Miles Malleson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William Miles Malleson (May 25, 1888 – March 15, 1969) was a British actor and dramatist, particularly known for his appearances in British comedy films of the 1930s to 1950s. Towards the end of his career he also appeared in cameo roles in several Hammer horror films. He had a fairly large role in Brides of Dracula as the hypochondriac and fee-hungry local doctor.
Malleson was born in Croydon, Surrey, England and educated at Brighton College. Despite his unassuming appearance, he was married three times, and had many relationships. In 1915, he married the aspiring actress Lady Constance Annesley. Like her, he was interested in social reform, one of his plays being on the subject of the Tolpuddle Martyrs. They were divorced in 1923 and Malleson later married Joan Billson, who died in 1956. His third wife was Tatiana Lieven.
His best-known films include:
- Tudor Rose (1936) as the Duke of Suffolk
- Major Barbara (1941) as Morrison the butler
- Dead of Night (1945) as the undertaker
- Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) as Mr Elliott the hangman
- The Man in the White Suit (1951) as the Tailor
- The Importance of Being Earnest (1952) (as Canon Chasuble)
- Private's Progress (1956) as Windrush Snr
- Brothers in Law (1957) as Kendall Grimes
- I'm All Right Jack (1959) as Windrush Snr
Malleson was also a writer on many films, including some of those in which he had small parts, such as Nell Gwyn (1934) and The Thief of Bagdad (1940).
