Griffith Jones (born Harold Jones; 19 November 1909 – 30 January 2007) was an Anglo-Welsh film, stage and television actor.

Early life

Born in

Notting Hill, London Notting Hill is a district of West London, England, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Notting Hill is known for being a wikt:cosmopolitan, cosmopolitan and multiculturalism, multicultural neighbourhood, hosting the annual Notting ...

, on 19 November 1909, Jones was the 5th child of Welsh-speaking dairy owner and former lead miner William Thomas Jones and Harriet Eleanor J. Doughty (1878–1973). In 1930, he was studying law at

University College London University College London (Trade name, branded as UCL) is a Public university, public research university in London, England. It is a Member institutions of the University of London, member institution of the Federal university, federal Uni ...

when Kenneth Barnes, the Principal of the

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, also known by its abbreviation RADA (), is a drama school in London, England, which provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in Bloomsbury, Central London ...

, noticed him in a student performance and offered him a career as an actor. His first professional engagement was in ''Carpet Slippers'' at the Embassy Theatre,

Swiss Cottage Swiss Cottage is an area in the London Borough of Camden, England. It is centred on the junction of Avenue Road and Finchley Road and includes Swiss Cottage tube station. Swiss Cottage lies north-northwest of Charing Cross. The area was ...

, in 1930, while still at RADA. He won the annual RADA Gold Medal in 1932.

Career

His first West End production was '' Vile Bodies'' at the

Vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment which began in France in the middle of the 19th century. A ''vaudeville'' was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a drama ...

and '' Richard of Bordeaux'' (in which he appeared with

John Gielgud Sir Arthur John Gielgud ( ; 14 April 1904 – 21 May 2000) was an English actor and theatre director whose career spanned eight decades. With Ralph Richardson and Laurence Olivier, he was one of the trinity of actors who dominated the Britis ...

) at the New Theatre. The following year he appeared with

Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier ( ; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director. He and his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud made up a trio of male actors who dominated the British stage of the m ...

in ''The Rats of Norway''. In 1932, he made his film debut, in ''The Faithful Heart'', and he continued to appear in British films throughout the 1930s. He achieved success on the London stage and on Broadway as "Caryl Sanger" in the play, '' Escape Me Never'', with Elisabeth Bergner, and also starred with her in the 1935 '' film version''. In 1940, he joined the

British Army The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...

, but spent most of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

in a touring concert party, returning to the West End in 1945 to star in ''

Lady Windermere's Fan ''Lady Windermere's Fan, A Play About a Good Woman'' is a four-act comedy by Oscar Wilde, first performed on Saturday, 20 February 1892, at the St James's Theatre in London. The story concerns Lady Windermere, who suspects that her husband is ...

''. He then became a fairly big star of the British cinema in the late 1940s, showing a particular talent for comedies. He was the leading man in a number of films, including '' Miranda'' (1948), opposite

Glynis Johns Glynis Margaret Payne Johns (5 October 1923 – 4 January 2024) was a British actress. In a career exceeding seven decades on stage and screen, Johns appeared in more than 60 films and 30 plays. She received various accolades throughout her ca ...

and Googie Withers, and '' Once Upon a Dream'' (1949), opposite Withers again. He was mainly seen in supporting roles from the mid-1950s onwards, among the most prominent being in the film '' The Sea Shall Not Have Them'' (1954). He still played occasional lead roles, notably as a man who is framed for murder in '' The Scarlet Web'' (1954) and as a husband who tries to have his wife murdered in the crime thriller '' Kill Her Gently'' (1957).

Royal Shakespeare Company

He was a stalwart of the

Royal Shakespeare Company The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs over 1,000 staff and opens around 20 productions a year. The RSC plays regularly in London, Stratf ...

, appearing in 50 productions with the company between 1975 and 1999. His first season was in director Buzz Goodbody's noted opening year at The Other Place theatre, playing the Ghost to

Ben Kingsley Sir Ben Kingsley (born Krishna Pandit Bhanji; 31 December 1943) is an English actor. He has received List of awards and nominations received by Ben Kingsley, various accolades throughout Ben Kingsley on screen and stage, his career spanning fi ...

's ''Hamlet'' and Sir William Stanley in ''

Perkin Warbeck Perkin Warbeck ( – 23 November 1499) was a pretender to the English throne claiming to be Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York, who was the second son of Edward IV and one of the so-called "Princes in the Tower". Richard, were he alive, would ...

''. His later roles included Duncan, opposite

Ian McKellen Sir Ian Murray McKellen (born 25 May 1939) is an English actor. He has played roles on the screen and stage in genres ranging from Shakespearean dramas and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. He is regarded as a British cu ...

, in ''

Macbeth ''The Tragedy of Macbeth'', often shortened to ''Macbeth'' (), is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, estimated to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the physically violent and damaging psychological effects of political ambiti ...

'', Antigonus in ''

The Winter's Tale ''The Winter's Tale'' is a play by William Shakespeare originally published in the First Folio of 1623. Although it was grouped among the comedies, many modern editors have relabelled the play as one of Shakespeare's late romances. Some criti ...

'', Aegeon in '' A Comedy of Errors'', Gower in ''

Pericles, Prince of Tyre ''Pericles, Prince of Tyre'' is a Jacobean play written at least in part by William Shakespeare and included in modern editions of his collected works despite questions over its authorship, as it was not included in the First Folio. It was p ...

'', ''

The Comedy of Errors ''The Comedy of Errors'' is one of William Shakespeare's early plays. It is his shortest and one of his most farcical comedies, with a major part of the humour coming from slapstick and mistaken identity, in addition to puns and word play ...

'', Chebutiken and Ferrapont in separate productions of

Chekhov Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (; ; 29 January 1860 – 15 July 1904) was a Russian playwright and short-story writer, widely considered to be one of the greatest writers of all time. His career as a playwright produced four classics, and his b ...

's '' Three Sisters'' and Tim Linkinwater and Fluggers in ''

Nicholas Nickleby ''Nicholas Nickleby'', or ''The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby'', is the third novel by English author Charles Dickens, originally published as a serial from 1838 to 1839. The character of Nickleby is a young man who must support his ...

''. His last role, at the age of 90, was Tubal in ''

The Merchant of Venice ''The Merchant of Venice'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan taken out on behalf of his dear friend, Bassanio, and provided by a ...

''.

Personal life and death

Jones was married to actress Irene Isaac (known as "Robin") from 1932 until her death in 1985. They had two children, who both became actors:

Gemma Jones Jennifer "Gemma" Jones (born 4 December 1942) is an English actress. Appearing on both stage and screen, her film appearances include ''Sense and Sensibility (film), Sense and Sensibility'' (1995), the Bridget Jones (film series), ''Bridget Jo ...

(who was named after the main character in '' Escape Me Never'') and Nicholas Jones. Jones died in his sleep from natural causes at his home in London, England, on 30 January 2007, aged 97.

Selected filmography

* '' The Faithful Heart'' (1932) - (uncredited) * '' Money Talks'' (1932) - Jimmy Dale, the Kid's rival * '' The Rise of Catherine the Great'' (1934) - Grigory Orlov * '' Leave It to Blanche'' (1934) - Philip Amesbury * '' Escape Me Never'' (1935) - Caryl Sanger * '' First a Girl'' (1935) - Robert * '' Line Engaged'' (1935) - Minor Role (uncredited) * ''

The Mill on the Floss ''The Mill on the Floss'' is a novel by English author George Eliot, pen name of Mary Ann Evans, first published in three volumes on 4 April 1860 by William Blackwood and Sons. The first American edition was published by Harper & Brothers, Pub ...

'' (1936) - Stephen Guest * '' The Wife of General Ling'' (1937) - John Fenton * '' Return of a Stranger'' (1937) - James Martin * ''

A Yank at Oxford ''A Yank at Oxford'' is a 1938 comedy-drama film directed by Jack Conway and starring Robert Taylor, Lionel Barrymore, Maureen O'Sullivan, Vivien Leigh and Edmund Gwenn. The screenplay was written by John Monk Saunders and Leon Gordon. ...

'' (1938) - Paul Beaumont * '' The Four Just Men'' (1939) - James Brodie * '' Young Man's Fancy'' (1939) - Lord Alban * '' Atlantic Ferry'' (1941) - David MacIver * '' This Was Paris'' (1942) - Capt. Bill Hamilton, MI5 * ''

The Day Will Dawn ''The Day Will Dawn'', released in the USA as ''The Avengers'', is a 1942 British war film set in Norway during World War II. It stars Ralph Richardson, Deborah Kerr, Hugh Williams and Griffith Jones, and was directed by Harold French from a ...

'' (1942) - Police Inspector Gunter * '' Uncensored'' (1942) - Father de Gruyte * ''

Henry V Henry V may refer to: People * Henry V, Duke of Bavaria (died 1026) * Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor (1081/86–1125) * Henry V, Duke of Carinthia (died 1161) * Henry V, Count Palatine of the Rhine (–1227) * Henry V, Count of Luxembourg (1216–1281 ...

'' (1944) - Earl of Salisbury * ''

The Wicked Lady ''The Wicked Lady'' is a 1945 British costume drama film directed by Leslie Arliss and starring James Mason and Margaret Lockwood. Lockwood plays a nobleman's wife who becomes a Highwayman, highwaywoman for the excitement. It had one of the l ...

'' (1945) - Sir Ralph * ''

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) - Sandy Duncan * ''

They Made Me a Fugitive ''They Made Me a Fugitive'' (also known as ''They Made Me a Criminal''; U.S. title: ''I Became a Criminal'') is a 1947 British black-and-white film noir directed by Alberto Cavalcanti and starring Sally Gray and Trevor Howard. It was written b ...

'' (1947) - Narcy * '' Miranda'' (1948) - Dr. Paul Martin * '' Good-Time Girl'' (1948) - Danny Martin * '' Look Before You Love'' (1948) - Charles Kent * '' Once Upon a Dream'' (1949) - Jackson * '' Honeymoon Deferred'' (1951) - David Fry * '' Star of My Night'' (1954) - Michael Donovan * '' The Scarlet Web'' (1954) - Jake Winter * '' The Sea Shall Not Have Them'' (1954) - Group Capt. Todd * '' Face in the Night'' (1957) - Rapson * '' Account Rendered'' (1957) - Robert Ainsworth * '' The Truth About Women'' (1957) - Sir Jeremy * '' Not Wanted on Voyage'' (1957) - Guy Harding * '' Kill Her Gently'' (1957) - Jeff Martin * ''

Hidden Homicide ''Hidden Homicide'' is a 1959 British B movie, 'B' mystery film directed by Tony Young (director), Tony Young and starring Griffith Jones (actor), Griffith Jones, Patricia Laffan, James Kenney, Bruce Seton, Peter Carver and Danny Green (actor), ...

'' (1959) - Michael Cornforth * '' The Crowning Touch'' (1959) - Mark * '' Strangler's Web'' (1966) - Jackson Delacorte * '' Decline and Fall... of a Birdwatcher'' (1968) - Sir Humphrey Maltravers

Selected television

* '' The New Adventures of Martin Kane'' (1957) - Widerum, Episode: "The Swindle Story" * '' Dial 999'' (1958) - Paul Grant, Episode: "The Big Fish" * ''

The Invisible Man ''The Invisible Man'' is an 1897 science fiction novel by British writer H. G. Wells. Originally serialised in '' Pearson's Weekly'' in 1897, it was published as a novel the same year. The Invisible Man to whom the title refers is Griffin, a s ...

'' (1959) - Lucian Currie, Episode: "Strange Partners" * ''

Maigret Jules Maigret (), or simply Maigret, is a fictional French police detective, a '' commissaire'' ("commissioner") of the Paris ''Brigade Criminelle'' ('' Direction Régionale de la Police Judiciaire de Paris:36, Quai des Orfèvres''), created ...

'' (1961) - Dr. Bellamy, Episode: "On Holiday" * ''

Danger Man ''Danger Man'' (retitled ''Secret Agent'' in the United States for the revived series, and ''Destination Danger'' and ''John Drake'' in other overseas markets) is a British television series that was broadcast between 1960 and 1962, and again ...

'' (1965) - Sir Noel Blanchard, Episode: "The Black Book" * ''

Man in a Suitcase ''Man in a Suitcase'' is a British television private eye thriller series produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment. It originally aired in the United Kingdom on ITV (TV network), ITV from 27 September 1967 to 17 April 1968. American Broadcast ...

'' (1968) - Frank Arnoldson, Episode: "Why They Killed Nolan" * ''

The Persuaders! ''The Persuaders!'' is a British action comedy television series starring Tony Curtis and Roger Moore, produced by ITC Entertainment, and initially broadcast on ITV and ABC in 1971. The show has been called 'the last major entry in the c ...

'' (1971) - Lars Seelman, Episode: "The Morning After"

Selected stage credits

* '' Gertie Maude'' by

John Van Druten John William Van Druten (1 June 190119 December 1957) was an English playwright and theatre director. He began his career in London, and later moved to America, becoming a U.S. citizen. He was known for his plays of witty and urbane observations ...

(1937) * ''

The Moonraker ''The Moonraker'' is a 1957 British swashbuckler film directed by David MacDonald (director), David MacDonald and starring George Baker (British actor), George Baker, Sylvia Syms, Marius Goring, Gary Raymond, Peter Arne, John Le Mesurier and Pa ...

'' by Arthur Watkyn (1952)

References

Sources

Obituary in ''The Guardian''Performances with the RSC

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Griffith 1909 births 2007 deaths English male film actors English male stage actors English male television actors Male actors from London Royal Shakespeare Company members Alumni of University College London Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art English people of Welsh descent 20th-century English male actors British Army personnel of World War II Actors from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea People from Notting Hill