Frank Atkinson (19 March 1893 in

Blackpool Blackpool is a seaside resort in Lancashire, England. Located on the northwest coast of England, it is the main settlement within the borough also called Blackpool. The town is by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre rivers, and ...

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a Historic counties of England, historic county, Ceremonial County, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significa ...

– 23 February 1963 in

Pinner Pinner is a London suburb in the London borough of Harrow, Greater London, England, northwest of Charing Cross, close to the border with Hillingdon, historically in the county of Middlesex. The population was 31,130 in 2011. Originally a me ...

Middlesex Middlesex (; abbreviation: Middx) is a historic county in southeast England. Its area is almost entirely within the wider urbanised area of London and mostly within the ceremonial county of Greater London, with small sections in neighbourin ...

) was an English actor and writer. He appeared in at least 130 films between 1930 and 1963. A stalwart of

British films The United Kingdom has had a significant film industry for over a century. While film production reached an all-time high in 1936, the "golden age" of British cinema is usually thought to have occurred in the 1940s, during which the directors D ...

, often in small or uncredited roles, and also in

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywoo ...

in the 1930s, notably in the

Raoul Walsh Raoul Walsh (born Albert Edward Walsh; March 11, 1887December 31, 1980) was an American film director, actor, founding member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), and the brother of silent screen actor George Walsh. He w ...

directed '' Me and My Gal'' and '' Sailor's Luck''. Allmovie described him as "tall and slender, and with gaunt facial features that lent themselves to looks of eccentricity, and with a highly cultured speaking voice, he could melt unobtrusively into a scene, as an anonymous bit-player, or could, with the utterance of a few words or a look, transform himself into a wryly comedic presence -- he played everything from jailers, guards, garage attendants, and soldiers to upper class twits." He was the first person to play the scarecrow Worzel Gummidge on television in the original series, broadcast by the BBC on 10 February 1953.

Selected filmography

Actor * '' Along Came Youth'' (1930) - Bit Role (uncredited) * '' Ladies' Man'' (1931) - Valet * ''

Always Goodbye ''Always Goodbye'' is the title of two American films: * ''Always Goodbye'' (1931 film), a drama starring Elissa Landi, Lewis Stone and Paul Cavanagh * ''Always Goodbye'' (1938 film), a romantic drama starring Barbara Stanwyck, Herbert Marshal ...

'' (1931) - Servant (uncredited) * '' Ambassador Bill'' (1931) - American Embassy Valet (uncredited) * '' The Menace'' (1932) - Man from Cartier's (uncredited) * ''

The Wet Parade ''The Wet Parade'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by Victor Fleming and starring Robert Young, Myrna Loy, Walter Huston, Lewis Stone and Jimmy Durante. It is based on the 1931 novel by Upton Sinclair. The film shows how two fa ...

'' (1932) - Barman At New Year Party (uncredited) * '' Devil's Lottery'' (1932) - Summers the Butler (uncredited) * '' The Woman in Room 13'' (1932) * ''

The Man from Yesterday ''The Man from Yesterday'' is a 1932 American pre-Code romantic war drama film made by Paramount Pictures, directed by Berthold Viertel, and written by Oliver H. P. Garrett, based on a story by Neil Blackwell and Rowland G. Edwards. Plot In P ...

'' (1932) - British Soldier (uncredited) * '' Skyscraper Souls'' (1932) - Waiter At Party (uncredited) * '' The Man Called Back'' (1932) - Lower Level Court Clerk (uncredited) * ''False Faces'' (1932) - Butler (uncredited) * '' Sherlock Holmes'' (1932) - Man in Pub * '' Call Her Savage'' (1932) - Stevens - Crosby's Valet (uncredited) * '' For Me and My Gal'' (1932) - Ashley's Chum (uncredited) * ''The Right to Live'' (1933) - Harry Woods * ''

Cavalcade A cavalcade is a procession or parade on horseback, or a mass trail ride by a company of riders. The focus of a cavalcade is participation rather than display. Often, the participants do not wear costumes or ride in formation. Often, a cav ...

'' (1933) - Uncle Dick (uncredited) * ''

Smoke Lightning ''Smoke Lightning'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code Western film directed by David Howard and written by Sidney D. Mitchell and Gordon Rigby. The film stars George O'Brien, Nell O'Day, Betsy King Ross, Frank Atkinson, Clarence Wilson and Morgan ...

'' (1933) - Alf Bailey * '' Sailor's Luck'' (1933) - Swimming pool attendant (uncredited) * '' Pleasure Cruise'' (1933) - Alf * ''

Life in the Raw ''Life in the Raw'' is a 1933 American pre-Code Western film, based on Zane Grey's short story "From Missouri", directed by Louis King and written by Stuart Anthony. It was Claire Trevor's film debut. Plot Cast * George O'Brien as J ...

'' (1933) - Picayune Cafe Patron (uncredited) * '' Paddy the Next Best Thing'' (1933) - Chemist (uncredited) * '' My Lips Betray'' (1933) - Baptiste, Royal Valet (uncredited) * ''

Rolling in Money ''Rolling in Money'' is a 1934 British comedy film directed by Albert Parker and starring Isabel Jeans, Leslie Sarony and John Loder. It was made at Ealing Studios by the British subsidiary of Fox Film.Wood p.83 It was not a quota quick ...

'' (1934) - Wiggins * '' The Outcast'' (1934) - Bit Part (uncredited) * '' The Path of Glory'' (1934) - Karl * ''

Freedom of the Seas Freedom of the seas ( la, mare liberum, lit. "free sea") is a principle in the law of the sea. It stresses freedom to navigate the oceans. It also disapproves of war fought in water. The freedom is to be breached only in a necessary inter ...

'' (1934) - O'Hara * '' The Great Defender'' (1934) - Pope * ''

The Third Clue ''The Third Clue'' is a 1934 British crime film directed by Albert Parker and starring Basil Sydney, Molly Lamont and Raymond Lovell. The film was based on Neil Gordon's novel ''The Shakespeare Murders'', which also inspired ''The Claydon T ...

'' (1934) - Lefty * '' Road House'' (1934) - Magician * '' The Man Who Knew Too Much'' (1934) - Policeman Shot Behind Mattress (uncredited) * '' Barnacle Bill'' (1935) - Arthur Neal * '' Death Drives Through'' (1935) - John 'Nigger' Larson * '' Night Mail'' (1935) - (uncredited) * ''

Be Careful, Mr. Smith ''Be Careful, Mr. Smith'' is a 1935 British comedy film directed by Max Mack and starring Bobbie Comber, Bertha Belmore and Cecil Ramage.Wood p.88 The film's sets were designed by the art director John Mead. Cast * Bobbie Comber as Geoffr ...

'' (1935) * '' Look Up and Laugh'' (1935) - Debt Collector (uncredited) * ''

Me and Marlborough ''Me and Marlborough'' is a 1935 British comedy film, directed by Victor Saville, and starring Cicely Courtneidge, Tom Walls, Barry MacKay, Peter Gawthorne, Henry Oscar and Cecil Parker. Plot Sergeant Cummings searches Kit Ross's pub for ...

'' (1935) - Soldier (uncredited) * '' No Monkey Business'' (1935) - Chauffeur (uncredited) * '' Play Up the Band'' (1935) - Alf Ramsbottom * '' The Morals of Marcus'' (1935) - Ship Steward * '' A Woman Alone'' (1936) - Porter * '' The Limping Man'' (1936) - Insp. Cable * '' Skylarks'' (1936) * ''Shipmates o' Mine'' (1936) - Oliver Bright * '' The High Command'' (1937) - Corporal * ''

The Show Goes On The Show Goes On may refer to: * ''The Show Goes On'' (film), a 1937 British musical comedy film * ''The Show Goes On'' (1936 film), or ''Three Maxims'', a British drama directed by Herbert Wilcox * ''The Show Goes On'' (TV series), a 1950–195 ...

'' (1937) - Actor at OHara's Agency (uncredited) * '' Knights for a Day'' (1937) - Timothy Trout * '' Oh, Mr Porter!'' (1937) - Irate Irishman in Barney's Bar (uncredited) * '' Young and Innocent'' (1937) - Petrol Pump Attendant (uncredited) * '' The Green Cockatoo'' (1937) - Protheroe - the Butler * '' The Schooner Gang'' (1937) - Ben Worton * '' A Romance in Flanders'' (1937) - Joe Stuggins * '' Kicking the Moon Around'' (1938) - (uncredited) * '' Pygmalion'' (1938) - Taxi-Driver * '' I've Got a Horse'' (1938) - Bunker * ''Over the Moon'' (1939) - Reporter (uncredited) * '' Discoveries'' (1939) - Photographer * ''

The Body Vanished ''The Body Vanished'' (first shown as ''The Body Vanishes'') is a 1939 British crime comedy film directed by Walter Tennyson and starring Anthony Hulme, C. Denier Warren, and Ernest Sefton. It was made at Isleworth Studios as a quota quickie.Wood ...

'' (1939) - Hobbleberry * '' Where's That Fire?'' (1940) - Town Clerk (uncredited) * ''

The Stars Look Down ''The Stars Look Down'' is a 1935 novel by A. J. Cronin which chronicles various injustices in an English coal mining community. A film version was released in 1940, and television adaptations include both Italian (1971) and British (1975) ...

'' (1940) - Miner * '' Ten Days in Paris'' (1940) - Pierre * '' Penn of Pennsylvania'' (1942) - (uncredited) * ''

Hard Steel ''Hard Steel'' is a 1942 British drama film directed by Norman Walker and starring Wilfrid Lawson, Betty Stockfeld and John Stuart. It was based on the novel ''Steel Saraband'' by Roger Dataller. The film was one of four made by G.H.W. Produ ...

'' (1942) - Dick Sefton * '' Mrs. Miniver'' (1942) - Man in Tavern (uncredited) * ''

The Avengers Avenger, Avengers, The Avenger, or The Avengers may refer to: Arts and entertainment In the Marvel Comics universe * Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes ** Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes o ...

'' (1942) - Drunk at Oslo Quayside (uncredited) * '' They Flew Alone'' (1942) - Reporter in the Johnson's House (uncredited) * '' Let the People Sing'' (1942) - Bit Role (uncredited) * '' Asking for Trouble'' (1942) - Policeman (uncredited) * ''

Much Too Shy ''Much Too Shy'' is a 1942 British comedy film directed by Marcel Varnel and starring George Formby, Kathleen Harrison, Hilda Bayley and Eileen Bennett. The cast includes radio star Jimmy Clitheroe (as George's brother), later "Carry On'" star ...

'' (1942) - Village Policeman (uncredited) * '' The Great Mr. Handel'' (1942) - Permobble * '' The Gentle Sex'' (1943) - Restaurant Customer (uncredited) * '' Get Cracking'' (1943) - Station Master (uncredited) * '' Bell-Bottom George'' (1944) - Harry (uncredited) * '' On Approval'' (1944) - Hansom Cab Driver (uncredited) * ''

Give Us the Moon ''Give Us the Moon'' is a 1944 British comedy film directed and written by Val Guest and starring Vic Oliver, Margaret Lockwood and Peter Graves. Plot Made in 1943-44, the film is set in a future peacetime Britain, after the end of World War I ...

'' (1944) - (uncredited) * '' He Snoops to Conquer'' (1945) - Joe (uncredited) * ''

Kiss the Bride Goodbye ''Kiss the Bride Goodbye'' is a 1945 British romantic comedy drama film directed by Paul L. Stein and starring Patricia Medina and Jimmy Hanley. Jean Simmons has an early role, almost two years before she achieved stardom in '' Great Expectati ...

'' (1945) - (uncredited) * '' Waterloo Road'' (1945) - George - Pub Barman (uncredited) * '' Great Day'' (1945) - Man at gate (uncredited) * '' The Voice Within'' (1946) - Farmer * '' Wanted for Murder'' (1946) - Chip Shop Customer (uncredited) * '' I See a Dark Stranger'' (1946) - Soldier in Pub (uncredited) * ''

Great Expectations ''Great Expectations'' is the thirteenth novel by Charles Dickens and his penultimate completed novel. It depicts the education of an orphan nicknamed Pip (Great Expectations), Pip (the book is a ''bildungsroman''; a coming-of-age story). It ...

'' (1946) - Mike * ''The Last Load'' (1948) - Jenkins * '' The Man in the White Suit'' (1951) - The Baker * ''

Time Bomb A time bomb (or a timebomb, time-bomb) is a bomb whose detonation is triggered by a timer. The use (or attempted use) of time bombs has been for various purposes including insurance fraud, terrorism, assassination, sabotage and warfare. They a ...

'' (1953) - Guard * '' The Titfield Thunderbolt'' (1953) - Station Sergeant * '' The Broken Horseshoe'' (1953) - Railway Ticket Clerk * '' The Fake'' (1953) - Tate Gallery Attendant (uncredited) * ''

Stryker of the Yard ''Stryker of the Yard'' (also known as ''Stryker of Scotland Yard'' and ''Scotland Yard Cases'' ) is a 1953 British crime film directed by Arthur Crabtree and starring Clifford Evans, Susan Stephen, Jack Watling and Eliot Makeham. A second c ...

'' (1953) * ''

Lease of Life ''Lease of Life'' is a 1954 British drama film made by Ealing Studios and directed by Charles Frend. The film was designed as a star-vehicle for Robert Donat, representing his return to the screen after an absence of over three years during w ...

'' (1954) - Verger * '' The Green Carnation'' (1954) - Lift operator * '' The Black Rider'' (1954) - Landlord * ''

The Love Match ''The Love Match'' is a 1955 British black and white comedy film directed by David Paltenghi and starring Arthur Askey, Glenn Melvyn, Thora Hird and Shirley Eaton. A football-mad railway engine driver and his fireman are desperate to get bac ...

'' (1955) - Worktaker At Milford (uncredited) * '' Before I Wake'' (1955) - Taxi driver * '' Track the Man Down'' (1955) - George (uncredited) * '' The Man Who Knew Too Much'' (1956) - Edgar, Taxidermist (uncredited) * '' Wicked as They Come'' (1956) - Hotel Porter (uncredited) * ''

Reach for the Sky ''Reach for the Sky'' is a 1956 British biographical film about aviator Douglas Bader, based on the 1954 biography of the same name by Paul Brickhill. The film stars Kenneth More and was directed by Lewis Gilbert. It won the BAFTA Award for ...

'' (1956) - Tullin (uncredited) * '' Sailor Beware!'' (1956) - Chauffeur (uncredited) * ''Circus Friends'' (1956) - Horace * ''

Three Men in a Boat ''Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog)'',The Penguin edition punctuates the title differently: ''Three Men in a Boat: To Say Nothing of the Dog!'' published in 1889, is a humorous account by English writer Jerome K. Jerome of a tw ...

'' (1956) - Lockkeeper (uncredited) * '' Hour of Decision'' (1957) - Caretaker * '' At the Stroke of Nine'' (1957) - Festival Hall Porter * ''

Cat Girl ''Cat Girl'' is a 1957 British-American horror film, produced by Herbert Smith and Lou Rusoff, directed by Alfred Shaughnessy, that stars Barbara Shelley, Robert Ayres, and Kay Callard. It was an unofficial remake of Val Lewton's '' Cat People'' ...

'' (1957) - Guard (uncredited) * '' High Flight'' (1957) - Parker * '' Just My Luck'' (1957) - Green (uncredited) * ''

Stormy Crossing ''Stormy Crossing'' is a 1958 British crime, drama, thriller, mystery film directed by C. M. Pennington-Richards and starring John Ireland, Derek Bond, Leslie Dwyer, and Maureen Connell. John Schlesinger and Arthur Lowe appear in supporting r ...

'' (1958) - Night Porter * ''

Beyond This Place Beyond This Place may refer to: * Beyond This Place (novel), a 1950 novel by A. J. Cronin * Beyond This Place (1959 film), a British crime mystery film based on the novel * Beyond This Place (2010 film), a documentary film * Beyond This Place (DuPo ...

'' (1959) - Night Doorman * '' Left Right and Centre'' (1959) - Railway Porter (uncredited) * '' Trouble with Eve'' (1960) - Cabdriver * '' The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll'' (1960) - Groom (uncredited) * '' Saturday Night and Sunday Morning'' (1960) - Tommy (uncredited) * '' The Night We Got the Bird'' (1961) - Bald headed man * '' The Kitchen'' (1961) - Alfred * '' Murder at the Gallop'' (1963) - Hotel Night Porter (uncredited) (final film role) Screenwriter * '' Play Up the Band'' (1935) * '' King of the Castle'' (1936) * '' Not So Dusty'' (1936) * '' Knights for a Day (1937)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Atkinson, Frank 1893 births 1963 deaths 20th-century English male actors British expatriate male actors in the United States English male film actors English male television actors Male actors from Lancashire People from Blackpool