Andrew Cruickshank

Infobox actor
name = Andrew Cruickshank


imagesize =
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birthname = Andrew John Maxton Cruickshank
birthdate = birth date|1907|12|25|mf=y
location = Aberdeen, Scotland
deathdate = death date and age|1988|4|29|1907|12|25
deathplace = London, England
height =
othername =
homepage =
spouse = Curigwen Lewis

Andrew John Maxton Cruickshank (December 25 1907 Aberdeen, Scotland – April 29 1988 London, England) [ [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/824 Date of birth and death] : BFI.org website.] was a Scottish supporting actor, most famous for his portrayal of Dr Cameron in the long-running UK BBC television series, "Dr Finlay's Casebook", which ran for 191 episodes from 1962 until 1971. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/aboutus/wirelesstoweb/decades/clip_display.shtml?decade=60s&clip_name=dr_finlays_casebook&size=v&media_type=video Dr Finlay's Casebook] : BBC Scotland website.]

Life and career

Andrew Cruickshank (Junior) was born to Andrew and Mary Cruickshank, [http://www.filmreference.com/film/93/Andrew-Cruickshank.html Stage performances (1930-1987)] and other biography: "Filmreference.com" website.] and was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School. He was to have entered the profession of civil engineering after completing his education, but instead joined provincial repertory theatres, [ [http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/Cambridge/entries/026/Andrew-Cruickshank.html Education and early professional life] : "Crystal Reference Encyclopedia" website.] leading to 1930 roles in "Othello" at the Savoy Theatre in London, as Maudelyn in "Richard of Bordeaux" at the Empire Theatre on Broadway in 1934, [http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?id=36807 Roles on Broadway] , John Maudelyn ("Richard of Bordeaux"), Earl of Warwick ("Saint Joan"): IBDB.com website.] and culminating in his principal appearance (as three characters) on the London stage in 1935, at the Gate Theatre in the play "Victoria Regina". He returned to Broadway in 1951 until 1952, as the Earl of Warwick in George Bernard Shaw's play "Saint Joan", with Uta Hagen in the lead role.

His first film role followed in 1937, as the poet Robert Burns in "Auld Lang Syne". Subsequently, however, he would be typecast into portrayals of formal authority figures, such as judges and doctors. [ [http://www.fandango.com/andrewcruickshank/biographies/p15986 First film role] in "Auld Lang Syne" (1937): "Fandango.com" website.]

He appeared in many television plays and series, amongst them A. J. Cronin's "Dr Finlay's Casebook", containing his most famous characterisation, Doctor Angus Cameron, a crusty but erudite senior partner in the rural general practice run in Tannochbrae, with the help of the much younger Doctor Alan Finlay (Bill Simpson) and "stiff Presbyterian" housekeeper Janet (Barbara Mullen). [ [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/481822/ Dr Finlay's Casebook] , more detailed profile: British Film Institute's "Screenonline" website.] The highly popular BBC production ran from August 16 1962 until January 3 1971, after which Cruickshank continued with it on BBC Radio 4 for seven years, it having been adapted to that format since March 10 1970. He finally bade farewell to the character on December 18 1978, following its parting episode, "Going Home". [ [http://www.geocities.com/gregorym101/finlayradio.html "Finlay" radio episode listings] : from Ian Beard's personal website.]

His final performance on the stage was as Justice Treadwell in "Beyond Reasonable Doubt" at the Queen's Theatre in 1987. His last ever appearance of any kind was at the age of 80, in the first episode ("Kicks") [ [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/418899?view=cast His final role] , Mr Hodinett in "King & Castle", ITV, 1988: BFI.org website.] of series two of the ITV television production, "King & Castle", [http://www.tv.com/king-and-castle/kicks/episode/1066599/summary.html "King & Castle"] , ITV: TV.com website.] which starred Nigel Planer and Derek Martin as partners in a debt collection agency, and in which Cruickshank played "Mr Hodinett". It was aired on May 10 1988, just over a week after his death.

He had married Curigwen (nee Lewis) earlier in his life, and they had one son and two daughters during the marriage.

Memorial

He has been immortalised in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, by the naming of a road in his honour (Cruickshank Grove). [ [http://www.crownhill.org.uk/streetnames.shtml Cruickshank Grove] , the road named after him in Milton Keynes: "Crownhill.org.uk" website.]

elected filmography

*"Auld Lang Syne" (1937)
*"The Mark of Cain" (1947)
*"Your Witness" (1950)
*"The Cruel Sea" (1953)
*"Richard III" (1955)
*"The Battle of the River Plate" (1956)
*"The 39 Steps" (1959)
*"Kidnapped" (1960)
*"" (1961)
*"El Cid" (1961)
*"Murder Most Foul" (1964)

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0189972|name=Andrew Cruickshank
* [http://www.transdiffusion.org/emc/tvheroes/haldaneduncan/on_the_case.php Memories of Andrew Cruickshank] by Haldane Duncan, former "Emmerdale" director