HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Richard Fraser (born Richard Mackie Simpson; 15 March 1913 – 19 January 1972) was a Scottish film, television, and stage actor. He is perhaps best known for his role in the 1945 film ''
The Picture of Dorian Gray ''The Picture of Dorian Gray'' is a philosophical novel by Irish writer Oscar Wilde. A shorter novella-length version was published in the July 1890 issue of the American periodical '' Lippincott's Monthly Magazine''.''The Picture of Dorian G ...
''.


Early life

After graduating from
Sedbergh School Sedbergh School is a public school (English independent day and boarding school) in the town of Sedbergh in Cumbria, in North West England. It comprises a junior school for children aged 4 to 13 and the main school for 13 to 18 year olds. ...
as Richard Mackie Simpson, Richard's mother divorced and his name was shortened to Richard Mackie. After attending
Cambridge University , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...
, Richard Mackie studied acting at the
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA; ) is a drama school in London, England, that provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in the Bloomsbury area of Central London, close to the Senat ...
. Having spent time as a London stage actor, Richard emigrated to the US and in New York married Louise Christine Sheldon, the couple then moved to Hollywood before the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...
. Discovering that there was already a Richard Mackie acting in the US he adopted the stage name Richard Fraser. He then signed a contract with
20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Disn ...
and appeared in numerous films.


Career

His American film career reached its peak with his performance as James Vane, the vengeful brother of Sibyl Vane in the film ''
The Picture of Dorian Gray ''The Picture of Dorian Gray'' is a philosophical novel by Irish writer Oscar Wilde. A shorter novella-length version was published in the July 1890 issue of the American periodical '' Lippincott's Monthly Magazine''.''The Picture of Dorian G ...
''. Richard retired from acting in 1949, returning to
Britain Britain most often refers to: * The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands * Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...
in 1961 with his then-wife, US actress
Ann Gillis Alma Mabel Conner (February 12, 1927 – January 31, 2018), known professionally as Ann Gillis, was an American actress, best known for her film roles as a child actress. She performed the voice of Faline in the 1942 Disney animated film ' ...
, spending his most of his last decade working for the BBC in export sales.


Selected filmography

* ''
The Ghost Goes West ''The Ghost Goes West'' is a 1935 British romantic comedy/fantasy film starring Robert Donat, Jean Parker, and Eugene Pallette, and directed by René Clair, his first English-language film. The film shows an Old World ghost dealing with American ...
'' (1935) as Son of MacLaggen (uncredited) * '' Man Hunt'' (1941) as Navigator (uncredited) * '' A Yank in the R.A.F.'' (1941) as Thorndyke * ''
How Green Was My Valley ''How Green Was My Valley'' is a 1939 novel by Richard Llewellyn, narrated by Huw Morgan, the main character, about his Welsh family and the mining community in which they live. The author had claimed that he based the book on his own persona ...
'' (1941) as Davy Morgan * ''
Joan of Paris ''Joan of Paris'' is a 1942 war film about five Royal Air Force pilots shot down over Nazi-occupied France during World War II and their attempt to escape to England. It stars Michèle Morgan and Paul Henreid, with Thomas Mitchell, Laird Cregar ...
'' (1942) as Geoffrey * ''
Eagle Squadron The Eagle Squadrons were three fighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force (RAF) formed with volunteer pilots from the United States during the early days of World War II (circa 1940), prior to America's entry into the war in December 1941. Wit ...
'' (1942) as Lt. Jefferys * '' Busses Roar'' (1942) as Dick Remick * '' Desperate Journey'' (1942) as Squadron Leader Clark * ''
The Gorilla Man ''The Gorilla Man'' is a 1943 American drama film directed by D. Ross Lederman. Despite the title and marketing, it is not a horror film, but a World War II espionage thriller. Plot Military officer Captain Craig Killian is wounded in the lin ...
'' (1943) as Lieutenant Walter Sibley * ''
Truck Busters ''Truck Busters'' is a 1943 American drama film directed by B. Reeves Eason, written by Robert E. Kent and Raymond L. Schrock, and starring Richard Travis, Virginia Christine, Charles Lang, Ruth Ford, Richard Fraser, Tod Andrews and Frank Wi ...
'' (1943) as Limey * ''
Edge of Darkness ''Edge of Darkness'' is a British television drama serial produced by BBC Television in association with Lionheart Television International and originally broadcast in six 55-minute episodes in late 1985. A mixture of crime drama and politica ...
'' (1943) as Pastor Aalesen * ''
Thumbs Up A thumb signal, usually described as a thumbs-up or thumbs-down, is a common hand gesture achieved by a closed fist held with the thumb extended upward or downward in approval or disapproval, respectively. These gestures have become metaphors i ...
'' (1943) as Douglas Heath * '' Holy Matrimony'' (1943) as John Leek (uncredited) * '' Ladies Courageous'' (1944) as Col. Andy Brennan * ''
The Picture of Dorian Gray ''The Picture of Dorian Gray'' is a philosophical novel by Irish writer Oscar Wilde. A shorter novella-length version was published in the July 1890 issue of the American periodical '' Lippincott's Monthly Magazine''.''The Picture of Dorian G ...
'' (1945) as James Vane * ''
The Fatal Witness ''The Fatal Witness'' is a 1945 American mystery film directed by Lesley Selander and written by Jerry Sackheim and Cleve F. Adams. The film stars Evelyn Ankers, Richard Fraser, George Leigh, Barbara Everest, Barry Bernard and Frederick Worlock. ...
'' (1945) as Inspector William 'Bill' Trent * ''
Scotland Yard Investigator ''Scotland Yard Investigator'' is a 1945 American crime film directed by George Blair and starring C. Aubrey Smith, Erich von Stroheim and Stephanie Bachelor. Following the outbreak of the Second World War the Mona Lisa is moved to a London gal ...
'' (1945) as Inspector Cartwright * ''
Shadow of Terror ''Shadow of Terror'' is a 1945 American thriller film directed by Lew Landers and written by Arthur St. Claire. The film stars Richard Fraser, Grace Albertson, Cy Kendall, Emmett Lynn, Kenneth MacDonald and Eddie Acuff. The film was released ...
'' (1945) as Jim, aka Howard Norton * ''
White Pongo ''White Pongo'', also known as ''Adventure Unlimited'' in the United Kingdom, is a 1945 American film directed by Sam Newfield released by Producers Releasing Corporation. Plot summary In the jungles of the Belgian Congo, a group of natives ...
'' (1945) as Geoffrey Bishop * '' The Tiger Woman'' (1945) as Stephen Mason * ''
The Undercover Woman ''The Undercover Woman'' is a 1946 American comedy film directed by Thomas Carr, written by Sherman L. Lowe, Robert F. Metzler and Jerry Sackheim, and starring Stephanie Bachelor, Robert Livingston, Richard Fraser, Isabel Withers, Helene Hei ...
'' (1946) as Gregory Vixon * ''
Bedlam Bedlam, a word for an environment of insanity, is a term that may refer to: Places * Bedlam, North Yorkshire, a village in England * Bedlam, Shropshire, a small hamlet in England * Bethlem Royal Hospital, a London psychiatric institution and the ...
'' (1946) as Hannay * ''
Blonde for a Day ''Blonde for a Day'' is a 1946 American action film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Fred Myton. The film stars Hugh Beaumont, Kathryn Adams, Cy Kendall, Richard Fraser, Paul Bryar, Mauritz Hugo and Charles C. Wilson. The film was rel ...
'' (1946) as Dillingham 'Dilly' Smith * ''
Cloak and Dagger "Cloak and dagger" was a fighting style common in the Renaissance involving a knife hidden beneath a cloak. The term later came into use as a metaphor, referring to situations involving intrigue, secrecy, espionage, or mystery. Overview In "The ...
'' (1946) as British Submarine Skipper (uncredited) * ''
The Private Affairs of Bel Ami ''The Private Affairs of Bel Ami'' is a 1947 American drama film directed by Albert Lewin. The film stars George Sanders as a ruthless cad who uses women to rise in Parisian society, co-starring Angela Lansbury and Ann Dvorak. It is based on the 1 ...
'' (1947) as Philippe de Cantel * ''
Blackmail Blackmail is an act of coercion using the threat of revealing or publicizing either substantially true or false information about a person or people unless certain demands are met. It is often damaging information, and it may be revealed to fa ...
'' (1947) as Antoine le Blanc * ''
The Lone Wolf in London ''The Lone Wolf in London'' is a 1947 American crime film directed by Leslie Goodwins and starring Gerald Mohr, Nancy Saunders and Eric Blore. The picture features the fictional Scotland Yard detective the Lone Wolf who travels to London, and ...
'' (1947) as David Woolerton * '' Raw Deal'' (1948) as Fields * ''
Rogues' Regiment ''Rogues' Regiment'' is a 1948 film noir action film directed by Robert Florey and starring Dick Powell, Märta Torén, and Vincent Price. It is the first American feature film to be set in the First Indochina War. Plot An American Intelligence ...
'' (1948) as Rycroft * '' The Cobra Strikes'' (1948) as Michael Kent * ''
Alaska Patrol ''Alaska Patrol'' is a 1949 American action film directed by Jack Bernhard and written by Arthur Hoerl. The film stars Richard Travis, Helen Westcott, Emory Parnell, Richard Fraser, James Griffith and Ralf Harolde. The film was released on M ...
'' (1949) as Operative Farrell (as Dick Fraser) * '' The Red Danube'' (1949) as Transport Pilot (uncredited)


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Fraser, Richard (actor) 1913 births 1972 deaths Scottish male stage actors Scottish male film actors Male actors from Edinburgh 20th-century Scottish male actors British expatriate male actors in the United States