Geoffrey Toone

Geoffrey Toone was an English actor and former matinee idol. He was born in Ireland to English parents. Most of his film roles after the 1930s were in supporting parts, usually as authority figures, though he did play the lead character in the Hammer Films production The Terror of the Tongs in 1961.

Early life

Born in Dublin, Ireland to English parents, he was educated at Charterhouse School and Christ's College, Cambridge. He served in the Royal Artillery during World War II, but was invalided out in 1942.

Career

Toone's notable appearances include:

As Sir Edward Ramsay in the musical film The King and I.
As retired boxer and pimp Denny Lipp in "Jeff", a noteworthy 1960 episode of the TV series The Westerner, produced, directed and co-written by Sam Peckinpah. The episode also featured in a small role Warren Oates, who became a Peckinpah stalwart.
The BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who:
* As Temmosus in the film of Dr. Who and the Daleks
* As Hepesh in the television story The Curse of Peladon in 1972.
In Freewheelers as the Nazi officer Karl von Gelb who continually tries to avenge Germany's World War II defeat.
As R. A. Crichton in "The Greasy Pole", a 1981 episode of Yes Minister.
As Lord Ridgemere, owner of the stately home where Delboy and Rodney dropped a chandelier in the Only Fools and Horses episode, "A Touch of Glass".
As Lord Bittlesham, a recurring character in the TV adaptation of P. G. Wodehouse's Jeeves and Wooster.

Personal life

For many years Toone shared a house with his close friend, the actor Frank Middlemass. "To their general amusement", they were often mistaken to be lovers, but in fact were not.

Death

Toone died from natural causes, aged 94, at Denville Hall in Northwood, London. At the time of his death, Toone was one of the last survivors of the Old Vic theatre company of the 1930s, having appeared alongside the likes of John Gielgud and Laurence Olivier in productions of Shakespeare. At the time, he was also the longest-lived actor to have appeared in Doctor Who.

Selected filmography

Queer Cargo .... Lieutenant StockenLuck of the Navy .... Commander Clive StantonNight Journey .... Johnny CarsonSword of Honour .... Bill BrownPoison Pen .... DavidAn Englishman's Home .... Peter TempletonHell Is Sold Out .... Swedish Consulate ClerkThe Woman's Angle .... Count CambiaThe Great Game .... Jack BannermanThe Man Between .... Martin MallisonAlfred Hitchcock Presents - Basil FarnhamCaptain Lightfoot .... Captain HoodDiane .... Duke of SavoyThe King and I .... Sir Edward RamseyJohnny Tremain .... Major PitcairnZero Hour! .... Dr. BairdMurder at Site 3 .... Sexton BlakeOnce More, with Feeling! .... Dr. Richard HilliardThe Entertainer .... Harold HubbardThe Terror of the Tongs .... Captain Jackson SaleCaptain Sindbad .... MoharEcho of Diana .... Colonel JustinDr. Crippen .... Mr. TobinBlaze of Glory .... RocheThe River Line .... JulianDr. Who and the Daleks .... TemmosusThe Scarlet Pimpernel .... Marquis de St. Cyr

The Stone Carriers .... Narrator