Nigel Dennis Patrick Wemyss-Gorman (2 May 1912 – 21 September 1981) was an English actor and stage director born into a theatrical family. During the late 1940s and 1950s, he became known as a debonair leading man in British films, though he could also portray rogues. He featured in '' The Sound Barrier'' (aka, ''Breaking Through the Sound Barrier'', 1952), under the direction of

David Lean Sir David Lean (25 March 190816 April 1991) was an English film director, producer, screenwriter, and editor, widely considered one of the most important figures of Cinema of the United Kingdom, British cinema. He directed the large-scale epi ...

Biography

Patrick was born in London, England, the son of Thomas Joseph Charles Aubrey Wemyss Gorman (born 1875 – died 19??) and actress Dorothy Hilda Turner (1890–1969).

Stage actor

He made his professional stage debut in ''The Life Machine'' at the Regent Theatre, in

Kings Cross, London King's Cross is a district in the London boroughs, London Boroughs of London Borough of Camden, Camden and London Borough of Islington, Islington, on either side of Euston Road in north London, England, north of Charing Cross, bordered by Bar ...

, in 1932 following a period in repertory. Thereafter he appeared in many successful plays, including ''Half a Crown'' (1934), ''Ringmaster'' (1935), ''Roulette'' (1935), ''The Lady of La Paz'' (1936) and ''Madmoiselle'' (1936) He starred in the long-running '' George and Margaret'' (1937) at the

Wyndham's Theatre Wyndham's Theatre is a West End theatre, one of two opened by actor/manager Charles Wyndham (the other is the Criterion Theatre). Located on Charing Cross Road in the City of Westminster, it was designed c. 1898 by W. G. R. Sprague, the arch ...

, which ran for 799 performances. He followed it with ''Tony Draws a Horse'' (1939) and ''Children to Bless You'' (1939).

Second World War

His acting career was put on hold until after service in the Second World War, during which, as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the

King's Royal Rifle Corps The King's Royal Rifle Corps was an infantry rifle regiment of the British Army that was originally raised in British North America as the Royal American Regiment during the phase of the Seven Years' War in North America known in the United Sta ...

, he fought in the Middle East, North Africa and Italy.

Film career

His debut film performance was as a reporter in a supporting romantic role in '' Mrs. Pym of Scotland Yard'' (1940). It was filmed in July 1939 and released the following year. After the war, Patrick appeared in '' Morning Departure'' (1946) on TV and ''Fools Rush In'', ''Tomorrow's Child'' (1946) and ''Noose'' (1947) on stage. Patrick had film roles in '' Spring in Park Lane'' (1948), '' Uneasy Terms'' (1948) and notably ''

Noose A noose is a loop at the end of a rope in which the knot tightens under load and can be loosened without untying the knot. The knot can be used to secure a rope to a post, pole, or animal but only where the end is in a position that the loop can ...

'' (1948) playing a

spiv A spiv is a petty criminal in the United Kingdom who deals in illicit, typically black market, goods. Spivs were particularly active during the Second World War and in the post-war period when many goods were rationed due to shortages. According ...

. Patrick had a good part in '' Silent Dust'' (1948) and was promoted to star for '' The Jack of Diamonds'' (1949), which he also co-wrote. He supported Patricia Roc in '' The Perfect Woman'' (1949), and had a key role in the film version of '' Morning Departure'' (1950) (a different part to the one he had played on TV). Patrick was one of several names in '' Trio'' (1950) based on stories by

W. Somerset Maugham William Somerset Maugham ( ; 25 January 1874 – 16 December 1965) was an English writer, known for his plays, novels and short stories. Born in Paris, where he spent his first ten years, Maugham was schooled in England and went to a German un ...

and appeared in the Hollywood-financed '' Pandora and the Flying Dutchman'' (1951). He was the young teacher in '' The Browning Version'' (1951) with

Michael Redgrave Sir Michael Scudamore Redgrave (20 March 1908 – 21 March 1985) was an English actor and filmmaker. Beginning his career in theatre, he first appeared in the West End in 1937. He made his film debut in Alfred Hitchcock's ''The Lady Vanishes'' ...

, and appeared in a popular comedy '' Young Wives' Tale'' (1951). He returned to the world of Maugham with '' Encore'' (1951) and was in ''Who Goes There!'' (1951) on stage. Patrick reprised his ''

Who Goes There! ''Who Goes There!'' I (U.S. title: ''The Passionate Sentry'' )is a 1952 British comedy film directed by Anthony Kimmins and starring Nigel Patrick, Valerie Hobson and George Cole. It was written by John Dighton based on his 1950 play ''Who ...

'' (1952) performance on film then played a test pilot in the popular '' The Sound Barrier'' (1952). He was then in '' Meet Me Tonight'' (1952) and ''

The Pickwick Papers ''The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club'' (also known as ''The Pickwick Papers'') was the Debut novel, first novel serialised from March 1836 to November 1837 by English author Charles Dickens. Because of his success with ''Sketches by Bo ...

'' (1952). Due mostly to ''The Sound Barrier'', exhibitors voted Patrick the seventh most popular British film star with the public, in 1952. Patrick was in '' Grand National Night'' (1953) and was the ninth most popular British star. On stage he was in ''Escapade'' (1953) and ''Birthday Honours'' (1953). The following year he was in '' Forbidden Cargo'' (1954) and was one of several British stars in '' The Sea Shall Not Have Them'' (1954). He supported

Richard Widmark Richard Weedt Widmark (December 26, 1914March 24, 2008) was an American film, stage, and television actor and producer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as the villainous Tommy Udo in his debut film, ''Kiss of Death (1947 film ...

in '' A Prize of Gold'' (1955) for

Warwick Films Warwick Films was a film company founded by film producers Irving Allen and Albert R. Broccoli in London in 1951. The name was taken from the Warwick New York Hotel, Warwick Hotel in New York City where Broccoli and his wife were staying at the ...

, who announced Patrick might direct ''In All Dishonesty'' for them on stage. It did not happen. Instead Patrick starred in a comedy '' All for Mary'' (1955). On stage he was in ''Green Room Rags'' (1954) and ''The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker'' (1955). He had a major role in '' Raintree County'' (1957).

Director

For Warwick Films, Patrick starred in and directed '' How to Murder a Rich Uncle'' (1957). He supported

Jeffrey Hunter Jeffrey Hunter (born Henry Herman McKinnies Jr.; November 25, 1926 – May 27, 1969) was an American film and television actor and producer known for his roles in films such as ''The Searchers'' and ''King of Kings (1961 film), King of Ki ...

in '' Count Five and Die'' (1957) and appeared in ''The Egg'' (1957) on stage. Patrick made another for Warwick but as an actor only, '' The Man Inside'' (1958), with

Jack Palance Walter Jack Palance ( ; born Volodymyr Palahniuk, , ''Volodymyr Ivanovych Palahniuk''; February 18, 1919 – November 10, 2006) was an American screen and stage actor, known to film audiences for playing tough guys and villains. He was nominat ...

. On stage Patrick directed ''No Way to Kill'' (1958) and '' Not in the Book'' (1958) and acted in and directed ''Pleasure of His Company'' (1959). He starred in ''

Sapphire Sapphire is a precious gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum, consisting of aluminium oxide () with trace amounts of elements such as iron, titanium, cobalt, lead, chromium, vanadium, magnesium, boron, and silicon. The name ''sapphire ...

'' (1959), winner of Best British Film at the 1960

BAFTA The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA, ) is an independent trade association and charity that supports, develops, and promotes the arts of film, television and video games in the United Kingdom. In addition to its annual awa ...

Film Awards. It was directed by

Basil Dearden Basil Dearden (born Basil Clive Dear; 1 January 1911 – 23 March 1971) was an English film director. Early life Dearden was born as Basil Clive Dear at 5 Woodfield Road, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex to Charles James Dear, a steel manufacturer, and the ...

who then used Patrick in ''

The League of Gentlemen ''The League of Gentlemen'' is a British surreal comedy horror series that premiered on BBC Two in 1999. The programme is set in Royston Vasey, a fictional town in northern England originally based on Alston, Cumbria, and follows the lives ...

'' (1960). On stage he acted in and directed ''Settled Out of Court'' (1960). Patrick made another for Warwick as an actor, ''

The Trials of Oscar Wilde ''The Trials of Oscar Wilde'', also known as ''The Man with the Green Carnation'' and ''The Green Carnation'', is a 1960 British drama film based on the libel and subsequent criminal cases involving Oscar Wilde and the Marquess of Queensberry. I ...

'' (1960), then made '' Johnny Nobody'' (1961) for them as director and actor. He was in '' Zero One'' (1962–1965) on TV and starred in the tough crime thriller '' The Informers'' (1963).

Later career

Patrick appeared on stage in ''The Schoolmistress'' (1964) and '' Present Laughter'' (1965) and he directed ''Past Imperfect'' (1964) and ''Present Laughter'' (1965) and Alan Ayckbourn's '' Relatively Speaking'' (1967) at the

Duke of York's Theatre The Duke of York's Theatre is a West End theatre in St Martin's Lane, in the City of Westminster, London. It was built for Frank Wyatt and his wife, Violet Melnotte, who retained ownership of the theatre until her death in 1935. Designed by ...

. Film appearances included ''

Battle of Britain The Battle of Britain () was a military campaign of the Second World War, in which the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Fleet Air Arm (FAA) of the Royal Navy defended the United Kingdom (UK) against large-scale attacks by Nazi Germany's air force ...

'' (1969), ''

The Virgin Soldiers ''The Virgin Soldiers'' is a 1966 comic novel by Leslie Thomas, inspired by his own experiences of National Service in the British Army. It was Thomas' debut novel; he had previously published an autobiography. ''The Virgin Soldiers'' sold mill ...

'' (1969) and '' The Executioner'' (1970). He directed ''

Avanti! ''Avanti!'' (; Italian interjection – 'come in!') is a 1972 comedy film produced and directed by Billy Wilder, and starring Jack Lemmon and Juliet Mills. The screenplay by Wilder and I. A. L. Diamond is based on Samuel A. Taylor's pla ...

'' (1968) on Broadway. Other stage appearances included ''Best of Friends'' (1970), ''Reunion in Vienna'' (1971), ''Habeas Corpus'' (1974), ''The Pay Off'' (1974), ''Dear Daddy'' (1976) and ''Peter Pan'' (1978). He also worked steadily as a director.

Personal life and death

He married the actress Beatrice Campbell at St James's, Spanish Place, Marylebone, London on 12 January 1951. She predeceased him in 1979; he died, two years later, from lung cancer, on 21 September 1981.

Filmography

As an actor

* '' Mrs. Pym of Scotland Yard'' (1940) as Richard Loddon * '' Spring in Park Lane'' (1948) as Mr. Bacon * '' Uneasy Terms'' (1948) as Lucien Donnelly * ''

'' (1948) as Bar Gorman * '' Silent Dust'' (1949) as Simon Rawley * '' The Jack of Diamonds'' (1949) as Alan Butler * '' The Perfect Woman'' (1949) as Roger Cavendish * '' Morning Departure'' (1950) as First Lieutenant Harry Manson * '' Trio'' (1950) as Max Kealada (Segment: "Mr. Know-All") * '' Pandora and the Flying Dutchman'' (1951) as Stephen Cameron * '' The Browning Version'' (1951) as Frank Hunter * '' Young Wives' Tale'' (1951) as Rodney Pennant * '' Encore'' (1951) as Tom Ramsay (Segment: "The Ant and the Grasshopper") * ''

'' (1952) as Miles Cornwall * '' The Sound Barrier'' (1952) as Tony Garthwaite * '' Meet Me Tonight'' (1952) as Toby Cartwrigth: Ways and Means * ''

'' (1952) as Mr. Jingle * '' Grand National Night'' (1953) as Gerald Coates * '' Forbidden Cargo'' (1954) as Insp. Michael Kenyon * '' The Sea Shall Not Have Them'' (1954) as Flight Sgt. Singsby * '' A Prize of Gold'' (1955) as Brian Hammell * '' All for Mary'' (1955) as Capt. Clive Norton * '' How to Murder a Rich Uncle'' (1957) as Henry * '' Raintree County'' (1957) as Prof. Jerusalem Webster Stiles * '' Count Five and Die'' (1957) as Major Julien Howard * '' The Man Inside'' (1958) as Sam Carter * ''

'' (1959) as Superintendent Robert Hazard * ''

'' (1960) as Race * ''

'' (1960) as Sir Edward Clarke * '' Johnny Nobody'' (1961) as Father Carey * '' The Informers'' (1963) as Chief Insp. John Edward Johnnoe * ''

'' (1969) as Group Captain Hope * ''

'' (1969) as R.S.M. Raskin * '' The Executioner'' (1970) as Colonel Scott * '' Tales from the Crypt'' (1972) as Major William Rogers (segment 5 "Blind Alleys") * '' The Great Waltz'' (1972) as Johann Strauss Sr. * '' The Mackintosh Man'' (1973) as Soames-Trevelyan * '' Silver Bears'' (1978) as Financial Mediator (uncredited)

As a director

* '' How to Murder a Rich Uncle'' (1957) * '' Johnny Nobody'' (1961)

As a writer

* '' The Jack of Diamonds'' (1949)

As a narrator

* '' Arrivederci Roma'' (1958) * '' Goal!'' (1966) * '' The Year of Sir Ivor'' (1969)

Theatre credits

As an actor

* ''The Life Machine'' (1932) * ''Half a Crown'' (1934) * ''Ringmaster'' (1935) * ''

Roulette Roulette (named after the French language, French word meaning "little wheel") is a casino game which was likely developed from the Italy, Italian game Biribi. In the game, a player may choose to place a bet on a single number, various grouping ...

'' (1935) * ''The Lady of La Paz'' (1936) * ''Madmoiselle'' (1936) * '' George and Margaret'' (1937) * '' Tony Draws a Horse'' (1939) * ''Children to Bless You'' (1939) * '' Fools Rush In'' (1946) * ''To-morrow's Child'' (1946) * ''Noose'' (1947) * ''

'' (1951) * '' Escapade'' (1953) * ''Birthday Honours'' (1953) * ''Green Room Rags'' (1954) * ''The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker'' (1955) * ''The Egg'' (1957) * ''Pleasure of His Company'' (1959) * '' Settled Out of Court'' (1960) * '' The Schoolmistress'' (1964) * '' Present Laughter'' (1965) * ''Best of Friends'' (1970) * ''Reunion in Vienna'' (1971) * ''

Habeas Corpus ''Habeas corpus'' (; from Medieval Latin, ) is a legal procedure invoking the jurisdiction of a court to review the unlawful detention or imprisonment of an individual, and request the individual's custodian (usually a prison official) to ...

'' (1974) * ''The Pay Off'' (1974) * '' Dear Daddy'' (1976) * ''

Peter Pan Peter Pan is a fictional character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie. A free-spirited and mischievous young boy who can fly and never grows up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood having adventures on the mythical ...

'' (1978)

As a director/stage manager

* ''No Way to Kill'' (1958) * '' Not in the Book'' (1958) * ''Pleasure of His Company'' (1959) * '' Settled Out of Court'' (1960) * ''Past Imperfect'' (1964) * '' Present Laughter'' (1965) * '' Relatively Speaking'' (1967) * ''The Others'' (1967) * ''Avanti!'' (1968) * ''Out of the Question'' (1968) * ''Trio'' (1969) * ''Three'' (1970) * ''The Pay Off'' (1974) * ''Suite in Two Keys'' (1978) * '' The Last of Mrs Cheyney'' (1980)

Television

* ''Morning Departure'' (1946) as Lt-Cmdr. Stanford * ''Zero One'' (1962–1965) as Alan Garnett * '' It Takes a Thief'' – "Flowers from Alexander" (1969) * ''Sunday Night Thriller'' – "Blunt Instrument" (1981) as Hugh Logan

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Patrick, Nigel 1912 births 1981 deaths British Army personnel of World War II English male film actors English film directors English male stage actors English male television actors King's Royal Rifle Corps officers Deaths from lung cancer in England 20th-century English male actors