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{{Short description|Welsh actor}}
{{use British English|date=August 2016}}
{{use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name        = Donald Houston
| image      = Donald Houston.jpg
| image      = Donald houston.jpeg
| imagesize  =
| caption    =  
| caption    =  
| birth_name  =  
| birth_name  =  
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1923|11|6|df=y}}
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1923|11|6|df=y}}
| birth_place  = [[Clydach Vale]], [[Rhondda]], [[Wales]], UK
| birth_place  = [[Clydach Vale|Clydach Vale]], [[Rhondda|Rhondda]], [[Wales|Wales]], UK
| death_date  = {{death date and age|1991|10|13|1923|11|6|df=y}}
| death_date  = {{death date and age|1991|10|13|1923|11|6|df=y}}
| death_place  = [[Coimbra]], [[Portugal]]
| death_place  = [[Coimbra|Coimbra]], [[Portugal|Portugal]]
| occupation  = Actor
| occupation  = Actor
| years_active = 1949–1984
| years_active = 1949–1984
| spouse      = {{marriage|Brenda Hogan<br />|1949|1991|end=his death}}
| spouse      = {{marriage|Brenda Hogan<br />|1949|1991|end=his death}}
| family    = [[Glyn Houston]] <small>(brother)</small>
| family    = [[Glyn Houston|Glyn Houston]] <small>(brother)</small>
}}
}}


'''Donald Daniel Houston''' (6 November 1923&nbsp;– 13 October 1991) was a [[Wales|Welsh]] actor whose first two films—''[[The Blue Lagoon (1949 film)|The Blue Lagoon]]'' (1949) with [[Jean Simmons]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Thomson|first1=David|title=Jean Simmons obituary|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/jan/24/jean-simmons-obituary|access-date=8 August 2016|work=The Guardian|date=24 January 2010}}</ref> and ''[[A Run for Your Money]]'' (1949) with [[Alec Guinness]]—were highly successful. Later in his career he was cast in military roles and in comedies such as the ''[[Doctor in the House|Doctor]]'' and ''[[Carry On (film series)|Carry On]]'' series.
'''Donald Daniel Houston''' (6 November 1923&nbsp;– 13 October 1991) was a [[Wales|Welsh]] actor whose first two films—''[[The Blue Lagoon (1949 film)|The Blue Lagoon]]'' (1949) with [[Jean Simmons|Jean Simmons]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Thomson|first1=David|title=Jean Simmons obituary|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/jan/24/jean-simmons-obituary|access-date=8 August 2016|work=The Guardian|date=24 January 2010}}</ref> and ''[[A Run for Your Money|A Run for Your Money]]'' (1949) with [[Alec Guinness|Alec Guinness]]—were highly successful. Later in his career he was cast in military roles and in comedies such as the ''[[Doctor in the House|Doctor]]'' and ''[[Carry On (film series)|Carry On]]'' series.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Houston was born in 10 Thomas Street, Tonypandy, on Tuesday 6 November 1923 in the village of [[Clydach Vale]], near [[Tonypandy]], [[Glamorgan]] and was the elder brother of actor [[Glyn Houston]] and a sister, Jean.<ref>{{cite book | title = The Annual Obituary 1991 | publisher = St. James Press | location = Detroit, Mich | year = 1992 | isbn = 9781558621756 | page=631 }}</ref>
Houston was born in 10 Thomas Street, [[Tonypandy|Tonypandy]], on Tuesday 6 November 1923 in the village of [[Clydach Vale|Clydach Vale]], near Tonypandy, [[Glamorgan|Glamorgan]] and was the elder brother of actor [[Glyn Houston|Glyn Houston]] and a sister, Jean.<ref>{{cite book | title = The Annual Obituary 1991 | publisher = St. James Press | location = Detroit, Mich | year = 1992 | isbn = 9781558621756 | page=631 }}</ref>


His father Alexander Houston, was a professional football player from Scotland, and his mother Elsie M Jones, ran a milk round.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|title=Film actor Donald Houston's Rhondda blue plaque honour|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/8486069.stm|access-date=8 August 2016|work=BBC News|date=28 January 2010}}</ref>  Following the death of their mother at age 29, Donald and brother [[Glyn Houston]] were raised by their grandmother while their father had to leave Wales in order to find work.<ref>{{cite news|title=The two brothers from Tonypandy who went on to be Hollywood stars|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/two-brothers-tonypandy-who-went-21554494|work=[[Wales Online]]|access-date=17 October 2021}}</ref>
His father Alexander Houston, was a professional football player from Scotland, and his mother Elsie M Jones, ran a milk round.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|title=Film actor Donald Houston's Rhondda blue plaque honour|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/8486069.stm|access-date=8 August 2016|work=BBC News|date=28 January 2010}}</ref>  Following the death of their mother at age 29, Donald and brother [[Glyn Houston|Glyn Houston]] were raised by their grandmother while their father had to leave Wales in order to find work.<ref>{{cite news|title=The two brothers from Tonypandy who went on to be Hollywood stars|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/two-brothers-tonypandy-who-went-21554494|work=[[Wales Online|]]|access-date=17 October 2021}}</ref>


After leaving school he worked at a local [[colliery]]<ref name=":0" /> before deciding to start an acting career.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/wales/entries/10c331cb-8cc2-3175-9b5a-b3d7a6e74702|title=Donald Houston, great Welsh actor|date=7 November 2011|website=BBC}}</ref> In 1940 he performed on stage with the Pilgrim Players.<ref>{{cite web|title=Donald Houston Biography|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/donald_houston/biography|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=8 August 2016}}</ref> He served in the [[Royal Air Force]] during the [[World War II|Second World War]] as a rear gunner and radio officer.  
After leaving school he worked at a local [[colliery|colliery]]<ref name=":0" /> before deciding to start an acting career.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/wales/entries/10c331cb-8cc2-3175-9b5a-b3d7a6e74702|title=Donald Houston, great Welsh actor|date=7 November 2011|website=BBC}}</ref> In 1940 he performed on stage with the Pilgrim Players.<ref>{{cite web|title=Donald Houston Biography|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/donald_houston/biography|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=8 August 2016}}</ref> He served in the [[Royal Air Force|Royal Air Force]] during the [[World War II|Second World War]] as a rear gunner and radio officer.


==Acting career==
==Acting career==
Houston had a successful career as a character actor in British film and television, with prominent parts in several well-known films, including ''[[Yangtse Incident (film)|Yangtse Incident]]'' (1957), ''[[The Longest Day (film)|The Longest Day]]'' (1962, in which he appeared alongside [[Richard Burton]]), ''[[633 Squadron]]'' (1964), ''[[Where Eagles Dare]]'' (1968, again with Burton) and ''[[The Sea Wolves]]'' (1981).<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pettigrew|first1=Terence|title=British Film Character Actors: Great Names and memorable Moments|date=1982|publisher=David & Charles|location=Neton Abbot|isbn=0-7153-8270-5|pages=95–98}}</ref> He would sometimes indulge his Welsh accent, and at other times conceal it behind an English public school voice. His forte tended to be authority figures, often military, such as the brilliant but tough David Caulder, the head of ''[[Moonbase 3]]'', or Dr Francis in "Thirteen to Centaurus" (from the anthology series ''[[Out of the Unknown]]'').
Houston had a successful career as a character actor in British film and television, with prominent parts in several well-known films, including ''[[Yangtse Incident (film)|Yangtse Incident]]'' (1957), ''[[The Longest Day (film)|The Longest Day]]'' (1962, in which he appeared alongside [[Richard Burton|Richard Burton]]), ''[[633 Squadron|633 Squadron]]'' (1964), ''[[Where Eagles Dare|Where Eagles Dare]]'' (1968, again with Burton) and ''[[The Sea Wolves|The Sea Wolves]]'' (1981).<ref>{{cite book|last1=Pettigrew|first1=Terence|title=British Film Character Actors: Great Names and memorable Moments|date=1982|publisher=David & Charles|location=Neton Abbot|isbn=0-7153-8270-5|pages=95–98}}</ref> He would sometimes indulge his Welsh accent, and at other times conceal it behind an English public school voice. His forte tended to be authority figures, often military, such as the brilliant but tough David Caulder, the head of ''[[Moonbase 3|Moonbase 3]]'', or Dr Francis in "Thirteen to Centaurus" (from the anthology series ''[[Out of the Unknown|Out of the Unknown]]'').


He could also handle comedy, as he proved with ''[[Doctor in the House]]'' (1954) and the later ''[[Doctor in Distress (film)|Doctor in Distress]]'' (1963), both significant successes in Europe, and ''[[Carry On Jack]]'' (1963). Though preferring quality parts, he was not above journeyman work{{According to whom?|date=December 2021}} in films such as ''[[Maniac (1963 film)|Maniac]]'' (1963) and ''[[Tales That Witness Madness]]'' (1973).
He could also handle comedy, as he proved with ''[[Doctor in the House]]'' (1954) and the later ''[[Doctor in Distress (film)|Doctor in Distress]]'' (1963), both significant successes in Europe, and ''[[Carry On Jack]]'' (1963). Though preferring quality parts, he was not above journeyman work in films such as ''[[Maniac (1963 film)|Maniac]]'' (1963) and ''[[Tales That Witness Madness|Tales That Witness Madness]]'' (1973).


== Death ==
== Death ==
He died on 13 October 1991, of a stroke.<ref name=":0" />
He died on 13 October 1991, of a stroke.<ref name=":0" />


The house in which he was born in Tonypandy, Rhondda is marked with a [[Blue Plaque]] historical marker.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_east/8486069.stm|title=Hollywood actor's Rhondda honour|date=28 January 2010|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>  The unveiling ceremony was attended by Donald's daughter Sian, his granddaughter Michala, his sister Jean Rees and other family members and friends.  Historian [[Peter Stead (writer)|Peter Stead]] spoke about Donald Houston's British film career at the plaque unveiling ceremony.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_east/8486069.stm#:~:text=Film%20star%20Donald%20Houston%20has,the%20house%20in%20Tonypandy%2C%20Rhondda.|title = Hollywood actor's Rhondda honour|date = 28 January 2010}}</ref>
The house in which he was born in Tonypandy, Rhondda is marked with a [[Blue Plaque|Blue Plaque]] historical marker.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_east/8486069.stm|title=Hollywood actor's Rhondda honour|date=28 January 2010|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>  The unveiling ceremony was attended by Donald's daughter Sian, his granddaughter Michala, his sister Jean Rees and other family members and friends.  Historian [[Peter Stead (writer)|Peter Stead]] spoke about Donald Houston's British film career at the plaque unveiling ceremony.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_east/8486069.stm#:~:text=Film%20star%20Donald%20Houston%20has,the%20house%20in%20Tonypandy%2C%20Rhondda.|title = Hollywood actor's Rhondda honour|date = 28 January 2010}}</ref>


==Selected filmography==
==Selected filmography==
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==External links==
==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0396819}}
* {{IMDb name|0396819}}
{{Authority control}}


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[[Category:Royal Air Force personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force officers]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force officers]]
[[Category:Stroke-related deaths in Portugal]]

Latest revision as of 17:07, 18 February 2023

Donald Houston
Donald Houston.jpg
Born(1923-11-06)6 November 1923
Clydach Vale, Rhondda, Wales, UK
Died13 October 1991(1991-10-13) (aged 67)
Coimbra, Portugal
OccupationActor
Years active1949–1984
Spouse(s)
Brenda Hogan
​
​
(m. 1949; "his death" is deprecated; use "died" instead. 1991)​
FamilyGlyn Houston (brother)

Donald Daniel Houston (6 November 1923 – 13 October 1991) was a Welsh actor whose first two films—The Blue Lagoon (1949) with Jean Simmons,[1] and A Run for Your Money (1949) with Alec Guinness—were highly successful. Later in his career he was cast in military roles and in comedies such as the Doctor and Carry On series.

Early life

Houston was born in 10 Thomas Street, Tonypandy, on Tuesday 6 November 1923 in the village of Clydach Vale, near Tonypandy, Glamorgan and was the elder brother of actor Glyn Houston and a sister, Jean.[2]

His father Alexander Houston, was a professional football player from Scotland, and his mother Elsie M Jones, ran a milk round.[3] Following the death of their mother at age 29, Donald and brother Glyn Houston were raised by their grandmother while their father had to leave Wales in order to find work.[4]

After leaving school he worked at a local colliery[3] before deciding to start an acting career.[5] In 1940 he performed on stage with the Pilgrim Players.[6] He served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War as a rear gunner and radio officer.

Acting career

Houston had a successful career as a character actor in British film and television, with prominent parts in several well-known films, including Yangtse Incident (1957), The Longest Day (1962, in which he appeared alongside Richard Burton), 633 Squadron (1964), Where Eagles Dare (1968, again with Burton) and The Sea Wolves (1981).[7] He would sometimes indulge his Welsh accent, and at other times conceal it behind an English public school voice. His forte tended to be authority figures, often military, such as the brilliant but tough David Caulder, the head of Moonbase 3, or Dr Francis in "Thirteen to Centaurus" (from the anthology series Out of the Unknown).

He could also handle comedy, as he proved with Doctor in the House (1954) and the later Doctor in Distress (1963), both significant successes in Europe, and Carry On Jack (1963). Though preferring quality parts, he was not above journeyman work in films such as Maniac (1963) and Tales That Witness Madness (1973).

Death

He died on 13 October 1991, of a stroke.[3]

The house in which he was born in Tonypandy, Rhondda is marked with a Blue Plaque historical marker.[8] The unveiling ceremony was attended by Donald's daughter Sian, his granddaughter Michala, his sister Jean Rees and other family members and friends. Historian Peter Stead spoke about Donald Houston's British film career at the plaque unveiling ceremony.[9]

Selected filmography

References

  1. ^ Thomson, David (24 January 2010). "Jean Simmons obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  2. ^ The Annual Obituary 1991. Detroit, Mich: St. James Press. 1992. p. 631. ISBN 9781558621756.
  3. ^ a b c "Film actor Donald Houston's Rhondda blue plaque honour". BBC News. 28 January 2010. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  4. ^ "The two brothers from Tonypandy who went on to be Hollywood stars". [[Wales Online|]]. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Donald Houston, great Welsh actor". BBC. 7 November 2011.
  6. ^ "Donald Houston Biography". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  7. ^ Pettigrew, Terence (1982). British Film Character Actors: Great Names and memorable Moments. Neton Abbot: David & Charles. pp. 95–98. ISBN 0-7153-8270-5.
  8. ^ "Hollywood actor's Rhondda honour". 28 January 2010 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  9. ^ "Hollywood actor's Rhondda honour". 28 January 2010.
  10. ^ "Donald Houston". BFI. Retrieved 8 August 2016.

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.thegoonshow.co.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Donald_Houston&oldid=39364"