Graham Crowden
Born	Clement Graham Crowden (1922-11-30)30 November 1922 Edinburgh, Scotland
Died	19 October 2010(2010-10-19) (aged 87) Edinburgh, Scotland
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1956–2008
Spouse	Phyllida Hewat ​ (m. 1952)​
Children	4, includingSarah

Clement Graham Crowden (30 November 1922 – 19 October 2010)^[1][2] was a Scottish actor. He was best known for his many appearances in television comedy dramas and films, often playing eccentric scientist, teacher and doctor characters.

Crowden was born on 30 November 1922 inEdinburgh, the third of four children ofUniversity of Edinburgh-educated schoolmaster Harry Graham Crowden (d. 1938) and Anne Margaret (née Paterson).^[3][4][5] He was educated atClifton Hall School and theEdinburgh Academy. He served briefly in theRoyal Scots Youth Battalion of the army until he was injured in an accident.^[5] During arms drill he was shot by his platoon sergeant, when the sergeant's rifle discharged.^[6] The sergeant reportedly enquired "What is it now, Crowden?", to which Crowden replied "I think you've shot me, sergeant."^[6] He later found work in atannery.

His sister, Anne Crowden was a world renowned prominent classical musician and founder of the Crowden Music School, which has rich history of many renowned graduates, faculty, and history of board members in Berkeley, California.

Crowden had a long theatrical career, most notably atLaurence Olivier'sNational Theatre where he performed as The Player King inRosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, a play byTom Stoppard.

He occasionally played mad scientists in film, taking the role of Doctor Millar in theMick Travis films of directorLindsay Anderson,O Lucky Man! (1973) andBritannia Hospital (1982) and also playing the sinister Doctor Smiles inthe film ofMichael Moorcock's firstJerry Cornelius novel,The Final Programme (1973). He also played the eccentric history master in Anderson'sif.... (1968). In 1970, he appeared in the popular Thames Television seriesCallan as The Groper, a de-registered doctor, who had been inWormwood Scrubs called on by Callan, when unofficial medical assistance was required (e.g. Series 3, "A Village Called G" and probably others between 1967 and 1973 though some are now lost).

In 1975, he made an appearance in "No Way Out" – an episode of the BritishsitcomPorridge alongsideRonnie Barker,Brian Wilde,Richard Beckinsale andFulton Mackay, as the prison doctor when Fletcher was complaining of an injured leg.

He was offered the role of theFourth Doctor inDoctor Who in 1974, whenJon Pertwee left the role but turned it down, informing producerBarry Letts that he was not prepared to commit himself to the series for three years. Crowden's potential hiring was the reason whyIan Marter was originally hired for a role, as the producers and directors considered Crowden too old to be seen running about and taking on a larger physical role. The role of the Doctor ultimately went toTom Baker. Crowden appeared inThe Horns of Nimon (1979–80) as a villain opposite Baker.

A regular role was in theBBC comedy-dramaA Very Peculiar Practice (1986–1988) as the alcoholic Dr Jock McCannon. In 1990, he appeared as a lecherous peer in the BBC comedyDon't Wait Up and in 1991 he played a modest role in theRumpole of the Bailey episode "Rumpole and the Quacks", playing Sir Hector MacAuliffe, the head of a medical inquest into the potential sexual misconduct on the part of Ghulam Rahmat (played bySaeed Jaffrey).

In 1990, he landed the role of Tom Ballard in the sitcomWaiting for God, oppositeStephanie Cole's character Diana Trent, as the two rebellious retirement home residents. The show ran for five years and was a major success.^[7] In 1994, Crowden played the part of Professor Pollux in theBBC TV adaptation of theJohn Hadfield novelLove on a Branch Line. Crowden then voiced the role ofMustrum Ridcully in the 1997 animatedCosgrove Hall production ofTerry Pratchett'sSoul Music.

In 2001, he guest-starred in theMidsomer Murders episode "Ring Out Your Dead" and also played The Marquis of Auld Reekie inThe Way We Live Now. Between 2001 and 2002, he played a role in theBBC Radio 4 comedy seriesThe Leopard in Autumn. In 2003, he made a cameo as a sadistic naval school teacher inThe Lost Prince. In 2005–2008, he starred in the Radio 4sci-fi comedyNebulous as Sir Ronald Rolands. In 2008, he appeared as a guest star inFoyle's War.

For many years in later life, Crowden lived inMill Hill, London. Crowden died on 19 October 2010 in Edinburgh after a short illness, survived by his wife, Phyllida Hewat, whom he married in 1952, a son and three daughters, one of whom,Sarah Crowden, followed him into acting.^[1]

• Graham Crowden atIMDb
• Obituary inThe Independent
• Graham Crowden atBritish Comedy Guide

• 1922 births
• 2010 deaths
• 20th-century Scottish male actors
• 21st-century Scottish male actors
• British Army personnel of World War II
• Male actors from Edinburgh
• People educated at Clifton Hall School
• People educated at Edinburgh Academy
• Royal Scots soldiers
• Scottish male film actors
• Scottish male radio actors
• Scottish male television actors

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