James Donald(1917-1993)
- Actor
Scottish-born actor James Donald was born in Aberdeen on May 18, 1917,
and took his first professional stage bow some time in the late 30s. He
finally attained a degree of stardom in 1943 for his sterling
performance in Noël Coward's "Present
Laughter", which starred Coward himself. Subsequent post-war theatre
work included "The Eagle with Two Heads" (1947), "You Never Can Tell"
(1948) and "The Heiress" (1949) with
Ralph Richardson,
Peggy Ashcroft and
Donald Sinden.
Rather humorless in character with a gaunt, intent-looking face and
no-nonsense demeanor, James made his debut in British films in 1942,
fitting quite comfortably into the stoic war-era mold with roles in
such noteworthy military sagas as
In Which We Serve (1942) and
The Way Ahead (1944). Ably
supporting such top-notch actors as
Spencer Tracy and
Deborah Kerr in
Edward, My Son (1949) and
Elizabeth Taylor and
Stewart Granger in
Beau Brummell (1954), he also
managed to head up a number of films including
White Corridors (1951) in which
he and Googie Withers play husband and
wife doctors who try to balance career and marriage; Charles Dickens'
The Pickwick Papers (1952) as
"Nathaniel Winkle", and Project M7 (1953) as
a scientist obsessed with his work. In addition, he earned superb marks
for a number of quality films in the 1950s and 1960s. His portrayal of
painter 'Vincent Van Gogh''s brother
"Theo" in Lust for Life (1956) with
Kirk Douglas, was quite memorable,
as was his trenchant work in the WWII POW dramas
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957),
The Great Escape (1963), and
King Rat (1965). Most of the men he
played were intelligent, moral-minded and honorable. While continuing
to perform on stage, he also gained TV exposure. James received an Emmy
nomination for his role as "Prince Albert" opposite
Julie Harris in
Victoria Regina (1961),
and performed the part of the cruel-eyed stepfather "Mr. Murdstone" in
the period remake of
David Copperfield (1970)
toward the end of his career. Off the screen for a number of years, he
died of stomach cancer on August 3, 1993 in England. He was 76.
and took his first professional stage bow some time in the late 30s. He
finally attained a degree of stardom in 1943 for his sterling
performance in Noël Coward's "Present
Laughter", which starred Coward himself. Subsequent post-war theatre
work included "The Eagle with Two Heads" (1947), "You Never Can Tell"
(1948) and "The Heiress" (1949) with
Ralph Richardson,
Peggy Ashcroft and
Donald Sinden.
Rather humorless in character with a gaunt, intent-looking face and
no-nonsense demeanor, James made his debut in British films in 1942,
fitting quite comfortably into the stoic war-era mold with roles in
such noteworthy military sagas as
In Which We Serve (1942) and
The Way Ahead (1944). Ably
supporting such top-notch actors as
Spencer Tracy and
Deborah Kerr in
Edward, My Son (1949) and
Elizabeth Taylor and
Stewart Granger in
Beau Brummell (1954), he also
managed to head up a number of films including
White Corridors (1951) in which
he and Googie Withers play husband and
wife doctors who try to balance career and marriage; Charles Dickens'
The Pickwick Papers (1952) as
"Nathaniel Winkle", and Project M7 (1953) as
a scientist obsessed with his work. In addition, he earned superb marks
for a number of quality films in the 1950s and 1960s. His portrayal of
painter 'Vincent Van Gogh''s brother
"Theo" in Lust for Life (1956) with
Kirk Douglas, was quite memorable,
as was his trenchant work in the WWII POW dramas
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957),
The Great Escape (1963), and
King Rat (1965). Most of the men he
played were intelligent, moral-minded and honorable. While continuing
to perform on stage, he also gained TV exposure. James received an Emmy
nomination for his role as "Prince Albert" opposite
Julie Harris in
Victoria Regina (1961),
and performed the part of the cruel-eyed stepfather "Mr. Murdstone" in
the period remake of
David Copperfield (1970)
toward the end of his career. Off the screen for a number of years, he
died of stomach cancer on August 3, 1993 in England. He was 76.