Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude McDowall (17 September 1928 – 3 October 1998) was a British-American actor whose career spanned over 270 screen and stage roles across over 60 years. Born in London, he began his acting career as a child in his native England, before moving to the United States at the outbreak of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. He achieved prominence for his starring roles in '' How Green Was My Valley'' (1941), '' My Friend Flicka'' (1943), and '' Lassie Come Home'' (1943). Unlike many of his contemporaries, McDowall managed to evolve from child star into an adult performer and appeared on Broadway and in films, winning a

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...

for his performance in

Jean Anouilh Jean Marie Lucien Pierre Anouilh (; ; 23 June 1910 – 3 October 1987) was a French dramatist and screenwriter whose career spanned five decades. Though his work ranged from high drama to absurdist farce, Anouilh is best known for his 1944 play ...

's ''The Fighting Cock''. For portraying

Octavian Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian (), was the founder of the Roman Empire, who reigned as the first Roman emperor from 27 BC until his death in ...

in the historical epic ''

Cleopatra Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator (; The name Cleopatra is pronounced , or sometimes in both British and American English, see and respectively. Her name was pronounced in the Greek dialect of Egypt (see Koine Greek phonology). She was ...

'' (1963), he was nominated for a

Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally held every Janua ...

. McDowall played Cornelius and

Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (12 or 13 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. He ...

in the original ''Planet of the Apes'' film series, as well as Galen in the short-lived spin-off television series. His other notable films included

Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American director, actor, writer, producer, and magician who is remembered for his innovative work in film, radio, and theatre. He is among the greatest and most influential film ...

' ''

Macbeth ''The Tragedy of Macbeth'', often shortened to ''Macbeth'' (), is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, estimated to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the physically violent and damaging psychological effects of political ambiti ...

'' (1948), '' The Longest Day'' (1962), ''

'' (1963), ''

The Greatest Story Ever Told ''The Greatest Story Ever Told'' is a 1965 American epic film, epic List of religious films, religious film that retells the Biblical account of Jesus Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, from the Nativity of Jesus, Nativity through to the Ascension of J ...

'' (1965), ''

That Darn Cat! ''That Darn Cat!'' is a 1965 American thriller (genre), thriller comedy film directed by Robert Stevenson (director), Robert Stevenson and starring Hayley Mills and Dean Jones (actor), Dean Jones in a story about bank robbers, a kidnapping and ...

'' (1965), '' Inside Daisy Clover'' (1965), '' Bedknobs and Broomsticks'' (1971), '' The Poseidon Adventure'' (1972), '' Funny Lady'' (1975), '' The Black Hole'' (1979), '' Fright Night'' (1985) and its sequel '' Fright Night Part 2'' (1988), '' Overboard'' (1987), '' Shakma'' (1990) and ''

A Bug's Life ''A Bug's Life'' (stylized in all lowercase) is a 1998 American animated comedy film directed by John Lasseter from a screenplay written by Andrew Stanton, Donald McEnery, and Bob Shaw, and a story conceived by Lasseter, Stanton, and Joe Ran ...

'' (1998). He was a frequent guest star on many television series, and won an

Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award categor ...

for a 1961 episode of '' NBC Sunday Showcase''. McDowall served in various positions on the board of governors for the

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS, often pronounced ; also known as simply the Academy or the Motion Picture Academy) is a professional honorary organization in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., with the stated goal of adva ...

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 Culture of the United States, American culture. They have been presented annually since 1978, culminating each December in ...

, 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 The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) was an American labor union which represented over 100,000 film and television principal and background performers worldwide. On March 30, 2012, the union leadership announced that the SAG membership voted to m ...

on that board until his death. Aside from his acting career, McDowall was active as a photographer and journalist, particularly of celebrities. 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 landmark which consists of 2,813 five-pointed terrazzo-and-brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in the Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywood dist ...

Early life

McDowall was born at 204 Herne Hill Road,

Herne Hill Herne Hill () is a district in South London, approximately four miles from Charing Cross and bordered by Brixton, Camberwell, Dulwich, and Tulse Hill. It sits to the north and east of Brockwell Park and straddles the boundary between the London ...

, 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. His elder sister, Virginia, and he 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.

Career

British films

After 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'' (1938) with

George Formby George Formby, (born George Hoy Booth; 26 May 1904 – 6 March 1961), was an English actor, singer-songwriter and comedian who became known to a worldwide audience through his films of the 1930s and 1940s. On stage, screen and record he ...

, '' John Halifax'' (1938), and '' Scruffy'' (1938). McDowall appeared in '' Convict 99'' (1938) and '' Hey! Hey! USA'' (1938) with Will Hay, '' Yellow Sands'' (1938), '' The Outsider'' (1939), '' Murder Will Out'' (1939), '' Dead Man's Shoes'' (1940), '' Just William'' (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

. 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 U.S. Army Reserves, and after basic training, was assigned to the 67th Armored Infantry Battalion 13th Armored Division of the U.S. Army's Organized Reserve Corps headquartered in Los Angeles. Later, he was assigned to the 63rd Infantry Division, when in 1952, the 13th Armored Division was reflagged into the 63rd Infantry Division. McDowall served from 1946 to 1954, spanning from the end of World War II to the end of the

Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...

.Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude McDowall at
xmoppet.org. Retrieved 9 December 2021. He later served in the 77th Infantry Division from 1960 to 1962. McDowall's American film career began with a part in the 1941 thriller '' Man Hunt'', directed by

Fritz Lang Friedrich Christian Anton Lang (; December 5, 1890 – August 2, 1976), better known as Fritz Lang (), was an Austrian-born film director, screenwriter, and producer who worked in Germany and later the United States.Obituary ''Variety Obituari ...

. It was made by

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc., formerly 20th Century Fox, is an American film studio, film production and Film distributor, distribution company owned by the Walt Disney Studios (division), Walt Disney Studios, the film studios division of the ...

, which also produced McDowall's next film '' How Green Was My Valley'' (1941), where he met and became lifelong friends with actress Maureen O'Hara. The film won the

Academy Award for Best Picture The Academy Award for Best Picture is one of the Academy Awards (also known as Oscars) 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 a ...

, and McDowall's role as Huw Morgan made him a household name. Fox put him in another war film, '' Confirm or Deny'' (1941), then he played Tyrone Power's character 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 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 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...

borrowed McDowall for the star role in '' Lassie Come Home'' (1943), a film that introduced

Elizabeth Taylor Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011) was an English and 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 19 ...

, an actress who became another lifelong friend. MGM kept him on to play a leading role in '' The White Cliffs of Dover'' (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 AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars, 12th-greatest male ...

's character as a young man in ''

The Keys of the Kingdom ''The Keys of the Kingdom'' is a 1941 in literature, 1941 novel by A. J. Cronin. Spanning six decades, it tells the story of Father Francis Chisholm, an unconventional Scottish Catholic priest who struggles to establish a mission (Christian), ...

'' (1944). In 1944, exhibitors voted McDowall the number-four "Star of Tomorrow". Fox gave McDowall another starring vehicle with ''Thunderhead – Son of Flicka'' (1945). The studio 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 a British actress, singer and comedian. A star of cinema and music hall, she was one of the top ten film stars in Britain during the 1930s and was considered the h ...

into a Hollywood star. McDowall returned to MGM to support Walter Pidgeon in '' Holiday in Mexico'' (1946).

Theatre

McDowall turned to the theatre, taking the title role of '' Young Woodley'' in a

summer stock In American theater, summer stock theater is a theater that presents stage productions only in the summer. The name combines the season with the tradition of staging shows by a resident company, reusing stock scenery and costumes. Summer stock ...

production in

Westport, Connecticut Westport is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. Located in the Gold Coast (Connecticut), Gold Coast along the Long Island Sound, it is northeast of New York City and is part of the Western Connecticut Planning Region, Connec ...

, in July 1946. In 1947, he played Malcolm in

's stage production of ''

'' in Salt Lake City, and he 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 Monogram, for which he also worked as associate producer: ''

Rocky ''Rocky'' is a 1976 American independent film, independent sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the first installment in the Rocky (film series), ''Rocky'' franchise and also star ...

'' (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. Later noted as a ''film noir'' specialist, Karlson directed ''99 River Street'', ''Kansas City Confidential'' and ''Hell's Island'', all ...

; '' Kidnapped'' (1948), an adaptation of the

Robert Louis Stevenson Robert Louis Stevenson (born Robert Lewis Balfour Stevenson; 13 November 1850 – 3 December 1894) was a Scottish novelist, essayist, poet and travel writer. He is best known for works such as ''Treasure Island'', ''Strange Case of Dr Jekyll ...

story, wherein he played David Balfour, directed by

William Beaudine William Washington Beaudine (January 15, 1892 – March 18, 1970) was an American film director. He was one of Hollywood's most prolific directors, turning out a remarkable 179 feature-length films in a wide variety of genres. He is best know ...

; '' Tuna Clipper'' (1949), a fishing tale, again directed by Beaudine; '' Black Midnight'' (1949), a horse story directed by Budd Boetticher; '' Killer Shark'' (1950), a shark-hunting tale, again with Boetticher; '' Big Timber'' (1950), as a logger; and '' The Steel Fist'' (1952), an anticommunist drama.

1950s: Television and theatre

McDowall left Hollywood to move to New York City. He began appearing on television, notably shows such as '' Celanese Theatre'', '' Broadway Television Theatre'', '' Medallion Theatre'', '' Campbell Summer Soundstage'', ''

Armstrong Circle Theatre ''Armstrong Circle Theatre'' is an American anthology drama television series which ran from June 6, 1950, to June 25, 1957, on NBC, and from October 2, 1957, to August 28, 1963, on CBS. It alternated weekly with '' The United States Steel Ho ...

'', '' Encounter'', '' Robert Montgomery Presents'' (including an adaptation of ''

Great Expectations ''Great Expectations'' is the thirteenth novel by English author Charles Dickens and his penultimate completed novel. The novel is a bildungsroman and depicts the education of an orphan nicknamed Pip. It is Dickens' second novel, after ''Dav ...

'', in which he played Pip), '' The Elgin Hour'', '' Ponds Theater'', '' General Electric Theater'', ''

The Kaiser Aluminum Hour ''The Kaiser Aluminum Hour'' is a dramatic anthology television series which was broadcast in prime time in the United States from July 3, 1956, through June 18, 1957, by NBC. ''The Kaiser Aluminum Hour'' was shown on alternate Tuesday nights a ...

'', ''

Lux Video Theatre ''Lux Video Theatre'' is an American television anthology series that was produced from 1950 until 1957. The series presented both comedy and drama in original teleplays, as well as abridged adaptations of films and plays. Overview The ''Lux Vi ...

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

Playhouse 90 ''Playhouse 90'' is an American television anthology drama series that aired on CBS from 1956 to 1960 for a total of 134 episodes. The show was produced at CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California. Since live anthology drama series of t ...

'' (in an adaptation of ''

Heart of Darkness ''Heart of Darkness'' is an 1899 novella by Polish-British novelist Joseph Conrad in which the sailor Charles Marlow tells his listeners the story of his assignment as steamer captain for a Belgium, Belgian company in the African interior. Th ...

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

Billy Budd ''Billy Budd, Sailor (An Inside Narrative)'', also known as ''Billy Budd, Foretopman'', 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 vers ...

''), and ''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology series, anthology television series created by Rod Serling in which characters find themselves dealing with often disturbing or unusual events, an experience described ...

'' (the episode " People Are Alike All Over"). McDowall also had significant success on the Broadway stage. He was in a production of ''

Misalliance Misalliance may refer to: * Misalliance (play), a play by Bernard Shaw ** Misalliance (Playhouse 90), a US television play based on Shaw's work * Mésalliance, a marriage to an unsuitable partner {{dab ...

'' (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 '' (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), Time'' called "a sense of personal style, a combination of c ...

's '' Look After Lulu!'' (1959), and

Peter Brook Peter Stephen Paul Brook (21 March 1925 – 2 July 2022) was an English theatre and film director. He worked first in England, from 1945 at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, from 1947 at the Royal Opera House, and from 1962 for the Royal Shak ...

's '' The Fighting Cock'' (1960). The latter earned him a

1960: Return to Hollywood

Richard Burton Roddy McDowall Camelot 1963

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 eight decades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Fi ...

and

Richard Burton Richard Burton (; born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr.; 10 November 1925 – 5 August 1984) was a Welsh actor. Noted for his mellifluous baritone voice, Burton established himself as a formidable Shakespearean actor in the 1950s and gave a memor ...

. He played Ariel in a TV production of ''

The Tempest ''The Tempest'' is a Shakespeare's plays, play by William Shakespeare, probably written in 1610–1611, and thought to be one of the last plays that he wrote alone. After the first scene, which takes place on a ship at sea during a tempest, th ...

'' (1960) with Richard Burton and Maurice Evans, then appeared in his first film in almost a decade, '' The Subterraneans'' (1960). He followed it with ''

Midnight Lace ''Midnight Lace'' is a 1960 American psychological thriller film directed by David Miller (director), David Miller and starring Doris Day, Rex Harrison, John Gavin, Myrna Loy, and Roddy McDowall. The plot centers on a woman threatened by an anon ...

'' (1960). McDowall continued to work on television in shows such as ''Sunday Showcase'', '' Naked City'', and '' The 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. He and his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud made up a trio of male actors who dominated the British stage of the m ...

, George C. Scott, and Julie Harris. In 1963, McDowall appeared as

in the film production of ''

'', which starred Elizabeth Taylor. While filming in Europe, he appeared in Fox's war film '' The Longest Day'' (1962). He continued to guest-star on television series such as ''

Arrest and Trial ''Arrest and Trial'' is a 90-minute American crime/legal drama series that ran during the 1963–1964 season on ABC, airing Sundays from 8:30-10 pm Eastern. Overview The majority of episodes consists of two segments. Set in Los Angeles, the ...

'', '' The Alfred Hitchcock Hour'', '' The Eleventh Hour'', '' Kraft Suspense Theatre'', '' Combat!'', ''

Ben Casey ''Ben Casey'' is an American medical drama television series that aired on ABC from 1961 to 1966. The show was known for its opening titles, which consisted of a hand drawing the symbols "♂, ♀, ✳, †, ∞" on a chalkboard, as cast member ...

'', '' Twelve O'Clock High'', '' Run for Your Life'', and '' The Invaders'', and appeared as a special guest villain as the Bookworm on ''

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

''. He had supporting roles in Fox's '' Shock Treatment'' (1964) and United Artists' ''

'' (1965). He was third-billed in '' The Third Day'' (1965) and received billing as a member of the ensemble cast in ''

The Loved One Loved Ones, Loved One, The Loved Ones, or The Loved One may refer to: Films *The Loved One (film), ''The Loved One'' (film), a 1965 American satire based on the Evelyn Waugh novel *The Loved Ones (film), ''The Loved Ones'' (film), a 2009 Australia ...

'' (1965). McDowall went to Disney for ''

'' (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 starring role in ''

The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin ''The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin'' is a 1967 American Western (genre), Western comedy film directed by James Neilson (director), James Neilson, produced by Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Productions, and starring Roddy McDowall, Suzanne ...

'' (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 most memorable roles when he was cast in ''

Planet of the Apes ''Planet of the Apes'' is a science fiction media franchise consisting of films, books, television series, comics, and other media about a Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, post-apocalyptic world in which humans and intelligent apes c ...

'' as the ape Cornelius. He appeared 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'' (1968), '' Journey to the Unknown'', '' It Takes a Thief'', '' Midas Run'' (1969), '' Hello Down There'' (1969), '' Angel, Angel, Down We Go'' (1969), ''

Night Gallery ''Night Gallery'' is an American anthology television series that aired on NBC from December 16, 1970, to May 27, 1973, featuring stories of horror and the macabre. Rod Serling, who had gained fame from an earlier series, '' The Twilight Zon ...

'' (1969), '' The Name of the Game'', and '' Medical Center''.

1970s

McDowall made his debut and only effort 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 television film '' 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 ''The Carol Burnett Show'' is an American variety/sketch comedy television show that originally ran on CBS from September 11, 1967, to March 29, 1978, for 279 episodes, and again with nine episodes in fall 1991. It starred Carol Burnett, Harv ...

'', ''

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

'' (1972, "Short Fuse"), '' The Delphi Bureau'', ''

The Rookies ''The Rookies'' is an American police procedural series created by Rita Lakin that originally aired on ABC from September 11, 1972, to March 30, 1976. It follows the exploits of three rookie police officers working in an unidentified city for ...

'', '' Mission: Impossible'', '' Barnaby Jones'', and '' McCloud''. McDowall made his third ''Apes'' film with 1972's ''

Conquest of the Planet of the Apes ''Conquest of the Planet of the Apes'' is a 1972 American science fiction film directed by J. Lee Thompson and written by Paul Dehn. The film is the sequel to '' Escape from the Planet of the Apes'' (1971) and the fourth installment in the ori ...

''. He had supporting roles in ''

The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean ''The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean'' is a 1972 American Western comedy film written by John Milius, directed by John Huston, and starring Paul Newman. It is loosely based on the life of American saloon-keeper and Justice of the Peace in ...

'' (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'' film was '' Battle for the Planet of the Apes'' (1973). He also appeared in '' McMillan & Wife'', ''

Love, American Style ''Love, American Style'' is an American anthology comedy television series that aired on ABC from September 29, 1969, to January 11, 1974. The series was produced by Paramount Television. During the 1971–72 and 1972–73 seasons, it was a pa ...

'', '' Arnold'' (1973), a remake of '' Miracle on 34th Street'' (1973), '' The Elevator'' (1974), '' The Snoop Sisters'' also (1974), and an uncredited appearance as a grocery-store manager in the film '' Dirty Mary Crazy Larry''. He starred in the short-lived TV spin-off series of ''

'' (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. His features included '' Funny Lady'' (1975), '' Mean Johnny Barrows'' (1976), ''

Embryo An embryo ( ) is the initial stage of development for 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 sp ...

'' (1976), '' Sixth and Main'' (1977), '' Laserblast'' (1978), ''

Rabbit Test The rabbit test, or Friedman test, was an early pregnancy test that required killing and dissecting a rabbit to obtain the results. The test was developed in 1931 by Maurice Friedman and Maxwell Edward Lapham at the University of Pennsylvania. ...

'' (1978), '' The Cat from Outer Space'' (1978) for Disney, '' Circle of Iron'' (1978), ''

Scavenger Hunt A scavenger hunt is a game in which the organizers prepare a list defining specific items that need to be found, which the participants seek to gather or complete all items on the list, usually without purchasing them. Usually participants work i ...

'' (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. His TV-series appearances included '' Police Woman'', ''

Mowgli's Brothers "Mowgli's Brothers" is a short story by Rudyard Kipling. Chronologically, it is the first story about Mowgli although it was written after "In the Rukh", in which Mowgli appears as an old man . The story first appeared in the January 1894 issue ...

'', ''

Harry O ''Harry O'', sometimes spelled ''Harry-O'', is an American private detective series that aired for two seasons on ABC from 1974 to 1976. The series starred David Janssen, and Jerry Thorpe was executive producer. ''Harry O'' followed the broad ...

'', '' The Feather and Father Gang'', ''

Wonder Woman Wonder Woman is a superheroine who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in ''All Star Comics'' Introducing Wonder Woman, #8, published October 21, 1941, with her first feature in ''Sensation Comic ...

'', '' Flying High'', ''

The Love Boat ''The Love Boat'' is an American romantic comedy-drama television series created by Wilford Lloyd Baumes that originally aired on ABC from September 24, 1977, to May 24, 1986. In addition, three TV movies aired before the regular series pre ...

'', ''

$weepstake$ ''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 liv ...

'', '' Supertrain'', '' 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 ''Mork & Mindy'' is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from September 14, 1978, to May 27, 1982. A spin-off after a highly successful episode of ''Happy Days'', " My Favorite Orkan", it starred Robin Williams as Mork, an extrater ...

''. He also had a regular role in the short-lived science-fiction series ''

The Fantastic Journey ''The Fantastic Journey'' is an American science fiction television series that was originally aired on NBC from February 3 through June 16, 1977. It was originally intended to run 13 episodes, as a mid-season replacement, but NBC cancelled the ...

'' (1977). His TV-film appearances included '' Flood!'' (1977), '' The Rhinemann Exchange'' (1978), '' The Immigrants'' (1978), and '' The Thief of Baghdad'' (1978).

Early 1980s

McDowall's TV film /miniseries work in the 1980s included ''

The Martian Chronicles ''The Martian Chronicles'' is a science fiction fix-up novel, published in 1950, by American writer Ray Bradbury that chronicles the exploration and settlement of Mars, the home of indigenous Martians, by Americans leaving a troubled Earth tha ...

'' (1980), '' The Memory of Eva Ryker'' (1980), ''

The Return of the King ''The Return of the King'' is the third and final volume of J. R. R. Tolkien's ''The Lord of the Rings'', following '' The Fellowship of the Ring'' and '' The Two Towers''. It was published in 1955. The story begins in the kingdom of Gondor, ...

'' (1980) (on which he did voice over work), '' Tales of the Gold Monkey'' (1980),''The Million Dollar Face'' (1981), ''Judgement Day'' (1981), ''Twilight Theatre'' (1982), ''

Mae West Mary Jane "Mae" West (August 17, 1893 – November 22, 1980) was an American actress, singer, comedian, screenwriter, and playwright whose career spanned more than seven decades. Recognized as a prominent sex symbol of her time, she was known ...

'' (1982), ''This Girl for Hire'' (1983), '' The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood'' (1984), ''London and Davis in New York'' (1984), '' Hollywood Wives'' (1985), and ''

Alice in Wonderland ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (also known as ''Alice in Wonderland'') is an 1865 English Children's literature, children's novel by Lewis Carroll, a mathematics university don, don at the University of Oxford. It details the story of a ...

'' (1985). His TV series included ''Boomer and Miss 21st Century'', '' Fantasy Island'' (several times), ''

Faerie Tale Theatre ''Faerie Tale Theatre'' (also known as ''Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre'') is an American award-winning live-action fairytale fantasy drama anthology television series created and presented by actress Shelley Duvall. The series originally ...

'', '' Tales of the Gold Monkey'' (a series regular), ''Small and Frye'', ''

Hotel A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. Facilities provided inside a hotel room may range from a modest-quality mattress in a small room to large suites with bigger, higher-quality beds, a dresser, a re ...

'', and '' George Burns Comedy Week''. McDowall's features included '' Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen'' (1981), ''

Evil Under the Sun ''Evil Under the Sun'' is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in the UK by the Collins Crime Club in June 1941Chris Peers, Ralph Spurrier and Jamie Sturgeon. ''Collins Crime Club – A checklist of F ...

'' (1982), ''

Class of 1984 ''Class of 1984'' is a 1982 crime thriller film directed by Mark Lester, produced by Arthur Kent, and co-written by Tom Holland and John Saxton, based on a story by Holland. The film stars Perry King, Merrie Lynn Ross (who also served as ...

'' (1984), and the cult-classic horror '' Fright Night'' (1985).

Voice-over work and late 1980s

McDowall had voice-over roles in ''Zoo Ship'' (1985), '' GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords'' (1986), and ''

The Wind in the Willows ''The Wind in the Willows'' is a children's novel by the British novelist Kenneth Grahame, first published in 1908. It details the story of Mole, Ratty, and Badger as they try to help Mr. Toad, after he becomes obsessed with motorcars and get ...

'' (1987), and TV series including '' Bridges to Cross'' (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''; his TV films included '' Remo Williams: The Prophecy'' and '' Around the World in 80 Days'' (1989). In 1987, he had supporting roles in '' Dead of Winter'' and '' Overboard'', on which he also served as executive producer. His other features included '' Doin' Time on Planet Earth'' (1988), '' Fright Night Part 2'' (1989), '' The Big Picture'' (1989), '' Cutting Class'' (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'' (1990), '' Shakma'' (1990), '' Going Under'' (1990), '' An Inconvenient Woman'' (1991), ''Earth Angel'' (1991), ''Deadly Game'' (1991), ''The Naked Target'' (1992), '' Double Trouble'' (1992), '' The New Lassie'' (1992), '' Quantum Leap'' (A Leap for Lisa) (1992), ''The Evil Inside Me'' (1993), ''I Strahd: The Memoirs of a Vampaire'' (1993 audio book), '' Dream On'', '' Heads'' (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'' (1996), ''

It's My Party "It's My Party" is a song recorded by American singer Lesley Gore on her debut studio album '' I'll Cry If I Want To'' (1963). It was released as a single on April 5, 1963, by Mercury Records. The song was written by Herb Wiener, John Gluck Jr. ...

'' (1996), '' Tracey Takes On...'', '' Dead Man's Island'', '' Remember WENN'', '' Unlikely Angel'' (1996), '' The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli & Baloo'' (1997), '' Something to Believe In'' (1998), and ''Loss of Faith'' (1998). He voiced the Mad Hatter in the

DC Animated Universe The DC Animated Universe (DCAU, also referred to as the Timmverse or Diniverse by fans) is a Shared universe, shared fictional universe based on DC Comics properties and media franchise produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It began with ''Batman ...

. He also did voice work for ''

The Pirates of Dark Water ''The Pirates of Dark Water'' is an American fantasy animated television series created by David Kirschner and produced by Hanna-Barbera. The series premiered as a five-part miniseries on Fox Kids early 1991, simply entitled ''Dark Water''. The ...

'' (1991–92), ''Timmy's Gift: A Precious Moments Christmas'' (1992), ''Camp Candy'', '' The Legend of Prince Valiant'' (1992), '' Darkwing Duck'' (1992), '' 2 Stupid Dogs'', '' Swat Kats: The Radical Squadron'', '' Red Planet'', '' The Tick'', ''Galaxy Beat'', '' Gargoyles'', ''

Duckman ''Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man'', commonly known simply as ''Duckman'', is an American adult animated sitcom created and developed by Everett Peck, based on the characters he created in his 1990 one-shot comic book published by Dark Horse Com ...

'', '' Pinky and the Brain'', ''

'', and '' Godzilla: The Series''. He was the subject of '' This Is Your Life'' in 1993, when he was surprised by

Michael Aspel Michael Terence Aspel (born 12 January 1933) is an English retired television presenter and newsreader. He hosted programmes such as '' Crackerjack!'', '' Ask Aspel'', ''Aspel & Company'', '' Give Us a Clue'', '' This Is Your Life'', '' Strange ...

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, New York City. It is at 881 Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh Avenue, occupying the east side of Seventh Avenue between 56th Street (Manhattan), 56th and 57th Street (Manhattan), 57t ...

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

McDowall served for several years in various capacities on the board of governors of the

, the organization that presents the

Academy Awards The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence in ...

(Oscars), and on the selection committee for the

Kennedy Center The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, commonly known as the Kennedy Center, is the national cultural center of the United States, located on the eastern bank of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. Opened on September 8, ...

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; it remains a part of the campus.

Photographer and author

McDowall received recognition as a photographer, working with '' Look'', '' Vogue'', ''

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

'', and ''

Life Life, also known as biota, refers to matter that has biological processes, such as Cell signaling, signaling and self-sustaining processes. It is defined descriptively by the capacity for homeostasis, Structure#Biological, organisation, met ...

''. His work includes a cover story on

for ''Life'' and the cover of the 1964

Barbra Streisand Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand ( ; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress, songwriter, producer, and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success across multiple fields of entertainment, being the ...

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 Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922June 22, 1969) was an American actress and singer. Possessing a strong contralto voice, she was celebrated for her emotional depth and versatility across film, stage, and concert performance. ...

Judy Holliday Judy Holliday (born Judith Tuvim, June 21, 1921 – June 7, 1965) was an American actress, comedian, and singer.Obituary ''Variety Obituaries, Variety'', June 9, 1965, p. 71. She began her career as part of a nightclub act before working in Bro ...

, Maureen O'Hara,

Katharine Hepburn Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was an American actress whose Katharine Hepburn on screen and stage, career as a Golden Age of Hollywood, Hollywood leading lady spanned six decades. She was known for her headstrong ...

Lauren Bacall Betty Joan Perske (September 16, 1924 – August 12, 2014), professionally known as Lauren Bacall ( ), was an American actress. She was named the AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars, 20th-greatest female star of classic Hollywood cinema by the America ...

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

Personal life

McDowall was a Democrat and supported

Adlai Stevenson Adlai Stevenson may refer to: * Adlai Stevenson I Adlai Ewing Stevenson (October 23, 1835 – June 14, 1914) was an American politician and diplomat who served as the 23rd vice president of the United States from 1893 to 1897 under President Gr ...

's campaign during the 1952 presidential election. In 1974, the

FBI The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic Intelligence agency, intelligence and Security agency, security service of the United States and Federal law enforcement in the United States, its principal federal law enforcement ag ...

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 no legal aftermarket existed for films. McDowall had purchased

Errol Flynn Errol Leslie Thomson Flynn (20 June 1909 – 14 October 1959) was an Australian and American actor who achieved worldwide fame during the Golden Age of Hollywood. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles, frequent partnerships with Oliv ...

's home cinema films and transferred them all to tape for longer-lasting archival storage. No charges were filed. McDowall never married nor 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 clients. McDowall was in a relationship with American actor Montgomery Clift for several years in the early 1950s. McDowall was introduced to Clift by Elizabeth Taylor. During the two and a half years that Clift stayed away from films, McDowall's career was nonexistent. He devoted himself entirely to Clift and moved from Los Angeles to New York to be closer to his idol. Reportedly, McDowall attempted suicide after their breakup. Nevertheless, he showed no bitterness and also remained one of Clift's loyal friends. McDowall starred with Clift in his final picture, ''The Defector''. Clift later stated that he could never have finished the film without McDowall's moral support.

Death

In April 1998, McDowall, a lifelong smoker, was diagnosed with lung cancer. Doctors told him the disease had spread over his body and was incurable. On 3 October 1998, at age 70, McDowall died of the disease at his home in Studio City, California. His body was

cremated Cremation is a method of Disposal of human corpses, final disposition of a corpse through Combustion, burning. Cremation may serve as a funeral or post-funeral rite and as an alternative to burial. In some countries, including India, Nepal, and ...

and his ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean on 7 October 1998, off Los Angeles County. Dennis Osborne, a screenwriter, had cared for McDowall in his final months, and was quoted as saying, "It was very peaceful. It was just as he wanted it. It was exactly the way he planned.""Actor Roddy McDowall dies of cancer"
''Deseret News'', 4 October 1998.

Filmography

Film

Television

Stage

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

'' (1947) * ''

'' (1953) * ''Escapade'' (1953) * ''

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (12 or 13 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 Caesar's civil wa ...

'' (1955) * ''

'' (1955) * '' No Time for Sergeants'' (1955) * ''Diary of a Scoundrel'' (1956) * ''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, University of California, Los Angeles. {{DEFAULTSORT:McDowall, Roddy 1928 births 1998 deaths 20th Century Studios contract players 20th-century American LGBTQ people 20th-century American male actors 20th-century English LGBTQ people 20th-century English male actors Actors from the London Borough of Southwark American gay actors American male film actors American male Shakespearean actors American male stage actors American male television actors American male voice actors American people of Irish descent American people of Scottish descent Audiobook narrators California Democrats Deaths from lung cancer in California Disney people English emigrants to the United States English film directors English gay actors English male child actors English male film actors English male Shakespearean actors English male stage actors English male television actors English male voice actors English people of Irish descent English people of Scottish descent 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 United States Army personnel of the Korean War United States Army personnel of World War II United States Army reservists