Nigel Patrick

This droll, urbane, dry-witted gent was born Nigel Dennis Patrick Wemyss-Gorman in London on May 2, 1912. Coming from a family of actors, his parents were actors 'Charles Wemyss' (qv) and 'Dorothy Turner' (qv).Nigel made his stage debut in the 1932 play "The Life Machine" and continued on the stock and repertory stage with "Night of the Garter" (1933), "Daddy Long Legs" (1933), "Half a Crown" (1934), "Ringmaster" (1935), "Roulette (1935), "The Lady of La Paz" (1936), Mademoiselle (1936), "Tony Draws a Horse" (1939) and "Children to Bless You." (1939). During that period, he had a strong hit with the play "George and Margaret" (1937) at the Wyndham's Theatre. These plays established his reputation in stylish plays.The actor turned to films with an appearance in the crime whodunnit _Mrs. Pym of Scotland Yard (1940)_ (qv) starring veteran 'Mary Clare' (qv) as the famed female detective. WWII interrupted his career, however, and he entered military duty, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel in the infantry. He revived his career on the stage following his war service with a number of productions including "Tomorrow's Child" (1946), "Fools Rush In" (1947), "These Mortals" (as Zeus) (1948) and "Champagne for Delilah" (1949).Nigel also regained his footing in post-war films with featured roles in _Spring in Park Lane (1948)_ (qv) and _Uneasy Terms (1948)_ (qv). He then moved into top supports as doubting debonairs and high ranking officials while bolstering such stars as 'Carole Landis' (qv) in the crime drama _The Silk Noose (1948)_ (qv); 'John Mills' (qv) in the war film _Operation Disaster (1950)_ (qv); 'James Mason' (qv) and 'Ava Gardner' (qv) in the drama _Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)_ (qv); 'Michael Redgrave' (qv) in _The Browning Version (1951)_ (qv) and 'Ralph Richardson' (qv) in _The Sound Barrier (1952)_ (qv). He also played several leads in such films as _The Jack of Diamonds (1949)_ (qv), _Young Wives' Tale (1951)_ (qv), _The Passionate Sentry (1952)_ (qv), _Forbidden Cargo (1954)_ (qv), _How to Murder a Rich Uncle (1957)_ (qv) (also directed), _All for Mary (1955)_ (qv), _Sapphire (1959)_ (qv) and _Johnny Nobody (1961)_ (qv).Never abandoning the theatre, Nigel played the title role in "The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker (1955) and starred in "The Egg" (1957). He also directed the plays "Not in the Book" (1958), Settled Out of Court" (1960), The Geese Are Getting Fat" (1960) and "Past Imperfect" (1964). Of special interest, he directed and starred in well-received productions of "The Pleasure of His Company" (1959) and "Present Laughter" (1965).On TV, Nigel starred in the British series _Zero One (1962)_ (qv), which was briefly syndicated in the U.S. He occasionally found some support movie roles in the 1960's and 1970's with _The League of Gentlemen (1960)_ (qv), _The Trials of Oscar Wilde (1960)_ (qv), _Battle of Britain (1969)_ (qv), _The Virgin Soldiers (1969)_ (qv), _The Executioner (1970)_ (qv), _The Great Waltz (1972)_ (qv) and _The MacKintosh Man (1973)_ (qv). In later years he would be spotted in the plays "Blithe Spirit," "A Suite in Two Keys," "Night Must Fall" and "Avanti!"Long married (from 1951) to Irish-born actress 'Beatrice Campbell' (qv), who appeared with him in the film dramas _Silent Dust (1949)_ (qv) and _Wicked Wife (1953)_ (qv). She passed away in 1979 and Nigel joined her a couple of years later in London of lung cancer on September 21, 1981 .::Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net