Hay Petrie
David Hay Petrie was a Scottish actor noted for playing eccentric characters, among them Quilp in The Old Curiosity Shop, the McLaggen in The Ghost Goes West and Uncle Pumblechook in Great Expectations.
Hay Petrie was born in Dundee, Angus, Scotland, the son of Jessie and David Mathew Petrie, a decorator. He went to Harris Academy and later attended St Andrew's University, where he first discovered the stage. In 1915, he joined the Royal Scots as a second lieutenant.
After the war, he studied with Rosina Filippi, joining the Old Vic Company appearing as "Starveling" in A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1920. In 1924 Albert de Courville brought Hay Petrie into vaudeville with The Looking Glass, in which he sang "Oh Shakespeare you're the best of all but you can't fill the fourteen shilling stall". His first film part was Many Waters in 1931. In 1928 he married Muriel Eleanor Gwendolen Stevens. During World War II he was an ARP warden.
Hay Petrie struggled with alcoholism, but was much loved by audiences and players. He was never more at home than when he was playing parts from the classical theatre, and for many he was the Shakespearean Clown of the early 1920s.
He died in London in July 1948, aged 53.
Filmography
Suspense as Scruffy Night Birds as ScottyMany Waters as DirectorCarmen as RemenadoHelp Yourself as Sam ShortThe Lucky Number as The PhotographerThe Private Life of Henry VIII as The King's Barber The Wandering Jew as Palermo Merchant Song of the Plough as FarmhandCrime on the Hill as JevonsRed Wagon as Minor Role Matinee Idol as Mr. ClappitColonel Blood as Mr. EdwardsThe Queen's Affair as RevolutionaryNell Gwynn as French Ambassador The Private Life of Don Juan as Golden Pheasant Manager Blind Justice as HarryThe Old Curiosity Shop as QuilpPeg of Old Drury as Mr. RichThe Loves of Madame Dubarry as CascalKoenigsmark as Professor Moscow Nights as SpyThe Ghost Goes West as The McLaggenInvitation to the Waltz as PeriteauForget Me Not as New York Theatre ManagerMen of Yesterday The House of the Spaniard as OrlandoHearts of Humanity as Alf HooperRembrandt as Jeweller Treachery on the High Seas as BrainieConquest of the Air as Tiberius CavalloSecret Lives as Robert PigeonKnight Without Armour as Station MasterThe Last Barricade as Captain MacTavishKeep Smiling as JackA Spot of Bother as McTavish the Golf Club Official Q Planes as Stage Door KeeperTrunk Crime as Old DanThe Four Feathers as Mahdi Interpreter Jamaica Inn as Sam - Sir Humphrey's GroomThe Spy in Black as EngineerInquest as Norman Neale K.C.21 Days as EvanContraband as Axel Skold/Erik SkoldCrimes at the Dark House as Dr. Isidor FoscoSpy for a Day as Mr. Britt.Pastor Hall as Nazi PastorTen Days in Paris as BenoitConvoy as Minesweeper SkipperThe Thief of Bagdad as AstrologerFreedom Radio as SebastianThe Ghost of St. Michael's as Procurator FiscalQuiet Wedding as Railway Porter Spellbound as Mr. CathcartTurned Out Nice Again as Drunk Cottage to Let as Dr. TruscottRush Hour as Bus Conductor This Was Paris as Popinard, Amusement Park OwnerOne of Our Aircraft Is Missing as The BurgomasterHard Steel as Mr. KissackThey Flew Alone as Old GeneralThose Kids from Town as Ted RobertsSabotage at Sea as Talkative sailor at tableThe Great Mr. Handel as PhineasEscape to Danger Schweik's New Adventures as Gestapo man at innThey Met in the Dark as Waiter The Shipbuilders as Worker in Pagan's Office Battle for Music as Official ReceiverOn Approval as HotelkeeperA Canterbury Tale as WoodcockKiss the Bride Goodbye as FraserFor You Alone as Sir Henry Markham Waltz Time as Minister of WarThe Voice Within as Fair OwnerNight Boat to Dublin as Station MasterUnder New Management as The BridegroomThe Laughing Lady as TomGreat Expectations as Uncle PumblechookThe Red Shoes as BoissonThe Dark Road The Fallen Idol as Clock WinderNoose as BarberThe Guinea Pig as PeckThe Monkey's Paw as Grimshaw, Curio ShopkeeperThe Queen of Spades as Herman's servant