Edward Rigby
Edward Coke MC, known professionally as Edward Rigby, was a British character actor.
Early life
Rigby was born at Ashford, Kent, England, the second son of Dr William Harriott Coke and his wife, Mary Elizabeth. He was educated at Haileybury, and Wye Agricultural College. Under his real name, Edward Coke, he served in the Artists' Rifles and the Royal Field Artillery in World War I and was awarded the Military Cross, cited on 17 September 1917 "for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as artillery liaison officer. At a time when all communication with his artillery group was severed, he made repeated attempts to restore the connection, and personally crossed a river under heavy fire in his efforts to mend the cable and to lay fresh ones. He showed the greatest gallantry and disregard of danger throughout the operation, and only desisted from his efforts on receiving the direct order from his headquarters to do so."
In 1912, Rigby married Phyllis Muriel Mary Austin, a novelist. Their son, Cyril Edward Rigby Coke, a television director, married Muriel Young, an ITV announcer and TV presenter.
Stage and screen career
He made his first stage appearance in 1900 at the Grand Theatre in Fulham and later toured Australia, United States and Canada. He followed his first film appearance, the 1910 silent The Blue Bird, with roles in more than 150 films from 1933 to 1951.
Death
He collapsed after a heart attack in the street at Richmond upon Thames and when taken to Richmond upon Thames Hospital was found to be dead. He was cremated at Mortlake Crematorium on 11 April 1951.
Selected filmography
The Blue Bird – BreadLorna Doone – Reuben 'Uncle Ben' HuckabackWindfall – Sam SpoonerNo Limit – GrandfatherGay Old Dog – Tom BlissQueen of Hearts – PerkinsThis Green Hell – Dan FoyleLand Without Music – The MaestroCrime Over London – The Heirloom Mystery – Charles MarriottAccused – Alphonse de la RiveireIrish for Luck – Hon. Denis MaguireJump for Glory – SandersThe Show Goes On – Mr. Scowcroft, Sally's FatherThe Fatal Hour – CreadyUnder a Cloud – Jimmy ForbesMr. Smith Carries On – Mr. SmithYoung and Innocent – Old WillA Yank at Oxford – ScattersKicking the Moon Around – Prof. ScattleburyYellow Sands – Tom MajorThe Ware Case – Tommy BoldKeep Smiling – Silas GrayThe Four Just Men – There Ain't No Justice – Pa MutchPoison Pen – BadhamYoung Man's Fancy – GrayThe Stars Look Down – Robert FenwickThe Proud Valley – BertConvoy – Mr. MatthewsGirl in the News – Hospital Secretary Sailors Don't Care – Joe ClarkThe Farmer's Wife – Tom GurneyFingers – Sam BromleyMajor Barbara – Man on Quayside Kipps – BugginsThe Common Touch – 'Tich'Penn of Pennsylvania – BushellFlying Fortress – Dan Billings Let the People Sing – Timmy TivertonSalute John Citizen – Mr. BuntingWent the Day Well? – Bill PurvisGet Cracking – Sam ElliottThey Met in the Dark – ManselA Canterbury Tale – Jim HortonDon't Take It to Heart – ButlerI Live in Grosvenor Square – InnkeeperThe Agitator – Charlie BranfieldPerfect Strangers – CharlieMurder in Reverse – SpikeThe Years Between – PostmanQuiet Weekend – Sam PeckerPiccadilly Incident – JuddTemptation Harbour – TatemThe Courtneys of Curzon Street – Mr. R Green Fingers – Albert GoodmanThe Loves of Joanna Godden – StuppenyEasy Money – Teddy The Three Weird Sisters – WaldoDaybreak – Bill ShackleNoose – SlushIt's Hard to Be Good – ParkinsonAll Over the Town – GrimmettChristopher Columbus – PedroDon't Ever Leave Me – Harry DentonA Run for Your Money – BeefeaterRover and Me – Mr. MaggottPoet's Pub – Pageant watching villager The Happiest Days of Your Life – RainbowDouble Confession – The FishermanTony Draws a Horse – GrandpaWhat the Butler Saw – The EarlThe Mudlark – The Watchman Into the Blue – Bill, the SkipperCircle of Danger – Idwal Llewellyn