- Alan Wheatley
Infobox actor
name = Alan Wheatley
imagesize =
caption =
birthname =
birthdate = birth date|1907|04|19|df=y
birthplace =Tolworth ,Surrey
deathdate = dda|1991|08|30|1907|04|19|df=y
deathplace =Westminster ,London
othername =
occupation =Actor Alan Wheatley (19 April 1907 in
Tolworth ,Surrey - 30 August 1991) was a former radio announcer who turned to stage and screen acting in the 1930s and was much seen in British films, being a television actor during the black and white era.During the
Second World War , Wheatley left his job as an industrial psychologist to spend five years as aBBC radio announcer, before starting an acting career. The suave, debonair actor with the golden voice made his film debut in the 1936 movie "Conquest of the Air ", which was not released until four years later.He is probably best known for his role as
The Sheriff of Nottingham in the TV series "The Adventures of Robin Hood" in the 1950s, where he played the malevolent adversary toRichard Greene 's squeaky clean Robin Hood. Wheatley was the Sheriff in the first three series but only had a few appearances in the fourth and final series, his place being taken by a Deputy Sheriff played by John Arnatt. The programme which began in 1955, was one ofITV 's first adventure series, made with a view to getting a screening in America. It lasted for four years and 143 episodes, with Wheatley's character becoming one of those whom viewers loved to hate.He also had roles in "
Danger Man " and "The Avengers"; and was the first person killed by aDalek in an episode of "Doctor Who ", when he played Thal leader Temnosus in 1964. He was also an early Sherlock Holmes in a 1951 BBC TV series.His film credits include "Brighton Rock" (1947); "
Spaceways " (1953); "Caesar and Cleopatra "; "The Rake's Progress "; "Calling Paul Temple "; "Simon and Laura " and "A Jolly Bad Fellow " (1963) amongst others. He also appeared in "Inn for Trouble ", a big screen spin-off from the popular TV comedy series "The Larkins ".Wheatley also managed to appear in two versions of the thriller play "Rope" in 1950 and 1953.
As well as television and film, stage performances were dominant in his career and he could be seen to majestic effect in
Clifford Bax 's "The House of Borgia " in 1935, as well as taking the lead in "This Way to the Tomb " - performed in London and Paris. He also played the tormented soul, Harry, in "The Family Reunion ".This popular and well-respected actor died in
Westminster in 1991 [GRO Register of Deaths: SEP 1991 15 1514 WESTMINSTER - Alan Wheatley, DoB = 19 Apr 1907 aged 84] of a heart attack, at the age of 84.References
External links
*imdb name|id=0923664|name=Alan Wheatley
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