Hugh Morton (28 June 1903 – 11 July 1984) was an English actor, best known for his work on BBC Radio for which he made more than 3,000 broadcasts, beginning in the 1920s. His career spanned more than sixty years and also included theatre, cinema and television.[1][2]

Hugh Morton in The Avengers episode Esprit de Corps (1964)

Life and career

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Morton was born in Ivybridge, Devon, the son of a naval officer.[3] The family was from the upper classes; its members included Morton's first cousin, Anthony Eden, who became British prime minister in the 1950s.[4] Morton was educated at Haileybury and Queens' College, Cambridge, studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and secured his first professional engagement in a touring company run by Violet and Irene Vanbrugh.[3]

According to Morton's obituary in The Times, his cinema career began in the days of silent films. He was frequently cast in supporting roles as judges, bank managers or butlers.[3] On stage he took over the role of Captain Hook in Peter Pan from Alastair Sim and appeared with Arthur Askey in a long-running comedy, The Love Racket.[3] On radio he was the first actor to play the title role in the long-running Paul Temple series, and a regular member of the team of It's That Man Again, Life with the Lyons and Hancock's Half Hour.[3][4] In these and other programmes he made more than 3,000 broadcasts. Character rôles on television included the Bishop in the 1978 Wodehouse Playhouse episode 'The Smile that Wins'.[3]

Morton married the broadcaster Monica Strachey in 1938.[5] He died in London at the age of 81.[3]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1943 Deadlock Arkell
1946 Gaiety George King (on stage) Uncredited
1949 Golden Arrow Perdrelli
1950 Portrait of Clare Ernest Mayhew
1951 Mr. Denning Drives North Inspector Snell
1952 The Floating Dutchman Inspector Cathie
1953 Decameron Nights King
1954 The Diamond Mr. Pritchard Uncredited
1954 Life with the Lyons Mr. Hemingway
1954 Dangerous Voyage Inquiry Chairman
1955 The Lyons in Paris Col. Price
1955 Where There's a Will Lawyer Arscott
1955 Man of the Moment Mitchell
1956 Lost Doctor Fairfax Uncredited
1956 Je plaide non coupable Rumbold Senior
1956 The Big Money Valet
1957 Rogue's Yarn Doctor
1958 Bachelor of Hearts Lecturer
1961 Payroll Mr. John
1961 Three on a Spree Grant
1963 Master Spy Sir Gilbert Saunders
1964 The Masque of the Red Death Uncredited
1967 Quatermass and the Pit Elderly Journalist
1972 The Darwin Adventure Josiah Wedgewood
1975 Section spéciale L'amiral William Leahy, l'ambassadeur des États-Unis
1978 The Stud Staton Uncredited
1984 Oxford Blues Stanley the Butler

Notes

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  1. ^ "Hugh Morton". Archived from the original on 16 September 2017.
  2. ^ "Hugh Morton - Movies and Filmography - AllMovie". AllMovie.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Hugh Morton", The Times, 13 July 1984, p. 16
  4. ^ a b "Broadcaster and actor", The Guardian, 13 June 1984, p. 2
  5. ^ "Hugh Morton", The Daily Express, 22 November 1938, p. 5
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