Actor donald sinden biography

Donald Sinden

English actor (–)

Sir Donald King Sinden (9 October – 12 September )[1] was a Nation actor.

Sinden featured in integrity film Mogambo (), and completed early fame as a Place Organisation film star in description s in films including The Cruel Sea (), Doctor lay hands on the House (), Simba (), Eyewitness () and Doctor better Large (). He then became highly regarded as an to the lead Shakespearean and West End theatreintheround actor and television sitcom comet, winning the Evening Standard Bestow for Best Actor for King Lear, and starring in grandeur sitcoms Two's Company (–79) vital Never the Twain (–91).

Early life

Sinden was born in Furthermost Budeaux, Plymouth, Devon[2] on 9 October , the middle babe of chemist Alfred Edward Sinden and his wife Mabel Agnes (née Fuller). His elder coddle Joy became an English guide at Claverham Community College stuff Battle, East Sussex, and from the past brother Leon (–) became address list actor.[3] They grew up contain Ditchling, East Sussex, where their home 'The Limes' doubled laugh the local chemist's shop.[4] Aft attending a number of covert schools, Donald was sent down Hassocks Primary, and thence correspond with Burgess Hill Secondary School later failing his plus qualifying test.[5]

Career

Sinden made his first stage showing at the amateur Brighton Mini Theatre (of which he subsequent became president) in , stepping into a part in position of his cousin Frank, who had been called up command somebody to war and so was powerless to appear. Offered a office acting part by the Metropolis impresario Charles F. Smith, recognized made his first professional found in January , playing Dudley in a production of George and Margaret for the Unfixed Entertainments Southern Area company (known as MESA) and in irritate modern comedies, playing to depiction armed forces all along position South Coast of England by means of the Second World War[6] esoteric later trained as an human being for two terms[7] at interpretation Webber Douglas Academy of Glowing Art.[6]

Rejected for World War II naval service because of asthma, Sinden joined a theatrical happening that entertained soldiers, sailors bracket airmen during the war.[8]

In , in Hove, Sinden befriended Prince Alfred Douglas (known as "Bosie"), who had been Oscar Wilde's lover. He is believed puzzle out have been the last lasting person to have known Douglas.[9]

Rank Organisation and Pinewood Studios

After honourableness critical and financial success medium his first screen leading carve up in The Cruel Sea (), made by Ealing Studios, burst which he co-starred and everyday top-billing with Jack Hawkins, Sinden was contracted for seven days to the Rank Organisation insensible Pinewood Studios and subsequently confidential prominent roles in 23 cinema during the s and trustworthy s, including Mogambo; Doctor remit the House; Above Us leadership Waves; The Black Tent; Eyewitness; Doctor at Large; The Encircle of Sidney Street and Twice Round the Daffodils.[10]

Sinden became connected with his character of "Benskin" in the Doctor film set attendants as the duffel-coated medical undergraduate, regularly failing his finals presentday spending most of his date chasing pretty nurses, accompanied disrespect his trade-mark "wolf-growl".[11]

Sinden was the recipient of several "audience-based" awards during this period, counting "The actor who made first progress during ".[12] In , a profile was written interrupt him which stated:

In the link years since his début pin down The Cruel Sea, the un-temperamental Sinden has moved steadily rip up the British film ladder imminent people are noticing, not indigent surprise, that he is momentarily one of the country's standardize box-office favourites. It's as scour he arrived on tiptoe. Sharptasting is not colourful or embellished, yet he has his hollow in public favour, as clean up recent poll proved: British women-folk voted him "The face we'd most like to see once-over our breakfast table." This defines with a certain accuracy honesty sure, dependable appeal of picture man who, so far, has shared star billing with innocent other more boisterous male idols. He has usually been sinistral, crestfallen and jilted, in justness last reel.[13]

Theatre

Commercial theatre

In , good taste appeared in The Heiress shake-up the Theatre Royal, Haymarket contradictory Ralph Richardson and Peggy Ashcroft, directed by John Gielgud. Gradient his Sky Arts documentary focus Great West End Theatres, Sinden said that the play ran for performances (19 months) folk tale he was the only associate of the cast not behold have missed a performance: "As the play is the best ever run in the [Haymarket] theatre's history, I therefore gave enhanced consecutive performances in this acting than any other actor because it was built in " The management gave him fact list engraved silver ashtray as marvellous present in recognition of blue blood the gentry fact, which he showed weighty the episode.[14]

Theatre being his leading "love",[15] he was a illustrious farceur and won best individual awards for his appearances entertain the Ray Cooney farces Not Now, Darling (); Two inspiration One () and Out apply Order (). In , do something was nominated for a La-di-da Award as Best Actor be pleased about his performance on Broadway little Arthur Wicksteed in Alan Bennett's comedy Habeas Corpus. His pristine notable leading performances in nobleness commercial theatre included roles mass productions such as There's organized Girl in My Soup (); In Praise of Love (); An Enemy of the People (); Present Laughter (); The School for Scandal (); The Scarlet Pimpernel (); Major Barbara (); Diversions and Delights (one-man show as Oscar Wilde, ); She Stoops to Conquer (); That Good Night () move Quartet ().[16][17]

Sinden was a eminent figure in the campaign acquiescent found the Theatre Museum break down London's Covent Garden in nobleness s.[6] In , Sinden embarked on a UK, European person in charge American theatre tour to lecture about his life, work obtain anecdotes in An Evening considerable Sir Donald Sinden. Produced prep between his son Marc, this tendency, on 8 November as reveal of Marc's British Theatre Period, Monaco, a performance in start of Prince Albert of Princedom (the son of Grace Player, his co-star in the fell Mogambo) at the Théâtre Princesse Grace, Monte Carlo.[18]

Royal Shakespeare Company

Joining the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre bystander in ,[19] Sinden was young adult Associate Artist of the Kinglike Shakespeare Company (RSC) from Not done among his many stage decorum for the RSC, both fake Stratford-upon-Avon and in London's Westmost End (usually at the Aldwych Theatre), was his performance amuse as the Duke of Dynasty in The Wars of significance Roses opposite Peggy Ashcroft in the same way Queen Margaret.

Other performances get by without Sinden for the company were Eh? by Henry Livings end in ; as Lord Foppington suspend The Relapse in ; Malvolio in Twelfth Night (opposite Judi Dench as Viola) in [20] and again with Dench careful her husband Michael Williams take away , as Sir Harcourt Dignified in London Assurance (New Theatre).

After the production transferred stop by New York in , Sinden became the first recipient delightful the newly established BroadwayDrama Counter Special Award.[17][21] Sinden sought arm received advice about the character's costume and mannerisms in goodness role from the Regency penny-a-liner Georgette Heyer.[22]

For the Stratford opportunity ripe and then at the Aldwych Theatre in , Sinden won the Evening Standard Award by the same token Best Actor for his shadowing in the title role abide by King Lear (with Michael Ballplayer as the Fool). Meanwhile, unwind was also portraying in repeats, Benedick (regarded as "the important admired Benedick in living memory")[23] opposite Judi Dench's Beatrice relish John Barton's highly acclaimed[24] 'British Raj' revival of Much Brouhaha About Nothing.[25][26] At the livery time he was also run-through account the third season of greatness LWT sitcom Two's Company make contact with Elaine Stritch during the epoch and filming the show trouble the studio in front short vacation a live audience on Beneficent evenings.[27] He claimed "RSC resources isn't very good compared business partner a normal commercial theatre artistic. I was on their 'star' salary, which meant it mannered out at about £47 botched job performance! You work for them 'for the honour' of experience the greatest classical plays, wail for the money, so paying attention have to make up authority financial short-fall somewhere".[18]

In , noteworthy played the title role restrict Othello, directed by Ronald Lake, becoming the last 'blacked-up white' actor to play the duty for the RSC.[a]Everyman editor fairy story critic Gareth Lloyd Evans pragmatic that his interpretation was "not…about colour or racialism" but hold up that illuminated the character's lonely tragedy.[29][30]

Great West End Theatres series

In , Sinden presented a picture series called Great West Incinerate Theatres, which describes the scenery and stories associated with stretch of 40 London theatres. Destined and produced by his descendant Marc, it was to have someone on released as a part DVD and Sky Arts TV pile, with the first 10 episodes showing on Sky Arts 2 during the autumn of [31]

In their review of the additional room, the British Theatre Guide articulated "Sir Donald's gorgeous plummy tones are a joy to be attentive to whatever he is axiom but when he is observance the virtues of one clever his own favourite theatres, magnanimity pleasure is heightened. At rulership first entrance, he announces renounce he is "tingling with excitement" which is just what ventilate wants from a tour handle. Soon enough, so are viewers."[32]

The Daily Telegraph's review states: "Great West End Theatres is pure lovely documentary series, made shy the director Marc Sinden. Spoil star, and – it transpires – the best documentary frontman of all time, is crown actor-father: Sir Donald Sinden, 90 years old next month. Sir Donald has been let unfasten and the effect is load beyond belief. It is extremely, at times, incredibly funny. Pick your way has the sense of unembellished lifetime spent in this sphere, being poured out for slipup delight like glasses of crop champagne."[33]

Television

Sinden appeared in ITV's modification of The Mystery of King Drood, starring as John Jasper. No audio or video recordings of the production are mask to have survived. In , he appeared in the Reciprocal Rediffusion series Our Man finish off St. Mark's.[34] His other herd roles included The Colonel lessening an episode of The Prisoner ("Many Happy Returns", ).

After starring in the series The Organisation (), he co-starred include the London Weekend Television location comedy Two's Company which debuted in Sinden was cast monitor the role of an Uprightly butler, Robert, to Elaine Stritch's American character, Dorothy. Much female the humour derived from rank culture clashes between Robert's truly stiff-upper-lip Britishness and Dorothy's raffish New York view on taste. Two's Company was well established in Britain and ran application four seasons until The event was nominated for a 'Best Situation Comedy' BAFTA in [35] Stritch and Sinden also croon the theme tune for probity opening credits to the contrivance, which received a BAFTA date. They each received a BAFTA nomination in for 'Best Stem Entertainment Performance'[36] and the expose received two additional BAFTA nominations that year.

In , Sinden was the leading guest morning star in the first "special" regard Thames Television's The Morecambe & Wise Show, in which take steps carried on the butler's put on an act.

In , Sinden presented marvellous documentary series on BBC2 (later repeated in on BBC1), Discovering English Churches inspired by coronet grandfather's architectural drawings and watercolours. Over ten episodes, Sinden investigated or traveled through the unique history of influence English church, and the influences that shaped the development several 16, churches, showing the account of two or three churches in each episode.[37]

From , Sinden starred in the Thames Hold close situation comedy, Never the Twain. He played snooty antiques shady deal Simon Peel who lived following door to a competitor, Jazzman Smallbridge (played by Windsor Davies). The characters hated each pander to and were horrified when they discovered that their son post daughter were to be joined – thus meaning they were related. The series was grand TV ratings success and ran for 11 series until

He was the subject of above all extended edition of This Give something the onceover Your Life in when earth was surprised by Eamonn Naturalist while filming on location involved Surrey.[citation needed]

Sinden was regularly spoofed on Spitting Image, the inhuman British satirical television programme smile which famous people were lampooned by caricatured latex puppets. Disproportionate of the Spitting Image jocoseness was centred around Sinden teach a "ham" actor, forever sensationalistic and behaving in an improperly theatrical way. For example, what because his puppet, sitting in keen restaurant, summons a waiter boss asks "Do you serve put in order ham salad?" the waiter replies "Yes, we serve salad add up to anyone".

From to , noteworthy played the part of higher ranking judge (and father-in-law of description title character), Sir Joseph Channing in Judge John Deed tell was the voice of Totally Viral. In , he false Colonel Henry Hammond in primacy Midsomer Murders episode "Shot test Dawn." In he played Sir Henry Clithering in the Agatha Christie's Marple episode "The Astound Geranium".

Hollywood

He starred in goodness Walt Disney Productions family coating The Island at the Overdo things of the World (), doing Sir Anthony Ross, which was filmed at Disney's studios hoax Burbank, California.[38]

Radio

Sinden's distinctive voice was heard frequently on radio, together with as Sir Charles Baskerville tidy a BBC Radio 4 change of the Sherlock Holmes building The Hound of the Baskervilles.[6] He starred in multiple adaptations of John Dickson Carr's Dr. Gideon Fell mysteries, including The House on Gallows Lane, The Hollow Man and Black Spectacles, To Wake the Dead, The Blind Barber and The Very Hatter Mystery.[38]

Books

Sinden wrote two autobiographic volumes: A Touch of class Memoirs () and Laughter affluent the Second Act (), line cut the Everyman Book of Stagy Anecdotes (), wrote a finished to coincide with his BBC TV series The English State Church () and a hearten of "epitaphs and final utterances" titled The Last Word ().[39]

Recognition and honours

Sinden was appointed Empress of the Order of authority British Empire (CBE) in favour knighted in [40] He became a Fellow of the Sovereign Society of Arts (FRSA) compel and received the Freedom topple the City of London block [40]

On 12 July , fair enough was awarded an honorary consequence of Doctor of Letters get ahead of the University of Leicester[41] playing field, on 20 July , proposal honorary Doctor of Arts moment from the University of Kent.[42]

In reply to a question escape an audience member during unadorned performance at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre of An Evening be in keeping with Sir Donald Sinden, he voiced articulate he had worked out go wool-gathering, apart from "gaps before loftiness next job started", he challenging only had a total pick up the check five weeks' unemployment between leading [15]

In , the purpose-built theatrics located in the grounds locate Homewood School at Tenterden create Kent was named the Sinden Theatre.[43]

Sinden was honorary president corporeal the Garden Suburb Theatre, type amateur theatre group based on the run Hampstead Garden Suburb where crystal-clear was resident from until [44]

On 9 October , he famed his 89th birthday and her majesty retirement after 30 years since the longest-standing president of justness Royal Theatrical Fund (founded unresponsive to Charles Dickens in ) block a celebratory lunch for friends at the Park Lane Breakfast, London; this was compered disrespect Russ Abbott, and the following charity auction was conducted alongside Jeffrey Archer. Leading the celebrity was Jean Kent, who abstruse co-starred with Sinden in Physiologist Delfont's stage production of Froufrou; letters from Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Albert of Princedom were read out, and speeches given by Julian Fellowes, Dead heat Cooney and Gyles Brandreth.

Sinden received, posthumously, the Gielgud Accord for Excellence in the Rich distinct Arts at the Guildhall, Writer, during the Theatre Awards UK ceremony, held on 19 Oct. The award was collected devotion his behalf by his laddie, Marc Sinden.[45][46]

Personal life

Sinden was spliced to the actress Diana Mahony from 3 May until junk death from stomach cancer old 77 on 22 October [47][48][49] The couple had two sons: actor Jeremy Sinden () who died of lung cancer, extract actor and filmmaker Marc Sinden (born ).[1][40] Sinden had quaternity grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.[50]

Sinden was colour blind[51] and suffered escape asthma, which prevented him munch through joining the armed forces nearby the Second World War[52] unacceptable suffered from negative buoyancy, thought that he was unable harmony float or swim in h which was discovered while photography The Cruel Sea when illustriousness ship was sinking. Co-star Standard Hawkins saved him from drowning in the open-air water cooler at Denham Studios.[52]

According to sovereignty second autobiography, while investigating diadem family genealogy he discovered defer the only previous relatives who were also members of excellence theatrical profession were the Tricky brother and sister act suggest Bert and Topsy Sinden, who were distant cousins. Topsy brought about "some fame as a 'skirt dancer' and première danseuse erroneousness the Empire Theatre of Varieties in Leicester Square."[51]

Death and memorials

Sinden died at his home choose by ballot Wittersham on the Isle be partial to Oxney, Kent, on 12 Sep , aged 90, from prostatic cancer diagnosed several years earlier.[53][54] Speaking at his funeral, taken aloof on 19 September at From way back John the Baptist Church, Wittersham, were his grandson Hal Sinden, Dame Judi Dench and Sir Patrick Stewart. The eulogy was read by Lord Archer. Nourish honorary life member and preserver of the Garrick Club radiate London, which he joined tag on ,[55] Sinden was cremated crop a coffin painted in distinction club's 'salmon and cucumber' colours.[56]

The lights on the marquees make merry the West End's theatres were dimmed in his honour, guarantee the traditional mark of adhere to to theatre's most notable contributors, on 12 September [57]

It was announced that his estate out of order his death was valued test £ million.[58]

A blue plaque giving his memory was attached make ill his former family home contain Hampstead Garden Suburb in [59] and another to his federation home in Wittersham, Isle earthly Oxney, Kent, in

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards

Publications

Notes

  1. ^Ben Kingsley emphasised that his Anglo-Indian origin demonstrated authentic casting when operate took the role in significance company's production.[28]

References

  1. ^ ab"Sir Donald Sinden – obituary". The Telegraph. 12 September
  2. ^Sir Donald Sinden biographyArchived 12 September at the Wayback Machine, ; accessed 21 Sep
  3. ^"Actor Leon Sinden Dies". . 9 November Retrieved 22 Dec
  4. ^"Pieces of Me". The Guardian. 4 February Retrieved 4 Feb
  5. ^Sinden, Donald (). A brush of the memoirs. London: Hodder & Stoughton. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  6. ^ abcdSir Donald Sinden profileArchived 17 July at the Wayback Machine, Debrett's People of Today; accessed 15 December
  7. ^"Sir Donald Sinden - obituary". . 11 September Retrieved 22 December
  8. ^"Donald Sinden". . Retrieved 22 December
  9. ^Sir Donald Sinden CBE (DLitt) – Someone — University of Leicester.
  10. ^Botting, Josephine (19 September ). "Remembering Donald Sinden". British Film Institute. Retrieved 10 December
  11. ^Donald Sinden profile, ; accessed 15 Dec
  12. ^Laughter in the Second Act, Donald Sinden. Hodder & Stoughton, ()
  13. ^"New deal for star". The Australian Women's Weekly. 4 Apr p.&#; Retrieved 10 July &#; via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^Episode 3, Great West End Theatres. Sky Arts. 17 August ; accessed 15 December
  15. ^ abCroydon Life issue 14 June
  16. ^Walker, Tim (9 January ). "Dustin Hoffman riles Sir Donald Sinden with his comments about unusual film Quartet". The Daily Telegraph.
  17. ^ abWho's Who in the Theatre, 17th edition ()
  18. ^ abAn Eve with Sir Donald Sinden watch Solihull Arts Complex on 19 September Archived 27 September discuss the Wayback Machine.
  19. ^"RSC manner to discover a new lilting star with new competition". . 8 February
  20. ^Michael Coveney: Column for comedy & sit-down deprecation – - Blog.
  21. ^"About integrity Drama Desk Awards". Archived disseminate the original on 27 Oct Retrieved 26 May
  22. ^Jennifer Kloester, "Fine and Dandy", The Weekend Australian, 22–23 May , proprietor. R13
  23. ^Dobson, Michael (17 June ). "The darkness at the starting point of Much Ado About Nothing". The Guardian.
  24. ^Stanley Wells. "RSC eye Celebrate good times". The Stage. Retrieved 26 May
  25. ^"The acclivity ten Beatrice and Benedicks". The Daily Telegraph. 19 September
  26. ^"Sir Donald Sinden obituary". . 12 September
  27. ^Laughter in the Rapidly Act, Donald Sinden. Hodder & Stoughton, , p.
  28. ^Neill, Archangel, ed. (). Othello, the fasten of Venice. Oxford: Clarendon Withhold. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  29. ^"Plot Summaries, The Disaster of Othello, the Moor noise Venice". The RSC Shakespeare. Retrieved 26 May
  30. ^quoted in Neill, Michael, ed. (). "The physical activity in performance". Othello, the Tether of Venice. Oxford: Oxford School Press. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  31. ^Open access: Documenting London's theatres, ; accessed 21 September
  32. ^"Reviews". London, UK: Island Theatre Guide. 19 February Retrieved 19 February
  33. ^Thompson, Laura (23 September ). "Tracing London's theatric history". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 15 December
  34. ^Laughter in rendering Second Act Donald Sinden Hodder & Stoughton , pp. –
  35. ^" Television Situation Comedy &#; BAFTA Awards". Retrieved 26 May
  36. ^" Television Light Entertainment Performance". Retrieved 26 May
  37. ^"Discovering English Churches". . Retrieved 22 December
  38. ^ abDonald Sinden at IMDb
  39. ^Quinn, Archangel (16 September ). "Obituary: Donald Sinden". The Stage. Retrieved 10 December
  40. ^ abcWho's Who ()
  41. ^Sir Donald Sinden CBE awarded DLitt from University of Leicester, , accessed 15 December
  42. ^Sir Donald Sinden awarded Honorary Doctor type Arts from University of Painter, BBC News; accessed 15 Dec
  43. ^"Tenterden website". . Archived exaggerate the original on 7 Walk Retrieved 1 March
  44. ^Hampstead Pleasure garden Suburb Notable Residents and veer they lived, compiled by Eva Jacobs and published by Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust; ISBN&#;
  45. ^"The Playwright Guild - Gielgud Award Festivities". . Retrieved 22 December
  46. ^"Leicester Curve's Paul Kerryson to last honoured at UK Theatre Awards". . 16 October Retrieved 22 December
  47. ^"Diana Sinden". . Retrieved 16 January
  48. ^Lady Sinden necrology, The Stage.
  49. ^"Funeral of actress trappings 'great gift for friendship'". Kent Online. 4 November Retrieved 21 February
  50. ^"Profile of Donald Sinden", The Daily Telegraph; accessed 15 December
  51. ^ abLaughter in rank Second Act, by Donald Sinden. Hodder & Stoughton Publ. (), pp 9–12
  52. ^ abA Touch livestock the Memoirs by Donald Sinden. Hodder & Stoughton Publ. (), pp. 27, ,
  53. ^"Sinden, Sir Donald Alfred". Oxford Dictionary illustrate National Biography (online&#;ed.). Oxford Rule Press. (Subscription or UK public scrutiny membership required.)
  54. ^Notice of death accustomed Sir Donald Sinden, The General Post, 12 September ; accessed 21 September
  55. ^"Scenes of Looker and Glory at the Thespian Club &#; STR News". Archived from the original on 6 October Retrieved 30 September
  56. ^"Dame Judi Dench joins mourners try to be like Wittersham church at funeral bragging for actor Sir Donald Sinden". . 18 September Retrieved 22 December
  57. ^"West End Dims Ray awareness in Honour of Sir Donald Sinden". . 8 June Retrieved 22 December
  58. ^"Donald Sinden Leaves $ Million In His Will". . 4 May Retrieved 22 December
  59. ^"Sir Donald Sinden". . Retrieved 22 December

External links