Basil Dignam


Basil Dignam was an English character actor.
Basil Dignam was born in Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire. Before the acting, he tried many jobs, from a company clerk to a journalist. He acted on film and television between 1948 and 1978. He often appeared as an authority figure, such as Mr Justice Poynter in Crown Court, as a police officer, army general or peer. Television appearances include The Prisoner: Checkmate and The Champions, as Sir Frederick in episode 2 "The Invisible Man".

Personal life

He was married to actress Mona Washbourne from 1940 until his death in 1979. His brother Mark Dignam was also a professional actor. Basil Dignam died, aged 73, in Westminster, London.

Selected filmography

  • Maytime in Mayfair – Commissionaire
  • Smart Alec – Defending Counsel
  • Two on the Tiles – Ship's Captain
  • The Lady with a Lamp
  • Appointment with Venus – R.A.M.C. Captain
  • His Excellency – Security Officer
  • Hammer the Toff – Superintendent
  • There Was a Young Lady
  • Carrington V.C.
  • The Quatermass Xperiment – Sir Lionel Dean
  • They Can't Hang Me – Wing Commander Riddle
  • Touch and Go – Stevens
  • The Narrowing Circle – George Pacey
  • Private's Progress – Col. Martin
  • Port of Escape – Det. Insp. Crawford
  • The Intimate Stranger – Dr. Gray
  • Reach for the Sky – Air Ministry Doctor
  • The Weapon –
  • The Counterfeit Plan – Police Commissioner
  • You Pay Your Money – Currie
  • Brothers in Law – Mr. Justice Emery
  • Yangtse Incident: The Story of H.M.S. Amethyst – Sir Lionel Henry Lamb, British Ambassador at Nanking
  • Man in the Shadow – Bit Part
  • Three Sundays to Live – Davitt
  • The Depraved – Tom Wilton
  • Son of a Stranger – Dr. Delaney
  • The Safecracker – Air Vice Marshal
  • Them Nice Americans – Inspector Adams
  • Innocent Sinners – Mr. Dyson – Olivia's Solicitor
  • Up the Creek – Coombes
  • The Spaniard's Curse – Guy Stevenson
  • A Cry from the Streets – Police Inspector
  • Carry On Sergeant – Third Specialist
  • Further Up the Creek – Flagship Commander
  • I Only Arsked! –
  • Corridors of Blood – Chairman
  • Room at the Top – Priest
  • Carlton-Browne of the F.O. – Security Officer
  • Sapphire – Doctor Burgess
  • I'm All Right Jack – Minister of Labour
  • A Touch of Larceny – Lt. Cmdr. Evans at P.R.O.
  • The Spider's Web – Hugo
  • Suspect – Dr Childs
  • The Pure Hell of St Trinian's – Army Officer
  • Sentenced for Life – Ralph Thompson
  • Gorgo – Admiral Brooks
  • The Secret Partner – Lyle
  • The Fourth Square - Inspector Forbes
  • The Court Martial of Major Keller – Morrell
  • Fate Takes a Hand – Wheeler
  • Life for Ruth – Lawyer Mapleton
  • Lawrence of Arabia – Cavalry General at Field Briefing
  • Seven Seas to Calais – Sir Francis Walsingham
  • Master Spy – Richard Horton
  • Heavens Above! – Prison Governor
  • 80,000 Suspects – Medical Officer Boswell
  • Ring of Spies – 2nd Member at Lord's
  • Joey Boy – General
  • The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders – Lawyer
  • Rotten to the Core – The General
  • Where the Spies Are – Major Harding
  • Naked Evil – Jim Benson
  • The Jokers – Bank Manager
  • Cuckoo Patrol – Snodgrass
  • I'll Never Forget What's'isname
  • Assignment K – Howlett
  • Twisted Nerve – Doctor
  • Laughter in the Dark – Dealer
  • Battle of Britain – Tactical Records Officer
  • The Great White Hope – English Official
  • 10 Rillington Place – Medical Board
  • Persuasion - Sir Walter Elliot
  • A Lizard in a Woman's Skin – The Commissioner
  • Young Winston – Joseph Chamberlain
  • Soft Beds, Hard Battles – Brigadier
  • Edward the Seventh - Prime Minister Asquith