Cecil Parker: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|English actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name              = Cecil Parker
| name              = Cecil Parker
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| birth_name        = Cecil Schwabe
| birth_name        = Cecil Schwabe
| birth_date        = {{birth date|1897|09|03|df=y}}
| birth_date        = {{birth date|1897|09|03|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[w:Hastings|Hastings]], [[w:Sussex|Sussex]], England
| birth_place        = [[Hastings]], [[Sussex]], England
| death_date        = {{death date and age|1971|04|20|1897|09|03|df=y}}
| death_date        = {{death date and age|1971|04|20|1897|09|03|df=y}}
| death_place        = [[w:Brighton|Brighton]], Sussex, England
| death_place        = [[Brighton]], Sussex, England
| othername          =  
| othername          =  
| occupation        = Actor
| occupation        = Actor
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==Career==
==Career==
Parker was born in [[w:Hastings|Hastings]], [[w:Sussex|Sussex]], the second son (and fifth of six children) of German-born Charles August Schwabe, manager of the Albany Hotel, Hastings, and his English wife Kate (née Parker), a church organist.<ref>{{cite web |title=Parker [formerly Schwabe], Cecil (1897–1971), actor |url=https://oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/99642 |website=Oxford Index |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=July 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806133801/https://oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/99642 |archive-date=August 6, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=argus>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/16735831.sussex-actor-cecil-parker-big-family-secret/|title=Sussex actor Cecil Parker had a big family secret|website=The Argus}}</ref> He was educated at [[St Francis Xavier College]], and at [[Bruges]] in [[Belgium]].<ref name=who>Who's Who in the Theatre by John Parker (11th Edition) (1952) (London)</ref>  He served with the [[Royal Sussex Regiment]] in the [[First World War]], reaching the rank of [[sergeant]].<ref>Medal index card of Cecil Schwabe (WO 372/17/1925/12), The National Archive, Kew, Surrey, England</ref> He began his theatrical career in London in 1922, adopting the surname "Parker" from his mother's maiden name.<ref name=screenonline>{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/448873/index.html|title=BFI Screenonline: Parker, Cecil (1897-1971) Biography|website=www.screenonline.org.uk}}</ref><ref name=argus/> He made his first film appearance in 1933 and subsequently became a familiar face in British and occasionally American films until his death.<ref name=screenonline/> He appeared less often on television, but many of his films have remained popular and are often shown.{{Citation needed |date=July 2022}}
Parker was born in [[Hastings|Hastings]], [[Sussex|Sussex]], the second son (and fifth of six children) of German-born Charles August Schwabe, manager of the Albany Hotel, Hastings, and his English wife Kate (née Parker), a church organist.<ref>{{cite web |title=Parker [formerly Schwabe], Cecil (1897–1971), actor |url=https://oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/99642 |website=Oxford Index |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=July 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806133801/https://oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/99642 |archive-date=August 6, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=argus>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/16735831.sussex-actor-cecil-parker-big-family-secret/|title=Sussex actor Cecil Parker had a big family secret|website=The Argus}}</ref> He was educated at [[St Francis Xavier College]], and at [[Bruges]] in [[Belgium]].<ref name=who>Who's Who in the Theatre by John Parker (11th Edition) (1952) (London)</ref>  He served with the [[Royal Sussex Regiment]] in the [[First World War]], reaching the rank of [[sergeant]].<ref>Medal index card of Cecil Schwabe (WO 372/17/1925/12), The National Archive, Kew, Surrey, England</ref> He began his theatrical career in London in 1922, adopting the surname "Parker" from his mother's maiden name.<ref name=screenonline>{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/448873/index.html|title=BFI Screenonline: Parker, Cecil (1897-1971) Biography|website=www.screenonline.org.uk}}</ref><ref name=argus/> He made his first film appearance in 1933 and subsequently became a familiar face in British and occasionally American films until his death.<ref name=screenonline/> He appeared less often on television, but many of his films have remained popular and are often shown.


He acted in two adaptations of [[A. J. Cronin]]'s novels, ''[[The Citadel (1938 film)|The Citadel]]'' (1938) and ''[[The Stars Look Down (film)|The Stars Look Down]]'' (1940), in addition to appearing in ''[[The Lady Vanishes]]'' (1938) and ''[[Under Capricorn]]'' (1949).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/cecil-parker-p55075/filmography|title=Cecil Parker &#124; Movies and Filmography|website=AllMovie}}</ref> Both of these latter films were directed by [[Alfred Hitchcock]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/446568/credits.html|title=BFI Screenonline: Hitchcock, Alfred (1899-1980) Credits|website=www.screenonline.org.uk}}</ref> Other roles were in ''[[Storm in a Teacup (film)|Storm in a Teacup]]'' (1937), ''[[The Weaker Sex]]'' (1948), ''[[23 Paces to Baker Street]]'' (1956), ''[[Dangerous Moonlight]]'' (1941), ''[[Swiss Family Robinson (1960 film)|Swiss Family Robinson]]'' (1960), and ''[[I Was Monty's Double (film)|I Was Monty's Double]]'' (1958), as well as the comedies ''[[A French Mistress]]'' (1960), ''[[The Ladykillers (1955 film)|The Ladykillers]]'' (1955), ''[[The Man in the White Suit]]'' (1951), ''[[The Court Jester]]'' (1955) (in which he played an evil, usurping king of England), ''[[Indiscreet (1958 film)|Indiscreet]]'' (1958) and ''[[I Believe in You (film)|I Believe in You]]'' (1952).<ref name=bfi>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9ef4d493|title=Cecil Parker|website=BFI}}</ref> Parker was also the original Charles Condomine in the West End production of [[Noël Coward]]'s ''[[Blithe Spirit (play)|Blithe Spirit]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmlinc.org/films/blithe-spirit/|title=Blithe Spirit|website=Film at Lincoln Center}}</ref>
He acted in two adaptations of [[A. J. Cronin]]'s novels, ''[[The Citadel (1938 film)|The Citadel]]'' (1938) and ''[[The Stars Look Down (film)|The Stars Look Down]]'' (1940), in addition to appearing in ''[[The Lady Vanishes]]'' (1938) and ''[[Under Capricorn]]'' (1949).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/cecil-parker-p55075/filmography|title=Cecil Parker &#124; Movies and Filmography|website=AllMovie}}</ref> Both of these latter films were directed by [[Alfred Hitchcock]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/446568/credits.html|title=BFI Screenonline: Hitchcock, Alfred (1899-1980) Credits|website=www.screenonline.org.uk}}</ref> Other roles were in ''[[Storm in a Teacup (film)|Storm in a Teacup]]'' (1937), ''[[The Weaker Sex]]'' (1948), ''[[23 Paces to Baker Street]]'' (1956), ''[[Dangerous Moonlight]]'' (1941), ''[[Swiss Family Robinson (1960 film)|Swiss Family Robinson]]'' (1960), and ''[[I Was Monty's Double (film)|I Was Monty's Double]]'' (1958), as well as the comedies ''[[A French Mistress]]'' (1960), ''[[The Ladykillers (1955 film)|The Ladykillers]]'' (1955), ''[[The Man in the White Suit]]'' (1951), ''[[The Court Jester]]'' (1955) (in which he played an evil, usurping king of England), ''[[Indiscreet (1958 film)|Indiscreet]]'' (1958) and ''[[I Believe in You (film)|I Believe in You]]'' (1952).<ref name=bfi>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9ef4d493|title=Cecil Parker|website=BFI}}</ref> Parker was also the original Charles Condomine in the West End production of [[Noël Coward]]'s ''[[Blithe Spirit (play)|Blithe Spirit]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmlinc.org/films/blithe-spirit/|title=Blithe Spirit|website=Film at Lincoln Center}}</ref>

Latest revision as of 22:53, 18 February 2023

Cecil Parker
Cecil Parker.jpg
Born
Cecil Schwabe

(1897-09-03)3 September 1897
Hastings, Sussex, England
Died20 April 1971(1971-04-20) (aged 73)
Brighton, Sussex, England
OccupationActor
Years active1928–1969
Spouse
Muriel Anne Randall Brown
(m. 1927)
Children1

Cecil Parker (born Cecil Schwabe, 3 September 1897 – 20 April 1971) was an English actor with a distinctively husky voice, who usually played supporting roles, often characters with a supercilious demeanour, in his 91 films made between 1928 and 1969.

Career

Parker was born in Hastings, Sussex, the second son (and fifth of six children) of German-born Charles August Schwabe, manager of the Albany Hotel, Hastings, and his English wife Kate (née Parker), a church organist.[1][2] He was educated at St Francis Xavier College, and at Bruges in Belgium.[3] He served with the Royal Sussex Regiment in the First World War, reaching the rank of sergeant.[4] He began his theatrical career in London in 1922, adopting the surname "Parker" from his mother's maiden name.[5][2] He made his first film appearance in 1933 and subsequently became a familiar face in British and occasionally American films until his death.[5] He appeared less often on television, but many of his films have remained popular and are often shown.

He acted in two adaptations of A. J. Cronin's novels, The Citadel (1938) and The Stars Look Down (1940), in addition to appearing in The Lady Vanishes (1938) and Under Capricorn (1949).[6] Both of these latter films were directed by Alfred Hitchcock.[7] Other roles were in Storm in a Teacup (1937), The Weaker Sex (1948), 23 Paces to Baker Street (1956), Dangerous Moonlight (1941), Swiss Family Robinson (1960), and I Was Monty's Double (1958), as well as the comedies A French Mistress (1960), The Ladykillers (1955), The Man in the White Suit (1951), The Court Jester (1955) (in which he played an evil, usurping king of England), Indiscreet (1958) and I Believe in You (1952).[8] Parker was also the original Charles Condomine in the West End production of Noël Coward's Blithe Spirit.[9]

He often played a touchy senior officer or British upper class character, and his last two films were true to form: The Magnificent Two (1967) with the British comedy double act Morecambe and Wise and Richard Attenborough's version of Oh! What a Lovely War (1969).[8]

On November 20, 1950, he co-starred with Margaret O'Brien in "The Canterville Ghost", on Robert Montgomery Presents on TV.[10] He played a butler on one episode of The Avengers ("The £50,000 Breakfast").[11] In 1957 he played Dr. Morelle in BBC radio series, "A Case for Dr. Morelle" (13 episodes).[12]

Personal life

Parker was married to Muriel Anne Randell-Brown (born in Seacombe, Cheshire),[3] from September 1927 until his death in 1971, in Brighton.[13]

Filmography

References

  1. ^ "Parker [formerly Schwabe], Cecil (1897–1971), actor". Oxford Index. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on August 6, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Sussex actor Cecil Parker had a big family secret". The Argus.
  3. ^ a b Who's Who in the Theatre by John Parker (11th Edition) (1952) (London)
  4. ^ Medal index card of Cecil Schwabe (WO 372/17/1925/12), The National Archive, Kew, Surrey, England
  5. ^ a b "BFI Screenonline: Parker, Cecil (1897-1971) Biography". www.screenonline.org.uk.
  6. ^ "Cecil Parker | Movies and Filmography". AllMovie.
  7. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Hitchcock, Alfred (1899-1980) Credits". www.screenonline.org.uk.
  8. ^ a b "Cecil Parker". BFI.
  9. ^ "Blithe Spirit". Film at Lincoln Center.
  10. ^ "Television . . . . . . Highlights of the Week". Detroit Free Press. November 19, 1950. p. 22. Retrieved April 13, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "The £50,000 Breakfast (1967)". BFI. Archived from the original on November 21, 2021.
  12. ^ "BBC Radio 4 Extra - A Case for Dr Morelle". BBC.
  13. ^ "Cecil Parker, 73, a British Actor". The New York Times. 1971-04-22.

External links