Alec Clunes

Alec Clunes
Alec Clunes
Born	Alexander Sheriff de Moro Clunes; 17 May 1912; Brixton, London, England
Died	13 March 1970 (aged 57); London, England
Occupation(s)	Actor, director
Spouse(s)	Stella Richman (divorced); Daphne Acott (1956–1970; his death)
Children	2, including Martin Clunes

Alexander Sheriff de Moro Clunes (17 May 1912 – 13 March 1970) was an English actor and theatrical manager.^[1]

Among the plays he presented were Christopher Fry's The Lady's Not For Burning.^[2] He gave the actor and dramatist Peter Ustinov his first break with his production The House of Regrets.^[3] His film career was brief, but varied. He played Hastings in Laurence Olivier's Richard III (1955), and also appeared in wartime films such as One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942), although he was in fact a conscientious objector. He also appeared in The Adventures of Quentin Durward (1955).^[4]

Clunes' later stage work included succeeding Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins in the stage musical My Fair Lady in 1959.^[5] His final stage appearance was in 1968.

Early and personal life

Alexander Sheriff de Moro Clunes was born on 17 May 1912 to a show business family,^[6] he was the son of Alexander Sydenham Sherriff Clunes (1881–1960) and Georgina Ada Sumner (1882–1969). He began his stage career with Ben Greet's company before playing at the Old Vic theatre in 1934.^[7] He played numerous Shakespearian roles, before taking over the management of the Arts Theatre, London in 1942, where he remained until 1950. He later ran a theatre bookshop in Cecil Court.^[7]

He was twice married: to actress Stella Richman, later a television producer, and Daphne Gillian Acott, with whom he had one son, actor Martin Clunes.

Alec Clunes died from lung cancer on 13 March 1970, aged 57. He left a widow, his son, Martin Clunes, and a daughter, Amanda Clunes.

Notable TV guest appearances

Undermind playing "Police Sergeant" in episode: "Onset of Fear" (episode No. 1.1) 24 April 1965
The Ronnie Barker Playhouse playing "Peregrine" in episode: "The Incredible Mister Tanner" (episode No. 1.4) 24 April 1968

Clunes played Governor Woodes Rogers, the lead in the first three episodes of The Buccaneers in 1956. He was also offered the lead part of Professor Bernard Quatermass in the famous BBC science-fiction serial Quatermass and the Pit in 1958, but declined the role (André Morell was cast instead).^[8]

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1940	Convoy	Minor Role	Uncredited
1940	Let George Do It!	Officer	Uncredited
1940	Saloon Bar	Eddie Graves
1940	Sailors Three	British Pilot
1942	One of Our Aircraft Is Missing	The Organist
1949	Now Barabbas	Gale
1952	La bergère et le ramoneur	The Blind Man	English version, Voice
1953	Melba	Cesar Carlton
1955	The Adventures of Quentin Durward	Charles – Duke of Burgundy
1955	Brighton Story (BFI film)	The Narrator
1955	Richard III	The Lord Hastings
1956	Tiger in the Smoke	Asst. Commissioner Oates
1963	Tomorrow at Ten	Anthony Chester

References

^ McFarlane, Brian (16 May 2016). The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-1-5261-1196-8 – via Google Books.
^ "ALEC CLUNES DIES, LONDON PRODUCER". The New York Times. 14 March 1970.
^ "Production of House of Regrets – Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
^ "Alec Clunes". Archived from the original on 18 March 2018.
^ Gibbs, A. M. (14 June 1990). Shaw. Springer. ISBN 978-1-349-05402-2 – via Google Books.
^ "FreeBMD Home Page". freebmd.org.uk.
^ ^a ^b Daily Mail Year Book 1965 (paperback). London: Associated Newspapers Ltd. 1964. p. 87.
^ Murray, Andy (2006). Into the Unknown: The Fantastic Life of Nigel Kneale (paperback). London: Headpress. p. 67. ISBN 1-900486-50-4.