Wilfrid Lawson

Biography

A scene stealing actor of lugubrious countenance, Wilfrid Lawson (born Wilfrid Worsnop) made his debut on the stage in "Trilby" at the Pier Pavilion in Brighton at the age of 16. He served as a pilot in the RAF during the final months of World War I, before resuming his theatrical career, becoming a well-established character player by the end of the decade. Wilfrid went on to perform at the West End in "Sweeney Todd" in 1928, followed by "Pygmalion" and "Major Barbara" at the Prince's Theatre in Bristol. He appeared infrequently in films from 1931, but was not considered for leading roles until starring in the Edgar Wallace crime caper The Terror (1938).That same year, he recreated his part of Alfred Doolittle in Pygmalion (1938) for Gabriel Pascal's popular film version, and thus attracted the attention of Hollywood. After a brief sojourn in America, Wilfrid returned to Britain and was cast in the titular role of a Technicolor biopic, The Great Mr. Handel (1942). After that, he reverted to form playing the eccentric or maniacal character parts, in which he truly excelled. Unfortunately, he was plagued for most of his remaining life by severe bouts of alcoholism, which affected his work. In spite of this, and though he became known as 'the king of the dramatic pause', he rarely forgot his lines and turned in several memorable performances towards the end of his career. He was indeed reputed to have had the unique ability to function reasonably well, while under the influence. After a decade long absence, Wilfrid made a triumphant return to the stage, first in August Strindberg's "The Father", and then in Joseph Losey's 1954 production of "The Wooden Dish". On screen, he is fondly remembered as the unhinged lighthouse keeper Rolfe Kristan in Tower of Terror (1941); as the bearded, slouch-hatted Black George Seagrim in Tom Jones (1963), and as the hilariously pixillated, decrepit butler Peacock in The Wrong Box (1966). By the time he appeared as Peacock, Wilfrid's alcoholism had reached such alarming proportions that he could no longer obtain insurance. Fortunately, this did not deter producer/director Bryan Forbes from keeping him in the cast. Alas, Wilfrid died within five months of the film being released of a heart attack.