Harry Andrews

Prior to his film career, Andrews was a theatre actor, appearing at such venues as the Queen's Theatre, the Lyceum Theatre and the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in the UK as well as theatres in New York City, Paris, Antwerp and Brussels. Andrews made his London theatre debut in 1935 at the St James's Theatre and his New York City debut in 1936 at the Empire Theatre. Andrews was awarded the CBE in 1966.

• Name — Harry Andrews • Honorific Suffix — CBE • Birth Name — Henry Stewart Fleetwood Andrews • Born — 10 November 1911 • Birthplace — Tonbridge, Kent, England • Died — 6 March 1989 • Place of death — Salehurst, Sussex, England • Occupation — * Actor • Years Active — 1933–1939, 1945–1989 • Partner — Basil Hoskins • Awards — NBR Best Supporting Actor 1966 The Agony and the Ecstasy 1966 The Hill

Harry Andrews was born on 10 November 1911 in Tonbridge, Kent. He was the son of Henry Arthur Andrews, a General Practitioner, and Amy Diana Frances (née Horner). Andrews attended Yardley Court school in Tonbridge and Wrekin College in Wellington, Shropshire.

Like many men of his time, Andrews joined up in October 1939 and was commissioned into the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment from 162 OCTU (The Honourable Artillery Company) on 21 September 1940 with the number 149267. In August 1942 he transferred to the Royal Artillery, serving in Europe during the D-Day Landings and on the advance into Germany. On 4 April 1946 Andrews was mentioned in dispatches "for gallant and distinguished service in North West Europe". He was demobilised with the rank of Major.

Andrews made his first stage appearance in September 1933 at the Liverpool Playhouse playing John in The Long Christmas Dinner. He made his London debut in March 1935 at the St James's Theatre playing the role of John in Worse Things Happen at Sea. In March 1936, he featured in a cast including Paul Robeson, Orlando Martins and Robert Adams in a staging of Toussaint Louverture: The Story of the Only Successful Slave Revolt in History, a play by C. L. R. James, at the Westminster Theatre in London. In October 1936, Andrews made his first appearance in New York City playing the role of Horatio in Hamlet at the Empire Theatre. From September 1937 to April 1938, Andrews worked with John Gielgud's company at the Queen's Theatre, appearing in such shows as Richard II, The School for Scandal and The Merchant of Venice. In 1939, Andrews assumed the role of Laertes in a production of Hamlet at the Lyceum Theatre. This was the final production at the Lyceum before it closed, though it was restored in 1996. In December 1945, Andrews appeared with the Old Vic company at what was then referred to as the New Theatre, succeeding George Curzon in the parts of Sir Walter Blunt in Henry IV, Part 1, Scroop in Henry IV, Part 2, Creon in Oedipus and Sneer in The Critic. The company toured to New York City in the summer of 1946, appearing at such venues as the Century Theatre. Upon returning to Britain in September 1946, Andrews continued performing with the Old Vic company through the end of the 1948–1949 season. In 1949, Andrews joined the company at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, in which he performed in such Shakespearean roles as Macduff, Don Pedro and Cardinal Wolsey. Andrews toured with the company through Australia in 1949. He continued to perform with the company in Stratford-upon-Avon through the 1951 season, playing Henry IV through three consecutive Shakespeare plays. He then travelled to New York with the company of Laurence Olivier, performing in such plays as Caesar and Cleopatra and Antony and Cleopatra at the Ziegfeld Theatre. Andrews went on tour with the Old Vic company performing Henry VIII in Paris, Antwerp and Brussels. In 1971 Andrews played the title role in Lear by Edward Bond at the Royal Court Theatre, London, continuing his association with contemporary British theatre with his role in the film adaptation of Entertaining Mr Sloane by Joe Orton of the previous year in 1970 to great critical praise.

• The Red Beret (1953) as R.S.M. Cameron • The Black Knight (1954) as Earl Of Yeonil • The Man Who Loved Redheads (1955) as Williams • Helen of Troy (1956) as Hector • Alexander the Great (1956) as Darius • Moby Dick (1956) as Stubb • A Hill in Korea (1956) as Sgt. Payne • Saint Joan (1957) as John de Stogumber • I Accuse! (1958) as Maj. Henry • Ice Cold in Alex (1958) as M.S.M. Pugh • The Devil's Disciple (1959) as Maj. Swindon • Solomon and Sheba (1959) as Baltor • A Touch of Larceny (1959) as Capt. Graham • In the Nick (1960) as Chief Officer Williams • Circle of Deception (1960) as Capt. Thomas Rawson • The Best of Enemies (1961) as Capt. Rootes • Barabbas (1961) as Peter • Reach for Glory (1962) as Capt. Curlew • The Inspector (1962) as Ayoob • Nine Hours to Rama (1963) as General Singh • 55 Days at Peking (1963) as Father de Bearn • The Informers (1963) as Supt. Alec Bestwick • Nothing But the Best (1964) as Mr. Horton • 633 Squadron (1964) as Air Vice Marshal Davis • The System (1964) as Larsey • The Truth About Spring (1965) as Sellers • The Hill (1965) as Regimental Sergeant Major Wilson • The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965) as Donato Bramante • Sands of the Kalahari (1965) as Grimmelman • Modesty Blaise (1966) as Sir Gerald Tarrant • The Deadly Affair (1967) as Inspector Mendel • The Night of the Generals (1967) as General Stulpnagel (uncredited) • The Jokers (1967) as Insp. Marryatt • The Long Duel (1967) as Stafford • Danger Route (1967) as Canning • I'll Never Forget What's'isname (1967) as Gerald Sater • A Dandy in Aspic (1968) as Fraser • The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968) as Lord Lucan • The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968) as Jacob Schpitendavel • The Sea Gull (1968) as Sorin, her brother • Play Dirty (1968) as Brig. Blore • The Southern Star (1969) as Kramer • Battle of Britain (1969) as Harold Balfour, Undersecretary of State for Air • Destiny of a Spy (1969 TV movie) as General Kirk • A Nice Girl Like Me (1969) as Savage, Caretaker • Country Dance (1970) as Brig. Crieff • Too Late the Hero (1970) as Col. Thompson • Entertaining Mr Sloane (1970) as Ed • Wuthering Heights (1970) as Mr. Earnshaw • The Nightcomers (1971) as Master of the House • Nicholas and Alexandra (1971) as Grand Duke Nicholas (Nikolasha) • Burke & Hare (1971) as Dr. Knox • I Want What I Want (1972) as Roy's Father • The Ruling Class (1972) as Ralph Gurney – 13th Earl of Gurney • Night Hair Child (1972) as Headmaster • Man of La Mancha (1972) as The Innkeeper / The Governor • Man at the Top (1973) as Lord Clive Ackerman • Theatre of Blood (1973) as Trevor Dickman • The Mackintosh Man (1973) as Mackintosh • The Final Programme (1973) as John • The Story of Jacob and Joseph (1974) as Isaac • The Internecine Project (1974) as Albert Parsons • Valley Forge (1975 TV movie) as General William Howe • The New Spartans (1975) • Sky Riders (1976) as Auerbach • The Blue Bird (1976) as Oak • The Passover Plot (1976) as Yohanan the Baptist • The Garth People (1976) • The Prince and the Pauper (1977) as Hertford • Equus (1977) as Harry Dalton • The Four Feathers (1978 TV movie) as General William Feversham • The Big Sleep (1978) as Norris • The Medusa Touch (1978) as Assistant Commissioner • Death on the Nile (1978) as Barnstaple • Watership Down (1978) as General Woundwort (voice) • Superman (1978) as 2nd Elder • S.O.S. Titanic (1979 TV movie) as Capt. Edward J. Smith • A Question of Faith (1979) as Leo Tolstoy • The Curse of King Tut's Tomb (1980 TV movie) as Lord George Carnarvon • Closing Ranks (1980 TV movie) as Sir James Croft • Hawk the Slayer (1980) as High Abbot • Never Never Land (1980) • Tales of the Unexpected (1980 TV episode "The Sound Machine") as Klausner • Seven Dials Mystery (1981 TV movie) as Superintendent Battle • My Letter to George (1985) as Old Thompson • The Return of Sherlock Holmes (1986 TV series, episode "The Second Stain") as Lord Bellinger • Jack the Ripper (1988 TV miniseries) as Coroner Wynne Baxter • Cause célèbre (1989 TV movie) as Francis Rattenbury

• Illustration — Little Thatch, Belgrave Road, Seaford, in 2017 Andrews's partner for more than 30 years was fellow actor Basil Hoskins, who survived him until 2005 and next to whom Andrews is buried at St Mary the Virgin, Salehurst, East Sussex. The two men had worked together on the film Ice Cold in Alex. Andrews died at the age of 77 on 6 March 1989, at his home in Salehurst. Between 1956 and 1961, Andrews lived at Little Thatch, 50 Belgrave Road, Seaford, East Sussex.

Harry Andrews is recorded as having received Commander of the Order of the British Empire.