Anthony Dawson

Anthony Douglas Gillon Dawson was a Scottish actor, best known for his supporting roles as villains in films such as Alfred Hitchcock's Dial M for Murder and Midnight Lace, and playing Professor Dent in the James Bond film Dr. No. He also appeared as Ernst Stavro Blofeld in From Russia with Love and Thunderball.

Fandom jamesbond:Anthony_Dawson

Life

Dawson was born in Edinburgh, the son of Ida Violet and Eric Francis Dawson.

Career

Following Royal Academy of Dramatic Art training and World War II service, he made his film debut in 1943's They Met in the Dark. He went on to appear in such classic British films as The Way to the Stars, The Queen of Spades and The Wooden Horse, before moving to America in the early 1950s.
It was while there that he appeared on Broadway in the play, and then the subsequent Alfred Hitchcock film of Dial M for Murder, playing C. A. Swann/Captain Lesgate. In the film, he is blackmailed by Tony Wendice into murdering his wife Margot. In his unpublished memoirs, Rambling Recollections, Dawson reminisced about getting the part:
He had two other memorable roles on his return to Britain, including the evil Marques Siniestro in Hammer's The Curse of the Werewolf and henchman Professor Dent in the first James Bond film, Dr. No.
Throughout his career he could often be found in the films of director Terence Young, including the aforementioned Dr. No, They Were Not Divided, Valley of Eagles, The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders, Triple Cross, Red Sun, Inchon and The Jigsaw Man. Young also cast him as the physical presence of Ernst Stavro Blofeld in his Bond films From Russia with Love and Thunderball, stroking the ubiquitous white cat. His face was never seen, however, and Blofeld's voice was provided by Eric Pohlmann. Dawson appeared alongside fellow Bond veterans Adolfo Celi, Lois Maxwell and Bernard Lee in the Italian Bond knockoff O.K. Connery.
After the early 1960s, his roles got progressively smaller, but he continued to act until his death.

Death

He died in East Sussex of cancer at the age of 75 in January 1992.

Selected filmography

Charley's (Big-Hearted) Aunt – Student They Met in the Dark – 2nd Code ExpertThe Way to the Stars – Bertie SteenBeware of Pity – Lieutenant BlannikSchool for Secrets – Flight Lieutenant NortonThe Queen of Spades – FyodorThey Were Not Divided – MichaelThe Wooden Horse – PomfretThe Woman in Question – Inspector Wilson I'll Get You for This – Secret Agent The Long Dark Hall – The ManValley of Eagles – Sven NystromDial M for Murder – C. J. Swann / Captain LesgateThat Lady – Don Inigo The Buccaneers - Captain Flask Hour of Decision – Gary BaxAlfred Hitchcock Presents - Count Victor MattoniAction of the Tiger – Security OfficerThe Haunted Strangler – Superintendent BurkTiger Bay – BarclayLibel – Gerald LoddonMidnight Lace – Roy AshOffbeat – James DawsonThe Curse of the Werewolf – The Marques SiniestroDr. No – Professor R.J. DentSeven Seas to Calais – Lord BurleighFrom Russia with Love – Ernst Stavro Blofeld The Yellow Rolls-Royce – Mickey Change Partners – Ben ArkwrightThe Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders – Officer of DragoonsThunderball – Ernst Stavro Blofeld Triple Cross – Major StillmanKaleidoscope – Tony Anderson Death Rides a Horse – Burt CavanaughYour Turn to Die – Dr. EvansDirty Heroes – American ColonelOperation Kid Brother – AlphaThe Rover – Captain VincentHell Is Empty – Paul GrantA Sky Full of Stars for a Roof – Samuel PrattBattle of Neretva – General MorelliRosolino Paternò, soldato... – Italian GeneralDeadlock – Anthony SunshineRed Sun – HyattThe Valachi Papers – Federal InvestigatorThe Big Game – Burton Massacre in Rome – Wilhelm HarsterThe Count of Monte Cristo – Noirtier De VillefortInchon – General CollinsThe Jigsaw Man – VicarWhere is Parsifal – RipplePirates – Spanish OfficerGhoulies II – PriestRun for Your Life – Colonel MoorcroftThe Gamblers – Roy