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Lawson was born '''Wilfrid Lawson Worsnop''' in [[w:Bradford|Bradford]], [[w:West Riding of Yorkshire|West Riding of Yorkshire]]. He was educated at [[w:Hanson Academy|Hanson Boys' Grammar School]], Bradford, and entered the theatre in his late teens, appearing on both the British and American stage throughout his career.
Lawson was born '''Wilfrid Lawson Worsnop''' in [[w:Bradford|Bradford]], [[w:West Riding of Yorkshire|West Riding of Yorkshire]]. He was educated at [[w:Hanson Academy|Hanson Boys' Grammar School]], Bradford, and entered the theatre in his late teens, appearing on both the British and American stage throughout his career.


He made his film début in ''[[w:East Lynne on the Western Front|East Lynne on the Western Front]]'' (1931) and appeared in supporting roles until he took the lead in ''[[w:The Terror (1938 film)|The Terror]]'' (1938). In arguably his most celebrated film role, he played dustman-turned-lecturer Alfred P. Doolittle in the film version of [[George Bernard Shaw]]'s ''[[w:Pygmalion (1938 film)|Pygmalion]]'' (1938), alongside [[w:Leslie Howard (actor)|Leslie Howard]] and [[w:Wendy Hiller|Wendy Hiller]].
He made his film début in ''[[w:East Lynne on the Western Front|East Lynne on the Western Front]]'' (1931) and appeared in supporting roles until he took the lead in ''[[w:The Terror (1938 film)|The Terror]]'' (1938). In arguably his most celebrated film role, he played dustman-turned-lecturer Alfred P. Doolittle in the film version of [[w:George Bernard Shaw|George Bernard Shaw]]'s ''[[w:Pygmalion (1938 film)|Pygmalion]]'' (1938), alongside [[w:Leslie Howard (actor)|Leslie Howard]] and [[w:Wendy Hiller|Wendy Hiller]].


He also had memorable leading roles in ''[[w:Pastor Hall|Pastor Hall]]'' (1940), as a German village clergyman who denounces the new Nazi regime in 1934; ''[[w:Tower of Terror (1941 film)|Tower of Terror]]'' (1941) as the wild-eyed maniacal lighthouse keeper Wolfe Kristen; and the title role in ''[[w:The Great Mr. Handel|The Great Mr. Handel]]'' (1942), a biopic of the 18th century composer, all three showing his broad range. He also made a number of films in America beginning with ''[[w:Ladies in Love|Ladies in Love]]'' (1936) and including [[w:John Ford|John Ford]]'s ''[[w:The Long Voyage Home|The Long Voyage Home]]'' (1940) alongside [[w:John Wayne|John Wayne]]. His last leading role was in ''[[w:The Turners of Prospect Road|The Turners of Prospect Road]]'' (1947).
He also had memorable leading roles in ''[[w:Pastor Hall|Pastor Hall]]'' (1940), as a German village clergyman who denounces the new Nazi regime in 1934; ''[[w:Tower of Terror (1941 film)|Tower of Terror]]'' (1941) as the wild-eyed maniacal lighthouse keeper Wolfe Kristen; and the title role in ''[[w:The Great Mr. Handel|The Great Mr. Handel]]'' (1942), a biopic of the 18th century composer, all three showing his broad range. He also made a number of films in America beginning with ''[[w:Ladies in Love|Ladies in Love]]'' (1936) and including [[w:John Ford|John Ford]]'s ''[[w:The Long Voyage Home|The Long Voyage Home]]'' (1940) alongside [[w:John Wayne|John Wayne]]. His last leading role was in ''[[w:The Turners of Prospect Road|The Turners of Prospect Road]]'' (1947).


As a result of bouts of alcoholism,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movieline.com/1994/05/01/why-do-actors-drink/|title=Why Do Actors Drink?|website=Movieline|date=1 May 1994|access-date=15 December 2016}}</ref> Lawson became difficult to work with, and throughout the 1950s his roles became increasingly small—even uncredited in some cases. Despite this he still gave memorable performances such as Prince Andrei Bolkonsky's father in [[King Vidor]]'s ''[[War and Peace (1956 film)|War and Peace]]'' (1956), Ed in ''[[Hell Drivers (film)|Hell Drivers]]'' (1957) and Uncle Nat in ''[[Room at the Top (1959 film)|Room at the Top]]'' (1958), filmed in Lawson's home town of Bradford.
As a result of bouts of alcoholism,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://movieline.com/1994/05/01/why-do-actors-drink/|title=Why Do Actors Drink?|website=Movieline|date=1 May 1994|access-date=15 December 2016}}</ref> Lawson became difficult to work with, and throughout the 1950s his roles became increasingly small—even uncredited in some cases. Despite this he still gave memorable performances such as Prince Andrei Bolkonsky's father in [[w:King Vidor|King Vidor]]'s ''[[w:War and Peace (1956 film)|War and Peace]]'' (1956), Ed in ''[[w:Hell Drivers (film)|Hell Drivers]]'' (1957) and Uncle Nat in ''[[w:Room at the Top (1959 film)|Room at the Top]]'' (1958), filmed in Lawson's home town of Bradford.


The 1960s saw something of a career resurgence, beginning with his turn as Black George in [[Tony Richardson]]'s ''[[Tom Jones (1963 film)|Tom Jones]]'' (1963) and culminating in two of his most notable latter day performances: the decrepit butler Peacock in ''[[The Wrong Box]]'' and the Dormouse in [[Jonathan Miller]]'s television adaptation of ''[[Alice in Wonderland (1966 film)|Alice in Wonderland]]'' (both 1966). That same year saw his death, in London, from a heart attack.
The 1960s saw something of a career resurgence, beginning with his turn as Black George in [[w:Tony Richardson|Tony Richardson]]'s ''[[w:Tom Jones (1963 film)|Tom Jones]]'' (1963) and culminating in two of his most notable latter day performances: the decrepit butler Peacock in ''[[w:The Wrong Box|The Wrong Box]]'' and the Dormouse in [[w:Jonathan Miller|Jonathan Miller]]'s television adaptation of ''[[w:Alice in Wonderland (1966 film)|Alice in Wonderland]]'' (both 1966). That same year saw his death, in London, from a heart attack.


His brother was the supporting player Gerald Lawson (born Bernard Worsnop, 30 April 1897 – 6 December 1973) and a nephew was actor [[Bernard Fox (actor)|Bernard Fox]] (born Bernard Lawson, 10 May 1927 – 14 December 2016).
His brother was the supporting player Gerald Lawson (born Bernard Worsnop, 30 April 1897 – 6 December 1973) and a nephew was actor [[w:Bernard Fox (actor)|Bernard Fox]] (born Bernard Lawson, 10 May 1927 – 14 December 2016).
 
Was the only actor Peter O’Toole really admired


==Selected stage performances==
==Selected stage performances==

Revision as of 11:58, 6 October 2022

Wilfrid Lawson
Wilfrid Lawson.jpg
Born
Wilfrid Lawson Worsnop

(1900-01-14)14 January 1900
Bradford, Yorkshire, England
Died10 October 1966(1966-10-10) (aged 66)
London, England
OccupationActor
Years active1918–1966
SpouseLillian (née Fenn)

Wilfrid Lawson (born Wilfrid Lawson Worsnop; 14 January 1900 – 10 October 1966) was an English character actor of screen and stage.[1]

Life and career

Lawson was born Wilfrid Lawson Worsnop in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire. He was educated at Hanson Boys' Grammar School, Bradford, and entered the theatre in his late teens, appearing on both the British and American stage throughout his career.

He made his film début in East Lynne on the Western Front (1931) and appeared in supporting roles until he took the lead in The Terror (1938). In arguably his most celebrated film role, he played dustman-turned-lecturer Alfred P. Doolittle in the film version of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion (1938), alongside Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller.

He also had memorable leading roles in Pastor Hall (1940), as a German village clergyman who denounces the new Nazi regime in 1934; Tower of Terror (1941) as the wild-eyed maniacal lighthouse keeper Wolfe Kristen; and the title role in The Great Mr. Handel (1942), a biopic of the 18th century composer, all three showing his broad range. He also made a number of films in America beginning with Ladies in Love (1936) and including John Ford's The Long Voyage Home (1940) alongside John Wayne. His last leading role was in The Turners of Prospect Road (1947).

As a result of bouts of alcoholism,[2] Lawson became difficult to work with, and throughout the 1950s his roles became increasingly small—even uncredited in some cases. Despite this he still gave memorable performances such as Prince Andrei Bolkonsky's father in King Vidor's War and Peace (1956), Ed in Hell Drivers (1957) and Uncle Nat in Room at the Top (1958), filmed in Lawson's home town of Bradford.

The 1960s saw something of a career resurgence, beginning with his turn as Black George in Tony Richardson's Tom Jones (1963) and culminating in two of his most notable latter day performances: the decrepit butler Peacock in The Wrong Box and the Dormouse in Jonathan Miller's television adaptation of Alice in Wonderland (both 1966). That same year saw his death, in London, from a heart attack.

His brother was the supporting player Gerald Lawson (born Bernard Worsnop, 30 April 1897 – 6 December 1973) and a nephew was actor Bernard Fox (born Bernard Lawson, 10 May 1927 – 14 December 2016).

Selected stage performances

Filmography

Television and radio

References

  1. ^ Rosamond Gilder, "The actor as biographer", in Laurence Senelick (ed), Theatre Arts on Acting, p126
  2. ^ "Why Do Actors Drink?". Movieline. 1 May 1994. Retrieved 15 December 2016.

External links

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