Oliver Johnston (actor)

Oliver Griffen Johnston (30 April 1888 – 22 December 1966) was an English actor. After training at RADA, his theatre work included the original production of The Barretts of Wimpole Street at Malvern (1930) and its subsequent West End transfer (1930-1932).[1][2][3] Johnston started his film career in 1938, when he was already 50 years old.[4] Working until shortly before his death, he appeared in nearly 90 film and television productions, where he often portrayed meek or mild-mannered types in supporting roles.[5]

Oliver Johnston
Publicity still, 1960
Born	Oliver Griffen Johnston 30 April 1888 Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England
Died	22 December 1966 (aged 78) Westminster, London, England
Years active	1938–1966

Johnston had a rather unremarkable film acting career until he was nearly 70 years, when he was discovered by Charlie Chaplin.[1] He is perhaps best-remembered for his role in Chaplin's A King in New York (1957), where he played a large supporting role as the "faithful ambassador and solemn-serious straight man" to Chaplin's King.[6] Afterwards he got more acting offers, including the literature adaption Kidnapped (1960) and fantasy/horror pictures like The Three Lives of Thomasina (1963), The Tomb of Ligeia (1964) and It! (1967).[4]

One of his last roles, released after his death in December 1966 at age 78, was in Chaplin's last film A Countess from Hong Kong (1967).[7] Here Johnston portrayed an old British businessman in Hong Kong, who introduces the leading characters of Marlon Brando and Sophia Loren to each other in the opening scenes.

Filmography (selection)

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1938	Kate Plus Ten	Cunningham
1939	Stolen Life	Prof. Bardesley
1953	The Good Beginning	Owen	Uncredited
1954	Dangerous Voyage	Dr. Waverley
1954	Tale of Three Women	Butler	(segment "Wedding Gift")
1955	Room in the House
1957	The Hypnotist	Doctor Kenyon
1957	You Can't Escape		Uncredited
1957	A King in New York	Ambassador Jaume
1958	Indiscreet	Mr. Finleigh	Uncredited
1958	The Son of Robin Hood	Apothecary
1958	Nowhere to Go	Mr. Hopkins	Uncredited
1959	Beyond This Place	Prusty
1959	The Night We Dropped a Clanger	Air Commodore Turner
1960	A Touch of Larceny	Minister
1960	Kidnapped	Mr. Campbell
1960	The 3 Worlds of Gulliver	Mr. Grinch	Uncredited
1961	Francis of Assisi	Father Livoni
1961	Raising the Wind	Prof. Parkin
1962	Backfire!	Bernard Curzon	Edgar Wallace Mysteries
1963	The Fast Lady	Bulmer
1963	Island of Love	Prof. Krumwitz
1963	Dr. Crippen	Lord Chief Justice
1963	The Three Lives of Thomasina	Mr. Dobbie
1964	The Tomb of Ligeia	Kenrick
1965	You Must Be Joking!	Angry Tweedles Club Member	Uncredited
1967	A Countess from Hong Kong	Clark
1967	It!	Curator Trimingham	(final film role)

References

1. Name, Your Museum. "A King in New York : Oliver Johnston - ECCI00010328". www.charliechaplinarchive.org.
2. "Production of The Barretts of Wimpole Street | Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
3. Wearing, J. P. (15 May 2014). The London Stage 1930-1939: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780810893047 – via Google Books.
4. "Oliver Johnston". BFI.
5. "Oliver Johnston". IMDb.
6. Kenneth Lynn: Charlie Chaplin and His Times, page 500
7. "A Countess from Hong Kong (1967) - Charlie Chaplin | Cast and Crew". AllMovie.

External links

• Oliver Johnston at IMDb