Donald Houston


Donald Daniel Houston was a Welsh actor whose first two films—The Blue Lagoon with Jean Simmons, and A Run for Your Money with Alec Guinness—were highly successful. Later in his career he was cast in military roles and in comedies such as the Doctor and Carry On series.

Early life

Houston was born in 10 Thomas Street, Tonypandy, on Tuesday 6 November 1923 in the village of Clydach Vale, near Tonypandy, Glamorgan and was the elder brother of actor Glyn Houston and a sister, Jean.
His father Alexander Houston, was a professional football player from Scotland, and his mother Elsie M Jones, ran a milk round. Following the death of their mother at age 29, Donald and brother Glyn Houston were raised by their grandmother while their father had to leave Wales in order to find work.
After leaving school he worked at a local colliery before deciding to start an acting career. In 1940 he performed on stage with the Pilgrim Players. He served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War as a rear gunner and radio officer.

Acting career

Houston had a successful career as a character actor in British film and television, with prominent parts in several well-known films, including Yangtse Incident, The Longest Day, 633 Squadron, Where Eagles Dare and The Sea Wolves. He would sometimes indulge his Welsh accent, and at other times conceal it behind an English public school voice. His forte tended to be authority figures, often military, such as the brilliant but tough David Caulder, the head of Moonbase 3, or Dr Francis in "Thirteen to Centaurus".
He could also handle comedy, as he proved with Doctor in the House and the later Doctor in Distress, both significant successes in Europe, and Carry On Jack. Though preferring quality parts, he was not above journeyman work in films such as Maniac and Tales That Witness Madness.

Death

He died on 13 October 1991, of a stroke.
The house in which he was born in Tonypandy, Rhondda is marked with a Blue Plaque historical marker. The unveiling ceremony was attended by Donald's daughter Sian, his granddaughter Michela, his sister Jean Rees and other family members and friends. Historian Peter Stead spoke about Donald Houston's British film career at the plaque unveiling ceremony.

Selected filmography

  • The Blue Lagoon as Michael Reynolds
  • A Run for Your Money as Dai
  • Dance Hall as Phil
  • Crow Hollow as Dr. Robert Amour
  • My Death Is a Mockery
  • The Red Beret as Taffy
  • The Large Rope as Tom Penney
  • Small Town Story as Tony Warren
  • Doctor in the House as Taffy Evans
  • The Happiness of Three Women as John
  • Devil's Point as Michael Mallard
  • The Flaw as John Millway
  • Doublecross as Albert Pascoe
  • Find the Lady as Bill
  • The Girl in the Picture as Jon Deering
  • Yangtse Incident as Lt Weston RN
  • The Surgeon's Knife as Dr. Alex Waring
  • A Question of Adultery as Mr. Jacobus
  • The Man Upstairs as Dr. Sanderson
  • Room at the Top as Charles Soames
  • Danger Within as Capt. Roger Byfold
  • The Mark as Austin
  • Twice Round the Daffodils as John Rhodes
  • The 300 Spartans as Hydarnes
  • The Longest Day as RAF Pilot
  • Maniac as Henri
  • Doctor in Distress as Maj. Tommy Ffrench
  • Carry On Jack as First Officer Jonathan Howett
  • 633 Squadron as Group Capt. Don Barrett
  • Danger Man Episode: 'The Mirror's New' - Edward Bierce
  • A Study in Terror as Doctor Watson
  • Gideon's Way Episode: 'Fall High, Fall Hard' - Tony Erickson
  • Out of the Unknown Episode: 'Thirteen to Centaurus' - Dr. Francis
  • The Viking Queen as Maelgan
  • Where Eagles Dare as Capt. Olaf Christiansen
  • The Bushbaby as John Leeds
  • My Lover My Son as Robert
  • Now Take My Wife as Harry Love
  • Tales That Witness Madness as Sam Patterson
  • Voyage of the Damned as Dr. Glauner
  • The Sea Wolves as Hilliard
  • Clash of the Titans as Acrisius