Glyn Houston
Glyndwr Desmond Houston was a Welsh actor best known for his television work. He was the younger brother of film actor Donald Houston.
Early life
Houston was born at 10 Thomas Street, Tonypandy, Glamorgan, Wales. He served in the army during the Second World War, and was briefly a stand-up comedian performing for soldiers during the war. He made his first film appearance in The Blue Lamp in 1950. In 1951 he appeared at the Duchess Theatre in London's West End in the comedy play The Happy Family by Michael Clayton Hutton.
Career
In the 1970s Houston played Lord Peter Wimsey's valet Bunter opposite Ian Carmichael in television adaptations of several of Dorothy Sayers tales. His performance was praised in The New York Times. Later, he had a role as a literary agent in the 1980s British sitcom Keep It in the Family. He appeared in a number of films including The Great Game.
Other credits included 'Peter Ridgway' in 'Colonel March of Scotland Yard' Episode 'The Stolen Crime', My Good Woman, A Horseman Riding By, Inspector Morse, It Ain't Half Hot Mum, Minder and Doomwatch, as well as the recurring character "Det Supt Jones" in Softly, Softly. He also appeared twice as different characters in Doctor Who — as "Professor Owen Watson" in The Hand of Fear and as "Colonel Ben Wolsey" in The Awakening. He also played Brother Cadfael in a 1979 BBC Radio 4 adaptation of One Corpse Too Many. Houston had over two hundred television and film credits, dating back as early as 1950. Houston won a BAFTA Cymru special award in April 2008.
A highlight of Houston's career was his appearance at the concert to celebrate the opening of the National Assembly for Wales in 1999 along with other actors such as Ioan Gruffudd and Harry Secombe.
Personal life
Houston was married to the actress and model Shirley Lawrence and had two children. In May 2000 he unveiled a Mining Memorial in his native Rhondda at the Rhondda Heritage Park. He led the tributes to the thousands of miners who died and suffered during 150 years of mining in the South Wales coalfield. He released an autobiography titled Glyn Houston, A Black and White Actor in December 2009. Houston died at the age of 93 on 30 June 2019.
Selected filmography
The Blue Lamp - Barrow Boy Waterfront - Sailor Trio - Ted The Clouded Yellow - Lancastrian Bus Conductor Home to Danger - Minor Role High Treason - Railway Shunter I Believe in You - Passerby Wide Boy - GeorgeThe Gift Horse - Assistant Engineer Girdle of Gold - Dai ThomasThe Great Game - Ned RutterThe Cruel Sea - PhillipsTurn the Key Softly - BobStryker of the Yard Hell Below Zero - BorgRiver Beat - Charlie WilliamsonThe Rainbow Jacket - The Sleeping Tiger - BaileyBetrayed - Paratrooper Corporal The Sea Shall Not Have Them - KnoxThe Happiness of Three Women - MorganPassage Home - Charley BoyLost - Bus Driver Private's Progress - Corporal on Sick Call Who Done It? - Arresting Policeman The Long Arm - Detective-Sergeant in 'Q' carHigh Flight - Controller LeucharsThe Birthday Present - Police Officer in Court The One That Got Away - Harry 'Hurricane' A Night to Remember - Stoker A Cry from the Streets - Police Sergeant Nowhere to Go - Box Office Clerk Tiger Bay - Detective at Police Station Breakout - Man in pub Jet Storm - MichaelsFour Desperate Men - Navy Rating Follow a Star - Fred Sink the Bismarck! - Seaman on 'Prince of Wales' The Battle of the Sexes - 2nd PorterCircus of Horrors - Carnival Barker There Was a Crooked Man - Smoking MachinistThe Bulldog Breed - Gym Instructor How Green Was My Valley - Davy MorganMill of Secrets - Douglas WallaceDeadline Midnight - Mike GrievesPayroll - Frank MooreThe Wind of Change - Det. Sgt. ParkerThe Green Helmet - Pit ManagerFlame in the Streets - Hugh DaviesEmergency - Inspector HarrisMix Me a Person - SamSolo for Sparrow - Inspector SparrowA Stitch in Time - Cpl. Welsh, St. John's Ambulance BrigadePanic - MikeOne Way Pendulum - Detective Inspector BarnesThe Secret of Blood Island - BerryThe Brigand of Kandahar - MarriottInvasion - Police Sergeant DraycottGideon's Way Episode: 'Fall High, Fall Hard' - Det. Sgt. Carmichael Headline Hunters - GreshamLove Thy Neighbour Episode 'The Opinion Poll' - Rev. Llewelyn-OwenAre You Being Served? - Cesar RodriguezA Horseman Riding By - John RuddBreakaway: A Family Affair - Chief Superintendent Bert Sinclair The Sea Wolves - PetersIf You Go Down in the Woods Today - Ticket CollectorConspiracy - William BrainOld Scores - Aneurin MorganThe Mystery of Edwin Drood - Grewgious