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

Sheffield Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, situated south of Leeds and east of Manchester. The city is the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and some of its so ...

, 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 Sir Philip Barling Greet (24 September 1857 – 17 May 1936), known professionally as Ben Greet, was a British William Shakespeare, Shakespearean actor, director, impresario and actor-manager. Early life The younger son of Captain William Gre ...

'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 Philip John Guard (29 November 1928 – May 2024) was an English stage actor who occasionally appeared in film and television. Life and career Philip John Guard was born in Rochford, Essex, on 29 November 1928. Guard appeared occasionally in fil ...

and John Bryning, Dignam can be heard on the fade-out of

the Beatles The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The core lineup of the band comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are widely regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatle ...

' 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 (film), Magical Mystery Tour''. Written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney, it was released as the B-side to ...

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

King Lear ''The Tragedy of King Lear'', often shortened to ''King Lear'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is loosely based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his ...

, 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 was also a well-known character actor and his sister-in-law was the actress

Mona Washbourne Mona Lee Washbourne (27 November 1903 – 15 November 1988) was an English people, English actress of stage, film, and television. Her most critically acclaimed role was in the film ''Stevie (1978 film), Stevie'' (1978), late in her career, for ...

Dollis Hill

Dignam lived in

Dollis Hill Dollis Hill is an area in northwest London, which consists of the streets surrounding the Gladstone Park, London, Gladstone Park. It is served by a London Underground station, Dollis Hill tube station, Dollis Hill, on the Jubilee line, providi ...

, 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 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 ...

'' (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 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) − Mr. Burke * '' Lease of Life'' (1954) − Mr. Black * '' The Passing Stranger'' (1954) − Inspector * '' Carrington V.C.'' (1955) − Prosecutor * ''

The Prisoner ''The Prisoner'' is a British television series created by Patrick McGoohan. McGoohan portrays Number Six (The Prisoner), Number Six, an unnamed British intelligence agent who is abducted and imprisoned in a The Village (The Prisoner), mysteri ...

'' (1955) − The Governor * '' Escapade'' (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'' (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'' (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 ''Game for Three Losers'' is a 1965 British drama film directed by Gerry O'Hara and starring Michael Gough, Mark Eden and Toby Robins. It was written by Roger Marshall and made at Merton Park Studios as part of the long-running series of ...

'' (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 drunke ...

'' (1967) − Vincentio * '' Frozen Flashes'' (1967) − Sir John * '' The Charge of the Light Brigade'' (1968) − Gen. Airey * '' Isadora'' (1968) − (uncredited) * ''

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

'' (1969) − Polonius * '' The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder'' (1969–1971) − Lord Nettlefold * ''

There's a Girl in My Soup ''There's a Girl in My Soup'' is a 1970 British romantic comedy film directed by Roy Boulting and starring Peter Sellers and Goldie Hawn. Terence Frisby wrote the screenplay based on his 1966 stage play of the same name. Plot Robert Danve ...

'' (1970) − Wedding Guest (uncredited) * '' Jude the Obscure'' (1971) − Vicar * '' Dead Cert'' (1974) − Clifford Tudor * '' Memoirs of a Survivor'' (1981) − Newsvendor * ''

The Chain "The Chain" is a song by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, released on their 1977 album '' Rumours''. It is the only song from the album with writing credits for all five members (Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie, John ...

'' (1984) − Ambrose * '' On the Black Hill'' (1988) − Reverend Latimer (final film role)

Radio

* '' The Dark Tower'' (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 Actors from the London Borough of Ealing People from Ealing {{England-stage-actor-stub