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William Mervyn
Actor

William Mervyn

3 Jan 1912Born
6 Aug 1976Died
64Age at death
64Credits

Biography

William Mervyn Pickwoad (3 January 1912 – 6 August 1976) was an English actor best known for his portrayal of the bishop in the clerical comedy All Gas and Gaiters, the old gentleman in The Railway Children and Inspector Charles Rose in The Odd Man and its sequels.

Mervyn was born in Nairobi, British East Africa, but educated in Britain at Forest School, Snaresbrook, before embarking on a stage career, spending five years in provincial theatre.

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He made his West End debut in The Guinea Pig at the Criterion Theatre in 1946, before parts in plays such as Lend Me Robin at the Embassy Theatre, the comedy Ring Round the Moon, The Mortimer Touch, A Woman of No Importance by Oscar Wilde at the Savoy Theatre in 1953 and Charley's Aunt.

Mervyn's later stage roles included those of O'Trigger in The Rivals, Lord Greenham in the comedy Aren't We All? and Sir Patrick Cullen in The Doctor's Dilemma. Although he was admired in the theatre, it was with television that he became really well known. One of his first major small screen roles was Sir Hector in the 1962 series Saki. Four years later, he played the Bishop of St. Ogg's in the comedy series All Gas and Gaiters. It was, at that time, breaking with tradition, allowing a laugh at the expense of the established church.

He also played the police chief inspector Charles Rose in the Granada TV series The Odd Man and its spin-offs It's Dark Outside and Mr Rose. He played the Hon. Mr. Justice Campbell in the Granada TV series Crown Court.

Having taken the part of a Chief Inspector in the 1949 Ealing Studios film The Blue Lamp, in which PC George Dixon first appears (only to be shot dead by a young Dirk Bogarde), he then reappeared in a 1960 Dixon of Dock Green episode "The Hot Seat". He was in the 1966 Doctor Who story The War Machines and several Carry On films in the late 1960s, and also appeared as Mr. Whitty in the Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) episode "A Disturbing Case" in 1969.

Usually cast as a wealthy upper class gentleman, he also appeared in The Railway Children (1970), as the children's train passenger friend, and The Ruling Class (1972). Around the same time, he appeared as Sir Hector Drummond, Bt., in the British TV series The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes, in an episode entitled "The Superfluous Finger" (1973).

Mervyn was married to Anne Margaret Payne-Cook, a theatre designer and architect who survived him with their three sons - Michael Pickwoad, who in 2010 became the production designer on Doctor Who, Richard, television director and aerial cameraman and Nicholas (Pickwoad), expert on bookbinding. Mervyn's granddaughter Amy Pickwoad became an art director and standby art director for Doctor Who.

Description above from the Wikipedia article  William Mervyn, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known for

Filmography

  1. 1977RafflesSeries: Osborne (1 episode)
  2. 1976The Bawdy Adventures of Tom JonesFilm: Squire Alworthy
  3. 1976The Ghosts of Motley HallSeries: Mr Brayling (1 episode)
  4. 1975The Christmas MessengerFilm: (voice)
  5. 1972Crown CourtSeries: The Hon. Mr. Justice Campbell (75 episodes)
  6. 1972Up the FrontFilm: Lord Twithampton
  7. 1972The Ruling ClassFilm: Sir Charles Gurney
  8. 1971The Rivals of Sherlock HolmesSeries: Sir Hector Drummond (1 episode)
  9. 1971The Persuaders!Series: Sir Charles Worthington (1 episode)
  10. 1971Carry On HenryFilm: Dr. Finlay
  11. 1971Blood SuckersFilm: Marc Honeydew
  12. 1970The Railway ChildrenFilm: Old Gentleman
  13. 1970Atlantic WallFilm: Protestant Bishop, Jeff's father
  14. 1969Carry On Again DoctorFilm: Lord Paragon
  15. 1969The Best House in LondonFilm: Cabinet Minister (uncredited)
  16. 1968HammerheadFilm: Walter Perrin
  17. 1968Salt & PepperFilm: Prime Minister
  18. 1967Follow That CamelFilm: Sir Cyril Ponsonby
  19. 1967The JokersFilm: Uncle Edward
  20. 1967Mr. RoseSeries: Charles Rose / Marcus Despard (24 episodes)
  21. 1967Deadlier Than the MaleFilm: Chairman of the Phoenician Board
  22. 1967All Gas and GaitersSeries: The Bishop, The Right Reverend Cuthbert Hever (32 episodes)
  23. 1966Doctor Who: The War MachinesFilm: Sir Charles Summer
  24. 1966The LiarsSeries: Sir Gerald (13 episodes)
  25. 1965BBC Play of the MonthSeries: Sir Hector Rose (1 episode)
  26. 1965Thirty-Minute TheatreSeries: Father, Sir Eric Brown (1 episode)
  27. 1965Heiress of GarthSeries: Squire Griffin (6 episodes)
  28. 1965Operation CrossbowFilm: Dutch Technical Examiner
  29. 1965Gideon's WaySeries: Mr. Pater (1 episode)
  30. 1965The Legend of Young Dick TurpinFilm: Lord Justice
  31. 1965Reluctant BanditSeries: Carson (5 episodes)
  32. 1965Old Man's FancyFilm: The Bishop
  33. 1964Murder AhoyFilm: Breeze-Connington
  34. 1964Hot Enough for JuneFilm: Passenger on Plane
  35. 1964It's Dark OutsideSeries: Chief Insp. Charles Rose (16 episodes)
  36. 1961Watch It, Sailor!Film: Ship's Captain
  37. 1961No Love for JohnnieFilm: Postmaster-General (uncredited)
  38. 1960PersuasionSeries: Admiral Croft (4 episodes)
  39. 1960MaigretSeries: Doctor (1 episode)
  40. 1960The Odd ManSeries: Chief Insp. Charles Rose (8 episodes)
  41. 1960On TrialSeries: President of the Court (1 episode)
  42. 1960Circus of HorrorsFilm: Dr. Morley
  43. 1960The Battle of the SexesFilm: Detective's Friend
  44. 1960A Touch of LarcenyFilm: Capt. Balfour (uncredited)
  45. 1959The Young Lady from LondonSeries: King Klaus (3 episodes)
  46. 1959Upstairs and DownstairsFilm: Kingsley
  47. 1959Bleak HouseSeries: Mr Kenge (3 episodes)
  48. 1959No Hiding PlaceSeries: Colonel Frew, Ivor Naunton (1 episode)
  49. 1959CharlesworthSeries: Charles Begbie (22 episodes)
  50. 1958Carve Her Name with PrideFilm: Colonel Buckmaster
  51. 1957Barnacle BillFilm: Captain
  52. 1957Nicholas NicklebySeries: Mr. Witterly (1 episode)
  53. 1957Now Let Him GoFilm: Sir Edmund
  54. 1956Armchair TheatreSeries: Dr. Scott, Sir Edmund (1 episode)
  55. 1956Hancock's Half HourSeries: Council Official (1 episode)
  56. 1956The Long ArmFilm: Manager of Festival Hall
  57. 1956Tons of TroubleFilm: Roberts (MI5)
  58. 1956Kitty CliveFilm: Colley Cibber
  59. 1955The Adventures of Robin HoodSeries: Thomas, Judd (1 episode)
  60. 1954Conflict of WingsFilm: Mr. Wentworth/Col. Wentworth
  61. 1950Four Men in PrisonFilm: (uncredited)
  62. 1950The Blue LampFilm: Chief Inspector Hammond (Uncredited)
  63. 1949Stop Press GirlFilm: Cinema Manager (uncredited)
  64. 1947The Loves of Joanna GoddenFilm: Huxtable

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.