William Reginald Gardiner (27 February 1903 – 7 July 1980) was an English actor on the stage, in films and on television.

Early years

Gardiner was born in Wimbledon, England, and he was a graduate 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 ...

.Katz, Ephraim (1979). ''The Film Encyclopedia: The Most Comprehensive Encyclopedia of World Cinema in a Single Volume''. Perigee Books. . pp. 465–466. His parents wanted him to be an architect, but he insisted on a career as an actor.

Stage and radio

Gardiner started as a ''super'' on stage and eventually became well known on the West End stage. "He appeared in British revues, plays and films before delighting Broadway audiences in 1935 with a wallpaper imitation act in ''At Home Abroad''." His other Broadway credits include ''Little Glass Clock'' and ''An Evening with Beatrice Lillie''. He was also well known to

radio Radio is the technology of communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 3 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmitter connec ...

listeners, and was known on the air for his amusing train and car noises.

Film

Gardiner worked in almost 100 movies. He started film work in crowd scenes, making his big film break in

1927 Events January * January 1 – The British Broadcasting ''Company'' becomes the BBC, British Broadcasting ''Corporation'', when its Royal Charter of incorporation takes effect. John Reith, 1st Baron Reith, John Reith becomes the first ...

the

silent film A silent film is a film without synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...

'' The Lodger'', by

Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English film director. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featu ...

His Hollywood film debut came in 1936. During his career he was cast in numerous roles, often as a British butler. One of his most famous roles was that of Schultz in

Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is considered o ...

's '' The Great Dictator''. He also performed memorable turns as Beverly Carlton (a parody of Noël Coward) in '' The Man Who Came to Dinner'', the spurned "almost-husband" in '' The Doctor Takes a Wife'', '' Christmas in Connecticut'' and – one of his most memorable roles – in the Laurel and Hardy epic '' The Flying Deuces''.

Television

Gardiner made numerous guest appearances on television in the 1950s and 1960s, including an episode of ''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, airing on CBS and NBC, alternately, between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. Between 1962 ...

'' ("Banquo's Chair"), Fess Parker's ABC series, ''

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington ''Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' is a 1939 American political comedy-drama film directed by Frank Capra, starring Jean Arthur and James Stewart, and featuring Claude Rains and Edward Arnold. The film is about a naive, newly appointed United ...

'', and Stanley Holloway's '' Our Man Higgins''. In 1964, he guest-starred in the '' Perry Mason'' episode "The Case of the Ugly Duckling", as business owner Albert Charity, and in the role of Mr. Maudlin in the season 6, episode 19, "Dead as a Dude" of '' 77 Sunset Strip''. In 1966, Gardiner was featured on '' Green Acres'' as orchestra conductor Sir Geoffrey in the first-season episode "Culture". In 1967, he made a guest appearance on '' Petticoat Junction'', in the episode "Uncle Joe and the Master Plan", as Gaylord Martindale and, in 1968, he appeared as a butler in an episode of “The Monkees” titled “The Monkees Mind Their Manor”. Gardiner's last major role was alongside

Phyllis Diller Phyllis Ada Diller (née Driver; July 17, 1917 – August 20, 2012) was an American stand-up comedian, Actor, actress, author, musician, and visual artist, best known for her Eccentricity (behavior), eccentric stage persona, Self-deprecation, se ...

in her 1966–1967 ABC series '' The Pruitts of Southampton''.

Recordings

Gardiner recorded a curious and eccentric classic called "Trains", which was regularly played on the 1950s British radio programme '' Children's Favourites''. This record consisted of a tipsy-sounding Gardiner reciting a monologue, which he first introduced in the 1935 Broadway revue ''At Home Abroad'', about steam railway engines (which he claimed were 'livid beasts') and impersonating both the engines themselves and the sound of trains running on the track. This latter he famously characterised as 'diddly-dee, diddly-dum' to mimic the sound pattern as the four pairs of bogie wheels ran over joins between the lengths of track – a sound no longer heard since welded rail joins were introduced. "Trains" was released as a 78 and a 45 by English

Decca Records Decca Records is a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis (Decca), Edward Lewis after his acquisition of a gramophone manufacturer, The Decca Gramophone Company. It set up an American subsidiary under the Decca name, which bec ...

(F 5278) which remained on catalogue into the 1970s. At the end of the record Gardiner signs off with "Well folks, that's all: back to the asylum." He was summoned to

Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace () is a royal official residence, residence in London, and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and r ...

to give a performance in person.

Personal life

Gardiner was married twice. He first married Wyn Richmond, a British actress, but they divorced. Later he married model Nadia Petrova. Gardiner and Nadia Petrova had a son Peter Robert Gardiner, born on April 25, 1949. Gardiner had a son out of wedlock with Jane Bagnato in Toronto, Canada: Reginald James "Jamie" Gardiner was born January 1, 1939. He left Jane and his son after three years to marry Nadia. Jamie's last name was changed to Williams at age 8, after his mother married Reginald Williams in 1947.

Death

Gardiner died of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...

at his home in Westwood, California, on 7 July 1980. He was survived by his wife Nadia.

Filmography

* '' The Lodger'' (1927) - Dancer at Ball (uncredited) * '' The Perfect Lady'' (1931) - Lord Tony Carderay * '' Josser on the River'' (1932) - Donald * '' Leave It to Smith'' (1933) - Lord Redwood * '' Radio Parade'' (1933) - Himself * '' The Diplomatic Lover'' (1934) - Dersingham * '' Virginia's Husband'' (1934) - John Craddock * '' Borrow a Million'' (1934) - Alastair Cartwright * '' A Little Bit of Bluff'' (1935) - Hugh Rigby * '' Royal Cavalcade'' (1935) - Bus Conductor * ''Opening Night'' (1935) * ''

Born to Dance ''Born to Dance'' is a 1936 American musical film directed by Roy Del Ruth and starring Eleanor Powell, James Stewart and Virginia Bruce. It was produced and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The score was composed by Cole Porter. Plot Wh ...

'' (1936) - Policeman * '' A Damsel in Distress'' (1937) - Keggs * '' Everybody Sing'' (1938) - Jerrold Hope * ''

Marie Antoinette Marie Antoinette (; ; Maria Antonia Josefa Johanna; 2 November 1755 – 16 October 1793) was the last List of French royal consorts, queen of France before the French Revolution and the establishment of the French First Republic. She was the ...

'' (1938) - Comte d'Artois * '' Sweethearts'' (1938) - Norman Trumpett * '' The Girl Downstairs'' (1938) - Willie * '' The Flying Deuces'' (1939) - François * '' The Night of Nights'' (1939) - J. Neville Prime * '' The Doctor Takes a Wife'' (1940) - John Pierce * '' Dulcy'' (1940) - Schuyler Van Dyke * '' The Great Dictator'' (1940) - Commander Schultz * '' My Life with Caroline'' (1941) - Paul * '' A Yank in the R.A.F.'' (1941) - Roger Pillby * '' Sundown'' (1941) - Lieutenant Rodney 'Roddy' Turner * '' The Man Who Came to Dinner'' (1942) - Beverly Carlton * '' Captains of the Clouds'' (1942) - Scrounger Harris * '' Immortal Sergeant'' (1943) - Tom Benedict * '' Forever and a Day'' (1943) - Assistant Hotel Manager * '' Claudia'' (1943) - Jerry Seymour * '' Sweet Rosie O'Grady'' (1943) - Charles, Duke of Trippingham * '' The Horn Blows at Midnight'' (1945) - Composer / Archibald 'Archie' Dexter * '' Molly and Me'' (1945) - Harry Phillips / Peabody, the Butler * '' Christmas in Connecticut'' (1945) - John Sloan * '' The Dolly Sisters'' (1945) - Tony, Duke of Breck * ''

Do You Love Me "Do You Love Me" is a rhythm and blues song recorded by the Contours in 1962. Written and produced by Motown, Motown Records owner Berry Gordy Jr., it appeared twice on the Billboard Hot 100, ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart, reaching numbers three ...

'' (1946) - Herbert Benham * '' One More Tomorrow'' (1946) - James 'Jim' Aloysius Fisk * '' Cluny Brown'' (1946) - Hilary Ames * '' I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now'' (1947) - Will Hough * '' Fury at Furnace Creek'' (1948) - Captain Grover A. Walsh * '' That Lady in Ermine'' (1948) - Alberto * '' That Wonderful Urge'' (1948) - Count André de Guyon * '' Wabash Avenue'' (1950) - English Eddie * '' I'll Get By'' (1950) - Himself (uncredited) * '' Halls of Montezuma'' (1951) - Sergeant Johnson * ''

Elopement Elopement is a marriage which is conducted in a sudden and secretive fashion, sometimes involving a hurried flight away from one's place of residence together with one's beloved with the intention of getting married without parental approval. A ...

'' (1951) - Roger Evans * '' Androcles and the Lion'' (1952) - Lentulus * '' Black Widow'' (1954) - Brian Mullen * '' Ain't Misbehavin''' (1955) - Anatole Piermont Rogers * '' The Birds and the Bees'' (1956) - Gerald * '' The Story of Mankind'' (1957) - William Shakespeare * '' Rock-A-Bye Baby'' (1958) - Harold Hermann * ''

'' (1959) (Season 4 Episode 29: "Banquo's Chair") - Major Cook-Finch * '' Back Street'' (1961) - Dalian * '' Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation'' (1962) - Reggie McHugh * '' What a Way to Go!'' (1964) - Painter * '' Sergeant Deadhead'' (1965) - Lieutenant Commander Talbott * '' Do Not Disturb'' (1965) - Simmons

Selected stage credits

* '' Chance Acquaintance'' 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 ...

(1927) * '' A Present from Margate'' by Ian Hay (1933)

Radio appearances

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Gardiner, Reginald 1903 births 1980 deaths English male stage actors English male radio actors English male film actors English male television actors 20th-century English male actors Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) 20th-century American male actors Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art English expatriate male actors in the United States People from Westwood, Los Angeles Male actors from London Actors from the London Borough of Merton People from Wimbledon, London