Laurence Naismith
Laurence Naismith was an English actor. He made numerous film and television appearances, including starring roles in the musical films Scrooge and the children's ghost film The Amazing Mr. Blunden. He also had memorable roles as Captain Edward Smith of the RMS Titanic in A Night to Remember, the First Sea Lord in Sink the Bismarck!, and Argus in Jason and the Argonauts.
Early life and career
Naismith was born as Lawrence Johnson on 14 December 1908 in Thames Ditton, Surrey. He attended All Saints Choir School, Margaret Street, London, and was a chorus member for a 1927 production of the George Gershwin musical Oh, Kay!. He later worked in repertory theatre and ran a repertory company of his own. Naismith served in the British Merchant Navy and at the outbreak of the Second World War, he joined the British Army where he became an officer in the Royal Artillery.
Film
His film roles included Carrington V.C., Richard III, The Man Who Never Was, A Night to Remember, Sink the Bismarck!, The World of Suzie Wong and Jason and the Argonauts. He played the non-singing role of Merlin in the 1967 film version of the musical Camelot and appeared in the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever as the chairman of the diamond trading syndicate.
Television
In 1965, Naismith played the title role of the Virginia statesman George Mason in the NBC documentary series, Profiles in Courage. William Bakewell played George Wythe in the episode, and Arthur Franz was cast as James Madison. In 1965, Naismith guest-starred as barber Gilly Bright in episode 25, "The Threat" of the ABC military drama, 12 O'Clock High and Dr. McCallister in the ABC action drama, The Fugitive, starring David Janssen. In 1969 he played Don Q Hought in an episode of Bonanza. He played Judge Fulton in the television series The Persuaders!, with Tony Curtis and Roger Moore. He portrayed Emperor of Austria Franz Joseph in the BBC production Fall of Eagles. Naismith played the Prince of Verona in the BBC Television Shakespeare version of Romeo and Juliet. He also appeared in the BBC sitcom Oh, Father! and played in The Invaders with Roy Thinnes.
Stage
In 1934, he appeared alongside Jack Buchanan in the musical Mr. Whittington in London's West End. In 1952 he appeared at the Vaudeville Theatre in Sweet Madness by Peter Jones. On Broadway he performed in the Meredith Willson musical Here's Love in 1963, with Janis Paige.
Filmography
A Piece of Cake as Merlin Mound Trouble in the Air as Tom HuntBadger's Green as Mr. ButlerKind Hearts and Coronets as Warder in Jail Train of Events as Joe Hunt The Chiltern Hundreds as Reporter Room to Let as EditorThe Happiest Days of Your Life as Dr. ColletPool of London as Commissionaire Hell is Sold Out as Dr. MonceauThere Is Another Sun as RileyChelsea Story as Sergeant MatthewsCalling Bulldog Drummond as Hardcastle, Card Player High Treason as Reginald Gordon-WellsHis Excellency as First SoldierWhispering Smith Hits London as ParkerThe Happy Family as CouncillorI Believe in You as Sergeant BraxtonMother Riley Meets the Vampire as Police Sergeant at Desk Penny Princess as Louis the Jailkeeper A Killer Walks as Doctor JamesThe Long Memory as HasburyCosh Boy as Inspector DonaldsonTime Bomb as Ambulance Man Rough Shoot as Blossom The Beggar's Opera as Matt of the MintMogambo as SkipperLove in Pawn as Uncle RamosThe Million Pound Note as Walter Craddock The Black Knight as Major DomoCarrington V.C. as Major PantonThe Dam Busters as FarmerJosephine and Men as PorterRichard III as The Lord StanleyThe Man Who Never Was as Adm. CrossThe Weapon as JamisonLust for Life as Dr. BosmanTiger in the Smoke as Canon AvrilThe Extra Day as Kurt Vorn The Barretts of Wimpole Street as Dr. Chambers Seven Waves Away as Captain Paul DarrowBoy on a Dolphin as Dr. HawkinsRobbery Under Arms as Ben MarstonThe Gypsy and the Gentleman as Dr. ForresterI Accuse! as Judge, Esterhazy TrialGideon's Day as Arthur SayerA Night to Remember as Capt. Edward John SmithThe Two-Headed Spy as Gen. HauserTempest as Maj. ZurinSolomon and Sheba as HezraiThird Man on the Mountain as Teo ZurbriggenSink the Bismarck! as First Sea LordThe Angry Silence as MartindaleThe Trials of Oscar Wilde as Prince of WalesVillage of the Damned as Doctor WillersThe Criminal as Mr. TownThe World of Suzie Wong as O'NeillThe Singer Not the Song as Old UncleGreyfriars Bobby as Mr. TraillThe Valiant as AdmiralI Thank a Fool as O'GradyThe 300 Spartans as First DelegateWe Joined the Navy as Admiral BlakeCleopatra as Arachesilaus Jason and the Argonauts as ArgusThe Three Lives of Thomasina as Reverend Angus PeddieSky West and Crooked as Edwin Dacres Deadlier Than the Male as Sir John BledlowCamelot as MerlynThe Scorpio Letters as BurrThe Long Duel as McDougalFitzwilly as Mr. Cotty Eye of the Cat as Dr. MillsThe Valley of Gwangi as Professor BromleyThe Bushbaby as Prof. 'Cranky' CrankshawRun a Crooked Mile as Lord DunnsfieldScrooge as Mr. FezziwigQuest for Love as Sir Henry LarnsteinDiamonds Are Forever as Sir Donald MungerYoung Winston as Lord SalisburyThe Amazing Mr Blunden as Mr. Blunden
Television
The Adventures of Robin Hood as Sir William de CourcierDanger Man as SpoonerThe Prince and the Pauper as Earl of HertfordProfiles in Courage as John Quincy Adams/George MasonThe Fugitive as Major Fielding/Dr. Andrew Emmett McAllister/John Mallory The Invaders as Professor Curtis Lindstrom/Cyrus StoneBonanza as Don Q. HoughtThe Persuaders! as Judge FultonFall of Eagles as Emperor Franz JosefRomeo and Juliet as Prince EscalusI Remember Nelson as Rev. Edmund Nelson