David Tomlinson

'David Tomlinson' (qv) is best known for his role as George Banks in 'Walt Disney' (qv)'s _Mary Poppins (1964)_ (qv). As a youth he spent a short spell in the guards. He joined the RAF in WW2 where he survived the trauma of a plane crash on his first solo flight due to engine failure, then becoming a flying instructor for the remainder of the war. He began his film career in the pre-war British film _Quiet Wedding (1941)_ (qv) and followed that with 'Leslie Howard' (qv)'s _'Pimpernel' Smith (1941)_ (qv). Altogether he has made over 50 films and on stage he has had long-running successes in many plays including "The Little Hut" with 'Robert Morley' (qv) and 'Roger Moore' (qv) as his understudy. During the 1930s he understudied 'Alec Guinness' (qv). By the time he went to Hollywood to make _Mary Poppins (1964)_ (qv) he was a veteran film and stage actor. David returned to Disney to great success in _The Love Bug (1968)_ (qv) and _Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)_ (qv). David was close friends with 'Errol Flynn' (qv), 'Robert Morley' (qv) and 'Peter Sellers' (qv). He also spent time with 'Walt Disney' (qv) whilst they discussed his role in _Mary Poppins (1964)_ (qv). He retired in the early 1980s after an exemplary career on film and stage, and will always be remembered as one of the centuries greatest character actors.::Luke Cumiskey