Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude McDowall (17 September 1928 – 4 October 1998) was a British actor, photographer and film director. He began his acting career as a child in England, and then in the United States, in '' How Green Was My Valley'' (1941), '' My Friend Flicka'' (1943) and '' Lassie Come Home'' (1943). As an adult, McDowall appeared most frequently as a

character actor A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to b ...

on radio, stage, film, and television. For portraying Octavian in the historical drama ''

Cleopatra Cleopatra VII Philopator ( grc-gre, Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ}, "Cleopatra the father-beloved"; 69 BC10 August 30 BC) was Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt from 51 to 30 BC, and its last active ruler.She was also a ...

'' (1963), he was nominated for a

Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of t ...

. He played Cornelius and

Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman people, Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in Caes ...

in the original ''Planet of the Apes'' film series, as well as Galen in the spin-off television series. Other notable films included '' The Longest Day'' (1962), '' The Greatest Story Ever Told'' (1965), '' That Darn Cat!'' (1965), '' Inside Daisy Clover'' (1965), '' Bedknobs and Broomsticks'' (1971), '' The Poseidon Adventure'' (1972), '' Funny Lady'' (1975), '' The Black Hole'' (1979), '' Class of 1984'' (1982), '' Fright Night'' (1985), ''

Overboard Overboard may refer to: * Man overboard, a situation where a person goes over the side of a ship or boat into the water, possibly needing rescue * ''Overboard'' (1987 film), a 1987 movie starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell * ''Overboard'' (2018 f ...

'' (1987) and '' A Bug's Life'' (1998). His accolades included a Tony Award, an

Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...

, a

Saturn Award The Saturn Awards are American awards presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. The awards were created to honor science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, but have since grown to reward other films be ...

, and a National Board of Review Award. McDowall also served in various positions on the Board of Governors for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Selection Committee for the

Kennedy Center Honors The Kennedy Center Honors are annual honors given to those in the performing arts for their lifetime of contributions to American culture. They have been presented annually since 1978, culminating each December in a gala celebrating five hono ...

, further contributing to various charities related to the film industry and film preservation. He was a founding Member of the National Film Preservation Board in 1989, and represented the Screen Actors Guild on this Board until his death. For his contributions to the film and television industry, he received a star on the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Californ ...

Biography

Early life

McDowall was born at 204 Herne Hill Road, Herne Hill, London, the only son of London-born Thomas Andrew McDowall (1896–1978), a merchant seaman of distant Scottish descent, and his Irish wife Winifred (née Corcoran). Both of his parents were enthusiastic about the theatre. He and his elder sister, Virginia, were raised in their mother's Catholic faith. He attended St Joseph's College, Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood, a Roman Catholic secondary school in London.

British films

Appearing as a child model as a baby, McDowall appeared in several films as a boy. After winning an acting prize in a school play at age nine, he started appearing in films: '' Murder in the Family'' (1938), ''

I See Ice ''I See Ice'' is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Anthony Kimmins and starring George Formby, Kay Walsh and Betty Stockfeld. The film depicts the adventures of a photographer working for a London newspaper. It features the songs "In My Lit ...

'' (1938) with George Formby, '' John Halifax'' (1938) and '' Scruffy'' (1938). McDowall appeared in '' Convict 99'' (1938) and ''

Hey! Hey! USA ''Hey! Hey! USA'' is a 1938 British comedy film starring comedian Will Hay, Edgar Kennedy and Eddie Ryan. Hay appears as Benjamin Twist, a porter who accidentally finds himself on a ship bound for the United States. The film features an early app ...

'' (1938) with Will Hay, '' Yellow Sands'' (1938), ''

The Outsider The Outsider may refer to: Film * ''The Outsider'' (1917 film), an American film directed by William C. Dowlan * ''The Outsider'' (1926 film), an American film directed by Rowland V. Lee * ''The Outsider'' (1931 film), a film starring Joan Barr ...

'' (1939), '' Murder Will Out'' (1939), '' Dead Man's Shoes'' (1940), ''

Just William ''Just William'' is the first book of children's short stories about the young school boy William Brown, written by Richmal Crompton, and published in 1922. The book was the first in the series of William Brown books which was the basis for ...

'' (1940), '' Saloon Bar'' (1940), '' You Will Remember'' (1941), and '' This England'' (1941).

Early US films

McDowall's family moved to the United States in 1940 after the outbreak of World War II. He became a naturalized United States citizen on 9 December 1949, and lived in the United States for the rest of his life. McDowall served in the 67th Armored Infantry Battalion Division of the U.S. Army Organized Reserve Corps (headquartered in Los Angeles) from 1946 to 1954, spanning the end of World War II to the Korean War.Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude McDowall at
xmoppet.org. Retrieved 9 December 2021. He later served in the 77th Infantry Division between 1960 to 1962. McDowall's American career began with a part in the 1941 thriller '' Man Hunt'', directed by Fritz Lang. It was made by

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...

who also produced McDowall's next film '' How Green Was My Valley'' (1941), where he met and became lifelong friends with actress

Maureen O'Hara Maureen O'Hara (; 17 August 1920 – 24 October 2015) was a native Irish and naturalized American actress and singer, who became successful in Cinema of the United States, Hollywood from the 1940s through to the 1960s. She was a natural ...

. The film won the

Academy Award for Best Picture The Academy Award for Best Picture is one of the Academy Awards presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) since the awards debuted in 1929. This award goes to the producers of the film and is the only category ...

, and McDowall's role as Huw Morgan made him a household name. Fox put him in another war film, ''

Confirm or Deny ''Confirm or Deny'' is a 1941 film made by 20th Century Fox, directed by Archie Mayo and Fritz Lang (uncredited), and starring by Don Ameche and Joan Bennett. The screenplay was written by Jo Swerling, based on a story by Samuel Fuller and Henry ...

'' (1941), then he played Tyrone Power as a boy in '' Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake'' (1942).

Stardom

Fox promoted McDowall to top billing for '' On the Sunny Side'' (1942). He was billed second to

Monty Woolley Edgar Montilion "Monty" Woolley (August 17, 1888May 6, 1963) was an American film and theater actor.Obituary ''Variety'', May 8, 1963, page 223. At the age of 50, he achieved a measure of stardom for his role in the 1939 stage play ''The Man Wh ...

in '' The Pied Piper'' (1942), playing a war orphan, then he had top billing again for an adaptation of '' My Friend Flicka'' (1942). Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer borrowed McDowall for the star role in '' Lassie Come Home'' (1943), a film that introduced an actress who would become another lifelong friend,

Elizabeth Taylor Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011) was a British-American actress. She began her career as a child actress in the early 1940s and was one of the most popular stars of classical Hollywood cinema in the 1950s. ...

. MGM kept him on to play a leading role in ''

The White Cliffs of Dover The White Cliffs of Dover is the region of English coastline facing the Strait of Dover and France. The cliff face, which reaches a height of , owes its striking appearance to its composition of chalk accented by streaks of black flint, deposi ...

'' (1944). Back at Fox he played

Gregory Peck Eldred Gregory Peck (April 5, 1916 – June 12, 2003) was an American actor and one of the most popular film stars from the 1940s to the 1970s. In 1999, the American Film Institute named Peck the 12th-greatest male star of Classic Hollywood ...

as a young man in '' The Keys of the Kingdom'' (1944). In 1944, exhibitors voted McDowall the number four "Star of Tomorrow". Fox gave McDowall another starring vehicle, ''Thunderhead – Son of Flicka'' (1945). They reunited him with Woolley in '' Molly and Me'' (1945), which was made as an attempt to turn

Gracie Fields Dame Gracie Fields (born Grace Stansfield; 9 January 189827 September 1979) was an English actress, singer, comedian and star of cinema and music hall who was one of the top ten film stars in Britain during the 1930s and was considered the h ...

into a Hollywood star. McDowall went back to MGM to support Walter Pidgeon in ''

Holiday in Mexico ''Holiday in Mexico'' is a 1946 Technicolor musical directed by George Sidney and starring Walter Pidgeon, Jane Powell, and Ilona Massey. Plot The film starts with a brief cartoon of telephone wires from Washington, DC trying to call Mexico. Je ...

'' (1946).

Theatre

McDowall turned to the theatre, taking the title role of '' Young Woodley'' in a summer stock production in Westport, Connecticut in July 1946. In 1947, he played Malcolm in Orson Welles's stage production of ''

Macbeth ''Macbeth'' (, full title ''The Tragedie of Macbeth'') is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. It is thought to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those w ...

'' in Salt Lake City, and played the same role in the actor-director's film version in 1948.

Monogram Pictures

Roland Winters and Roddy McDowall - Killer Shark 04

McDowall then signed a three-year contract with

Monogram Pictures Monogram Pictures Corporation was an American film studio that produced mostly low-budget films between 1931 and 1953, when the firm completed a transition to the name Allied Artists Pictures Corporation. Monogram was among the smaller studios i ...

, a low-budget studio that welcomed established stars, to make two films a year. McDowall starred in seven films for them, for which he also worked as associate producer: '' Rocky'' (1948), a boy and dog story directed by

Phil Karlson Phil Karlson (born Philip N. Karlstein; July 2, 1908 – December 12, 1982) was an American film director. Karlson directed '' 99 River Street'', ''Kansas City Confidential'' and ''Hell's Island'', all with actor John Payne, in the early 1950s ...

; '' Kidnapped'' (1948), an adaptation of the Robert Louis Stevenson story, where he played David Balfour, directed by William Beaudine; ''

Tuna Clipper ''Tuna Clipper'' is a 1949 American drama film directed by William Beaudine and starring Roddy McDowall, Elena Verdugo and Roland Winters. It was one of a series of films McDowall made for Monogram. Plot A young man goes to work on a tuna boat to ...

'' (1949), a fishing tale, again directed by Beaudine; '' Black Midnight'' (1949), a horse story directed by

Budd Boetticher Oscar "Budd" Boetticher Jr. ( ; July 29, 1916 – November 29, 2001) was an American film director. He is best remembered for a series of low-budget Westerns he made in the late 1950s starring Randolph Scott. Early life Boetticher was born in ...

; ''

Killer Shark ''Killer Shark'' is a 1950 American B film directed by Budd Boetticher and starring Roddy McDowall, Laurette Luez and Roland Winters. Charles Lang scripted the film and also appeared on it. Plot summary Shark fishermen on ocean Mexican Cantina ...

'' (1950), a shark hunting tale, again with Boetticher; '' Big Timber'' (1950), as a logger; '' The Steel Fist'' (1952), an anti-communist drama.

1950s: Television and theatre

McDowall left

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

to relocate to New York City. He began appearing on television, notably shows like '' Celanese Theatre'', '' Broadway Television Theatre'', '' Medallion Theatre'', ''

Campbell Summer Soundstage ''The Campbell Playhouse'' (also known as ''Campbell Soundstage'', ''TV Soundstage'', and ''Campbell Summer Soundstage'', (summer hiatus only, see ''below'')) was an American anthology series and television drama that originally aired on NBC from ...

'', '' Armstrong Circle Theatre'', '' Encounter'', '' Robert Montgomery Presents'' (including an adaptation of ''

Great Expectations ''Great Expectations'' is the thirteenth novel by Charles Dickens and his penultimate completed novel. It depicts the education of an orphan nicknamed Pip (Great Expectations), Pip (the book is a ''bildungsroman''; a coming-of-age story). It ...

'' where he played Pip), '' The Elgin Hour'', ''

Ponds Theater ''Pond's Theater'' is a 60-minute television anthology series sponsored by Pond's Creams that was produced by the J. Walter Thompson Agency on ABC-TV. Its original title was '' Kraft Television Theatre'', but when Kraft decided to drop the Thurs ...

'', '' General Electric Theater'', '' The Kaiser Aluminum Hour'', '' Lux Video Theatre'', ''

Goodyear Playhouse ''Goodyear Television Playhouse'' is an American anthology series that was telecast live on NBC from 1951 to 1957 during the first Golden Age of Television. Sponsored by Goodyear, Goodyear alternated sponsorship with Philco, and the ''Philco Tel ...

'', '' The Alcoa Hour'', '' Kraft Theatre'', '' Matinee Theatre'', '' Suspicion'', ''

Playhouse 90 ''Playhouse 90'' was an American television anthology series, anthology drama series that aired on CBS from 1956 to 1960 for a total of 133 episodes. The show was produced at CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California. Since live anthology dr ...

'' (in an adaptation of ''

Heart of Darkness ''Heart of Darkness'' (1899) is a novella by Polish-English novelist Joseph Conrad in which the sailor Charles Marlow tells his listeners the story of his assignment as steamer captain for a Belgian company in the African interior. The novel ...

''), '' The United States Steel Hour'', '' The DuPont Show of the Month'' (an adaptation of ''

Billy Budd ''Billy Budd, Sailor (An Inside Narrative)'' is a novella by American writer Herman Melville, left unfinished at his death in 1891. Acclaimed by critics as a masterpiece when a hastily transcribed version was finally published in 1924, it quick ...

'') and '' The Twilight Zone'' (the episode "

People Are Alike All Over "People Are Alike All Over" is episode 25 of the American television anthology series ''The Twilight Zone''. Opening narration Plot Two astronauts discuss an impending mission to Mars. One of them, Marcusson, is a positive thinker who believes ...

"). McDowall also had significant success on the Broadway stage. He was in a production of '' Misalliance'' (1953) that ran for 130 performances and which McDowall said "broke the mould" in how he was judged as an actor. He followed it with ''Escapade'' (1953) with Carroll Baker and Brian Aherne; Ira Levin's ''

No Time for Sergeants ''No Time for Sergeants'' is a 1954 best-selling novel by Mac Hyman, which was adapted into a teleplay on ''The United States Steel Hour'', a popular Broadway play and 1958 motion picture, as well as a 1964 television series. The book chronicles ...

'' (1955–57), which was a huge hit; ''Diary of a Scoundrel'' (1956); and ''Good as Gold'' (1957). He had a big critical success with '' Compulsion'' (1957–58) based on Leopold and Loeb – although McDowall was not cast in the film version. He followed it with ''Handful of Fire'' (1958),

Noël Coward Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 189926 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what ''Time'' magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and ...

's '' Look After Lulu!'' (1959) and Peter Brook's ''

The Fighting Cock ''The Fighting Cock'' is a 1963 Australian television play. It is an adaptation of a play by Jean Anouilh whose original French title was ''L'Hurluberlu''. In English, it had a run on Broadway, starring Rex Harrison. It was made at a time Austr ...

'' (1960). The latter earned him a Tony Award.

1960: Return to Hollywood

McDowall was in another big Broadway hit when he played Mordred in the musical '' Camelot'' (1960–63) with

Julie Andrews Dame Julie Andrews (born Julia Elizabeth Wells; 1 October 1935) is an English actress, singer, and author. She has garnered numerous accolades throughout her career spanning over seven decades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Fi ...

and Richard Burton. He played Ariel in a TV production of '' The Tempest'' (1960) with Richard Burton and Maurice Evans, then appeared in his first Hollywood movie in almost a decade, '' The Subterraneans'' (1960). He followed it with '' Midnight Lace'' (1960). McDowall continued to work on television in shows such as '' Sunday Showcase'', '' Naked City'', and '' Play of the Week''. He was in a TV production of '' The Power and the Glory'' (1961) with

Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier (; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director who, along with his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud, was one of a trio of male actors who dominated the Theatre of the U ...

, George C. Scott and Julie Harris. In 1963, McDowall appeared as Octavian in the film production of ''

'', which starred Elizabeth Taylor. While filming in Europe, he appeared in Fox's war movie '' The Longest Day'' (1963). He continued to guest on television series such as '' Arrest and Trial'', ''

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, aired on CBS and NBC between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers and mysteries. Between 1962 and 1965 it was rena ...

'', '' The Eleventh Hour'', '' Kraft Suspense Theatre'', '' Combat!'', '' Ben Casey'', '' Twelve O'Clock High'', '' Run for Your Life'', '' The Invaders'', and appeared as a Special Guest Villain as The Bookworm on ''

Batman Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on ...

''. He had supporting roles in Fox's '' Shock Treatment'' (1964) and United Artists' '' The Greatest Story Ever Told'' (1965). He was third billed in '' The Third Day'' (1965) and received billing as a member of the ensemble cast in '' The Loved One'' (1965). McDowall went to Disney for '' That Darn Cat!'' (1965) and had a role in '' Inside Daisy Clover'' (1965). McDowall was given a starring role in '' Lord Love a Duck'' (1966). He also appeared in '' The Defector'' (1966) and returned briefly to Broadway for ''The Astrakhan Coat'' (1967). Disney gave him the star role in '' The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin'' (1967) and he was top billed in '' The Cool Ones'' (1967) and '' It!'' (1967). He was in a TV production of ''Saint Joan'' (1967) and provided the voice for '' Cricket on the Hearth'' (1967). He guest-starred in the series '' The Felony Squad''. Planet of the Apes cast 1974

In 1968, McDowall appeared in one of his memorable roles when he was cast in '' Planet of the Apes'' as the ape Cornelius. He would later go on to appear in three sequels and a TV spin-off from the film. He was Prince John in ''The Legend of Robin Hood'' (1968) for TV, and appeared in ''

5 Card Stud ''5 Card Stud'' is a 1968 American Western mystery film directed by Henry Hathaway and starring Dean Martin and Robert Mitchum. The script is based on a novel by Ray Gaulden and was written by Marguerite Roberts, who also wrote the screenplay ...

'' (1968), '' Journey to the Unknown'', '' It Takes a Thief'', '' Midas Run'' (1969), ''

Hello Down There ''Hello Down There'' (rereleased in 1974 as ''Sub-A-Dub-Dub'') is a 1969 American comedy- adventure film starring Tony Randall and Janet Leigh that was released by Paramount Pictures. It was produced by George Sherman and Ivan Tors and directed ...

'' (1969), '' Angel, Angel, Down We Go'' (1969), '' Night Gallery'' (1969), '' The Name of the Game'' and ''

Medical Center Medical center or medical centre may refer to: Medical care * A collection of medical services on the same site, such as the services of a general practitioner, pharmacist, pathology, radiology, dentist etc. * Clinic * Hospital * Academic medic ...

''.

1970s

McDowall made his debut as director with '' The Ballad of Tam Lin'' (1970). As an actor he was in '' Pretty Maids All in a Row'' (1971). McDowall was not in the first ''Apes'' sequel but was in the second, '' Escape from the Planet of the Apes'' (1971). He was in the TV movies '' Terror in the Sky'' (1971), '' What's a Nice Girl Like You...?'' (1971) and '' A Taste of Evil'' (1971) and Disney's '' Bedknobs and Broomsticks'' (1971). He guest starred on '' Ironside'', '' The Carol Burnett Show'', ''

Columbo ''Columbo'' () is an American crime drama television series starring Peter Falk as Lieutenant Columbo, a homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. After two pilot episodes in 1968 and 1971, the show originally aired on NBC f ...

'' (1972, "Short Fuse"), '' The Delphi Bureau'', '' The Rookies'', '' Mission: Impossible'', '' Barnaby Jones'' and '' McCloud''. McDowall made his third ''Apes'' film with 1972's '' Conquest of the Planet of the Apes''. He had supporting roles in '' The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean'' (1972) and '' The Poseidon Adventure'' (1972) and starred in a pilot that did not go to series, '' Topper Returns'' (1973), and '' The Legend of Hell House'' (1973). His final ''Apes'' movie was '' Battle for the Planet of the Apes'' (1973). He also appeared in '' McMillan & Wife'', ''

Love, American Style ''Love, American Style'' is an anthology comedy television series that aired on ABC from 1969 to 1974. The series was produced by Paramount Television. During the 1971–72 and 1972–73 seasons, it was a part of ABC's Friday primetime lineup ...

'', ''

Arnold Arnold may refer to: People * Arnold (given name), a masculine given name * Arnold (surname), a German and English surname Places Australia * Arnold, Victoria, a small town in the Australian state of Victoria Canada * Arnold, Nova Scotia Uni ...

'' (1973), a remake of '' Miracle on 34th Street'' (1973), '' The Elevator'' (1974), and ''

The Snoop Sisters ''The Snoop Sisters'' is an American comedy-mystery television show that aired on NBC during the 1973–1974 season, airing on a monthly rotation (referred to as a "wheel") as part of the '' NBC Wednesday Mystery Movie'', sharing the timeslot with ...

'' also (1974) an uncredited cameo appearance as a grocery store manager in the film '' Dirty Mary Crazy Larry''. He starred in the short lived TV spin-off series of '' Planet of the Apes'' (1974). During a guest appearance on '' The Carol Burnett Show'', he came onstage in his ''Planet of the Apes'' makeup and performed a love duet with Burnett. Asked about his career in a 1975 interview, McDowall said "I just hope to keep working and in interesting things."

Late 1970s

For the rest of the 1970s, McDowall alternated between features, TV films and TV series. Features included '' Funny Lady'' (1975), '' Mean Johnny Barrows'' (1976), ''

Embryo An embryo is an initial stage of development of a multicellular organism. In organisms that reproduce sexually, embryonic development is the part of the life cycle that begins just after fertilization of the female egg cell by the male spe ...

'' (1976), ''

Sixth and Main ''Sixth and Main'' is a 1977 American drama film directed by Christopher Cain and starring Leslie Nielsen and Beverly Garland. Plot Monica (Beverly Garland) decides to spend time in the slums of Los Angeles to absorb the atmosphere for a book ...

'' (1977), '' Laserblast'' (1978), '' Rabbit Test'' (1978), '' The Cat from Outer Space'' (1978) for Disney, '' Circle of Iron'' (1978), '' Scavenger Hunt'' (1979), '' Nutcracker Fantasy'' (1979) (doing voice over for the English language edition), and Disney's '' The Black Hole'' (1979) in which he voiced one of the robot roles. TV series included ''

Police Woman The integration of women into law enforcement positions can be considered a large social change. A century ago, there were few jobs open to women in law enforcement. A small number of women worked as correctional officers, and their assignment ...

'', '' Mowgli's Brothers'', '' Harry O'', '' The Feather and Father Gang'', '' Wonder Woman'', '' Flying High'', '' The Love Boat'', ''

$weepstake$ ''Sweepstakes'', stylized as ''$weepstake$'', is an American anthology television series that aired in the United States on NBC during the 1978-79 United States network television schedule#Tuesday, 1978-79 television season. It depicts the lives o ...

'', ''

Supertrain ''Supertrain'' is an American science fiction-adventure-drama television series that ran on NBC from February 7 to May 5, 1979. Nine episodes were made, including a two-hour pilot episode. Premise The series takes place on the ''Supertrain'', a ...

'', '' Hart to Hart'', '' A Man Called Sloane'', '' Trapper John, M.D.'' (the pilot episode), '' Buck Rogers in the 25th Century'' (" Planet of the Slave Girls") and '' Mork & Mindy''. He also had a regular role in the short-lived sci-fi series '' The Fantastic Journey'' (1977). TV movies included '' Flood!'' (1977), '' The Rhinemann Exchange'' (1978), '' The Immigrants'' (1978), and '' The Thief of Baghdad'' (1978).

Early 1980s

McDowall's TV movie/mini-series work in the 1980s included '' The Martian Chronicles'' (1980), '' The Memory of Eva Ryker'' (1980), '' The Return of the King'' (1980) (on which he did voice over work), ''

The Million Dollar Face ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in En ...

'' (1981), '' Judgement Day'' (1981), '' Twilight Theatre'' (1982), '' Mae West'' (1982), ''

This Girl for Hire This may refer to: * ''This'', the singular proximal demonstrative pronoun Places * This, or ''Thinis'', an ancient city in Upper Egypt * This, Ardennes, a commune in France People with the surname * Hervé This, French culinary chemist Arts, ...

'' (1983), '' The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood'' (1984), ''

London and Davis in New York London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major se ...

'' (1984), '' Hollywood Wives'' (1985), and ''

Alice in Wonderland ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (commonly ''Alice in Wonderland'') is an 1865 English novel by Lewis Carroll. It details the story of a young girl named Alice who falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world of anthropomorphic creatur ...

'' (1985). TV series included ''

Boomer and Miss 21st Century Baby boomers, often shortened to boomers, are the Western demographic cohort following the Silent Generation and preceding Generation X. The generation is often defined as people born from 1946 to 1964, during the mid-20th century baby boom. ...

'', '' Fantasy Island'' (several times), '' Faerie Tale Theatre'', '' Tales of the Gold Monkey'' (a series regular), '' Small and Frye'', '' Hotel'', and '' George Burns Comedy Week''. McDowall's features included '' Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen'' (1981), '' Evil Under the Sun'' (1982), '' Class of 1984'' (1984), and the cult classic horror '' Fright Night'' (1985).

Voice-over work and late 1980s

McDowall began to play many voice over roles, such as '' Zoo Ship'' (1985), '' GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords'' (1986), and '' The Wind in the Willows'' (1987). TV series included ''

Bridges to Cross ''Bridges to Cross'' is an American drama television series that aired on CBS from April 24 until June 12, 1986. Premise Tracy Bridges works alongside her ex-husband for a magazine in Washington, D.C. Cast * Suzanne Pleshette as Tracy Bridges *N ...

'' (1986) (in which McDowall was a regular), '' The Wizard'', ''

Murder, She Wrote ''Murder, She Wrote'' is an American crime drama television series, created by Peter S. Fischer, Richard Levinson and William Link, starring Angela Lansbury, and produced and distributed by Universal Television for the CBS network. The series f ...

'', '' Matlock'', and '' Nightmare Classics'', and TV movies included '' Remo Williams: The Prophecy'' and '' Around the World in 80 Days'' (1989). In 1987, he had supporting roles in '' Dead of Winter'' and ''

'', on which he also served as executive producer. Other features included ''

Doin' Time on Planet Earth ''Doin' Time on Planet Earth'' is a 1988 American comedy film directed by Charles Matthau and written by Darren Star. The film stars Nicholas Strouse, Andrea Thompson, Martha Scott, Adam West, Hugh Gillin, and Matt Adler. The film was released o ...

'' (1988), '' Fright Night Part 2'' (1989), '' The Big Picture'' (1989), ''

Cutting Class ''Cutting Class'' is a 1989 American black comedy slasher film directed by Rospo Pallenberg in his directorial debut, written by Steve Slavkin, and starring Donovan Leitch, Jill Schoelen, Brad Pitt, Roddy McDowall, and Martin Mull. It was Pitt's ...

'' (1989), and '' Heroes Stand Alone'' (1989). In 1989, he said "I feel as Henry Fonda did that every job I get may be my last. I'm one of those creatures born to be working. I feel better when I'm working. I don't like it when I'm not working and I've never worked as much as I want to."

1990s

McDowall's 1990s work included ''

The Color of Evening ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in En ...

'' (1990), ''

Shakma ''Shakma'' is a 1990 American horror film directed by Tom Logan and Hugh Parks. It stars Christopher Atkins, Amanda Wyss, Ari Meyers and Roddy McDowall battling a baboon which has been driven insane by an experimental drug. Despite negative review ...

'' (1990), '' Going Under'' (1990), ''

An Inconvenient Woman ''An Inconvenient Woman'' is a 1990 novel by Dominick Dunne. Its plot centers on the affair between married Jules Mendelson, an extremely influential member of Los Angeles high society, and Flo March, a diner waitress and aspiring actress whose ...

'' (1991), '' Earth Angel'' (1991), '' Deadly Game'' (1991), ''

The Naked Target ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in En ...

'' (1992), '' Double Trouble'' (1992), '' The New Lassie'' (1992), '' Quantum Leap'' (A Leap for Lisa) (1992), ''

The Evil Inside Me ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in En ...

'' (1993), '' I Strahd: The Memoirs of a Vampaire'' (1993 audio book), '' Dream On'', ''

Heads A head is the part of an organism which usually includes the ears, brain, forehead, cheeks, chin, eyes, nose, and mouth, each of which aid in various sensory functions such as sight, hearing, smell, and taste. Some very simple animals may no ...

'' (1994), '' Hart to Hart: Home Is Where the Hart Is'' (1994), '' Mirror, Mirror 2: Raven Dance'' (1994), '' Burke's Law'', '' Angel 4: Undercover'' (1994), '' The Alien Within'' (1995), '' The Grass Harp'' (1995), '' Last Summer in the Hamptons'' (1995), '' Bullet Hearts'' (1996), ''

Star Hunter ''Star Hunter'' is a 1995 science fiction film directed by Cole S. McKay and Fred Olen Ray, and starring Roddy McDowall and Stella Stevens. The eponymous character is an alien who travels through space seeking species to hunt for pleasure. He arr ...

'' (1996), ''

It's My Party "It's My Party" is a song by American singer-songwriter Lesley Gore from her debut studio album ''I'll Cry If I Want To'' (1963). It was released as the lead single from the album on April 5, 1963, by Mercury Records. The song was collectively ...

'' (1996), '' Tracey Takes On...'', ''

Dead Man's Island ''Dead Man's Island'' is a 1996 American made-for-television mystery-thriller film starring Barbara Eden, William Shatner and featuring an ensemble cast: Roddy McDowall, Morgan Fairchild, Traci Lords, David Faustino, Christopher Atkins, Olivia ...

'', '' Remember WENN'', ''

Unlikely Angel ''Unlikely Angel'' is a 1996 American made-for-television Christmas fantasy-comedy film directed by Michael Switzer and starring Dolly Parton. It premiered on CBS on December 17, 1996. Plot While driving home from a bar one night, straight-talkin ...

'' (1996), '' The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli & Baloo'' (1997), '' Something to Believe In'' (1998), and '' Loss of Faith'' (1998). He did voices for '' The Pirates of Dark Water'' (1991–92), ''Timmy's Gift: A Precious Moments Christmas'' (1992), ''Camp Candy'', '' The Legend of Prince Valiant'' (1992), '' Darkwing Duck'' (1992), ''

2 Stupid Dogs ''2 Stupid Dogs'' is an American animated television series created and designed by Donovan Cook and produced by Hanna-Barbera Cartoons. It originally ran from September 5, 1993, to May 15, 1995, on TBS as a part of their ''Sunday Morning in Fr ...

'', '' Swat Kats: The Radical Squadron'', '' Batman: The Animated Series'', '' Red Planet'', '' The Tick'', ''

Galaxy Beat A galaxy is a system of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust, dark matter, bound together by gravity. The word is derived from the Greek ' (), literally 'milky', a reference to the Milky Way galaxy that contains the Solar System ...

'', '' Gargoyles'', '' Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man'', '' Pinky and the Brain'', '' The New Batman Adventures'', ''

Superman Superman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, and debuted in the comic book ''Action Comics'' #1 (cover-dated June 1938 and publi ...

'', '' A Bug's Life'' (1998), and '' Godzilla: The Series''. He was the subject of ''

This Is Your Life This Is Your Life may refer to: Television * ''This Is Your Life'' (American franchise), an American radio and television documentary biography series hosted by Ralph Edwards * ''This Is Your Life'' (Australian TV series), the Australian versio ...

'' in 1993, when he was surprised by Michael Aspel at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood. In 1997, McDowall hosted the MGM Musicals Tribute at

Carnegie Hall Carnegie Hall ( ) is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhatta ...

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

McDowall served for several years in various capacities on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organisation that presents the Oscar Awards, and on the selection committee for the Kennedy Center Awards. He was Chairman of the Actors' Branch for five terms. He was elected President of the Academy Foundation in 1998, the year that he died. He worked to support the Motion Pictures Retirement Home, where a rose garden named in his honour was officially dedicated on 9 October 2001 and remains a part of the campus.

Photographer and author

McDowall received recognition as a photographer, working with ''

Look To look is to use sight to perceive an object. Look or The Look may refer to: Businesses and products * Look (modeling agency), an Israeli modeling agency * ''Look'' (American magazine), a defunct general-interest magazine * ''Look'' (UK ma ...

'', '' Vogue'', ''

Collier's ''Collier's'' was an American general interest magazine founded in 1888 by Peter Fenelon Collier. It was launched as ''Collier's Once a Week'', then renamed in 1895 as ''Collier's Weekly: An Illustrated Journal'', shortened in 1905 to ''Collie ...

'', and '' Life''. His work includes a cover story on Mae West for ''Life'' and the cover of the 1964 Barbra Streisand album, '' The Third Album''. He took the photograph when Streisand performed on '' The Judy Garland Show'' in October, 1963. He published five books of photographs, each featuring photos and profile interviews of his celebrity friends interviewing each other, such as

, Judy Garland, Judy Holliday,

Katharine Hepburn Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was an American actress in film, stage, and television. Her career as a Hollywood leading lady spanned over 60 years. She was known for her headstrong independence, spirited perso ...

Lauren Bacall Lauren Bacall (; born Betty Joan Perske; September 16, 1924 – August 12, 2014) was an American actress. She was named the 20th-greatest female star of classic Hollywood cinema by the American Film Institute and received an Academy Honorary Aw ...

, and others. It started with ''Double Exposure'' in 1968.

Personal life

McDowall was a Democrat and was supportive of

Adlai Stevenson Adlai Stevenson may refer to: * Adlai Stevenson I (1835–1914), U.S. Vice President (1893–1897) and Congressman (1879–1881) * Adlai Stevenson II (1900–1965), Governor of Illinois (1949–1953), U.S. presidential candida ...

's campaign during the 1952 presidential election. In 1974, the FBI raided McDowall's home and seized his collection of films and television series in the course of an investigation into film piracy and copyright infringement. His collection consisted of 160 16-mm prints and more than 1,000 video cassettes, at a time before the era of commercial videotapes, when there was no legal aftermarket for films. McDowall had purchased Errol Flynn's home cinema films and transferred them all to tape for longer-lasting archival storage. No charges were filed. McDowall never married or had children. In ''Full Service: My Adventures in Hollywood and the Secret Sex Lives of the Stars'' (2012) by Scotty Bowers, a famous Hollywood procurer, Bowers claims McDowall was one of his

homosexual Homosexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction, or sexual behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality is "an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions" to peop ...

clients. McDowall was in a relationship with American actor Montgomery Clift for several years in the early 1950s.

Death

On 3 October 1998, at age 70, McDowall died of lung cancer at his home in Studio City, California. His body was cremated and his ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean on 7 October 1998 off Los Angeles County. Dennis Osborne, a screenwriter, had cared for the actor in his final months. The media quoted Osborne as having said, "It was very peaceful. It was just as he wanted it. It was exactly the way he planned.""Actor Roddy McDowall dies of cancer"
deseretnews.com, 4 October 1998.

Filmography

Film

* ''Murder in the Family'' (1938) as Peter Osborne * '' John Halifax'' (1938) as Boy * ''Poison Pen'' (1939) as Choirboy (uncredited) * '' His Brother's Keeper'' (1940) as Boy * '' Dead Man's Shoes'' (1940) as Boy * ''

'' (1940) as Ginger * '' Saloon Bar'' (1940) as Boy * '' You Will Remember'' (1941) as Young Bob Slater * '' Man Hunt'' (1941) as Vaner * '' This England'' (1941) as Hugo, Norman Boy * '' How Green Was My Valley'' (1941) as Huw Morgan * ''

'' (1941) as Albert Perkins * '' Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake'' (1942) as Benjamin – as a Boy * ''On the Sunny Side'' (1942) as Hugh Aylesworth * '' The Pied Piper'' (1942) as Ronnie Cavanaugh * '' My Friend Flicka'' (1943) as Ken McLaughlin * '' Lassie Come Home'' (1943) as Joe Carraclough * ''

'' (1944) as John Ashwood II as a Boy * '' The Keys of the Kingdom'' (1944) as Francis Chisholm – as a Boy * '' Thunderhead, Son of Flicka'' (1945) as Ken McLaughlin * '' Molly and Me'' (1945) as Jimmy Graham * ''

'' (1946) as Stanley Owen * '' Rocky'' (1948) as Chris Hammond * ''

'' (1948) as Malcolm * '' Kidnapped'' (1948) as David Balfour * ''

'' (1949) as Alec MacLennan * ''Black Midnight'' (1949) as Scott Jordan * '' Big Timber'' (1950) as Jimmy * ''

'' (1950) as Ted * ''Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Goes to Bat'' (1950; short subject) * ''The Steel Fist'' (1952) as Eric Kardin * '' The Big Country'' (1958) as Hannassey Watchman (uncredited) * '' The Subterraneans'' (1960) as Yuri Gilgoric * '' Midnight Lace'' (1960) as Malcolm Stanley * '' The Longest Day'' (1962) as Pvt. Morris * ''

'' (1963) as Octavian – Caesar Augustus * '' Shock Treatment'' (1964) as Martin Ashley * '' The Greatest Story Ever Told'' (1965) as Matthew * '' The Third Day'' (1965) as Oliver Parsons * '' The Loved One'' (1965) as D.J. Jr. * '' Inside Daisy Clover'' (1965) as Walter Baines * '' That Darn Cat!'' (1965) as Gregory Benson * '' Lord Love a Duck'' (1966) as Alan Musgrave * '' The Defector'' (1966) as Agent Adams * '' The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin'' (1967) as Bullwhip Griffin * '' The Cool Ones'' (1967) as Tony Krum * '' It!'' (1967) as Arthur Pimm * '' Planet of the Apes'' (1968) as Cornelius * ''

'' (1968) as Nick Evers * '' Midas Run'' (1969) as Wister * ''

'' (1969) as Nate Ashbury * '' Angel, Angel, Down We Go'' (1969) as Santoro * '' Tam-Lin'' (1970) * '' Pretty Maids All in a Row'' (1971) as Proffer * '' Escape from the Planet of the Apes'' (1971) as Cornelius * '' Terror in the Sky'' (1971) as Dr. Ralph Baird * '' Bedknobs and Broomsticks'' (1971) as Mr. Rowan Jelk * '' Conquest of the Planet of the Apes'' (1972) as Caesar * '' The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean'' (1972) as Frank Gass * '' The Poseidon Adventure'' (1972) as Acres * ''

'' (1973) as Robert * '' The Legend of Hell House'' (1973) as Benjamin Franklin Fischer * '' Battle for the Planet of the Apes'' (1973) as Caesar * '' Dirty Mary Crazy Larry'' (1974) as grocery store manager * '' Funny Lady'' (1975) as Bobby * '' Mean Johnny Barrows'' (1976) as Tony Da Vince * ''

'' (1976) as Frank Riley * ''

'' (1977) as Skateboard * '' Laserblast'' (1978) as Doctor Mellon * '' The Cat from Outer Space'' (1978) as Mr. Stallwood * '' Circle of Iron'' (1978) as White Robe * '' The Thief of Baghdad'' (1978) as Hasan * '' Nutcracker Fantasy'' (1979) as Franz / Fritz (voice) * '' Scavenger Hunt'' (1979) as Jenkins * '' The Black Hole'' (1979) as V.I.N.CENT (voice) * '' Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen'' (1981) as Gillespie * '' Evil Under the Sun'' (1982) as Rex Brewster * '' Class of 1984'' (1982) as Terry Corrigan * '' Fright Night'' (1985) as Peter Vincent * ''

'' (1985) as The March Hare * '' GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords'' (1986) as Nuggit (voice) * '' Dead of Winter'' (1987) as Mr. Murray * ''

'' (1987) as Andrew * ''

'' (1988) as Minister * '' Fright Night Part 2'' (1988) as Peter Vincent * '' The Big Picture'' (1989) as Judge * ''

'' (1989) as Mr. Dante * ''

'' (1990) as Sorenson * ''Harold Lloyd, The Third Genius'' (1990 documentary) * '' Going Under'' (1991) as Secretary Neighbor * '' Timmy's Gift: A Precious Moments Christmas'' (1991) as Narrator (voice) * ''The Magical World of Chuck Jones'' (1992 documentary) * '' Double Trouble'' (1992) as Philip Chamberlain * '' Mirror, Mirror 2: Raven Dance'' (1994) as Dr. Lasky * '' The Grass Harp'' (1995) as Amos Legrand * '' The Alien Within'' (1995) as Dr. Henry Lazarus * '' Last Summer in the Hamptons'' (1995) as Thomas * ''Star Hunter'' (1995) as Riecher * ''The Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen'' (1995 documentary) * ''

'' (1996) as Damian Knowles * ''Mary Pickford: A Life on Film'' (1997 documentary) * '' The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli & Baloo'' (1997) as King Murphy * ''Something to Believe In'' (1998) as Gambler * '' A Bug's Life'' (1998) as Mr. Soil (voice) * ''When It Clicks'' (1998) (short subject) as Professor Bark

Television

Stage

*'' Young Woodley'' (1946) *''

'' (1947) * '' Misalliance'' (1953) * ''Escapade'' (1953) * ''

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, and ...

'' (1955) * '' The Tempest'' (1955) * '' No Time for Sergeants'' (1955) * ''Good as Gold'' (1957) * ''Compulsion'' (1957) * ''Handful of Fire'' (1958) * ''Look After Lulu'' (1959) * ''The Fighting Cock'' (1959) * '' Camelot'' (1960) * ''The Astrakhan Coat'' (1967) * ''Charlie's Aunt'' (1975) * '' Dial M for Murder'' (1995–1996) * ''A Christmas Carol: The Musical'' (1997)

Radio appearances

References

Bibliography

* Best, Marc. ''Those Endearing Young Charms: Child Performers of the Screen'' (South Brunswick and New York: Barnes & Co., 1971), pp. 176–181. * Dye, David. ''Child and Youth Actors: Filmography of Their Entire Careers, 1914–1985''. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Co., 1988, pp. 140–144. * Holmstrom, John. ''The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995'', Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996, pp. 158–159.

External links

* * * * *
xmoppet.org
– tribute site with career and biographical information, image gallery, sound clips, links, articles, US TV guide, and a fan club with mailing list

*
The Roddy McDowall Collection
Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, Boston University
Image of Roddy McDowall, Julie Andrews and Greer Garson at the premiere of "The Greatest Story Ever Told" in Los Angeles, California, 1965.
Los Angeles Times Photographic Archive (Collection 1429). UCLA Library Special Collections,

Charles E. Young Research Library The Charles E. Young Research Library is one of the largest libraries on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles in Westwood, Los Angeles, California. It initially opened in 1964, and a second phase of construction was completed ...

, University of California, Los Angeles. {{DEFAULTSORT:McDowall, Roddy 1928 births 1998 deaths American gay actors American Roman Catholics Audiobook narrators California Democrats Deaths from lung cancer in California English emigrants to the United States English film directors English male child actors English male film actors English male stage actors English male Shakespearean actors English male television actors English male voice actors English people of Scottish descent English people of Irish descent English Roman Catholics Film directors from Los Angeles Male actors from London Naturalized citizens of the United States Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award winners People from Herne Hill People from Studio City, Los Angeles Tony Award winners 20th-century American male actors 20th-century English male actors 20th Century Studios contract players