Heron Carvic (born Geoffrey Richard William Harris; 21 January 1913 – 9 February 1980) was an English actor and writer who provided the voice for

Gandalf Gandalf is a protagonist in J. R. R. Tolkien's novels '' The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings''. He is a wizard, one of the ''Istari'' order, and the leader of the Fellowship of the Ring. Tolkien took the name "Gandalf" from the Old Nor ...

in the

BBC Radio BBC Radio is an operational business division and service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a royal charter since 1927). The service provides national radio stations covering ...

version of '' The Hobbit'', and played

Caiaphas Joseph ben Caiaphas (; c. 14 BC – c. 46 AD), known simply as Caiaphas (; grc-x-koine, Καϊάφας, Kaïáphas ) in the New Testament, was the Jewish high priest who, according to the gospels, organized a plot to kill Jesus. He famous ...

the High Priest every time the play cycle '' The Man Born to Be King'' was broadcast. As a writer he created the characters and wrote the first five books featuring retired art teacher Miss Emily D. Seeton, a gentle parody of

Agatha Christie Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, (; 15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976) was an English writer known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving around fiction ...

's Miss Marple. These were made available as eBooks in 2016. Seriously injured in a road traffic accident near his home at Appledore, Kent, in August 1979, he never fully recovered and died in hospital the following February. Ten years after Carvic's death, his books were re-issued in the US and proved sufficiently popular for his Estate to commission further Miss Seeton stories from two other writers using

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name ( orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individu ...

s with "HC" initials. Roy Peter Martin as "Hampton Charles" wrote three novels, which were all released in 1990. Sarah J. Mason, writing as "Hamilton Crane", then took up the series.

Early life

He ran away from Eton, and his father, to travel to France to earn a living for himself, and took his stage name as it derived from his grandmother but would "spare the sensibilities of his outraged family". He met

Phyllis Neilson-Terry Phyllis Neilson-Terry (15 October 1892 – 25 September 1977) was an English actress. She was a member of the third generation of the theatrical dynasty the Terry family. After early successes in the classics, including several leading Shakespe ...

when he was 23 (she was 20 years older), but they did not marry until 1958, when the register of marriages in July, August, and September lists Phyllis J King marrying both Heron Carvic and Geoffrey Harris.

Filmography

* '' Honeymoon for Three'' (1935) * ''

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the ...

'' ... as Morpho (voice) in the serial ''

The Keys of Marinus ''The Keys of Marinus'' is the fifth serial in the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'', which was first broadcast on BBC TV/BBC1 in six weekly parts from 11 April to 16 May 1964. Written by Terry Nation and directed by John ...

'' * '' The Avengers'' ... as Five in episode "Square Root of Evil" * '' Police Surgeon'' ... as

Barrister A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include taking cases in superior courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, researching law and givin ...

in episode "Under the Influence"

Bibliography

* ''Picture Miss Seeton'' (1968) * ''Miss Seeton Draws the Line'' (1969) * ''Miss Seeton, Bewitched'' (1971) (US Title: ''Witch Miss Seeton'') * ''Miss Seeton Sings'' (1973) * ''Odds on Miss Seeton'' (1975)

References

External links

* 1913 births 1980 deaths English male radio actors English male television actors English male voice actors English mystery writers 20th-century English novelists 20th-century English male actors People educated at Eton College Male actors from London {{UK-tv-actor-stub