring Robert Morley, Kay Walsh, Bill Owen, Honor Blackman and Sid James. It was made at Ealing Studios produced by Michael Balcon and Michael Relph and sho ...

'' (1954) as Voss * '' The Embezzler'' (1954) as Henry Paulson * '' For Better, for Worse'' (1954) as Fred * '' Police Dog'' (1955) as Sergeant * '' Value for Money'' (1955) as Lumm * ''

An Alligator Named Daisy ''An Alligator Named Daisy'' is a 1955 British comedy film directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring Donald Sinden, Jeannie Carson, James Robertson Justice, Diana Dors, Roland Culver and Stanley Holloway. Plot Returning from a cricket match in I ...

'' (1955) as Police Sergeant (uncredited) * '' Dial 999'' (1955) as Tom Smithers * '' Now and Forever'' (1956) as Farmer Gilbert * '' Charley Moon'' (1956) as Miller Moon * ''

The Extra Day ''The Extra Day'' is a 1956 British comedy-drama film directed by William Fairchild and starring Richard Basehart, Simone Simon and George Baker. Plot After the final scene of a film is lost by the driver taking it to the printing lab, the ca ...

'' (1956) as Bert * '' Eyewitness'' (1956) as Police Desk Sergeant * '' Home and Away'' (1956) as Ted Groves * ''

Tiger in the Smoke ''Tiger in the Smoke'' is a 1956 British crime film directed by Roy Ward Baker (billed as Roy Baker) and starring Donald Sinden, Muriel Pavlow, Tony Wright, Bernard Miles and Christopher Rhodes. It is based on the 1952 novel '' The Tiger in the ...

'' (1956) as Will * ''

'' (1957) as George Potter * ''

The Prince and the Showgirl ''The Prince and the Showgirl'' (originally titled '' The Sleeping Prince'') is a 1957 British romantic comedy film starring Marilyn Monroe and Laurence Olivier, who also served as director and producer. The screenplay written by Terence Ratti ...

'' (1957) as Theatre Manager * '' After the Ball'' (1957) as Stagehand * '' Band of Angels'' (1957) as Officer (uncredited) * '' Passion Holiday'' (1963) (uncredited) * '' Made in Paris'' (1966) as Livingston (uncredited)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Victor, Charles English male film actors English male television actors 1896 births 1965 deaths People from Southport Male actors from Lancashire 20th-century British male actors 20th-century English male actors