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Kenneth Gilbert More C.B.E. (20 September 1914 - 12 July 1982) was one of Britain's most successful and highest paid actors of his generation, with a multi award-winning career in theatre, film and television spanning over 4 decades.

At the height of his fame during the 1950's More appeared in some of the most memorable feature films of the decade including Genevieve (1953), Doctor in the House (1954), The Deep Blue Sea (1955), Reach for the Sky (1956), Paradise Lagoon (1957), A Night to Remember (1958), The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw (1958), North West Frontier (1959) and The 39 Steps (1959).

Starting out as the lovable, happy-go-lucky gentleman with boyhood charm and cheerful optimism, he would later refine his acting style into a leading man who could articulate a whole range of emotions in serious dramatic performances. More managed to embody courage and a sense of moral certitude with a relaxed, informal manner that made audiences warm to him immediately.

From very early on in his career More was very conscious of his talents, what parts suited him as an actor and what did not. More would have been the first to admit there were other actors that could better perform the works of Shakespeare than he. More was probably being self-deprecating. He had more range than he sometimes gave himself credit for, but he knew how best to appeal to an audience.

Born in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, Kenneth More was the son of a civil engineer, a profession he initially pursued but with little success. More was not a trained actor and had not gone into show business to tread the boards. He was merely looking for work and happened to walk past the Windmill Theatre in London's West End one day and saw a sign above the door 'General Manager - Vivian Van Damm'. More had remembered that a man called Van Damm had known his father and so he asked for a job. More was soon a stagehand earning two pounds and ten shillings a week, shifting scenery and helping to get the nude female performers off the stage during their risqué performances. One day he was called upon to help comic Ken Douglas on stage with a sketch, More playing the small part of a Policeman. It was this experience and the subsequent taste of the audience's laughter which made him want to pursue a career in acting. He was soon an actor in his own right appearing on stage as Ken More in comedy sketches. Following 2 years at the Windmill he moved into repertory theatre with seasons at Byker's, Grand Theatre in Newcastle, and the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton.

With the outbreak of war, and following a stint with the Merchant Navy, More joined Royal Navy cruiser HMS Aurora (R12) . It would end up having the greatest impact on his character and his acting style during wartime. As ship's Action Commentator he found an opportunity to hone his craft as an actor, keeping steady nerves when reporting action during conflict to the crew below decks. He also got on well with his shipmates by helping them to write wonderfully romantic love letters home to their ladies. Aurora would journey across the Atlantic and Mediterranean seeing its fair share of action. Wartime missions aboard Aurora, and later with aircraft carrier HMS Victorious (R38) would lead him to receive medals, including campaign stars for Africa, Italy, the Atlantic and Pacific.

After being demobbed from the Navy More returned to England and signed with agent Harry Dubens, who was seeking actors who had served in the forces. More went into 'The Crimson Harvest' (1946) at the Gateway Theatre in Notting Hill, and it was there that BBC producer Michael Barry saw him and offered him a contract to play in small television roles at the Alexandra Palace to help restart the BBC.

Jenny Laird and John Fernald's 'And No Birds Can Sing' (1946) marked More's West End debut at the Aldwych Theatre, playing the part of the Reverend Arthur Platt. Within a year he was back on stage in 'Power Without Glory' (1947) by Michael Clayton Hutton at the New Lindsey, Notting Hill Gate. It was so well received that it led to a live version being broadcast on the BBC. That same year Noël Coward cast More as a British Resistance Leader in 'Peace in Our Time' at the Lyric Theatre; a story of what might have happened if Britain had lost the Second World War. More and Coward got on well and stayed friends throughout their lives. 1950 saw More in 'The Way Things Go' by Frederick Lonsdale at the Phoenix Theatre, alongside a cast which included Michael Gough, Glynis Johns, Ronald Squire and Janet Burnell.

His first breakthrough came on stage at The Duchess Theatre in 1952 playing the role of Freddie Page alongside Peggy Ashcroft in Terence Rattigan's 'The Deep Blue Sea'. It was noted actor Roland Culver who had put More forward for the part having known Rattigan. The production was an enormous success and Kenneth More received great critical acclaim. He would often cite it as his favourite stage performance.

It was whilst More was performing in 'The Deep Blue Sea' that filmmaker Henry Cornelius came back stage to offer him a part which would change his career forever, the role of Ambrose Claverhouse in a film called Genevieve (1953). Cornelius had remembered More from a screen test he had directed him in for the part of Lt. E.G.R. (Teddy) Evans in Scott of the Antarctic (1948). This had been More's first attempt to break into cinema which had not come to fruition although plenty of film work followed. Cornelius was sure More was the Claverhouse he needed for 'Genevieve' and he was not disappointed. More's perfect comic timing was made for the part and he won the audience immediately making him a rising star overnight. 'Genevieve' was the second most popular movie that year and went onto become a British comedy classic, winning Best British Film at the British Film Academy Awards.

More channelled the same energy and zest for life he had shown as Claverhouse in his next performance as student Doctor Richard Grimsdake in the first of the much-loved Doctor in the House (1954) film series. It was a winning formula becoming the most popular film at the box office in 1954 securing More Best Actor at the British Film Academy Awards.

1955 saw More returning to the role of Freddie Page in a big screen version of Terence Rattigan's The Deep Blue Sea, playing alongside Vivien Leigh. Incidentally, he had brought the role back to life the previous year for BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950) series. The screen adaptation was produced by Alexander Korda and directed by Anatole Litvak. More's performance was once again praised by audiences and critics alike, leading to being awarded the prestigious Volpi cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival, as well as nominations for Best Actor at the British Film Academy Awards. Further honours were bestowed by the Variety Club of Great Britain as Most Promising International Star of 1955. He had finally made his mark.

It was a serious leading role initially turned down by Richard Burton which would make More a major star. Playing the legless, real-life fighter pilot Douglas Bader in Reach for the Sky (1956) was the role of a lifetime. He felt the part of Bader was one he was born to play as he mentioned in his autobiography, 'More or Less': "Bader's philosophy was my philosophy. His whole attitude to life was mine." More had met Bader at Gleneagles where they played a round of golf together, Bader winning each time. They got on well which was somewhat surprising in that Bader was not that keen on actors. Not wanting to caricature him More kept his distance whilst preparing for the role, only meeting him on a handful of occasions for dinner with his friend, actor Ronald Squire. 'Reach for the Sky' became a smash hit upon release and the most popular British film of 1956, winning a British Film Academy award for Best Film. Playing Bader also garnered a Best Actor award for More from popular cinema publication, Picturegoer magazine.

'Reach for the Sky' did something much greater for his career, it showed British audiences that Kenneth More was not just suited to comic roles, he had range as a leading man in dramatic performances. In later years More called several of his films 'favourites' in the press, but it is the belief that 'Reach for the Sky' remained his preferred choice and greatest accomplishment on screen.

Hugely popular films The Admirable Crichton (1957), A Night to Remember (1958), The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw (1958), North West Frontier (1959) and The 39 Steps (1959) galvanized his status as one of Britain's most sought-after actors of the decade. Once he was a £5 a week actor in rep, now he was commanding £50,000 a film.

At the height of his fame More was offered several opportunities to go to Hollywood but with the success he was enjoying at home he did not see the point, or even what he had to offer Tinseltown at this juncture.

The 1960s saw More continue as a leading man in Sink the Bismarck! (1960), Loss of Innocence (1961) and We Joined the Navy (1962). He would cite The Comedy Man (1964) as one of his most favourite roles playing down and out middle-aged actor Chick Byrd. This character resonated with him on two levels. The first was how it represented the experiences he had as a struggling young actor, the second was how he was coming to terms with the present, his own age and the shifting trends of the industry. It would be More's last leading role on the silver screen. Further successes on film came but in cameo or supporting roles, including The Longest Day (1962), Oh! What a Lovely War (1969), Battle of Britain (1969), Scrooge (1970) and The Slipper and the Rose: The Story of Cinderella (1976).

More finally achieved worldwide fame as leading man on the small screen in a BBC adaptation of John Galsworthy's The Forsyte Saga (1967). He had been working steadily on television throughout the 1960's in starring roles, but The Forsyte Saga caught the world's imagination and was a huge, phenomenal success. The series managed to achieve that rare cult-like status and helped introduce Kenneth More to a whole new audience, many who had not seen his earlier work. Several years late More took on another famous literary character playing the part of a Catholic priest who was adept at solving mysteries in G.K. Chesterton's Father Brown (1974). The TV Times awarded him Best Actor for his performance.

Kenneth More had returned to the theatre as early as 1963, playing the part of Peter Pounce alongside Celia Johnson in Giles Cooper's 'Out of the Crocodile' at the Phoenix Theatre. A year later he appeared in a musical version of 'The Admirable Crichton' co-starring with Millicent Martin in 'Our Man Crichton' at the Shaftesbury Theatre. By the end of the 1960s he had received great critical praise as Hugh in a production of 'The Secretary Bird' (1968) by William Douglas-Home at the Savoy Theatre. It turned out to be the biggest stage success of his career. Terence Rattigan's 'The Winslow Boy' (1970), Alan Bennett's award-winning 'Getting On' (1971), Jeremy Kingston's 'Sign of the Times' (1973) and Frederick Lonsdale's 'On Approval' (1977) followed, all of which reinforced More's popularity in his later years.

He was made a CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the Queen's New Year's Honours list of 1970. The Kenneth More Theatre, a regional playhouse named in his honour opened in Redbridge in 1974. The Variety Club of Great Britain bestowed More with a special silver heart in 1975 for 40 years in show business. He had been a great supporter of the club over the years taking part in a great deal of charitable events. A special, televised ceremony was held in the Lancaster ballroom of the Savoy Hotel and was attended by many of the industry's best-known names, including Sir. Douglas Bader who More had remained friends with throughout the years.

1978 saw the release of his autobiography 'More or Less', reported to have sold 100,000 copies almost immediately upon release. It received widespread critical and public praise and showed that his appeal had not diminished after 4 decades in the business, despite how times had changed. More was considered an 'institution in British entertainment' according to presenter Michael Parkinson whilst introducing him on his chat show in 1978.

More announced his retirement in 1980 due to illness, at the time he was diagnosed with Parkinson's. It is now very likely that he was suffering from Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), due in part to the age of onset and the speed at which the condition progressed. Kenneth More passed away on July 12th, 1982. His wife Angela Douglas was by his side having nursed him in his final years.

Kenneth More's memorial service was held at St Martin-in-the-Fields on 20 September 1982, which also marked his birthday. The service was packed with family and friends alike, including Lauren Bacall, Dame Anna Neagle and Lady Joan Bader, widow of Sir Douglas Bader who had passed away the same year. A plaque was erected at St. Paul's Church Covent Garden, known more commonly as the Actor's Church.

It is almost 40 years since his passing, yet Kenneth More's performances have endured, continuing to screen worldwide on television and home entertainment. What greater legacy can there be for an actor than to be able to continue to thrill audiences long after one has taken their final bow.

Born in Armagh, Northern Ireland, Patrick Magee is a classic example of how certain actors rate the stage far more highly than the screen. He was a favorite actor of Samuel Beckett, one of whose greatest plays, 'Krapp's Last Tape', was written specifically for him. He did outstanding work on film, most notably in Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange (1971) as the crippled writer Mr. Alexander, and in Kubrick's Barry Lyndon (1975), as the chevalier. He also appeared in Joseph Losey's The Servant (1963), Peter Brook's Marat/Sade (1967) and William Friedkin's The Birthday Party (1968). He also appeared in films by such cult directors as Roger Corman, Lucio Fulci and Walerian Borowczyk.

To say that Terence Alexander, the distinguished British thespian, was hyperactive is a statement that borders on the understatement! Judge for yourself : born in 1923, following a short period when he considered becoming a priest, Alexander exercised the acting profession for six full decades and he might have beaten Queen Victoria's record, had not Parkinson's disease (an illness he finally died of at 86) taken its toll. In 1939, at age 16, he was already in the theater, as the first assistant manager of The White Rose Players Company at the Harrogate Opera House. It did not take more than a few months before he made his acting debut on the aforementioned scene, with the first role in J.B. Priestley's "The Good Companions". And not only would he appear in dozens of plays (signed Jean Anouilh, Ray Cooney, T.S. Eliot, Alan Bennett, Margaret Kennedy, and many others) but he would appear in no fewer than... 340 films, TV movies and series episodes! And that is without counting his career as a voice talent on the radio, as a film and a trailer narrator. Of course, appearing in so many plays and filmed works means that, except on the boards, he was not always the lead. He even hardly ever was. But whether in a supporting role or even a bit part, Terence Alexander managed to establish himself as a well-mannered upper class type with suave manners, although quite often on the wrong side of the law (he was excellent as one of the seven retired army officers turned bank robbers in Basil Dearden's quite enjoyable The League of Gentlemen (1960)). But he could also be an effective foil to comics like Norman Wisdom, Benny Hill and Eric Morecambe & Ernie Wise. On TV, Terence Alexander was everywhere, in many quality TV films like "Autumn Crocus" (1952), "The White Carnation" (1956), "A Room in Town" (1970), "Frankenstein" (1984) and in more than one TV show. But he was first and foremost in an impressive number of series : these included Maigret (1960) (2 episodes, 1962-63), cult classics such as The Avengers (1961) (3 episodes, 1965-69), The New Avengers (1976) (1 episode, 1977), Man in a Suitcase (1967) (1 episode, 1968), The Champions (1968) (1 episode, 1969), The Persuaders! (1971) (1 episode, 1971) and Doctor Who (1963) (2 episodes, 1985), prestigious classic serials such as Nicholas Nickleby (1968) (5 episodes, 1968), The Forsyte Saga (1967) (9 episodes, 1967) and The Pallisers (1974) (3 episodes, 1974), and this is only a sample of all the series the prolific actor appeared in. With such a hectic activity, Terence Alexander of course gained recognition both from his peers and from the public but fame did not come to him before 1981 when he accepted (rather reluctantly by his own admission) the role of Charlie Hungerford in the detective series "Bergerac". As the power broker and (disapproving) former father-in-law of detective Jim Bergerac, played by John Nettles, he appeared in 85 of its 86 episodes. Shown in 35 countries, the series allowed Alexander to be known (and cherished) not only by an international audience but by the younger generation too. More than a swan song for this exquisite actor. When he retired in 1999 he must have have felt satisfied with his professional life.

Briony McRoberts was born in Hertfordshire in February 1957. One of her earliest acting roles was in The Pink Panther Strikes Again at the age of 19. She appeared in numerous theatrical and film roles, though the majority of her work was in television. She appeared in over 15 series, including EastEnders and Take The High Road. Outside her professional life, she was a supporter of Scottish Friends of the Earth's Fight the Fumes campaign.

Archie Lyndhurst was born on 4 October 2000 in England, UK. He was an actor, known for Casualty (1986), Bad Education (2012) and Little Crackers (2010). He died on 22 September 2020 in Fulham, West London, UK.

John van Eyssen (1922-1995) John van Eyssen wore several hats during his long professional career -- including that of Shakespearean thespian, movie actor, literary agent, producer and studio executive. Born and raised in South Africa, van Eyssen did not come to Great Britain until after WW II. Once in London, he studied drama at the Central School of Speech and Drama and, before graduation, joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. At the RSC, van Eyssen performed the major classical leads and also played Cassio in Orson Welles' production of Othello. As Lucifer in the York Cycle of Mystery Plays, van Eyssen inspired Dame Judi Dench, a teenager at the time, to pursue a career in acting. From there, van Eyssen branched out into radio, television and, beginning with The Angel with the Trumpet (1950), films, and went on to appear in a number of British movies of the period including Joseph Losey's Blind Date, Cockleshell Heroes and Carlton Browne of the F.O. In 1958, he appeared as Jonathan Harker in Hammer Films' cult classic, The Horror of Dracula. Van Eyssen abandoned acting in 1961 to become a literary agent for London Management. He proved to have a knack for the job and was quickly promoted to helm the literary department. He became so important that, when the company merged with London Artists, he was in charge of handling Franco Zeffirelli, Tennessee Williams, and Arthur Miller. Van Eyssen left the management business in 1965 to work at Columbia Pictures' UK division. Two years after his hiring, van Eyssen became the UK studio's Managing Director and was behind some of the studio's most popular British films, including Romeo and Juliet, To Sir With Love (1967), Born Free (1966), Georgy Girl (1966), Oliver! and A Man For All Seasons (1969). In 1969, he was promoted to Worldwide Head of Production (ex-US) and moved to New York. He left the studio in 1974 to work as an independent producer, and in 1981, produced Sidney Lumet's Daniel. Van Eyssen returned to England in 1991 and became an instrumental part of establishing Britain's premiere showcase for talented young filmmakers, the Chelsea Film Festival.

Diminutive Scots character actor of quirky personality and gift of gab. As a drama student at St. Andrews, he first performed in productions staged by the university's dramatic society. He served with the Royal Scots during World War I, then forged a career playing comic roles on the Shakespearean stage, where he was often billed as 'D.Hay Petrie'. With the Old Vic from 1920, he was much acclaimed for his performances as Sly in "The Taming of the Shrew" and as Puck in "A Midsummer Night's Dream". The screen saw him as eccentric personae, well-cast in period drama and in Dickensian parts (such as the malevolent debt-collector Quilp, in The Old Curiosity Shop (1934) and as the corn-chandler Uncle Pumblechook in Great Expectations (1946)). An inveterate scene-stealer, Petrie was able to slip with consummate ease from genre to genre and from comical to villainous.

He is perhaps best remembered as The MacLaggan in The Ghost Goes West (1935) and as the evil Dr. Fosco in Crimes at the Dark House (1940). To his ever-lasting regret, he missed out on the two parts he most coveted: that of Sancho Panza in Feodor Chaliapin Sr.'s film version of Don Quixote (1933) and as Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939). Petrie died suddenly, just two weeks after his 53rd birthday, from undisclosed causes.

James Kerry was born on 22 February 1937 in Sligo, Ireland. He was an actor, known for The Passenger (1971), Champion House (1967) and The Rat Catchers (1966). He died on 15 November 1994 in Fulham, London, England, UK.

Jill Dando was born on 9 November 1961 in Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, England, UK. She died on 26 April 1999 in Fulham, London, England, UK.

Joan Ingram was born on 14 August 1903 in St George Hanover Square, London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for A Tale of Two Cities (1957), A King in New York (1957) and BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950). She died on 27 July 1974 in Fulham, London, England, UK.

Thomas Henty was born on 19 January 1956 in Marylebone, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Bellman and True (1987), Cooper's Half Hour (1980) and Robin Hood (1984). He died on 13 August 1988 in Fulham, London, England, UK.

Nancy O'Neil was born on 25 August 1907 in Glebe, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. She was an actress, known for There Was a Young Man (1937), Garrison Follies (1940) and Someone at the Door (1939). She died on 5 March 1995 in Fulham, London, England, UK.

David Whitaker was born on 18 April 1928 in Knebworth, Hertfordshire, England. He was a writer, known for Doctor Who (1963), Doctor Who: The Evil of the Daleks (2021) and Homicide (1964). He was married to June Barry. He died on 4 February 1980 in Fulham, London, England, UK.

Ernest Blyth was born in 1910 in England, UK. He was an actor, known for Six Days of Justice (1972) and The Silent Civil War (2023). He died in 1981 in Fulham, London, England, UK.

Anne Leon was born on 8 December 1925 in St George Hanover Square, London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for The Endless Game (1989), Raiders in the Sky (1953) and I Like Money (1961). She was married to Michael Gough. She died on 2 October 1990 in Fulham, London, England, UK.

London-born Harold French made his name on the stage, both as an actor and director. He crossed over to films, making his acting debut in 1920. He became a director shortly before the beginning of World War II, debuting with The Cavalier of the Streets (1937), and made a well-received adaptation of A.E.W. Mason's thriller, Secret Mission (1942). He didn't score again until 1948, with My Brother Jonathan (1948). Known more for his romantic dramas and comedies, French switched to a period action piece, Rob Roy: The Highland Rogue (1953). He directed his last film, The Man Who Loved Redheads (1955) in 1955 and went back to writing. Toward the end of his career he returned to directing in the theatre. While he may not have been classified among the top-ranked British directors, he nevertheless turned out many well-made, entertaining films over his 20-year-plus career.

Roger Webb was born on 7 April 1934 in Bristol, England, UK. He was a composer and actor, known for Southland Tales (2006), Awake (2007) and Boogie Nights (1997). He was married to Margot Ley. He died on 19 December 2002 in Fulham, London, England, UK.

Arthur Skinner was born on 29 October 1923 in Ashwell, Hertfordshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955), BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950) and The Monsters (1962). He died on 5 February 1990 in Fulham, London, England, UK.

David Blake Kelly was born on 17 February 1916 in Dublin, Ireland. He was an actor, known for Doctor Who (1963), All Aboard (1958) and The Mail Van Murder (1957). He was married to Jill Gregory. He died on 21 January 1993 in Fulham, London, England, UK.

Denis Cleary was born on 21 February 1927 in Willesden, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Gamble for a Throne (1961), The Sleeper (1964) and The Avengers (1961). He died on 21 November 1984 in Fulham, London, England, UK.

Originally from Leeds and named Anthony Bate (he later had to change his name for acting purposes, as there was already an actor of that name), James Bate moved to Whitley Bay in Northumberland at the age of three. He was educated at St Edward's School and Skerry's College in the town. He then embarked on a number of jobs and became a musician in a group called Sixteen Strings which performed in the North East. He later moved to London where he took up amateur dramatics, later returning to the North East to work with the Tyneside Theatre Company.

Joseph Wise was born on 21 March 1918 in Fulham, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for For the Children (1946), Man in a Suitcase (1967) and Outbreak of Murder (1962). He died on 14 October 1975 in Fulham, London, England, UK.

Margaret Withers was born on 6 July 1893 in West Bromwich, West Midlands, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Sin of Esther Waters (1948), Don't Take It to Heart! (1944) and If This Be Sin (1949). She died on 26 October 1977 in Fulham, London, England, UK.

Joanne Woollard was a set decorator and costume designer, known for Gravity (2013), Hackers (1995) and The Medallion (2003). She was married to Tony Woollard. She died on 26 February 2015 in Fulham, London, England, UK.

Gerry Judge was born on 20 June 1911 in Camberwell, Surrey, England, UK. He was an actor. He died on 13 September 1986 in Fulham, London, England, UK.