Cuthbert Mark Dignam (20 March 1909 – 29 September 1989) was a prolific English actor. Born in London, the son of a salesman in the steel industry, Dignam grew up in

Sheffield Sheffield is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serves as the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is Historic counties o ...

, and was educated at the Jesuit College, where he appeared in numerous Shakespearean plays. He learned his craft touring Britain and America with Ben Greet's Shakespeare company. His range extended from the Louis Macneice radio play, ''The Dark Tower'' in the 1940s to the TV thriller, '' The XYY Man'' in the late 1970s. Along with Philip Guard and John Bryning, Dignam can be heard on the fade-out of

the Beatles The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the developm ...

' song "

I Am the Walrus "I Am the Walrus" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1967 television film '' Magical Mystery Tour''. Written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney, it was released as the B-side to the single " Hello, Goodbye ...

", during which is played a 1967 BBC radio broadcast of

King Lear ''King Lear'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his power and land between two of his daughters. He becomes destitute and insane a ...

, with Dignam in the role of the Earl of Gloucester. Dignam was married three times, divorced twice (his character in '' The XYY Man'' frequently complains about the expense of maintaining multiple ex-wives).

Family

His brother

Basil Basil (, ; ''Ocimum basilicum'' , also called great basil, is a culinary herb of the family Lamiaceae (mints). It is a tender plant, and is used in cuisines worldwide. In Western cuisine, the generic term "basil" refers to the variety also ...

was also a well-known character actor and his sister-in-law was the actress Mona Washbourne.

Dollis Hill

Dignam lived in Dollis Hill, north-west London, from 1967 until his death in 1989.

Selected filmography

* '' Train of Events'' (1949) - Bolingbroke (segment "The Actor") * '' Murder in the Cathedral'' (1951) - First Knight * '' The Maggie'' (1954) - The Laird * ''

Doctor in the House ''Doctor in the House'' is a 1954 British comedy film directed by Ralph Thomas and produced by Betty Box. The screenplay, by Nicholas Phipps, Richard Gordon and Ronald Wilkinson, is based on the 1952 novel by Gordon, and follows a group of s ...

'' (1954) - Examiner at Microscope (uncredited) * ''

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

'' (1954) - Mr. Burke * ''

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) - Mr. Black * '' The Passing Stranger'' (1954) - Inspector * '' Carrington V.C.'' (1955) - Prosecutor * '' The Prisoner'' (1955) - The Governor * ''

Escapade Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (EscaPADE) is a planned spacecraft mission to Mars consisting of two spacecraft known as ''Blue'' and ''Gold''. The mission, expected to launch in August 2024, is part of NASA's SIMPLEx progr ...

'' (1955) - Sykes * '' They Can't Hang Me'' (1955) - Prison Governor * '' The Adventures of Quentin Durward'' (1955) - Innkeeper (uncredited) * '' Sink the Bismarck!'' (1960) - Captain (Ark Royal) * '' The Pure Hell of St Trinian's'' (1960) - Prosecuting Counsel * ''

No Love for Johnnie ''No Love for Johnnie'' is a 1961 British drama film in CinemaScope directed by Ralph Thomas. It was based on the 1959 book of the same title by the Labour Member of Parliament Wilfred Fienburgh, and stars Peter Finch. It depicts the disillusi ...

'' (1961) - Earnley Constituent (uncredited) * '' In Search of the Castaways'' (1962) - Rich Man at Yacht Party * '' Lancelot and Guinevere'' (1963) - Merlin * '' Siege of the Saxons'' (1963) - King Arthur * ''

Tom Jones Tom Jones may refer to: Arts and entertainment *Tom Jones (singer) (born 1940), Welsh singer * Tom Jones (writer) (1928–2023), American librettist and lyricist *''The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling'', a novel by Henry Fielding published in ...

'' (1963) - Lieutenant * '' Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow'' (1963) - The Bishop * '' The Eyes of Annie Jones'' (1964) - Orphanage director * '' Clash by Night'' (1964) - Sydney Selwyn * '' A Jolly Bad Fellow'' (1964) - The Master * '' Game for Three Losers'' (1965) - Attorney General * ''

The Taming of the Shrew ''The Taming of the Shrew'' is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1592. The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunken ...

'' (1967) - Vincentio * '' Frozen Flashes'' (1967) - Sir John * ''

The Charge of the Light Brigade The Charge of the Light Brigade was a failed military action involving the British light cavalry led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War. Lord Raglan had intended to s ...

'' (1968) - Gen. Airey * ''

Isadora Isidora or Isadora is a female given name of Greek origin, derived from Ἰσίδωρος, ''Isídōros'' (a compound of Ἶσις, ''Ísis'', and δῶρον, ''dōron'': "gift of he goddessIsis"). The male equivalent is Isidore. The name sur ...

'' (1968) - (uncredited) * ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depi ...

'' (1969) - Polonius * '' The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder'' (1969–1971) - Lord Nettlefold * '' There's a Girl in My Soup'' (1970) - Wedding Guest (uncredited) * '' Jude the Obscure'' (1971) - Vicar * '' Dead Cert'' (1974) - Clifford Tudor * '' Memoirs of a Survivor'' (1981) - Newsvendor * '' The Chain'' (1984) - Ambrose * '' On the Black Hill'' (1988) - Reverend Latimer (final film role)

Radio

* ''

The Dark Tower Dark Tower may refer to: Literature * ''The Dark Tower'' (series), a fantasy series created by Stephen King **'' The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower'' (2004), the seventh novel in the series ** ''The Dark Tower'' (comics) * ''The Dark Tower'' (L ...

'' (1946)

References

External links

* * 1909 births 1989 deaths English male film actors English male stage actors Male actors from Sheffield 20th-century English male actors {{England-stage-actor-stub