Cecil Parker | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Cecil Schwabe (1897-09-03)3 September 1897 |
| Died | 20 April 1971(1971-04-20) (aged 73) Brighton, Sussex, England |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1928–1969 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
Cecil Parker (bornCecil Schwabe; 3 September 1897 – 20 April 1971) was an English actor with a distinctively husky voice, who usually played supporting roles, often characters with a supercilious demeanour, in his 91 films made between 1928 and 1969.
Parker was born inHastings,Sussex, the second son (and fifth of six children) of German-born Charles August Schwabe, manager of the Albany Hotel, Hastings, and his English wife, Kate (née Parker), a church organist.[1][2] He was educated atSt Francis Xavier College, and atBruges inBelgium.[3] He served with theRoyal Sussex Regiment in theFirst World War, reaching the rank ofsergeant.[4] He began his theatrical career in London in 1922, adopting the surname "Parker" from his mother's maiden name.[5][2] He made his first film appearance in 1933 and subsequently became a familiar face in British and occasionally American films until his death.[5] He appeared less often on television, but many of his films have remained popular and are often shown.[citation needed]
He acted in two adaptations ofA. J. Cronin's novels,The Citadel (1938) andThe Stars Look Down (1940), in addition to appearing inThe Lady Vanishes (1938) andUnder Capricorn (1949).[6] Both of these latter films were directed byAlfred Hitchcock.[7] Other roles were inStorm in a Teacup (1937),The Weaker Sex (1948),23 Paces to Baker Street (1956),Dangerous Moonlight (1941),Swiss Family Robinson (1960), andI Was Monty's Double (1958), as well as the comediesA French Mistress (1960),The Ladykillers (1955),The Man in the White Suit (1951),The Court Jester (1955) (in which he played an evil, usurping king of England),Indiscreet (1958) andI Believe in You (1952).[8] Parker was also the original Charles Condomine in the West End production ofNoël Coward'sBlithe Spirit.[9]
He often played a touchy senior officer or Britishupper class character, and his last two films were true to form:The Magnificent Two (1967) with the British comedy double actMorecambe and Wise andRichard Attenborough's version ofOh! What a Lovely War (1969).[8]
On November 20, 1950, he co-starred withMargaret O'Brien in "The Canterville Ghost", onRobert Montgomery Presents on TV.[10] He played a butler on one episode ofThe Avengers ("The £50,000 Breakfast").[11] In 1957 he played Dr. Morelle in BBC radio series, "A Case for Dr. Morelle" (13 episodes).[12]
Parker was married to Muriel Anne Randell-Brown (born inSeacombe,Cheshire),[3] from September 1927 until his death in 1971, inBrighton.[13]
