John Edward Cater (17 January 1932 – 21 March 2009) was an English actor.
Early life John Edward Cater was born 17 January 1932 in Hendon, north London. His mother was a performer and a violinist who performed with the famous music hall troupe, The Pierinos. His father, like his grandfather, was a florist in Hendon. They came from a long line of gardeners who worked at Ickworth Park in Suffolk.
Cater was just four years old when he enrolled in dance school. This early training formed the foundation for a lifetime of physical performance. Cater went on to train at RADA alongside Joe Orton, Joan Collins, Peter O’Toole and Albert Finney.
Cater made his professional acting debut with the Dundee Repertory Theatre after graduating from RADA. He was hired by his friend, the actor Herbert Wise. For the next several years, Cater acted in repertory theatre and summer stock in Aberdeen, Cork, Edinburgh, Guildford, and Nottingham. In 1961, he joined Peter Hall's newly-formed Royal Shakespeare Company first London RSC at the Aldwych Theatre. He made his debut with the RSC (and on the West End) in The Duchess of Malfi.
It was there that he met, and later married, fellow RSC actor Wendy Gifford. Wendy, born in County Durham as Wendy Thompson, took her mother’s Irish family name of Gifford as her stage name. Wendy Gifford was nominated for Best Stage Actress for her portrayal of Linda Loman in Death of a Salesman.
John and Wendy have two daughters. Their eldest daughter is the actress Emma Cater, married to RSC and film/ tv actor Simon Thorp. Their daughter is the actress and writer Tilly Thorp. John’s youngest daughter Harriet was also an actress and singer with the pop band Mamarazzi.
Cater’s television credits include: Danger Man; Z-Cars; The Avengers; The Baron; Doctor Who; Follyfoot; Softly, Softly; Department S; Up Pompeii!; Dad's Army; The Naked Civil Servant; I, Claudius; Alcock and Gander; The Duchess of Duke Street; Thriller (1975), The Sweeney; Inspector Morse; Bergerac; One Foot in the Grave; Lovejoy; Jeeves and Wooster; Midsomer Murders and Doctors.
His film appearances include: The Abominable Dr. Phibes, Dr. Phibes Rises Again and Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter.
Death Late in life, Cater's haemochromatosis led to severe arthritis, which significantly inhibited his acting career.
John Cater died of liver cancer on 21 March 2009. He was survived by his wife, Wendy, and his daughters Emma and Harriet.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1966 Alfie Siddie's Husband Uncredited1968 Decline and Fall... of a Birdwatcher Blackall 1970 Loot Meadows 1971 The Abominable Dr. Phibes Superintendent Waverley 1972 Dr. Phibes Rises Again 1974 Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter Grost 1978 News from Nowhere Richard Grosvenor 1980 Rising Damp Bert 1980 Little Lord Fauntleroy Thomas 1995 Savage Hearts Bernie 2002 Fogbound Older man 2005 The Trial of the King Killers Mr. Beaver 2005 Room 36 Bert 2006 Alien Autopsy Maurice
Television Year Title Role Notes1966 Doctor Who Professor Krimpton Serial: "The War Machines" Take a Pair of Private Eyes Lyall Sankey 2 episodes1967 The Avengers Olliphant Episode: "The Living Dead"1970 Dad's Army George Clarke Episode: "The Two and a Half Feathers"1972 Alcock and Gander Ernest 6 episodes1973 Seven of One Horace Episode: "Spanner's Eleven"1976-1977 The Duchess of Duke Street Joseph Starr 24 episodes1975 Thriller Murchison Episode: "If it's a Man, Hang Up". The Secret Agent The Professor TV movie Madame Bovary Lheureux 3 episodes The Naked Civil Servant Psychiatrist TV movie1976 Nobody's House Mr Jacobs Episode: "There's Nobody There"1976 I, Claudius Tiberius Claudius Narcissus 3 episodes1978 The Sweeney Alec Slemen Episode: "Money, Money, Money"1978-1981 Rosie Merv 5 episodes1979 Leave it to Charlie Bert Episode: "Moonlight Becomes You" The Glums Burglar 1 episode1980-1981 The Other 'Arf George Watts 14 episodes1982 Anyone for Denis? Maurice Picarda TV movie1983 Jack of Diamonds Foxwell 5 episodes1987 Theatre Night Uncle Titus Dudgeon Episode: "The Devil's Disciple" Still Crazy Like a Fox Rockhill TV movie1989 The Woman in Black Arnold Pepperell 1991 Prisoner of Honor New War Minister 1993 Full Stretch Doorman Episode: "Ivory Tower" Maigret Porter Episode: "Maigret on the Defensive"1998 Goodnight Mister Tom Dr. Little TV movie2004 Chucklevision Maurice 2005 Bad Girls Solicitor 1 episode
References
External links
Obituary in The Guardian John Cater (Aveleyman.com)