Jack Watson (14 May 1915 – 4 July 1999) was an English actor who appeared in many British films and television dramas from the 1950s onwards.
Early life Watson was born in Thorney, Cambridgeshire. He was the son of a Gaiety Girl, Barbara Hughes, and a music hall comedian, Nosmo King. Watson often appeared on stage with his father as straight man, where he was known simply as Hubert.
Military service During the Second World War Watson was a physical training instructor in the Royal Navy, and his impressive bearing and powerful physique was much in evidence in many of his subsequent screen roles.
Career During the war Watson was resident compère of the BBC radio comedy The Navy Mixture. After the war, his talent as an impersonator resulted in his becoming a regular on BBC radio programmes such as Take it from Here, Hancock's Half Hour and The Clitheroe Kid. He gradually made the transition to television, where his first major role was in Coronation Street, in which he became Elsie Tanner's (Pat Phoenix) first lover. Watson appeared in Coronation Street as Bill Gregory on and off between 1961 and 1984; his final episode in 1984 was also the final episode for Pat Phoenix who played his love interest Elsie Tanner in the series. He was one of the villains in the 1966 episode of The Avengers entitled "Silent Dust", chasing Diana Rigg on horseback with a whip. He also appeared as the publican in the 1967 episode of the same series entitled "The Living Dead". He appeared as a powerful but shell-shocked ex-soldier in Dr. Finlay's Casebook, in an episode entitled "Not Qualified" which formed part of the 8th series of the popular British programme. Probably his best-known television role was as Llud, Arthur's craggy sidekick in Arthur of the Britons. Other television roles included appearances in STV's Redgauntlet (1970) and BBC's The Changes (1975), that year also saw a memorable performance as a deceitful head ghillie in an episode of Upstairs Downstairs entitled "Will Ye No Come Back Again". His last major TV role was as the Labour MP James Godbolt in the award-winning Edge of Darkness (1985).
Watson appeared in over 70 films, including: On the Beat (1962) in which he played a police sergeant, Peeping Tom, This Sporting Life, Grand Prix, Tobruk, The McKenzie Break, The Devil's Brigade and The Wild Geese (1978), plus in the Music video of Intaferon - Steam Hammer Sam (published 1983).
Filmography +YearTitleRoleNotes1951Captain Horatio Hornblower Capt. Sylvester Uncredited1960Peeping TomChief Insp. GreggThe Man Who Was Nobody Police Inspector1961KongaSupt. BrownFate Takes a Hand BulldogThe Queen's GuardsSergeant Johnson1962Time to Remember Insp. BolamOn the Beat Police Sergeant1963Master SpyCapt. FosterFive to One Insp. DavisThis Sporting LifeLen Miller1964The GorgonRatoff1965The HillJock McGrathNight Caller from Outer SpaceSgt. Hawkins1966The Idol Police InspectorGrand Prix Jeff Jordan1967Tobruk Sgt. Maj. Tyne1968The Devil's Brigade Cpl. PeacockThe Strange Affair QuinceDecline and Fall... of a Birdwatcher Gallery Warder1970Every Home Should Have One McLaughlinThe McKenzie BreakGen. Kerr1971Kidnapped James Stewart1972Tower of Evil Hamp1974From Beyond the Grave Sir Michael SinclairSegment "The Door"11 Harrowhouse MillerJuggernaut Chief Engineer MallicentThe Four Musketeers Busigny1976SchizoWilliam Haskin1977The Purple Taxi Sean1978The Wild GeeseR.S.M. Sandy Young1980North Sea Hijack OlafsenThe Sea Wolves Maclean1982Tangiers Donovan
Television +YearTitleRoleNotes1960-1963The Edgar Wallace Mystery TheaterVarious3 episodes1961-1966Armchair Theatre1961-1984Coronation StreetBill Gregory23 episodes1962Zero One Episode: "Fly Away Peter"Man of the WorldInspector MeltonEpisode: "The Mindreader"1962-1965No Hiding Place"Lofty" Rogers/Smithson2 episodes1964Sergeant CorkSergeant JonesEpisode: "The Case of the Fourth Visitor"Festival StrengthEpisode: "Everyman"DetectiveCharlieEpisode: "The Hungry Spider"1964-1974Z-CarsVarious6 episodes1964-1970Dr. Finlay's CasebookWallace/James Dobbie2 episodes1965-1967The AvengersPhilip Juggins/Hopper1965-1970The Wednesday PlayStaff Pierson/Rev. BeaumontThe Troubleshooters Various3 episodes1968BBC Play of the MonthCaptain La HireEpisode: "St. Joan"1969-1970Take Three GirlsBarry Pond2 episodes1970HorizonBernard SpilsburyEpisode: "The Expert Witness"1970-1972The Main ChanceCharles Arkwright/Harry Selby3 episodes1970-1976Dixon of Dock GreenVarious4 episodes1971JusticeFrederick WatsonEpisode: "No Flowers, by Request"1972Please Sir!BarkerEpisode: "The Price War"Pretenders CornelliusEpisode: "Not a Live Thing Left"Comedy PlayhouseRSMEpisode: "The Dirtiest Soldier in the World"1972-1973Arthur of the BritonsLlud1973Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'EmGeorgeEpisode: "The Employment Exchange"1974-1978ITV PlayhouseKen2 episodes1975The Changes Peter4 episodesChurchill's PeopleJopEpisode: "The Wallace"The Hanged Man Douglas MacKinnonEpisode: "Chariot of Earth"The BrothersJack Cornish3 episodesUpstairs, DownstairsMcKayEpisode: "Will Ye No Come Back Again"1976The Georgian HouseEllisMiniseriesJackanoryStorytellerStory: "Cart and Cwidder"1976-1980The Onedin LineDr. Darling/Sir George Goldie2 episodes1977WarshipWalter PerrinEpisode: "A Matter of History"Mr. Big Head PorterEpisode: "The Sheiks"Treasure Island Billy Bones2 episodesWho Pays the Ferryman?William HebdenEpisode: "Some Talk of Alexander"1978KidnappedAndieEpisode: "The Prisoner"1978-1990All Creatures Great and Small Various3 episodes1980The Enigma FilesJack BlandyEpisode: "Investigation of a Copper"1981Into the Labyrinth Davy CrockettEpisode: "Alamo"Juliet BravoGerald TowneEpisode: "Barriers"Masada Decurion2 episodes1982King's Royal Judge1 episodeMarco Polo Old SailorEpisode 11982-1983West Country TalesNarratorSeason 21984DianaUncle Mark4 episodes1985Christopher Columbus Father MarchenaMiniseriesEdge of DarknessJames Godbolt4 episodes1986Dempsey and MakepeaceTerence HarrisEpisode: "Jericho Scam"CasualtyDI Potter3 episodesEverymanWilliam BrewsterEpisode: "New World"1987Miss Marple Mr. FosterEpisode: "Sleeping Murder"1990Little Sir NicholasRobinsonMiniseries1991Specials Percy1 episode1992Screen OneOld Man BlackEpisode: "Seconds Out"1994MinderHammerEpisode: "Bring Me the Head of Arthur Daley"Common As MuckVernonEpisode: "The Weekend"HeartbeatTom AbbotEpisode: "A Bird in the Hand"
Personal life Watson married Betty Garland, a BBC engineer, in 1943 and remained married until his death in 1999. They had two daughters and a son. He lived in Bath, England.
Death Watson died on 4 July 1999, aged 84, of blood cancer.
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