Cecil Parker

Cecil Parker 1897 - 1971 was a British character and comedy actor with a distinctive husky voice, who usually played supporting roles in his 91 films made between 1933 and 1969.

Born in Hastings, Sussex with real name Cecil Schwabe, he began his acting career on the stage in London after serving in World War I. This was in 1922 although he made his first film in 1933. He appeared less on T.V. but will be well known still due to the constant repeats of his films over several decades on T.V. Films such as The Lady Vanishes, Swiss Family Robinson, I was Monty's Double, and the comedies The Ladykillers, The Man In The White Suit, The Court Jester and many more.

Part of his talent was that he was convincing in each film and made the viewer forget his previous roles. Often playing a touchy senior officer or British upper-class character, his last two films were true to form; The Magnificent Two with Morecambe and Wise and Richard Attenborough's Oh! What A Lovely War.