Actor. He was a Chubby, curly-haired British character actor who is best known for playing the character roles of nervously befuddled businessmen, clergy, upper-class toffs or military officers, reverends, barbers, lieutenants, married men, scoutmasters, criminals, BBC Commentators, blacksmiths, politicians, photographers, telephone men, captains, insurance brokers, vicars, tax collectors, professional managers, receptionists, hairdressers, police chiefs, university porters, chief stewards, bishops, signalmen, scholars, priests, husbands, landlords, barmen, unterofficers, magicians, opposition leaders, head waiters, cast members, reporters, professors, monsieurs, doctors, generals, register office officials, historical figures, and people of distinction with titles such as sir. He will be best remembered for playing the role of 'Kenniston' in the James Bond action adventure thriller film, "Thunderball" (1965). The film which was directed by Terence Young, which was written for the screen by Richard Maibaum, John Hopkins, and Jack Whittingham, and which also starred Sean Connery, Claudine Auger, Adolfo Celi, Luciana Paluzzi, Rik Van Nutter, Bernard Lee, Desmond Llewelyn, and Guy Doleman, tells the story of British Secret Service Agent 007 James Bond who heads to the Bahamas to recover two nuclear warheads stolen by S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Agent Emilio Largo in an international extortion scheme. He will also be best remembered for playing the role of 'Enderby' in the episode entitled, "The High Fence," of the classic television series, "The Saint," which originally aired on February 20, 1964, and which also starred Roger Moore, James Villiers, Ivor Dean, and Suzanne Lloyd, tells the story of with the identity of the elusive High Fence still unknown, someone poisons an important link to this intricate case under the nose of the police. The Saint lends a hand; however, will he find him in time before he vanishes for good? He was born one of two children as William Reginald Beckwith to William Percival Cornelius Beckwith (1881-1912), and his wife Clara Annie Dempsey Beckwith (1874-), in York, England, on November 2, 1908. He was baptized in Yorkshire, England, on November 25, 1965. He began his acting career on the stage playing the role of 'Henry Percy' in the stage production of the play, "Richard II" (1926), at the Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland. He then went onto appear in or work on several stage productions of such plays as, '1st Newsboy' in "Miracle At Verdun" (October 25, 1932, to December 3, 1932), "The Tudor Wench" (1933-1934), as 'Paul' in "Sowers Of The Hills" (October 22, 1935, to November 9, 1935), Adaptation by, "Lysistrata" (March 12, 1936, to April 1936), Directed by, "Lord Adrian" (April 14, 1937-), "The Painted Smile" (1937-1938), "Happy Returns" (1938-1939), Additional Material/Performer, "The Gate Revue" (December 19, 1938, to May 4, 1940), as 'Hans Zedesi' in "Follow My Leader" (January 16, 1940, to January 27, 1940), Book & Lyrisc by, "The New Ambassadors Revue" (July 18, 1941, to September 14, 1941), and as 'Bob Acres' in "The Rivals" September 3, 1945, to February 16, 1946). During his stage career, he also worked with or appeared at the Comedy Theatre in London, England, (now Harold Pinter Theatre in London, England), the Alhambra Theatre in London, England, the Westminster Theatre in London, England, the Gate Theatre Club in Notting Hill, England, the New Theatre (now Noël Coward Theatre), in London, England, the Adelphi Theatre in London, England, the Apollo Theatre (Shaftesbury Avenue), in London, England, the Ambassadors Theatre in London, England, the Theatre Royal in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, the King's Theatre in Glasgow, Scotland, H M Tennent Ltd in association with CEMA, and director Norman Marshall. He also appeared in the stage productions of the plays, "Members's Only (1937), "The Unquiet Spirit" (1937), and "Oscar Wilde" (1937, and 1956), all at the Gate Studio Theatre in London, England. He also played the Nazi German Dictator Adolf Hitler (1889-1945), in a play for the British Broadcasting Corporation (or BBC), in 1958. During his impressive stage career, he also worked with the likes of Charles Hawtrey, Hermione Gingold, Richard Haydn, Kenneth Carten, Nicholas Phipps, Nadine March, Ann Morrison, Billy Milton, Gabrielle Brune, Catherine Lacey, Douglas Burbridge, Wallace Douglas, Stafford Byrne, Ann Morrison and Peter Scott, Robert Morley, John Bryning, Frith Banbury, Andrew Cruickshank and Harry Hutchinson, among many others. He was also a playwright and art critic whose other works include, "Adults Only," "The Lady From Baker Street," "The New Ambassadors Revue," "A Soldier For Christmas," "A Soldier For Friday," and "Boys In Brown," which were either turned into stage plays, films, or both. He also worked as a correspondent for the British Broadcasting Corporation (or BBC), during World War II in Italy. He made his actual film debut playing the role of 'The Rev. Nicodemus Athanasius Ignatius Brown' in the television film drama, "Doctor 'My Book'" (1938). The film which was produced by Moultrie Kelsall, written for the screen by Rudolph De Cordova and Alice Ramsey, and which also starred John Salew, Denis de Marney, Robert Eddison, George Hayes, Elaine Inescourt, Eve Shelley, and Vera Hurst, tells the story of Abernethy Biscuit, an inventor. Besides, playing the role of 'The Rev. Nicodemus Athanasius Ignatius Brown' in the television film drama, "Doctor 'My Book'" (1938), and playing the role of 'Kenniston' in the James Bond action adventure thriller film, "Thunderball" (1965), his many other film credits include, "Cornelius" (1938), "The Unquiet Spirit" (1939), "The Gate Revue" (1939), "A Voice In The Night" (1941), "In Which We Live: Being The Story Of A Suit Told By Itself" (1943), "The Man Is Mine" (1946), "A Word In Your Eye" (1947), "My Brother's Keeper" (1948), "The Rivals" (1948), "Scott Of The Antartic" (1948), "Miss Pilgrim's Progress" (1949), "The Body Said No!" (1950), "Mr. Drake's Duck" (1951), "Circle Of Danger" (1951), "Another Man's Poison" (1951), "Whispering Smith vs. Scotland Yard" (1951), "Brandy For The Parson" (1952), "You're Only Young Twice" (1952), "Penny Princess" (1952), "Without The Prince" (1952), "The Titfield Thunderbolt" (1953), "Genevieve" (1953), "Innocents In Paris" (1953), "Man With A Million" (1954), "Don't Blame The Stork" (1954), "The Runway Bus" (1954), "Fast And Loose" (1954), "Dance Little Lady" (1954), "Lease of Life" (1954), "The Men Of Sherwood Forest" (1954), "Aunt Clara" (1954), "The Lyons Abroad" (1955), "Break In The Circle" (1955), "They Can't Hang Up" (1955), "A Yank In Ermine" (1955), "Jumping For Joy" (1956), "The March Hare" (1956), "Charley Moon" (1956), "It's A Wonderful World" (1956), "A Touch Of The Sun" (1956), "The Ship Was Loaded" (1957), "Dangerous Youth" (1957), "Light Fingers" (1957), "Lucky Jim" (1957), "Curse Of The Demon" (1957), "Gentlemen At Twilight" (1958), "Up The Creek" (1958), "Law And Disorder" (1958), "Next To No Time" (1958), "The Horse's Mouth" (1958), "Mad Little Island" (1958), "The Captain's Table" (1959), "Medico" (1959), "The 39 Steps" (1959), "The Ugly Duckling" (1959), "Upstairs And Downstairs" (1959), "Friends And Neighbours" (1959), "Expresso Bongo" (1959), "The Navy Lark" (1959), "Desert Mice" (1959), "Bottoms Up" (1960), "Fred Emney Picks A Pop" (1960), "Doctor In Love" (1960), "Dentist In The Chair" (1960), "There Was A Crooked Man" (1960), "The Night We Got The Bird" (1961), "The Day The Earth Caught Fire" (1961), "Hair Of The Dog" (1962), "Night Of The Eagle" (1962), "The Prince And The Pauper" (1962), "The Girl On The Boat" (1962), "The Password Is Courage" (1962), "The King's Breakfast" (1963), " Just For Fun" (1963), "Sword Of Lancelot" (1963), "Doctor In Distress" (1963), "The V.I.P.s" (1963), "Kiss Me Kate" (1964), "Never Put It In Writing" (1964), "A Shot In The Dark" (1964), "The Yellow Rolls-Royce" (1964), "Gonks Go Best" (1964), "Mister Moses" (1965), "The Amorous Adventures Of Moll Flanders" (1965), "The Secret Of My Success" (1965), "The Big Job" (1965), and "Where The Spies Are" (1965). Besides, playing the role of 'Enderby' in the episode entitled, "The High Fence," of the classic television series, "The Saint," which originally aired on February 20, 1964, his many other television credits include, "London Playhouse," "ITV Play Of The Week," "The Scarlet Pimpernel," "BBC Sunday-Night Theatre," "Aggie," "The Errol Flynn Theatre," "Sailor Of Fortune," "Armchair Theatre," "Sword Of Freedom," "The Adventures Of Robin Hood," "Ivanhoe," "ITV Television Playhouse," "Hancock's Half Hour," "Glencannon," "Dixon Of Dock Green," "Theatre 70," "Knight Errant Limited," "BBC Sunday-Night Play," "The Magical World Of Disney," "Sir Francis Drake," "Saki," "Hancock," "The Dickie Henderson Show," "Maupassant," "The Sentimental Agent," and "Thursday Theatre." He continued to work until his unexpected death. His last role was playing in the comedy film, "How To Undress In Public Without Undue Embarrassment" (1965). The film which was directed by, which was produced by, and which was written for the screen by Compton Bennett, and which also starred Jon Pertwee, Christine Child, Leon Greene, and Zelma Malik, is a comic survey of methods of undressing through the ages, from Victorian modesty to modern strip clubs. He passed away from a sudden heart attack in Borne End, England, on June 26, 1965, at the age of 56. Following his death, he was cremated privately and his ashes were given to his surviving family members. He never married nor had any children. On his death, the film producer Val Guest (1911-2006), said of him, "His death has shocked us all and is a great loss to the movie industry. "He was a great character and a great actor."
Actor. He was a Chubby, curly-haired British character actor who is best known for playing the character roles of nervously befuddled businessmen, clergy, upper-class toffs or military officers, reverends, barbers, lieutenants, married men, scoutmasters, criminals, BBC Commentators, blacksmiths, politicians, photographers, telephone men, captains, insurance brokers, vicars, tax collectors, professional managers, receptionists, hairdressers, police chiefs, university porters, chief stewards, bishops, signalmen, scholars, priests, husbands, landlords, barmen, unterofficers, magicians, opposition leaders, head waiters, cast members, reporters, professors, monsieurs, doctors, generals, register office officials, historical figures, and people of distinction with titles such as sir. He will be best remembered for playing the role of 'Kenniston' in the James Bond action adventure thriller film, "Thunderball" (1965). The film which was directed by Terence Young, which was written for the screen by Richard Maibaum, John Hopkins, and Jack Whittingham, and which also starred Sean Connery, Claudine Auger, Adolfo Celi, Luciana Paluzzi, Rik Van Nutter, Bernard Lee, Desmond Llewelyn, and Guy Doleman, tells the story of British Secret Service Agent 007 James Bond who heads to the Bahamas to recover two nuclear warheads stolen by S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Agent Emilio Largo in an international extortion scheme. He will also be best remembered for playing the role of 'Enderby' in the episode entitled, "The High Fence," of the classic television series, "The Saint," which originally aired on February 20, 1964, and which also starred Roger Moore, James Villiers, Ivor Dean, and Suzanne Lloyd, tells the story of with the identity of the elusive High Fence still unknown, someone poisons an important link to this intricate case under the nose of the police. The Saint lends a hand; however, will he find him in time before he vanishes for good? He was born one of two children as William Reginald Beckwith to William Percival Cornelius Beckwith (1881-1912), and his wife Clara Annie Dempsey Beckwith (1874-), in York, England, on November 2, 1908. He was baptized in Yorkshire, England, on November 25, 1965. He began his acting career on the stage playing the role of 'Henry Percy' in the stage production of the play, "Richard II" (1926), at the Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh, Scotland. He then went onto appear in or work on several stage productions of such plays as, '1st Newsboy' in "Miracle At Verdun" (October 25, 1932, to December 3, 1932), "The Tudor Wench" (1933-1934), as 'Paul' in "Sowers Of The Hills" (October 22, 1935, to November 9, 1935), Adaptation by, "Lysistrata" (March 12, 1936, to April 1936), Directed by, "Lord Adrian" (April 14, 1937-), "The Painted Smile" (1937-1938), "Happy Returns" (1938-1939), Additional Material/Performer, "The Gate Revue" (December 19, 1938, to May 4, 1940), as 'Hans Zedesi' in "Follow My Leader" (January 16, 1940, to January 27, 1940), Book & Lyrisc by, "The New Ambassadors Revue" (July 18, 1941, to September 14, 1941), and as 'Bob Acres' in "The Rivals" September 3, 1945, to February 16, 1946). During his stage career, he also worked with or appeared at the Comedy Theatre in London, England, (now Harold Pinter Theatre in London, England), the Alhambra Theatre in London, England, the Westminster Theatre in London, England, the Gate Theatre Club in Notting Hill, England, the New Theatre (now Noël Coward Theatre), in London, England, the Adelphi Theatre in London, England, the Apollo Theatre (Shaftesbury Avenue), in London, England, the Ambassadors Theatre in London, England, the Theatre Royal in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, the King's Theatre in Glasgow, Scotland, H M Tennent Ltd in association with CEMA, and director Norman Marshall. He also appeared in the stage productions of the plays, "Members's Only (1937), "The Unquiet Spirit" (1937), and "Oscar Wilde" (1937, and 1956), all at the Gate Studio Theatre in London, England. He also played the Nazi German Dictator Adolf Hitler (1889-1945), in a play for the British Broadcasting Corporation (or BBC), in 1958. During his impressive stage career, he also worked with the likes of Charles Hawtrey, Hermione Gingold, Richard Haydn, Kenneth Carten, Nicholas Phipps, Nadine March, Ann Morrison, Billy Milton, Gabrielle Brune, Catherine Lacey, Douglas Burbridge, Wallace Douglas, Stafford Byrne, Ann Morrison and Peter Scott, Robert Morley, John Bryning, Frith Banbury, Andrew Cruickshank and Harry Hutchinson, among many others. He was also a playwright and art critic whose other works include, "Adults Only," "The Lady From Baker Street," "The New Ambassadors Revue," "A Soldier For Christmas," "A Soldier For Friday," and "Boys In Brown," which were either turned into stage plays, films, or both. He also worked as a correspondent for the British Broadcasting Corporation (or BBC), during World War II in Italy. He made his actual film debut playing the role of 'The Rev. Nicodemus Athanasius Ignatius Brown' in the television film drama, "Doctor 'My Book'" (1938). The film which was produced by Moultrie Kelsall, written for the screen by Rudolph De Cordova and Alice Ramsey, and which also starred John Salew, Denis de Marney, Robert Eddison, George Hayes, Elaine Inescourt, Eve Shelley, and Vera Hurst, tells the story of Abernethy Biscuit, an inventor. Besides, playing the role of 'The Rev. Nicodemus Athanasius Ignatius Brown' in the television film drama, "Doctor 'My Book'" (1938), and playing the role of 'Kenniston' in the James Bond action adventure thriller film, "Thunderball" (1965), his many other film credits include, "Cornelius" (1938), "The Unquiet Spirit" (1939), "The Gate Revue" (1939), "A Voice In The Night" (1941), "In Which We Live: Being The Story Of A Suit Told By Itself" (1943), "The Man Is Mine" (1946), "A Word In Your Eye" (1947), "My Brother's Keeper" (1948), "The Rivals" (1948), "Scott Of The Antartic" (1948), "Miss Pilgrim's Progress" (1949), "The Body Said No!" (1950), "Mr. Drake's Duck" (1951), "Circle Of Danger" (1951), "Another Man's Poison" (1951), "Whispering Smith vs. Scotland Yard" (1951), "Brandy For The Parson" (1952), "You're Only Young Twice" (1952), "Penny Princess" (1952), "Without The Prince" (1952), "The Titfield Thunderbolt" (1953), "Genevieve" (1953), "Innocents In Paris" (1953), "Man With A Million" (1954), "Don't Blame The Stork" (1954), "The Runway Bus" (1954), "Fast And Loose" (1954), "Dance Little Lady" (1954), "Lease of Life" (1954), "The Men Of Sherwood Forest" (1954), "Aunt Clara" (1954), "The Lyons Abroad" (1955), "Break In The Circle" (1955), "They Can't Hang Up" (1955), "A Yank In Ermine" (1955), "Jumping For Joy" (1956), "The March Hare" (1956), "Charley Moon" (1956), "It's A Wonderful World" (1956), "A Touch Of The Sun" (1956), "The Ship Was Loaded" (1957), "Dangerous Youth" (1957), "Light Fingers" (1957), "Lucky Jim" (1957), "Curse Of The Demon" (1957), "Gentlemen At Twilight" (1958), "Up The Creek" (1958), "Law And Disorder" (1958), "Next To No Time" (1958), "The Horse's Mouth" (1958), "Mad Little Island" (1958), "The Captain's Table" (1959), "Medico" (1959), "The 39 Steps" (1959), "The Ugly Duckling" (1959), "Upstairs And Downstairs" (1959), "Friends And Neighbours" (1959), "Expresso Bongo" (1959), "The Navy Lark" (1959), "Desert Mice" (1959), "Bottoms Up" (1960), "Fred Emney Picks A Pop" (1960), "Doctor In Love" (1960), "Dentist In The Chair" (1960), "There Was A Crooked Man" (1960), "The Night We Got The Bird" (1961), "The Day The Earth Caught Fire" (1961), "Hair Of The Dog" (1962), "Night Of The Eagle" (1962), "The Prince And The Pauper" (1962), "The Girl On The Boat" (1962), "The Password Is Courage" (1962), "The King's Breakfast" (1963), " Just For Fun" (1963), "Sword Of Lancelot" (1963), "Doctor In Distress" (1963), "The V.I.P.s" (1963), "Kiss Me Kate" (1964), "Never Put It In Writing" (1964), "A Shot In The Dark" (1964), "The Yellow Rolls-Royce" (1964), "Gonks Go Best" (1964), "Mister Moses" (1965), "The Amorous Adventures Of Moll Flanders" (1965), "The Secret Of My Success" (1965), "The Big Job" (1965), and "Where The Spies Are" (1965). Besides, playing the role of 'Enderby' in the episode entitled, "The High Fence," of the classic television series, "The Saint," which originally aired on February 20, 1964, his many other television credits include, "London Playhouse," "ITV Play Of The Week," "The Scarlet Pimpernel," "BBC Sunday-Night Theatre," "Aggie," "The Errol Flynn Theatre," "Sailor Of Fortune," "Armchair Theatre," "Sword Of Freedom," "The Adventures Of Robin Hood," "Ivanhoe," "ITV Television Playhouse," "Hancock's Half Hour," "Glencannon," "Dixon Of Dock Green," "Theatre 70," "Knight Errant Limited," "BBC Sunday-Night Play," "The Magical World Of Disney," "Sir Francis Drake," "Saki," "Hancock," "The Dickie Henderson Show," "Maupassant," "The Sentimental Agent," and "Thursday Theatre." He continued to work until his unexpected death. His last role was playing in the comedy film, "How To Undress In Public Without Undue Embarrassment" (1965). The film which was directed by, which was produced by, and which was written for the screen by Compton Bennett, and which also starred Jon Pertwee, Christine Child, Leon Greene, and Zelma Malik, is a comic survey of methods of undressing through the ages, from Victorian modesty to modern strip clubs. He passed away from a sudden heart attack in Borne End, England, on June 26, 1965, at the age of 56. Following his death, he was cremated privately and his ashes were given to his surviving family members. He never married nor had any children. On his death, the film producer Val Guest (1911-2006), said of him, "His death has shocked us all and is a great loss to the movie industry. "He was a great character and a great actor."
Bio by: The Silent Forgotten
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