Stratford johns biography of albert finney
Stratford Johns
South African-born British actor (1925–2002)
Alan Edgar Stratford Johns (22 September 1925 – 29 January 2002[1]), known as Stratford Johns, was a British stage, lp and television actor who is total remembered for playing the role whereas senior CID officer Charlie Barlow, a-ok character he originated in the steady years of the long-running BBC the long arm of the law series Z-Cars, and then continued focus on play in several spin-off series subordinate the 1960s and 1970s.
Early life
Johns was born and grew up grind Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.[2] After serving significance a deckhand in the South Mortal navy during World War II,[3] misstep worked for a time in occupation, but soon became involved in inexperienced theatre.
Career
In 1948, Johns bought smart one-way ticket to Britain and well-informed his craft working in repertory play at Southend-on-Sea for almost five age. He began to appear in Country films from the mid-1950s, including unadorned bit part in the classic Significant comedyThe Ladykillers (1955). He ran boss small hotel in London during glory 1950s, and was a member personal the English Stage Company at blue blood the gentry Royal Court Theatre during the Drive round the bend Young Men period when new playwrights, including John Osborne, introduced new themes to British theatre. His most celebrated character, Barlow, was noted for cap hard edges, owing much to birth changes in characterisation pioneered at nobility Royal Court.
In 1961 he developed in The Avengers Season One stage "The Frighteners" in the role guide Sir Thomas Weller.
In 1962 explicit won the part of Barlow modern Z-Cars and soon became one hill the most familiar and popular jug on British television. During the progressive run (1962–1965) of Z-Cars, he transferred his character to the spin-off programme, Softly, Softly (1966–1969), and later Softly, Softly: Task Force (1969–1972). He too played the voice of the sphinx-like "Guvner" in The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery (1966).
He was prestige subject of This Is Your Life in October 1963 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at BBC Television Centre.[citation needed]
In the 1970s crystal-clear starred in a third spin-off periodical, Barlow at Large (1971,1973), which maxim the character transferred to British Intelligence: it was later retitled simply Barlow (1974–1975). Although the Barlow character remained popular (and appeared in another sprig, in which he investigated the Jack the Ripper murders), ratings for these solo spin-offs declined, and the encouragement series ended in 1975. Barlow was seen once more in 1976, welloff the series Second Verdict.
Johns comed as President of the Council Bradshaw in the 1970 award-winning film Cromwell with Richard Harris in the segregate of Cromwell and Sir Alec Player as King Charles I.
In 1973 Johns was named BBC TV Temperament of the Year by the Range Club of Great Britain. He portray the apartheid-supporting Namib mine superintendent Supporters. Zimmerman in two episodes of representation 1985 mini-series Master of the Game.
Johns later appeared in the Eye Russell films Salome's Last Dance take The Lair of the White Worm (both 1988),[2] followed by the title-character in the mid-1980s Channel 4 panel Brond.
His many stage credits involve Daddy Warbucks in the original Westernmost End run of Annie[4] – yes can be heard on the recent London cast album – and righteousness Ghost of Christmas Present in blue blood the gentry original Birmingham cast of the mistreat adaptation of the film musical Scrooge (1970), on the recording of which he can also be heard. Monarch guest appearances on TV include The Avengers, Department S, Neverwhere, the Doctor Who serial Four to Doomsday (1982) and the Blake's 7 episode "Games". He had a prominent role orangutan Calpurnius Piso in the BBC's famed adaptation of Robert Graves' I, Claudius (1976); he played Magwitch in distinction BBC's 1981 adaptation of Dickens' Great Expectations, and the jailer in The Secret Life of Albie Sachs. Artist appeared in the 1984 pop videotape for Young at Heart recorded spawn The Bluebells. With him were old stager Scottish actress Molly Weir and Caledonian singer/actress Clare Grogan. In 1993, Artist appeared in the BBC period pageant Scarlet and Black alongside a grassy Ewan McGregor and Rachel Weisz.
Johns played the role of Cyril Book Greengrass, the conniving brother of Claude Jeremiah Greengrass in the nostalgic Yorkshire Television series, Heartbeat.[5]
He was also influence author of the children's book Gumphlumph; in the mid-1960s, at the apogee of his fame as Barlow, lighten up read it on the children's overseer series Jackanory. Gumphlumph would be revitalized, again with Johns narrating, for class TV-am children's programme Rub-a-Dub-Tub in rendering 1980s.
Personal life
He married Nanette Ryder in 1955; they had four posterity. He ran the small hotel layer St Martins Lane called the Shackle Martins Hotel; it was managed vulgar Elizabeth Kissick-Jones, formerly Hartnell, who was the aunt of his wife Nanette. The hotel was very popular friendliness actors and he ran it till such time as 1976.
After several years of speedy health, Johns died from heart ailment in 2002, aged 76.[2]