The Anglo-Irish actor Peter Gawthorne in Ireland was born 1st September 1884. He spent most of his career in the UK but made his film debut in Hollywood. He is probably best known for his roles in the films of Will Hay and other popular British comedians of the 1930s and 1940s. During this period, he was one of Britain's most called-upon supporting actors appearing in over 100 films.
He often played military officers and stern, authority figures, many of whom frequently clashed with the bumbling idiots played by the stars he appeared with such as Will Hay[2] and other well-known comedians such as George Formby, The Crazy Gang, Jack Hulbert, Cicely Courtneidge, Old Mother Riley, Tommy Trinder, and Arthur Askey. He predominantly worked for Gainsborough Studios.
His film career started in 1929 in the Charlie Chan film Behind That Curtain quickly followed by His Glorious Night, One Hysterical Night and Sunnyside Up all in the same year. He appeared in several more pre-code films in the USA before returning to the UK to appear in 1932’s Jack’s the Boy. During the same year in appeared in The Lodger; this is a remake of Hitchcock’s 1929 version. Other notable films of the early 1930’s include The Flag Lieutenant (1932), The House of Trent (1933), Perfect Understanding (1933), My Old Dutch (1934), Girls, Please! (1934) and Murder at Monte Carlo (19340 starring Errol Flynn.
In 1935 he made is first appearance in a George Formby film, No Limit where he played the part of Mr Higgins. In the same year he also made his first appearance in a Will Hay film, Boys Will be Boys. Other films that he appeared in during this period include Stormy Weather (1935), The Crouching Beast (1935), Everybody Dance (1936), The Man Behind the Mask (1936), The Cary Grant film, The Amazing Quest of Ernest Bliss, Brief Ecstasy (1937) starring Paul Lukas, Convict 99 (1938), Ask a Policeman (1939), Goodbye Mr Chips (1939), Dead Men are Dangerous (1939 (pictured) and Inspector Hornleigh (1939). In 1940 he appeared in Two for Danger, Where’s That Fire?, Three Silent Men, Band Waggon, Laugh it Off and Cottage to Let.
For fans of Charters and Caldicott he appeared in their 3rd film Crook’s Tour (1941) in an uncredited minor role.
Other films that e appeared in include: Old Mother Riley’s Ghosts (1941), (Pimpernel Smith (1941), Gasbags (1941), They Flew Alone (1942), The Young Mr Pitt (1943), Bell Bottom George (1944), ,This man is Mine (1946), Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), The Case of Charlie peace (1949), The Elusive Pimpernel (1950) and his final film which was Tale of Three Women in 1954.
After a long and productive career, he died on 17th March 1962
He often played military officers and stern, authority figures, many of whom frequently clashed with the bumbling idiots played by the stars he appeared with such as Will Hay[2] and other well-known comedians such as George Formby, The Crazy Gang, Jack Hulbert, Cicely Courtneidge, Old Mother Riley, Tommy Trinder, and Arthur Askey. He predominantly worked for Gainsborough Studios.
His film career started in 1929 in the Charlie Chan film Behind That Curtain quickly followed by His Glorious Night, One Hysterical Night and Sunnyside Up all in the same year. He appeared in several more pre-code films in the USA before returning to the UK to appear in 1932’s Jack’s the Boy. During the same year in appeared in The Lodger; this is a remake of Hitchcock’s 1929 version. Other notable films of the early 1930’s include The Flag Lieutenant (1932), The House of Trent (1933), Perfect Understanding (1933), My Old Dutch (1934), Girls, Please! (1934) and Murder at Monte Carlo (19340 starring Errol Flynn.
In 1935 he made is first appearance in a George Formby film, No Limit where he played the part of Mr Higgins. In the same year he also made his first appearance in a Will Hay film, Boys Will be Boys. Other films that he appeared in during this period include Stormy Weather (1935), The Crouching Beast (1935), Everybody Dance (1936), The Man Behind the Mask (1936), The Cary Grant film, The Amazing Quest of Ernest Bliss, Brief Ecstasy (1937) starring Paul Lukas, Convict 99 (1938), Ask a Policeman (1939), Goodbye Mr Chips (1939), Dead Men are Dangerous (1939 (pictured) and Inspector Hornleigh (1939). In 1940 he appeared in Two for Danger, Where’s That Fire?, Three Silent Men, Band Waggon, Laugh it Off and Cottage to Let.
For fans of Charters and Caldicott he appeared in their 3rd film Crook’s Tour (1941) in an uncredited minor role.
Other films that e appeared in include: Old Mother Riley’s Ghosts (1941), (Pimpernel Smith (1941), Gasbags (1941), They Flew Alone (1942), The Young Mr Pitt (1943), Bell Bottom George (1944), ,This man is Mine (1946), Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), The Case of Charlie peace (1949), The Elusive Pimpernel (1950) and his final film which was Tale of Three Women in 1954.
After a long and productive career, he died on 17th March 1962
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