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Robert Coote
Actor

Robert Coote

4 Feb 1909Born
26 Nov 1982Died
73Age at death
63Credits

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Robert Coote (4 February 1909 – 26 November 1982) was an English actor. He played aristocrats or British military types in many films, and created the role of Colonel Hugh Pickering in the long-running original Broadway production of My Fair Lady.

Coote was born in London and educated at Hurstpierpoint College in Sussex. He began his stage career at the age of 16, performing in Britain, South Africa, and Australia before arriving in Hollywood in the late 1930s. He played a succession of pompous British types in supporting roles, including a brief but memorable turn as Sgt. Bertie Higginbotham in Gunga Din (1939).

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His acting career was interrupted by his service as a squadron leader in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. He played Bob Trubshawe in Powell and Pressburger's A Matter of Life and Death (1946), chosen for the first-ever Royal Film Performance on 1 November 1946, before he returned to Hollywood, where his films included The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947), Forever Amber (1947), The Three Musketeers (1948), and Orson Welles' Othello (1952).

In 1956, Coote created the role of Colonel Pickering in the original Broadway production of My Fair Lady (1956–62), which he reprised in the musical's 1976–77 Broadway revival. He also originated the role of King Pellinore in the Broadway production of Camelot (1960–63). He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his performance as Timmy St. Clair in the NBC TV series The Rogues (1964–65). In 1966, Coote appeared with Jackie Gleason and Art Carney in an episode of The Honeymooners entitled "The Honeymooners in England", broadcast on CBS-TV from Miami.

In his last feature film performance, Coote portrayed one of the critics dispatched by Vincent Price in Theatre of Blood (1973).

His final role was on television, playing orchid nurse Theodore Horstmann in the 1981 NBC-TV series Nero Wolfe, starring William Conrad in the title role. In most film and TV adaptations of Nero Wolfe mysteries, before and since, Horstmann has been a very minor character, but Coote's Horstmann got considerable screen time in the series.

The veteran British character actor died in his sleep at the New York Athletic Club in November 1982, at the age of 73.

Coote was a close friend of actor David Niven, sharing a house with Niven for a time in the late 1930s and living in a flat over Niven's garage for several years after the Second World War.

Known for

Filmography

  1. TBABest Of EnemiesSeries (7 episodes)
  2. 1981Nero WolfeSeries: Theodore Horstmann (14 episodes)
  3. 1979Filming OthelloFilm
  4. 1979$weepstake$Series: Butler (1 episode)
  5. 1979Institute for RevengeFilm: Wellington
  6. 1973Theatre of BloodFilm: Oliver Larding
  7. 1972Up the FrontFilm: General Burke
  8. 1969Charley's AuntFilm: Col. Sir Francis Chesney
  9. 1968Prudence and the PillFilm: Henry Hardcastle
  10. 1968KennerFilm
  11. 1967The Cool OnesFilm: Stanley Krum
  12. 1967The Whitehall WorrierSeries (7 episodes)
  13. 1966The SwingerFilm: Sir Hubert Charles
  14. 1966Alice Through the Looking GlassFilm: The Red King
  15. 1966A Man Could Get KilledFilm: Hatton / Jones
  16. 1965BBC Play of the MonthSeries: Col. Sir Francis Chesney, Mr. Eager (1 episode)
  17. 1964The RoguesSeries: Timmy St. Clair (30 episodes)
  18. 1964The Golden HeadFilm
  19. 1963The V.I.P.sFilm: John Coburn
  20. 1960The League of GentlemenFilm: Bunny Warren
  21. 1960Lord Arthur Savile's CrimeFilm: Baines
  22. 1959RawhideSeries
  23. 1958The Horse's MouthFilm: Sir William Beeder
  24. 1958Westinghouse Desilu PlayhouseSeries: Terry (1 episode)
  25. 1958Merry AndrewFilm: Dudley Larabee
  26. 1956The SwanFilm: Capt. Wunderlich
  27. 1955The Constant HusbandFilm: The Best Man
  28. 1952The Prisoner of ZendaFilm: Fritz von Tarlenheim
  29. 1952The Merry WidowFilm: Marquis De Crillon
  30. 1952ScaramoucheFilm: Gaston Binet
  31. 1951OthelloFilm: Roderigo
  32. 1951The Desert Fox: The Story of RommelFilm: British Medical Officer
  33. 1951Soldiers ThreeFilm: Maj. Mercer
  34. 1950The Elusive PimpernelFilm: Sir Andrew ffoulkes
  35. 1950Lux Video TheatreSeries: Stephen, Joe Worton, Lawton (1 episode)
  36. 1950Robert Montgomery PresentsSeries: Sir Archibald Bruern (2 episodes)
  37. 1949The Red DanubeFilm: Brigadier C.M.V. Catlock
  38. 1948Studio OneSeries: Dr. Gordon (1 episode)
  39. 1948The Three MusketeersFilm: Aramis
  40. 1948Berlin ExpressFilm: James Sterling
  41. 1947The ExileFilm: Dick Pinner
  42. 1947Forever AmberFilm: Sir Thomas Dudley
  43. 1947LuredFilm: Detective Wilson
  44. 1947The Ghost and Mrs. MuirFilm: Mr. Coombe
  45. 1946A Matter of Life and DeathFilm: Bob Trubshawe
  46. 1946Cloak and DaggerFilm: Cronin
  47. 1943Forever and a DayFilm: Blind Officer
  48. 1942Commandos Strike at DawnFilm: Robert Bowen
  49. 1940You Can't Fool Your WifeFilm: Battincourt
  50. 1940Vigil in the NightFilm: Dr. Caley
  51. 1939Nurse Edith CavellFilm: Bungey
  52. 1939Bad LandsFilm: Eaton
  53. 1939The House of FearFilm: Robert Morton
  54. 1939Gunga DinFilm: Bertie Higginbotham
  55. 1939Mr. Moto's Last WarningFilm: Rollo Venables
  56. 1938The Girl DownstairsFilm: Karl
  57. 1938Blond CheatFilm: Gilbert Potts
  58. 1938A Yank at OxfordFilm: Wavertree
  59. 1937The Sheik Steps OutFilm: Lord Eustace Byington
  60. 1937The Thirteenth ChairFilm: Stanby
  61. 1936Rangle RiverFilm: Reggie Mannister, Flight-Lieutenant
  62. 1933LoyaltiesFilm: Robert
  63. 1931Sally in Our AlleyFilm: Waiter At Party

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