Jack Watling


Jack Stanley Watling was an English actor.

Life and career

Watling was born 13 January 1923 in Chingford, Essex, England. The son of a travelling scrap metal dealer, Watling trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts as a child; and made his stage debut in Where the Rainbow Ends at the Holborn Empire in 1936. He made his first film appearances in Sixty Glorious Years, Housemaster and Goodbye, Mr Chips.
In 1941, Watling played Bill Hopkins in Once a Crook in his West End debut. He starred as Flight Lieutenant Teddy Graham in the original 1942 production of Terence Rattigan's Flare Path.
Watling had a long career in low-key British films, originally in easy-going boyish roles. His early appearances were in Cottage to Let. We Dive at Dawn, The Demi-Paradise opposite Laurence Olivier, The Way Ahead with David Niven, The Winslow Boy, Meet Mr. Lucifer and in Orson Welles' Mr. Arkadin. In the account of the sinking of the Titanic, the film A Night To Remember, he played Fourth Officer Joseph Boxhall and in Sink the Bismarck! as the Signals officer who reports "HMS Hood...has blown up!"

Television

Watling's reputation as an effective and reliable television actor took root in the early 1960s. He appeared in Danger Man in the episode "The Traitor" as Rollo Waters. Between 1964 and 1969 he was Don Henderson, the troubled conscience to tough businessman John Wilder in The Plane Makers and its sequel The Power Game. Watling also appeared as Doc Saxon in the 1970s series Pathfinders. He played Professor Edward Travers in the BBC science-fiction television series Doctor Who in the serials The Abominable Snowmen and The Web of Fear, both of which also featuring his daughter Deborah Watling as the Second Doctor's companion Victoria Waterfield. He reprised the role decades later in the independent Doctor Who spin-off video Downtime. He also took over the role of Arthur Bourne in the final series of The Cedar Tree in 1979.
Watling's final roles were all on television, in series including Bergerac, four episodes 1989–1991, as Frank Blakemore and Heartbeat as The Colonel 1994 in "Lost and Found".

Personal life

Watling was married to former actress Patricia Hicks. He was the father of actress Deborah Watling, actor/politician Giles Watling, sculptor Nicky Matthews, and a fourth child, Adam, who died in infancy. Watling was also the stepfather of actress Dilys Watling, Hicks's daughter from a previous marriage. The Watlings were long-term residents at Alderton Hall, Loughton.

Selected filmography

Sixty Glorious Years The Day Will Dawn – Lieutenant Flying Fortress – Rear Gunner The Young Mr. Pitt – Atkinson We Dive at Dawn – Navigating Officer – Lt. Gordon, R.N.The Demi-Paradise – TomThe Way Ahead – Buster – Marjorie's boyfriendJourney Together – John AynesworthThe Courtneys of Curzon Street – Teddy CourtneyEasy Money – Dennis StaffordQuartet – Nicky The Winslow Boy – Dickie WinslowUnder Capricorn – WinterOnce a Sinner – John RossThe Naked Heart – Robert GagnonWhite Corridors – Dick GroomPrivate Information – HughFather's Doing Fine – Clifford MagillFlannelfoot – Frank MitchellMeet Mr. Lucifer – JimStryker of the Yard – Tony AshworthDangerous Cargo – Tim MatthewsTrouble in the Glen – Sammy WellerThe Golden Link – Bill HowardThe Sea Shall Not Have Them – Flying Officer HardingTale of Three Women – Dick Mr. Arkadin – Marquis of RutleighA Time to Kill – Dennis WillowsWindfall – John LeeReach for the Sky – PeelThat Woman Opposite – Toby LawesThe Admirable Crichton – TreherneThe Birthday Present – Bill ThompsonGideon's Day – Reverend SmallA Night to Remember – Fourth Officer Joseph BoxhallChain of Events – FreddieLinks of Justice – Edgar MillsThe Solitary Child – CyrilSink the Bismarck! – Signals OfficerNearly a Nasty Accident – Flight Lt. GroganThree on a Spree – Michael BrewsterMary Had a Little... – Scott RaymondNothing Barred – Peter BrewsterThe Queen's Guards – Capt. ShergoldNever Back Losers Flat Two – Frank LeamingtonWho Was Maddox?, – Jack HeathThe Nanny – Dr. MedmanFollow Me! – Wealthy Client The Adventures of Barry McKenzie – TV DirectorFather, Dear Father – Bill Mossman11 Harrowhouse – FitzmauriceThe Cedar Tree - Captain Palmer, and then Cdr. BourneSlip-Up – Champion