Hugh Morton (28 June 1903 – 11 July 1984) was an English actor, best known for his work on BBC Radio for which he made more than 3,000 broadcasts, beginning in the 1920s. His career spanned more than sixty years and also included theatre, cinema and television.
Life and career
Morton was born in Ivybridge, Devon, the son of a naval officer. The family was from the upper classes; its members included Morton's first cousin, Anthony Eden, who became British prime minister in the 1950s. Morton was educated at Haileybury and Queens' College, Cambridge, studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and secured his first professional engagement in a touring company run by Violet and Irene Vanbrugh.
According to Morton's obituary in The Times, his cinema career began in the days of silent films. He was frequently cast in supporting roles as judges, bank managers or butlers. On stage he took over the role of Captain Hook in Peter Pan from Alastair Sim and appeared with Arthur Askey in a long-running comedy, The Love Racket. On radio he was the first actor to play the title role in the long-running Paul Temple series, and a regular member of the team of It's That Man Again, Life with the Lyons and Hancock's Half Hour. In these and other programmes he made more than 3,000 broadcasts. Character roles on television included the Bishop in the 1978 Wodehouse Playhouse episode 'The Smile that Wins'.
Morton married the broadcaster Monica Strachey in 1938."Hugh Morton", The Daily Express, 22 November 1938, p. 5 He died in London at the age of 81.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1943 Deadlock Arkell 1946 Gaiety George King (on stage) Uncredited1949 Golden Arrow Perdrelli 1950 Portrait of Clare Ernest Mayhew 1951 Mr. Denning Drives North Inspector Snell 1952 The Floating Dutchman Inspector Cathie 1953 Decameron Nights King 1954 The Diamond Mr. Pritchard Uncredited1954 Life with the Lyons Mr. Hemingway 1954 Dangerous Voyage Inquiry Chairman 1955 The Lyons in Paris Col. Price 1955 Where There's a Will Lawyer Arscott 1955 Man of the Moment Mitchell 1956 Lost Doctor Fairfax Uncredited1956 Guilty? a.k.a. Je plaide non coupable Rumbold Senior 1956 The Big Money Valet 1957 Rogue's Yarn Doctor 1958 Bachelor of Hearts Lecturer 1961 Payroll Mr. John 1961 Three on a Spree Grant 1963 Master Spy Sir Gilbert Saunders 1964 The Masque of the Red Death Uncredited1967 Quatermass and the Pit Elderly Journalist 1972 The Darwin Adventure Josiah Wedgewood 1975 Section spéciale L'amiral William Leahy, l'ambassadeur des États-Unis 1978 The Stud Staton Uncredited1981Lady KillersMr. Justice Shearman1984 Oxford Blues Stanley the Butler
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