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Lyndon Brook

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Lyndon Brook
Born(1926-04-10)10 April 1926
Los Angeles, California, US
Died9 January 2004(2004-01-09) (aged 77)
London, England
Occupation(s)actor, screenwriter
Years active1942–1987
SpouseElizabeth Kentish (m. 1953)
Children2
Parent(s)Clive Brook (father)
Mildred Evelyn (mother)
RelativesFaith Brook (sister)

Lyndon Brook (10 April 1926 – 9 January 2004) was a British actor, on film and television.

Family and early life

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Lyndon Brook was born on 10 April 1926 in Los Angeles, California, to British parents. He came from an established acting family: his father, Clive Brook, had been a star of the silent movies and had moved to Hollywood to play quintessential Englishmen in a host of films. His parents sent their son back to England to be educated at Stowe School, and he subsequently gained stage experience at Cambridge University.[1] His elder sister, Faith, also became an actress.[2]

Career

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In 1949, Brook was given a minor part in the film Train of Events, which starred Valerie Hobson (the future Mrs John Profumo) and John Clements.[3][4]

In 1951 he was asked by Laurence Olivier to join his company at the St James's Theatre, London, in Shakespeare's Anthony and Cleopatra and George Bernard Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra. The double production was set up to celebrate the Festival of Britain. It was whilst appearing in these productions that he met his future wife, the actress Elizabeth Kentish.[5]

In 1954 he played an impressionable navigator opposite Gregory Peck in The Purple Plain. The film was set during the Burma campaign and involved a lengthy trek through the jungle. It enjoyed a huge success at the box office.[6] Two years later, Brook co-starred with Kenneth More in one of the most popular of all Second World War dramas, Reach for the Sky.[7]

He appeared with Michael Hordern and Dirk Bogarde in The Spanish Gardener (1956), and as Richard Wagner opposite Bogarde's Franz Liszt in Song Without End (1960).[8]

Thereafter, Brook became a regular in many popular television dramas. He appeared in I, Claudius; three times in The Avengers and The New Avengers; and one appearance in Crown Court (episode "The Getaway", in 1974). He also played George VI alongside Timothy West's Winston Churchill in the BBC's Churchill and the Generals (1979). His later film roles in the 1970s and 1980s included The Hireling, Plenty and Defence of the Realm.[4]

Brook was a much-published author, and scripted the 1957 television series Love Her to Death, which had Peter Wyngarde in the leading role.

Death

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Brook died in London on 9 January 2004.[1]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1942 A Yank at Eton Eton Student Uncredited
1949 The History of Mr. Polly Shop Assistant Uncredited
Trottie True Bit Role Uncredited
Train of Events Actor Segment: "The Actor"
1954 The Purple Plain Carrington
The Passing Stranger Mike
1955 Above Us the Waves Diver Navigator, X2
One Way Out Leslie Parrish
1956 Reach for the Sky Johnny Sanderson
The Spanish Gardener Robert Burton
1957 The Surgeon's Knife Dr. Ian Breck
1958 The Gypsy and the Gentleman John Patterson
Innocent Sinners Charles
1959 Violent Moment Douglas Baines
1960 Song Without End Richard Wagner
Surprise Package Starvin
1961 Adventure Story Philotas
1961 Edgar Wallace Mysteries Gerry Domford "Clue of the Silver Key" episode
1962 The Longest Day Lt. Walsh Uncredited
1964 The Massingham Affair Justin Derry 6 episodes
1965 Invasion Brian Carter Uncredited
1966 Danger Man Colin Ashby 1 episode
1967–1968 The Avengers Dr. Manx/Lyall 2 episodes
1973 The Hireling Doctor
1974 Who? Dr. Barrister
1975 Edward the Seventh A.J. Balfour 3 episodes
1976 I, Claudius Silanus 1 episode
1979 Churchill and the Generals King George VI TV movie
1985 Plenty Begley
1986 Defence of the Realm Pugh
1987 Life Story Erwin Chargaff

References

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  1. ^ a b Shorter, Eric. "Obituary: Lyndon Brook". The Guardian.
  2. ^ "Faith Brook". The Daily Telegraph. London. 13 March 2012.
  3. ^ "Train of Events (1949)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Lyndon Brook". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012.
  5. ^ "Lyndon Brook – Obituaries". The Stage.
  6. ^ Erickson, Hal. "The Purple Plain (1954) – Robert Parrish – Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
  7. ^ "Lyndon Brook". aveleyman.com.
  8. ^ Erickson, Hal. "Lyndon Brook – Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos". AllMovie.
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