Patrick Wymark | |
|---|---|
 inWhere Eagles Dare (1968) | |
| Born | Patrick Carl Cheeseman (1926-07-11)11 July 1926 Cleethorpes,Lincolnshire, England |
| Died | 20 October 1970(1970-10-20) (aged 44) |
| Resting place | Highgate Cemetery,London |
| Monuments | Wymark View,Grimsby |
| Alma mater | University College, London Old Vic Theatre School |
| Occupations | Stage, film and television actor |
| Years active | 1959–1970 |
| Organization | Royal Shakespeare Company |
| Television | The Plane Makers (1963–65) The Power Game (1965–69) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4, includingJane Wymark |
| Relatives | W. W. Jacobs (paternal grandfather-in-law) |
| Awards | British Academy Television Award for Best Actor (1965) |
| Website | wymark |
Patrick Wymark (11 July 1926 – 20 October 1970) was an English stage, film and television actor.[1]
Wymark was bornPatrick Carl Cheeseman[citation needed] inCleethorpes,Lincolnshire. He was brought up in neighbouringGrimsby. He was educated at St Mary's Catholic School andWintringham Boys' Grammar School in Grimsby, before joining theRoyal Navy and serving as amidshipman in theMediterranean. On leaving the navy, he received a government grant to study atUniversity College London, where he read English and performed in the university's dramatic society.[2][better source needed]
Wymark dropped out of university to train at theOld Vic Theatre School in London[3] and making his first professional stage appearance in a walk-on part inOthello in 1951.[4] He touredSouth Africa the following year and then directed plays for the drama department atStanford University,California.
After moving to theShakespeare Memorial Theatre inStratford-upon-Avon, Wymark played a wide range of Shakespearean roles, includingDogberry inMuch Ado About Nothing,Stephano inThe Tempest, Marullus inJulius Caesar andBottom inA Midsummer Night's Dream. Other stage credits included the title role inDanton's Death and, with theRoyal Shakespeare Company (RSC), Yepikhodov inThe Cherry Orchard. His theatre roles also included Bosola in a RSC production ofJohn Webster'sThe Duchess of Malfi in 1960.
In television, Wymark was best known for his role as themachiavellian businessman John Wilder in the twin drama seriesThe Plane Makers andThe Power Game (which were broadcast from 1963 to 1969), which led to offers of real company directorships and theBritish Academy Television Award for Best Actor in 1965. However, Wymark was a gentle person in real life and was, by his own admission, ignorant of business matters. He considered the character of Wilder a "bastard" and was described by his wife Olwen as "the most inefficient, dreamy muddler in the world."[5] In the mid-1960s, Wymark was considered asthe replacement forWilliam Hartnell in thetitle role ofDoctor Who.[6]
In 1960, Wymark appeared in theDanger Man television series episode entitled "An Affair of State" as the corrupt police commissioner Ortiz.[7]
Wymark's film appearances included:Children of the Damned (1964),Operation Crossbow (1965),Repulsion (1965),Where Eagles Dare (1968),Witchfinder General (1968),Battle of Britain (1969),Journey to the Far Side of the Sun (akaDoppelgänger; 1969),The Blood on Satan's Claw (1970) andCromwell (1970)
Wymark married American playwright Olwen Buck (known asOlwen Wymark) in 1953; the couple met while both were students atUniversity College, London. He took his acting name from his wife's paternal grandfather, the writerWilliam Wymark Jacobs. The couple lived nearParliament Hill inHampstead,London, and had four children, including the future actressJane Wymark. Wymark died suddenly inMelbourne,Australia on 20 October 1970, aged 44, of aheart attack in his hotel room. He had been due to star in the playSleuth at theComedy Theatre three days later. On the night of his death, he was to appear on the TV variety programmeIn Melbourne Tonight.[8] He, guest American actorRichard Deacon and hostStuart Wagstaff had just appeared together in a TV production ofHans Christian Andersen stories and his non-appearance led to several jokes by Wagstaff and Deacon.[9] Host Wagstaff was informed of Wymark's death mid-way through the programme and announced it at the end.
Wymark was aRoman Catholic. He was buried atHighgate Cemetery in London, after aRequiem Mass. A memorial service was later held atBrompton Oratory.[10] Wymark View—located in his home town, Grimsby—is named after him.
