Horace Raymond Huntley (23 April 1904 – 15 June 1990) was an English

actor An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. ...

who appeared in dozens of British films from the 1930s to the 1970s. He also appeared in the ITV

period drama A historical drama (also period drama, period piece or just period) is a dramatic work set in the past, usually used in the context of film and television, which presents history, historical events and characters with varying degrees of fiction s ...

'' Upstairs, Downstairs'' as the pragmatic family solicitor Sir Geoffrey Dillon.

Life and career

Early life

Horace Raymond Huntley was born in Kings Norton,

Worcestershire Worcestershire ( , ; written abbreviation: Worcs) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It is bordered by Shropshire, Staffordshire, and the West Midlands (county), West ...

(now a suburb of

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands, within the wider West Midlands (region), West Midlands region, in England. It is the Lis ...

) in 1904.

Career

Stage

He made his stage debut at the

Birmingham Repertory Theatre Birmingham Repertory Theatre, commonly called Birmingham Rep or just The Rep, is a producing theatre based on Centenary Square in Birmingham, England. Founded by Barry Jackson, it is the longest-established of Britain's building-based theatre ...

on 1 April 1922, in ''

A Woman Killed with Kindness ''A Woman Killed with Kindness'' is an early seventeenth-century stage play, a tragedy written by Thomas Heywood. Acted in 1603 and first published in 1607, the play has generally been considered Heywood's masterpiece, and has received the mo ...

''. His London debut followed at the Court Theatre on 22 February 1924, in ''As Far as Thought can Reach''. He subsequently inherited the role of

Count Dracula Count Dracula () is the title character of Bram Stoker's 1897 gothic horror novel ''Dracula''. He is considered the prototypical and archetypal vampire in subsequent works of fiction. Aspects of the character are believed by some to have been i ...

from Edmund Blake in Hamilton Deane's touring adaptation of ''

Dracula ''Dracula'' is an 1897 Gothic fiction, Gothic horror fiction, horror novel by Irish author Bram Stoker. The narrative is Epistolary novel, related through letters, diary entries, and newspaper articles. It has no single protagonist and opens ...

'', which arrived at London's Little Theatre on 14 February 1927, subsequently transferring to the larger Duke of York's Theatre. Later that year he was offered the chance to reprise the role on Broadway (in a script streamlined by John L. Balderston); when he declined, the part was taken by

Bela Lugosi Blaskó Béla Ferenc Dezső (; October 20, 1882 – August 16, 1956), better known by the stage name Bela Lugosi ( ; ), was a Hungarian–American actor. He was best remembered for portraying Count Dracula in the horror film classic Dracula (19 ...

instead. Huntley did, however, appear in a US touring production of the Deane/Balderston play, covering the east coast and midwest, from 1928 to 1930. "I have always considered the role of Count Dracula to have been an indiscretion of my youth," he recalled in 1989. After ''Dracula'' he made his Broadway debut at the Vanderbilt Theatre on 23 February 1931, in ''The Venetian Glass Nephew''. On returning to the UK, his many West End appearances included '' The Farmer's Wife'' (Queen's Theatre 1932), ''Cornelius'' (Duchess Theatre 1935), '' Bees on the Boat Deck'' (Lyric Theatre 1936) '' Time and the Conways'' (Duchess Theatre 1937), '' When We Are Married'' (St Martin's Theatre 1938), ''Rebecca'' (Queen's Theatre 1940; Strand Theatre 1942), '' They Came to a City'' (Globe Theatre 1943), '' The Late Edwina Black'' (Ambassadors Theatre 1948), '' And This Was Odd'' (Criterion Theatre 1951), ''Double Image'' (Savoy Theatre 1956), ''Any Other Business'' (Westminster Theatre 1958), '' Caught Napping'' (Piccadilly Theatre 1959), ''Difference of Opinion'' (Garrick Theatre 1963), '' An Ideal Husband'' (Garrick Theatre 1966), ''

Getting Married ''Getting Married'' is a play by George Bernard Shaw George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influence on ...

'' (Strand Theatre 1967), ''Soldiers'' (New Theatre 1968)John Parker (ed), ''Who's Who in the Theatre'' (15th edition), Pitman Publishing 1972 and '' Separate Tables'' (Apollo Theatre 1977). He also starred opposite Flora Robson in the Broadway production of '' Black Chiffon'' (48th Street Theatre 1950).

Film and television

Often cast as a supercilious bureaucrat or other authority figure, Huntley was also a staple figure in British films, his many appearances including ''

The Way Ahead ''The Way Ahead'' (also known as ''Immortal Battalion'') (1944) is a British Second World War drama film directed by Carol Reed. The screenplay was written by Eric Ambler and Peter Ustinov. The film stars David Niven, Stanley Holloway and Wi ...

'', '' I See a Dark Stranger'', ''

Passport to Pimlico ''Passport to Pimlico'' is a 1949 British comedy film made by Ealing Studios and starring Stanley Holloway, Margaret Rutherford and Hermione Baddeley. It was directed by Henry Cornelius and written by T. E. B. Clarke. The story concerns the unea ...

'' and '' The Dam Busters''. In his later years he became well known on television as Sir Geoffrey Dillon, the family solicitor to the Bellamys in LWT's popular 1970s drama series '' Upstairs, Downstairs''. He also appeared as Mr. Justice Downes in the

Granada Television ITV Granada, formerly known as Granada Television, is the ITV (TV network), ITV franchisee for the North West of England and Isle of Man. From 1956 to 1968 it broadcast to both the north west and Yorkshire on weekdays only, as ABC Weekend TV, ...

daytime series, '' Crown Court.''; Wodehouse Playhouse, ('Romance at Droitwich Spa', episode, 1975); and ''

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 ...

'', ("The Gallows Tree" episode), as Clements.

Death

Huntley died in

Westminster Hospital Westminster Hospital was a hospital in London, England, founded in 1719. In 1834 a medical school attached to the hospital was formally founded. In 1939 a newly built hospital and medical school opened in Horseferry Road, Westminster. In 1994 the ...

, London in 1990. In his obituary the ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' wrote, "During his long career the actor played judges, bank managers, churchmen, bureaucrats and other figures of authority. He could play them straight if necessary, but in comedy his natural dryness of delivery was exaggerated to the point where the character he was playing invited mockery as a pompous humbug."

Complete filmography

* '' What Happened Then?'' (1934) .... Minor role (uncredited) * '' Can You Hear Me, Mother?'' (1935) .... Dolan * '' Whom the Gods Love'' (1936) .... Langer * ''

Rembrandt Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (; ; 15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), mononymously known as Rembrandt was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker, and Drawing, draughtsman. He is generally considered one of the greatest visual artists in ...

'' (1936) .... Ludwick * ''

London Melody ''London Melody'' is a 1937 British musical film directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Anna Neagle, Tullio Carminati and Robert Douglas. It was made at British and Dominions Imperial Studios, Elstree and Pinewood Studios by Wilcox's inde ...

'' (1937) .... Policeman Outside Nightclub (uncredited) * '' Knight Without Armour'' (1937) .... White Officer * '' Dinner at the Ritz'' (1937) .... Gibout * ''When We Are Married'' (1938, TV Movie) .... Councillor Albert Parker * '' Let's Be Famous'' (1939) .... Singer in trio (uncredited) * ''

The Lion Has Wings ''The Lion Has Wings'' is a 1939 British, black-and-white, documentary-style, propaganda film, propaganda war film that was directed by Adrian Brunel, Brian Desmond Hurst, Alexander Korda and Michael Powell. The film was produced by London Film ...

'' (1939) .... Minor role (uncredited) * '' Night Train to Munich'' (1940) .... Kampenfeldt * '' Bulldog Sees It Through'' (1940) .... Tramp Steamer Officer * '' Freedom Radio'' (1941) .... Rabenau * '' The Ghost of St. Michael's'' (1941) .... Mr Humphries * '' The Ghost Train'' (1941) .... John Price * '' Inspector Hornleigh Goes To It'' (1941) .... Dr Kerbishley * '' "Pimpernel" Smith'' (1941) .... Marx * '' Once a Crook'' (1941) .... Prison Governor * '' The Day Will Dawn'' (1942) .... Norwegian Under-Secretary (scenes deleted) * '' The New Lot'' (1943, Short) .... Barrington (uncredited) * '' When We Are Married'' (1943) .... Albert Parker * ''

'' (1944) .... Pte Herbert Davenport * '' They Came to a City'' (1944) .... Malcolm Stritton * '' I See a Dark Stranger'' (1946) .... J. Miller * '' School for Secrets'' (1946) .... Prof Laxton-Jones * '' So Evil My Love'' (1948) .... Henry Courtney * ''Men of Darkness'' (1948, TV Movie) .... Pisancon * '' Broken Journey'' (1948) .... Edward Marshall * '' Mr. Perrin and Mr. Traill'' (1948) .... Moy-Thompson * '' It's Hard to Be Good'' (1948) .... Williams * ''

'' (1949) .... Mr Wix * ''The Late Edwina Black'' (1949, TV Movie) .... Henry Martin * '' Trio'' (1950) .... Mr Henry Chester (segment "Sanatorium") * '' The Long Dark Hall'' (1951) .... Chief Insp Sullivan * '' I'll Never Forget You'' (1951) .... Mr Throstle * '' Mr. Denning Drives North'' (1951) .... Wright * ''When We Are Married'' (1951, TV movie) .... Councillor Albert Parker * ''

The Last Page ''The Last Page'', released in the United States as ''Man Bait'', is a 1952 British film noir directed by Terence Fisher, starring George Brent, Marguerite Chapman and Diana Dors. The film is notable for being the first Hammer film direct ...

'' (1952) .... Clive Oliver * '' Laxdale Hall'' (1953) .... Samuel Pettigrew, MP * '' Glad Tidings'' (1953) .... Tom Forester * '' Meet Mr. Lucifer'' (1953) .... Patterson * '' Hobson's Choice'' (1954) .... Nathaniel Beenstock * '' Orders Are Orders'' (1954) .... Colonel Bellamy * '' The Teckman Mystery'' (1954) .... Maurice Miller * '' Aunt Clara'' (1954) .... Rev Maurice Hilton * ''The Unguarded Hour'' (1955, TV Movie) .... Colonel William Mason * ''

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 General * '' The Constant Husband'' (1955) .... The Boss * '' The Dam Busters'' (1955) .... Official, National Physical Laboratory * '' Doctor at Sea'' (1955) .... Capt Beamish * ''

Geordie Geordie ( ), sometimes known in linguistics as Tyneside English or Newcastle English, is an English dialect and accent spoken in the Tyneside area of North East England. It developed as a variety of the old Northumbrian dialect and became espe ...

'' (1955) .... Olympic Selector * '' The Last Man to Hang'' (1956) .... Attorney-General * '' The Green Man'' (1956) .... Sir Gregory Upshott * '' Town on Trial'' (1957) .... Dr Reese * '' Brothers in Law'' (1957) .... Tatlock QC * ''Jessica'' (1957, TV Movie) .... Stanley Baines * '' Dial 999 (TV series)'' (1958)....Myners * '' Next to No Time'' (1958) .... Forbes, Factory Supervisor * '' Room at the Top'' (1959) .... Mr Hoylake * '' Carlton-Browne of the F.O.'' (1959) .... Foreign Secretary Tufton Slade * '' Innocent Meeting'' (1959) .... Harold * '' The Mummy'' (1959) .... Joseph Whemple * '' I'm All Right Jack'' (1959) .... Magistrate * '' Our Man in Havana'' (1959) .... General * '' Bottoms Up'' (1960) .... Garrick-Jones * '' Breathless'' (1960) .... A Journalist (uncredited) * '' Follow That Horse!'' (1960) .... Special Branch Chief * '' Make Mine Mink'' (1960) .... Inspector Pape * '' A French Mistress'' (1960) .... Rev Edwin Peake * '' Sands of the Desert'' (1960) .... Bossom * ''

Suspect In law enforcement jargon, a suspect is a known person accused or suspected of committing a crime. Police and reporters in the United States often use the word suspect as a jargon when referring to the perpetrator of the offense (perp in dated U. ...

'' (1960) .... Sir George Gatting, Minister of Defence * '' The Pure Hell of St Trinian's'' (1960) .... Judge * ''Line of Enquiry'' (1961, TV Movie) .... Mr Sinclair * '' Only Two Can Play'' (1962) .... Vernon * '' Crooks Anonymous'' (1962) .... Wagstaffe * '' Waltz of the Toreadors'' (1962) .... Ackroyd, Court President * '' On the Beat'' (1962) .... Sir Ronald Ackroyd * '' Nurse on Wheels'' (1963) .... Vicar * '' The Yellow Teddy Bears'' (1963) .... Harry Halburton * '' Father Came Too!'' (1964) .... Mr Wedgewood * '' The Black Torment'' (1964) .... Colonel John Wentworth * '' Rotten to the Core'' (1965) .... Prison Governor (uncredited) * '' The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery'' (1966) .... Sir Horace, the Minister * '' Hot Millions'' (1968) .... Bayswater (uncredited) * ''

Hostile Witness A hostile witness, also known as an adverse witness or an unfavorable witness, is a witness at trial whose testimony on direct examination is either openly antagonistic or appears to be contrary to the legal position of the party who called th ...

'' (1968) .... John Naylor * '' The Adding Machine'' (1969) .... Smithers * '' Arthur! Arthur!'' (1969) .... George Payne * ''Destiny of a Spy'' (1969, TV Movie) .... Supt Pode * '' Young Winston'' (1972) .... Old Officer (scenes deleted) * '' That's Your Funeral'' (1972) .... Emmanuel Holroyd * ''

Symptoms Signs and symptoms are diagnostic indications of an illness, injury, or condition. Signs are objective and externally observable; symptoms are a person's reported subjective experiences. A sign for example may be a higher or lower temperature ...

'' (1974) .... Burke * ''A Voyage Round My Father'' (1982, TV Movie) .... Judge * ''Sleepwalker'' (1984) .... Old Englishman (final film role)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Huntley, Raymond 1904 births 1990 deaths English male film actors English male stage actors English male television actors Male actors from Birmingham, West Midlands 20th-century English male actors