Gordon Charles Rollings (17 April 1926 – 7 June 1985) was an English actor who mainly appeared on television, but also appeared on-stage, radio and in feature films.
Biography Early life Rollings was born in Batley, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England in 1926 and started his career in radio in Palestine. It was in Palestine while serving in the British Army during the Mandate that he was shot by a sniper of the Stern Gang. He later trained as a clown in Paris, appearing in the Medrano Circus.
Entertainment career Rollings made an uncredited screen appearance in the Beatles' film A Hard Day's Night. He played the man in the pub who is shocked to find that Ringo has thrown a dart into his lunch. Director Richard Lester later used him in both Superman films he directed: in the first, he plays a fisherman who is stunned to see General Zod walking on water and in the second, he appears as a pedestrian in a flat cap who upsets a display of toy penguins that triggers the slapstick chaos in the opening credits scene.
After a number of small parts in TV shows such as Z-Cars in the early 1960s, on 21 April 1964, he was the first presenter of BBC 2's daily programme for young children, Play School, alongside Virginia Stride. In the same year he played the character of Charlie Moffitt in Coronation Street. Between 1966 and 1967 Rollings appeared as a storyteller in ten episodes of the BBC children's television show Jackanory, reading amongst others, stories of Worzel Gummidge. (Rollings would later appear in a 1981 episode of the televised series of Worzel Gummidge). He later narrated The Herbs, and as the character Arkwright with his small dog, Tonto, in the adverts for John Smith's Bitter.
Filmography
Year Title Role Notes1961 A Weekend with Lulu Humper Uncredited1961 What a Whopper Constable Doone 1962 Captain Clegg Wurzel 1963Edgar Wallace Mysteries Walker Episode: 'Five to One (film)'1963 Just for Fun Party Official with radio 1964 The Comedy Man Skippy 1964 A Hard Day's Night Man with sandwich in pub Uncredited1966 Press for Time Bus conductor 1967 Carry On Doctor Night Porter 1968 Great Catherine Glaizer 1969 The Bed-Sitting Room Drip feed patient (as Gordon Rawlings)1969 Rhubarb Artist Rhubarb 1972 Something to Hide 2nd Man at Airport 1976 The Pink Panther Strikes Again Inmate 1977 Jabberwocky King's taster (as Gordon Rawlings)1980 Superman II Fisherman 1983 Superman III Man in cap (as Gordon Rawlings)1983 Fanny Hill Beggar 1983 The Sign of Four Mr. Sherman 1984 Bloodbath at the House of Death Man at bar 1984 Give My Regards to Broad Street Monster
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