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Glyn Houston

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Glyn Houston
Born
Glyndwr Desmond Houston

(1925-10-23)23 October 1925
Clydach Vale, Glamorgan, Wales
Died30 June 2019(2019-06-30) (aged 93)
OccupationActor
Years active1949–1996
Spouse
Shirley Lawrence
​
(m. 1956)​
Children2
FamilyDonald Houston (brother)

Glyndwr Desmond Houston (23 October 1925 – 30 June 2019) was a Welsh actor best known for his television work.[1] He was the younger brother of film actor Donald Houston.[2]

Early life

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Houston was born at 10 Thomas Street, Tonypandy, Glamorgan, Wales.[3][2] He served in the army during the Second World War, and was briefly a stand-up comedian performing for soldiers during the war.[4] He made his first film appearance in The Blue Lamp in 1950.[5] In 1951 he appeared at the Duchess Theatre in London's West End in the comedy play The Happy Family by Michael Clayton Hutton.[6]

Career

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In the 1970s Houston played Lord Peter Wimsey's valet Bunter opposite Ian Carmichael in television adaptations of several of Dorothy Sayers tales. His performance was praised in The New York Times.[7] Later, he had a role as a literary agent in the 1980s British sitcom Keep It in the Family. He appeared in a number of films including The Great Game.[8]

Other credits included 'Peter Ridgway' in 'Colonel March of Scotland Yard' Episode 'The Stolen Crime' (1956), My Good Woman (1973–1974), A Horseman Riding By (1978), Inspector Morse, It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Minder and Doomwatch, as well as the recurring character "Det Supt Jones" in Softly, Softly. He also appeared twice as different characters in Doctor Who — as "Professor Owen Watson" in The Hand of Fear (1976)[9] and as "Colonel Ben Wolsey" in The Awakening (1984).[10] He also played Brother Cadfael in a 1979 BBC Radio 4 adaptation of One Corpse Too Many. Houston had over two hundred television and film credits,[2] dating back as early as 1950.[11] Houston won a BAFTA Cymru special award in April 2008.[11]

A highlight of Houston's career was his appearance at the concert to celebrate the opening of the National Assembly for Wales in 1999[12] along with other actors such as Ioan Gruffudd and Harry Secombe.[13]

Personal life

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Houston was married to the actress and model Shirley Lawrence and had two children.[5] In May 2000 he unveiled a Mining Memorial in his native Rhondda at the Rhondda Heritage Park. He led the tributes to the thousands of miners who died and suffered during 150 years of mining in the South Wales coalfield.[14] He released an autobiography titled Glyn Houston, A Black and White Actor in December 2009.[4] Houston died at the age of 93 on 30 June 2019.[15][16]

Selected filmography

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References

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  1. ^ "Welsh Actor Glyn Houston Dies at 93". Dean Powell Public Relations. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Glyn Houston". Bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Welsh Actor Glyn Houston Dies at 93". 3 July 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Actor Glyn Houston opens up in new autobiography". Walesonline.co.uk. 7 December 2009.
  5. ^ a b "Actor Glyn Houston's autobiography". Walesonline.co.uk. 31 December 2009.
  6. ^ Wearing, J.P. The London Stage 1950–1959: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel. Rowman & Littlefield, 2014. p.94
  7. ^ Goodman, Walter (6 May 1990). "TV VIEW; Sidekicks: Dimmer Than the Stars, Yet . . " – via NYTimes.com.
  8. ^ "Glyn Houston's book date". Walesonline.co.uk. 10 December 2009.
  9. ^ "BBC - Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide - The Hand of Fear - Details". Bbc.co.uk.
  10. ^ "BBC - Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide - The Awakening - Details". Bbc.co.uk.
  11. ^ a b Price, Karen (28 April 2008). "Actor Glyn Houston's one regret". Walesonline.co.uk.
  12. ^ "Glyn Houston Remembered". GTFM. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  13. ^ "Anti-royal rockers snub Welsh concert". BBC News. 25 May 1999. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  14. ^ "Memorial marks mining tragedies". News.bbc.co.uk.
  15. ^ "Rhondda-born actor Glyn Houston dies age 93". ITV News.
  16. ^ "Glyn Houston: Rhondda-born actor dies aged 93". Bbc.com. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  17. ^ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search". News.google.com.
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