George Arthur Woodbridge (16 February 1907 – 31 March 1973) was an English actor who appeared in films, television, and theatre ranging from the 1930s to the 1970s. Woodbridge's ruddy-cheeked complexion and West Country accent meant he often played publicans, policemen or yokels, most prominently in horror and comedy films alongside Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.
Early life Woodbridge was born in Exeter, England.McFarlane, Brian (28 February 2014). The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition. Oxford University Press. p. 839; Raised in Devon, he lived there most of his life. He died in London in 1973.
Career
Woodbridge became a Chief Steward in the Merchant Navy before becoming an actor, first appearing on the London stage in 1928. He made his film debut in 1940 in The Big Blockade, he went on to appear in films such as Green for Danger (1946), The Fallen Idol (1948), The Queen of Spades (1949), Stryker of the Yard (1953), An Inspector Calls (1954), and Richard III (1955).
His horror film roles include the innkeeper in Dracula (1958) and its sequel Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966), as well as parts in The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958), Jack the Ripper (1959), The Flesh and the Fiends (1959), The Curse of the Werewolf (1961), The Reptile (1966) and Doomwatch (1972). He also appeared in two M.R. James adaptations on television, in the Mystery and Imagination episode "Room 13" and the 1968 Omnibus episode, "Whistle and I'll Come to You".
His jovial manner lent itself to comedy films as well, including An Alligator Named Daisy (1955), Three Men in a Boat (1956), Two-Way Stretch (1960), Raising the Wind (1961), What a Carve Up! (1961), Only Two Can Play (1962), Nurse on Wheels (1963), Heavens Above! (1963), Carry On Jack (1963), Take a Girl Like You (1970), All the Way Up (1970), and Up Pompeii (1971).
He also appeared as the sergeant in the Stryker of the Yard featurettes during the 1950s.
He first appeared on television before the Second World War, and went on to appear in Jude the Obscure (1971), Adam Adamant Lives!, Armchair Theatre, Benny Hill, Dixon of Dock Green, The Forsyte Saga, The Persuaders! and Softly Softly.
He gained popularity late in his career as the titular puppet-maker in the children's TV show Inigo Pipkin. He died five weeks into the filming of the second series, an occurrence which was dealt with in the programme's storyline. The series continued for another seven years however under the title, Pipkins. Selected filmography
Tower of Terror (1941) - Gruppenfuhrer Rudolf Jurgens The Black Sheep of Whitehall (1942) - Male Nurse The Big Blockade (1942) - Quisling The Day Will Dawn (1942) - Journalist Sitting at Bar in Pub (uncredited) The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943) - Man with Debris Clearing Unit (uncredited) Escape to Danger (1943) - (uncredited) I See a Dark Stranger (1946) - Walter Temptation Harbour (1947) - Frost Green for Danger (1947) - Det.-Sgt. Hendricks The October Man (1947) - Grey Blanche Fury (1948) - Aimes Escape (1948) - Farmer Browning (uncredited) My Brother Jonathan (1948) - Stevens The Red Shoes (1948) - Doorman - Covent Garden (uncredited) The Fallen Idol (1948) - Police Sergeant Silent Dust (1949) - Foreman The Queen of Spades (1949) - Vassili Children of Chance (1949) - Butcher Double Confession (1950) - Sgt. Sawnton The Black Rose (1950) - Warder (uncredited) The Naked Heart (1950) - Samuel Chapdelaine Murder in the Cathedral (1951) - 2nd Tempter Cloudburst (1951) - Sergeant Ritchie The Crimson Pirate (1952) - Pirate (uncredited) The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan (1953) - Reporter The Flanagan Boy (1953) - Police Inspector (uncredited) Stryker of the Yard (1953) - Sgt. Hawker An Inspector Calls (1954) - Fish & Chip Shop Owner Conflict of Wings (1954) - 'Old Circular' For Better, for Worse (1954) - Alf The Crowded Day (1954) - Mr. Bunting's Friend Third Party Risk (1954) - Inspector Goldfinch Isn't Life Wonderful! (1954) - Cockie The Green Carnation (1954) - Farmer Mad About Men (1954) - Fisherman Outside Pub (uncredited) Companions in Crime (1954) - Sergeant Hawker Passage Home (1955) - Yorkie The Constant Husband (1955) - Old Bailey Warder (uncredited) Richard III (1955) - Lord Mayor of London An Alligator Named Daisy (1955) - PC Jorkins (uncredited) A Yank in Ermine (1955) - Landlord Lost (1956) - Mr. Carter, garage proprietor/taxi driver (uncredited) Now and Forever (1956) - Policeman Charlie (uncredited) Eyewitness (1956) - Hospital Security Man Three Men in a Boat (1956) - Policeman The Passionate Stranger (1957) - 1st Landlord The Good Companions (1957) - Ripe Gentleman A King in New York (1957) - Member of Atomic Commission High Flight (1957) - Farmer A Tale of Two Cities (1958) - Dover Innkeeper (uncredited) Dracula (1958) - Landlord The Moonraker (1958) - Captain Lowry The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958) - Janitor The Son of Robin Hood (1958) - Little John Breakout (1959) - Landlord (uncredited) Jack the Ripper (1959) - Blake The Siege of Pinchgut (1959) - Newspaper Editor (uncredited) The Mummy (1959) - Police Constable Two-Way Stretch (1960) - Chief P.O. Jenkins The Flesh and the Fiends (1960) - Dr. Ferguson The Curse of the Werewolf (1961) - Dominique Raising the Wind (1961) - Yorkshire Orchestra Leader What a Carve Up! (1961) - Dr. Edward Broughton Only Two Can Play (1962) - Farmer (uncredited) The Iron Maiden (1962) - Mr. Ludge Nurse on Wheels (1963) - Mr. Beacon Heavens Above! (1963) - Bishop The Scarlet Blade (1963) - Town Crier (uncredited) Carry On Jack (1963) - Ned The Secret of My Success (1965) - Pub Regular (uncredited) Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966) - Landlord Take a Girl Like You (1969) - Harry - Publican Where's Jack? (1969) - Hangman All the Way Up (1970) - Landlord Up Pompeii (1971) - Fat Bather Doomwatch (1972) - Ferry Skipper Diamonds on Wheels (1973) - PC Andrew
References
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