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Dinsdale Landen

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Dinsdale Landen
Born(1932-09-04)4 September 1932
Margate, Kent, England
Died29 December 2003(2003-12-29) (aged 71)
South Creake, Norfolk, England
Years active1959–1997
Spouse
​
(m. 1959)​

Dinsdale James Landen (4 September 1932 – 29 December 2003)[1] was an English actor. His television appearances included starring in the shows Devenish (1977) and Pig in the Middle (1980).[2] The Independent named him an "outstanding actor with the qualities of a true farceur."[3][4] He performed in many Shakespeare plays at Stratford-upon-Avon and Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.[1]

Early life

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Landen was born at Margate, Kent and educated at King's School, Rochester.[1]

Career

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Landen made his television debut in 1959 as the adult Pip in an adaptation of Great Expectations and made his film debut in 1960, with a walk-on part in The League of Gentlemen.[5][2]

During the 1960s, he starred in the TV series Mickey Dunne and The Mask of Janus, and its spinoff series The Spies.[4] In 1969, he starred as Chris Champers in the comedy series World in Ferment.[6] As a stage actor, he appeared as Richard Dazzle in the RSC's 1970 production of London Assurance.[7] He appeared in James Saunders's play Bodies in the West End in 1979, receiving a nomination for a Society of West End Theatre Award.[8]

His film roles include appearances in Operation Snatch (1962), A Jolly Bad Fellow (1964), Rasputin, the Mad Monk (1966), Mosquito Squadron (1969), Every Home Should Have One (1970), Young Winston (1972), Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World (1973), International Velvet (1978), Morons from Outer Space (1985)[1] and both The Buccaneers and The Steal in 1995.[2]

On radio, he appeared as General Bel Riose in the 1973 BBC Radio 4 adaptation of The Foundation Trilogy, as Dr. Watson in the 1974 adaptation of A Study in Scarlet, and Art Gordo in the 1976 adaptation of Jim Eldridge's novel Down Payment on Death.[9][10][11] He portrayed Rupert Purvis in the 1982 production of Tom Stoppard's play The Dog It Was That Died, and played the urbane Ambassador McKenzie in BBC Radio 4 series of Flying the Flag.[12][13]

Landen played Dr. Mark Thorn, Guardians officer and official psychiatrist, in Episode 6 of the 1971 London Weekend Television series, The Guardians.

Dinsdale Landen was the only actor to play the same character, private detective Matthew Earp, in two episodes of Thriller ("An Echo of Theresa" and "The Next Scream You Hear" from 1973 and 1974 respectively). He appeared in The Glittering Prizes (1976) as Gavin Pope.

In 1977, Landen starred in his own situation comedy, Devenish, playing a Basil Fawlty-type character in a Reggie Perrin-type situation, designing board games.[14] In 1980, he starred as Barty Wade in the television series Pig in the Middle with Liza Goddard.[15]

In 1984, Landen played Jean-Martin Charcot in the television series Freud.[16]

In 1987, he played the lead in a BBC TV production of What the Butler Saw, playing Dr Prentice in a production also featuring Prunella Scales, Timothy West and Bryan Pringle.[17]

In 1989, he made a guest appearance in Doctor Who as Dr. Judson, a wheelchair-using genius taken over by the titular villain of the serial The Curse of Fenric.[18]

In 1992, Landen provided the voice of the arch villain Mr. Tod in the BBC/Fuji Television children's animated series The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends.[19] He played a recurring role on Lovejoy, a mentor to the main character during the series run in the 1990s.

Personal life

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He was married to the actress Jennifer Daniel.[20] He and his wife wrote the 1985 nonfiction book The True Story of H.P. Sauce.[21]

Death

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Dinsdale Landen died at his home in South Creake, Norfolk, on 29 December 2003 after becoming ill with pneumonia. He had been diagnosed with oral cancer several years before his death, but was in remission at the time.[3][22]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1960 The League of Gentlemen Young Man in Gym Receiving Massage Film debut, uncredited
1962 The Valiant Norris
Operation Snatch Capt. Wellington
We Joined the Navy Bowles
1964 A Jolly Bad Fellow Fred
1966 Rasputin, the Mad Monk Peter
1967 Mickey Dunne (TV series, 13 episodes) Mickey
1969 Mosquito Squadron Wing Commander Clyde Penrose
1970 Every Home Should Have One Geoffrey Mellish
1972 Young Winston Capt. Weaver
1973 Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World Colonel Masters
1973–1974 Thriller Matthew Earp 2 episodes
1974 Rooms Ron
1975 Jackanory Storyteller
1978 International Velvet Mr Curtis
1984 Freud Charcot Miniseries
1985 Morons from Outer Space Commander Grenville Matteson
1989 Doctor Who Dr Judson Episode: The Curse of Fenric
1990 All Creatures Great and Small Stewie Brannan Episode: Food for Thought
1993–1994 Lovejoy Jim Leonard 2 episodes
1993–1995 The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends Mr Tod (voice) 2 episodes
1995 The Steal Sir Wilmot Final film

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Barker, Dennis (31 December 2003). "Dinsdale Landen". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  2. ^ a b c "Dinsdale Landen". bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 20 July 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Google Groups".
  4. ^ a b "Dinsdale Landen". aveleyman.com. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Great Expectations Part 8 (1959)". bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  6. ^ Bilbow, Marjorie (3 July 1969). "TELEVISION TODAY; Reviews: In a rare class of comedy show". The Stage and Television Today (4603): 12.
  7. ^ "Production of London Assurance". theatricalia.com.
  8. ^ "Olivier Winners 1979". olivierawards.com. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  9. ^ "BBC Radio 3: Isaac Asimov's The Foundation Trilogy : SFFaudio". sffaudio.com.
  10. ^ "A Study in Scarlet, Sherlock Holmes – BBC Radio 4 Extra". BBC.
  11. ^ "Family Announcements, Dinsdale Landen – Funeral Directors and services – Family Announcements Announcements". family-announcements.co.uk.
  12. ^ Hutchins, Michael H. "A Tom Stoppard Bibliography: Plays for Radio". sondheimguide.com.
  13. ^ "End of Term, Series 4, Flying the Flag – BBC Radio 4 Extra". BBC.
  14. ^ "Devenish (1977)". bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  15. ^ Guide, British Comedy. "Pig in the Middle". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  16. ^ "Freud Part 2 The Hypnotist (1984)". bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  17. ^ "What the Butler Saw (1987)". bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  18. ^ "The Curse of Fenric ★★★★". Radio Times. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
  19. ^ DataBase, The Big Cartoon. "The Tale of Mr. Tod (TVC London, Frederick Warne & Co., BBC...)". Big Cartoon DataBase (BCDB). Retrieved 22 September 2017.[dead link]
  20. ^ "Dinsdale Landen, actor". The Scotsman. January 2004. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  21. ^ "The True Story of H P Sauce". abebooks.co.uk. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  22. ^ "Dinsdale Landen obituary". The Stage. 13 January 2004. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
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