William Devlin (actor)

William Devlin (5 December 1911 – 25 January 1987)[1] was a Scottish actor who appeared widely in films and television in a screen career that lasted from 1937 until 1967.[2] The son of an architect, he was born in Aberdeen in 1911.[3][4] An older brother was Lord Devlin.

in The Avengers episode, The Outside-In Man (1964)

His first stage appearance was with Nancy Price in the play Nurse Cavell by C. S. Forester and C. E. Bechhofer Roberts.[5] In this play he had the role of the spy who betrayed Edith Cavell.

A noted Shakespearean actor, Devlin first played King Lear aged 22. He was one of the youngest actors to undertake a major portrayal of what was considered the most difficult of Shakespearean roles; critic James Agate wrote of Devlin's performance at the Westminster Theatre, "His understanding of the text and his sense of beauty are everywhere apparent". Devlin won further acclaim with his performance as Peer Gynt and in historical roles. [6]

In 1936, he played French politician Georges Clemenceau in The Tiger, the first play to be televised by the BBC.[7]

He made his first film appearance in 1937 in The Mill on the Floss, and soon built up steady work as a character actor, particularly after appearing in Jamaica Inn.[4]

Devlin retired from acting in 1967, but reprised his King Lear role in Episode 6 ("Protest and Communication") of Kenneth Clark's 1969 BBC-TV series Civilisation.[8]

He was married twice: first to Mary Casson, daughter of Lewis Casson and Sybil Thorndike, and secondly to Meriel Moore.

Devlin died in 1987 in Somerset, England.[9]

Filmography
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References
  1. The Broadway League. "William Devlin – IBDB: The official source for Broadway Information".
  2. "William Devlin – Movies and Filmography – AllMovie". AllMovie.
  3. "Obituary: Lord Devlin". The Independent. 10 August 1992.
  4. "William Devlin". BFI.
  5. "The London Stage 1930–1939".
  6. "William Devlin, 75, Shakespearean actor who thrilled..." tribunedigital-chicagotribune.
  7. "Shakespearean Actor William Devlin Dies at 75".
  8. Kenneth Clark's Civilisation 06: Protest and Communication, YouTube
  9. "William Devlin". IMDb.
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