Raymond Huntley
Horace Raymond Huntley was an English actor who appeared in dozens of British films from the 1930s to the 1970s. He also appeared in the ITV period drama Upstairs, Downstairs as the pragmatic family solicitor Sir Geoffrey Dillon.
Life and career
Early life
Horace Raymond Huntley was born in Kings Norton, Worcestershire in 1904.
Career
Stage
He made his stage debut at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre on 1 April 1922, in A Woman Killed with Kindness. His London debut followed at the Court Theatre on 22 February 1924, in As Far as Thought can Reach.
He subsequently inherited the role of Count Dracula from Edmund Blake in Hamilton Deane's touring adaptation of Dracula, which arrived at London's Little Theatre on 14 February 1927, subsequently transferring to the larger Duke of York's Theatre. Later that year he was offered the chance to reprise the role on Broadway ; when he declined, the part was taken by Bela Lugosi instead. Huntley did, however, appear in a US touring production of the Deane/Balderston play, covering the east coast and midwest, from 1928 to 1930. "I have always considered the role of Count Dracula to have been an indiscretion of my youth," he recalled in 1989.
After Dracula he made his Broadway debut at the Vanderbilt Theatre on 23 February 1931, in The Venetian Glass Nephew. On returning to the UK, his many West End appearances included The Farmer's Wife, Cornelius, Bees on the Boat Deck ''Time and the Conways, When We Are Married, Rebecca, They Came to a City, The Late Edwina Black, And This Was Odd, Double Image, Any Other Business, Caught Napping, Difference of Opinion, An Ideal Husband, Getting Married, Soldiers and Separate Tables. He also starred opposite Flora Robson in the Broadway production of Black Chiffon''.
Film and television
Often cast as a supercilious bureaucrat or other authority figure, Huntley was also a staple figure in British films, his many appearances including The Way Ahead, I See a Dark Stranger, Passport to Pimlico and The Dam Busters. In his later years he became well known on television as Sir Geoffrey Dillon, the family solicitor to the Bellamys in LWT's popular 1970s drama series Upstairs, Downstairs. He also appeared as Mr. Justice Downes in the Granada Television daytime series, Crown Court.; Wodehouse Playhouse, ; and Danger Man,, as Clements.
Death
Huntley died in Westminster Hospital, London in 1990. In his obituary the New York Times wrote, "During his long career the actor played judges, bank managers, churchmen, bureaucrats and other figures of authority. He could play them straight if necessary, but in comedy his natural dryness of delivery was exaggerated to the point where the character he was playing invited mockery as a pompous humbug."
Complete filmography
What Happened Then? .... Minor role Can You Hear Me, Mother? .... DolanWhom the Gods Love .... LangerRembrandt .... LudwickLondon Melody .... Policeman Outside Nightclub Knight Without Armour .... White OfficerDinner at the Ritz .... GiboutWhen We Are Married .... Councillor Albert ParkerLet's Be Famous .... Singer in trio The Lion Has Wings .... Minor role Night Train to Munich .... KampenfeldtBulldog Sees It Through .... Tramp Steamer OfficerFreedom Radio .... RabenauThe Ghost of St. Michael's .... Mr HumphriesThe Ghost Train .... John PriceInspector Hornleigh Goes To It .... Dr Kerbishley"Pimpernel" Smith .... MarxOnce a Crook .... Prison GovernorThe Day Will Dawn .... Norwegian Under-Secretary The New Lot .... Barrington When We Are Married .... Albert ParkerThe Way Ahead .... Pte Herbert DavenportThey Came to a City .... Malcolm StrittonI See a Dark Stranger .... J. MillerSchool for Secrets .... Prof Laxton-JonesSo Evil My Love .... Henry CourtneyMen of Darkness .... PisanconBroken Journey .... Edward MarshallMr. Perrin and Mr. Traill .... Moy-ThompsonIt's Hard to Be Good .... WilliamsPassport to Pimlico .... Mr WixThe Late Edwina Black .... Henry MartinTrio .... Mr Henry Chester The Long Dark Hall .... Chief Insp SullivanI'll Never Forget You .... Mr ThrostleMr. Denning Drives North .... WrightWhen We Are Married .... Councillor Albert ParkerThe Last Page .... Clive OliverLaxdale Hall .... Samuel Pettigrew, MPGlad Tidings .... Tom ForesterMeet Mr. Lucifer .... PattersonHobson's Choice .... Nathaniel BeenstockOrders Are Orders .... Colonel BellamyThe Teckman Mystery .... Maurice MillerAunt Clara .... Rev Maurice HiltonThe Unguarded Hour .... Colonel William MasonThe Prisoner .... The GeneralThe Constant Husband .... The BossThe Dam Busters .... Official, National Physical LaboratoryDoctor at Sea .... Capt BeamishGeordie .... Olympic SelectorThe Last Man to Hang .... Attorney-GeneralThe Green Man .... Sir Gregory UpshottTown on Trial .... Dr ReeseBrothers in Law .... Tatlock QCJessica .... Stanley BainesDial 999 (TV series)....MynersNext to No Time .... Forbes, Factory SupervisorRoom at the Top .... Mr HoylakeCarlton-Browne of the F.O. .... Foreign Secretary Tufton SladeInnocent Meeting .... HaroldThe Mummy .... Joseph WhempleI'm All Right Jack .... MagistrateOur Man in Havana .... GeneralBottoms Up .... Garrick-JonesBreathless .... A Journalist Follow That Horse! .... Special Branch ChiefMake Mine Mink .... Inspector PapeA French Mistress .... Rev Edwin PeakeSands of the Desert .... BossomSuspect .... Sir George Gatting, Minister of DefenceThe Pure Hell of St Trinian's .... JudgeLine of Enquiry .... Mr SinclairOnly Two Can Play .... VernonCrooks Anonymous .... WagstaffeWaltz of the Toreadors .... Ackroyd, Court PresidentOn the Beat .... Sir Ronald AckroydNurse on Wheels .... VicarThe Yellow Teddy Bears .... Harry HalburtonFather Came Too! .... Mr WedgewoodThe Black Torment .... Colonel John WentworthRotten to the Core .... Prison Governor The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery .... Sir Horace, the MinisterHot Millions .... Bayswater Hostile Witness .... John NaylorThe Adding Machine .... SmithersArthur! Arthur! .... George PayneDestiny of a Spy .... Supt PodeYoung Winston .... Old Officer That's Your Funeral .... Emmanuel HolroydSymptoms .... BurkeA Voyage Round My Father .... JudgeSleepwalker .... Old Englishman