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Stratford Johns | |
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| Born | Alan Edgar Stratford Johnson[citation needed] (1925-09-22)22 September 1925 |
| Died | 29 January 2002(2002-01-29) (aged 76) Heveningham,Suffolk, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1955–1998 |
| Known for | Z-Cars |
| Notable work | Doctor Who:Four to Doomsday (1982) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
Alan Edgar Stratford Johnson (22 September 1925 – 29 January 2002[1]), known asStratford Johns, was a British stage, film and television actor who is best remembered for playing the role as senior CID officer Charlie Barlow, a character he originated in the early years of the long-runningBBC police seriesZ-Cars, and then continued to play in several spin-off series in the 1960s and 1970s.
Johns was born and grew up inPietermaritzburg,South Africa.[2] After serving as adeckhand in the South African navy duringWorld War II,[3] he worked for a time in accountancy, but soon became involved in amateur theatre.
In 1948, Johns bought a one-way ticket to Britain and learned his craft working in repertory theatre atSouthend-on-Sea for almost five years. He began to appear in British films from the mid-1950s, including a bit part in the classicEaling comedyThe Ladykillers (1955). He ran a small hotel in London during the 1950s, and was a member of theEnglish Stage Company at theRoyal Court Theatre during theAngry Young Men period when new playwrights, includingJohn Osborne, introduced new themes to British theatre. His most famous character, Barlow, was noted for his hard edges, owing much to the changes in characterisation pioneered at the Royal Court.
In 1961 he appeared inThe Avengers Season One episode "The Frighteners" in the role of Sir Thomas Weller.
In 1962 he won the part of Barlow inZ-Cars and soon became one of the most familiar and popular faces on British television. During the long run (1962–1965) ofZ-Cars, he transferred his character to the spin-off series,Softly, Softly (1966–1969), and laterSoftly, Softly: Task Force (1969–1972). He also played the voice of the mysterious "Guvnor" inThe Great St Trinian's Train Robbery (1966).
He was the subject ofThis Is Your Life in October 1963 when he was surprised byEamonn Andrews at BBC Television Centre.[citation needed]
In the 1970s he starred in a third spin-off series,Barlow at Large (1971, 1973), which saw the character transferred toBritish Intelligence: it was later retitled simplyBarlow (1974–1975). Although the Barlow character remained popular (and appeared in another spin-off, in which he investigated theJack the Ripper murders), ratings for these solo spin-offs declined, and the final series ended in 1975. Barlow was seen once more in 1976, in the seriesSecond Verdict.
Johns appeared as President of the CouncilBradshaw in the 1970 award-winning filmCromwell withRichard Harris in the role ofCromwell and SirAlec Guinness asKing Charles I.
In 1973 Johns was named BBC TV Personality of the Year by theVariety Club of Great Britain. He portrayed theapartheid-supporting Namib mine superintendent Mr. Zimmerman in two episodes of the 1985 mini-seriesMaster of the Game.
Johns later appeared in theKen Russell filmsSalome's Last Dance andThe Lair of the White Worm (both 1988),[2] followed by the mid-1980sChannel 4 seriesBrond, in which he played the title character.
His many stage credits include Daddy Warbucks in the original West End run ofAnnie[4] – he can be heard on the original Londoncast album – and theGhost of Christmas Present in the originalBirmingham cast of the stage adaptation of the film musicalScrooge (1970), on the recording of which he can also be heard. His guest appearances on TV includeThe Avengers,Department S,Neverwhere, theDoctor Who serialFour to Doomsday (1982) and theBlake's 7 episode "Games". He had a prominent role asCalpurnius Piso in the BBC's acclaimed adaptation ofRobert Graves'I, Claudius (1976); he played Magwitch in the BBC's 1981 adaptation of Dickens'Great Expectations, and the jailer inThe Jail Diary of Albie Sachs. Johns appeared in the 1984 pop video forYoung at Heart recorded by The Bluebells. With him were veteran Scottish actressMolly Weir and Scots singer/actressClare Grogan. In 1993, Johns appeared in the BBC period dramaScarlet and Black alongside a youngEwan McGregor andRachel Weisz.
Johns played the role of Cyril Isaiah Greengrass, the conniving brother of Claude Jeremiah Greengrass in the nostalgicYorkshire Television series,Heartbeat.[5]
He was also the author of the children's bookGumphlumph; in the mid-1960s, at the height of his fame as Barlow, he read it on the children's television seriesJackanory.Gumphlumph would be revived, again with Johns narrating, for theTV-am children's programmeRub-a-Dub-Tub in the 1980s.
He married Nanette Ryder in 1955; they had four children. He ran the small hotel inSt Martins Lane called the St Martins Hotel; it was managed by Elizabeth Kissick-Jones, formerly Hartnell, who was the aunt of his wife Nanette. The hotel was very popular with actors and he ran it until 1976.
After several years of poor health, Johns died from heart disease in 2002, aged 76.[2]
