Ernest Clark MC (12 February 1912 – 11 November 1994) was a British actor of stage, television and film.

Early life

Clark was the son of a master builder in

Maida Vale Maida Vale ( ) is an affluent residential district in North West London, England, north of Paddington, southwest of St John's Wood and south of Kilburn, on Edgware Road. It is part of the City of Westminster and is northwest of Charing C ...

, and was educated nearby at

St Marylebone Grammar School St Marylebone Grammar School (SMGS) was a grammar school located in the London borough of the City of Westminster. It was open from 1792 to 1981. History Philological School Founded as the Philological Society by Thomas Collingwood, under the ...

. After leaving school he became a reporter on a local newspaper in

Croydon Croydon is a large town in South London, England, south of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Croydon, a Districts of England, local government district of Greater London; it is one of the largest commercial districts in Greater Lond ...

. He had always wanted to be an actor and when offered a job with the local rep, he took it and apart from six years in the army during World War II, during which he won the

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level until 1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) Other ranks (UK), other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth of ...

, he remained in the profession.

Career

His first stage appearance was at the Festival Theatre,

Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a List of cities in the United Kingdom, city and non-metropolitan district in the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It is the county town of Cambridgeshire and is located on the River Cam, north of London. As of the 2021 Unit ...

in 1937, and he went on to appear in plays at both the West End in London, and Broadway in New York. In 1955 he appeared on stage in '' Witness for the Prosecution'' at Henry Miller's Theatre in New York City, and on film as Air Vice-Marshal The Honourable Ralph Cochrane AFC RAF, AOC, No. 5 Group RAF in '' The Dam Busters'' (1955). He is perhaps best remembered for his role as the irascible Professor Geoffrey Loftus in the television comedy series ''

Doctor in the House Doctor in the House may refer to: * Doctor in the House (novel), ''Doctor in the House'' (novel), a 1952 novel by Richard Gordon ** Doctor in the House (film), ''Doctor in the House'' (film), a 1954 British film adaptation of the novel *** Doctor i ...

'' and its sequels, apart from ''Doctor at Sea'', in which he appeared as Captain Norman Loftus (the brother of Professor Loftus). He also played the stern and ascetic Dean in two series of the BBC sitcom ''

All Gas and Gaiters ''All Gas and Gaiters'' is a British television ecclesiastical sitcom which aired on BBC One, BBC1 from 1966 to 1971. It was written by Pauline Devaney and Edwin Apps, a husband-and-wife team who used the pseudonym of John Wraith when writing th ...

'' (1967–71), although John Barron was the original Dean and returned for later series. Clark was president of the actors' trade union Equity from 1969 to 1973.

Personal life

He married three times: one of his wives was actress Avril Hillyer, the first two marriages were dissolved. His third marriage, from 1972 until his death, was to Julia Lockwood (née Margaret Julia Leon, 1941-2019), the actress daughter of the British film star Margaret Lockwood, with whom he had four children, Timothy, Nicholas, Lucy and Katharine. He died 11 November 1994 in Hinton St. George,

Somerset Somerset ( , ), Archaism, archaically Somersetshire ( , , ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel, Gloucestershire, and Bristol to the north, Wiltshire to the east ...

, aged 82.

Filmography

* '' Private Angelo'' – (uncredited) * '' Obsession'' – (uncredited) * '' Seven Days to Noon'' (1950) – Barber (uncredited) * ''

The Mudlark ''The Mudlark'' is a 1950 film made in United Kingdom, Britain by 20th Century Fox. It is a fictional account of how Queen Victoria was eventually brought out of her mourning for her dead husband, Albert, Prince Consort, Prince Albert. It was di ...

'' (1950) – Hammond (uncredited) * '' The Long Memory'' (1952) – Prosecuting Counsel (uncredited) * ''

'' (1954) – Dr. Parrish * ''

Father Brown Father Brown is a fictional Roman Catholic priest and amateur detective. He is featured in 53 short stories by English author G. K. Chesterton, published between 1910 and 1936. Father Brown solves mysteries and crimes using his intuition and ...

'' (1954) – Bishop's Secretary * ''

Beau Brummell George Bryan "Beau" Brummell (7 June 1778 – 30 March 1840) was an important figure in Regency England, and for many years he was the arbiter of British men's fashion. At one time, he was a close friend of the Prince Regent, the future King ...

'' (1954) – Dr. Warren * '' The Dam Busters'' (1955) – Air Vice-Marshall Ralph Cochrane. AOC, No.5 Group RAF * ''

1984 Events January * January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888. * January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeas ...

'' (1956) – Outer Party Announcer * '' Reach for the Sky'' (1956) – Wing Commander Beiseigel * '' The Baby and the Battleship'' (1956) – Cmdr. Geoffrey Digby * '' Stars in Your Eyes'' (1956) – Ronnie * '' The Man in the Sky'' (1957) – Maine * ''

Time Without Pity ''Time Without Pity'' is a 1957 British film noir thriller film directed by Joseph Losey and starring Michael Redgrave, Ann Todd, Leo McKern, Paul Daneman, Peter Cushing, Alec McCowen and Renee Houston. It is about a father trying to save his s ...

'' (1957) – Under Secretary – Home Office * ''

The Birthday Present ''The Birthday Present'' is a 1957 British drama film directed by Pat Jackson and starring Tony Britton and Sylvia Syms. The screenplay was by Jack Whittingham who also produced the film for British Lion Films. Plot Simon Scott, a top toy s ...

'' (1958) – Barrister * ''

A Tale of Two Cities ''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by English author Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long impr ...

'' (1958) – Stryver * '' I Accuse!'' (1958) – Prosecutor – 1st Dreyfus trial * '' The Safecracker'' (1958) – Major Adbury * '' A Woman of Mystery'' (1958) – Harvey * '' Blind Spot'' (1958) – F. G. Fielding * '' A Touch of Larceny'' (1959) – Cmdr. Bates * '' Sink the Bismarck!'' (1960) – Captain (Suffolk) * '' No Love for Johnnie'' (1961) – M.P. (uncredited) * '' Three on a Spree'' (1961) – Col. Drew * '' Partners in Crime'' (1961) – Ashton * ''

Edgar Wallace Mysteries The ''Edgar Wallace Mysteries'' is a British second-feature film series mainly produced at Merton Park Studios for Anglo-Amalgamated. There were 48 films in the series, which were released between 1960 and 1965. The series was screened as ''Th ...

'' ''( Time to Remember) episode'' (1962) – Cracknell * '' The Wild and the Willing'' (1962) – Vice Chancellor * '' Tomorrow at Ten'' (1962) – Dr. Towers * '' Master Spy'' (1963) – Doctor Pembury * ''

Billy Liar ''Billy Liar'' is a 1959 novel by Keith Waterhouse that was later adapted into a play, a Billy Liar (film), film, a Billy (musical), musical and a Billy Liar (TV series), TV series. The work has inspired and been featured in a number of popul ...

'' (1963) – Prison Governor * ''

Ladies Who Do ''Ladies Who Do'' is a 1963 British comedy film directed by C. M. Pennington-Richards and starring Peggy Mount, Robert Morley and Harry H. Corbett. It was written by Michael Pertwee and John Bignall. Plot Mrs. Cragg works as a charwoman f ...

'' (1963) – Stockbroker * '' A Stitch in Time'' (1963) – Prof. Crankshaw * '' Nothing But the Best'' (1964) – Roberts * '' The Devil-Ship Pirates'' (1964) – Sir Basil Smeeton * Boy with a Flute (1964) Short) * '' Masquerade'' (1965) – Minister * '' The Secret of My Success'' (1965) – Earl of Aldershot's solicitor * ''

Arabesque The arabesque is a form of artistic decoration consisting of "surface decorations based on rhythmic linear patterns of scrolling and interlacing foliage, tendrils" or plain lines, often combined with other elements. Another definition is "Foliate ...

'' (1966) – Beauchamp * '' Finders Keepers'' (1966) – Air Marshall * '' It!'' (1967) – Harold Grove * ''

Cuckoo Patrol ''Cuckoo Patrol'' is a 1967 British musical comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark ...

'' (1967) – Marshall * '' Attack on the Iron Coast'' (1968) – Air Vice Marshall Woodbridge * '' Salt and Pepper'' (1968) – Col. Balson * '' Castle Keep'' (1969) – British Colonel (uncredited) * '' The Executioner'' (1970) – Roper * '' Song of Norway'' (1970) – Councilman * ''

Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India's independence from British ...

'' (1982) – Lord Hunter * '' Memed, My Hawk'' (1984) – Father * '' The Pope Must Die'' (1991) – Abbot

External links

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clark, Ernest 1912 births 1994 deaths English male film actors English male stage actors English male television actors Actors from the City of Westminster Male actors from London People educated at St Marylebone Grammar School British Army personnel of World War II 20th-century English male actors People from Maida Vale