Paul Cavanagh
William Grigs Atkinson, known professionally as Paul Cavanagh, was an English film and stage actor. He appeared in more than 100 films between 1928 and 1959.
Life and career
Cavanagh was born in Felling, Durham. He attended the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle upon Tyne, and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was an undergraduate student. Cavanagh studied law in England, earning a master of arts degree at Cambridge. A newspaper article published 17 June 1931, reported, "It is on record that Cavanagh won high honors in mathematics and history."
Cavanagh practised "for several years" before he changed professions. He went to Canada "for a year of sightseeing and wandering" before he joined and served nine months with the Royal North-West Mounted Police.
After serving in World War I, he returned to Canada, where he practised law, including revising the statutes of Alberta, but eventually went back to England to practise law. Cavanagh went onto the stage after a stroke of bad luck in 1924 caused him to lose his savings, and later he went into films.
In 1926, Cavanagh lost $22,000 in one evening on a roulette wheel in Monte Carlo. An observer offered to provide a letter "to some of my theatrical acquaintances" in London, England. Those contacts led to Cavanagh's role in Walter Hackett's It Pays to Advertise. He also appeared in Eden Phillpotts' Blue Comet in the West End.
After appearing in a handful of British silent films he moved to the United States. Cavanagh's first film contract and film came in 1929 with Paramount Pictures.
Cavanagh died in London from a heart attack in 1964, aged 75, and is buried in Lorraine Park Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland.
Filmography
Two Little Drummer Boys as Capt. DarrellTesha as LenaneThe Runaway Princess as Prince of SavoniaStrictly Unconventional as TedGrumpy as Chamberlin JarvisThe Storm as Dave StewartThe Virtuous Sin as Capt. OrloffThe Devil to Pay! as Grand Duke PaulUnfaithful as Ronald KillkerryBorn to Love as Sir Wilfred DrakeAlways Goodbye as Reginald Armstrong, alias of MorganTransgression as Robert MauryThe Squaw Man as Henry - Earl of KerhillHeartbreak as Captain WolkeDevil's Lottery as Major Hugo BeresfordA Bill of Divorcement as GrayThe Crash as Ronnie SandersonTonight Is Ours as Prince Keri of ZalgarCurtain at Eight as Wylie Thornton - ActorThe Kennel Murder Case as Sir Thomas MacDonaldThe Sin of Nora Moran as Gov. Dick CrawfordUncertain Lady as Bruce KingTarzan and His Mate as Martin ArlingtonShoot the Works as Alvin RitchieThe Notorious Sophie Lang as Max Bernard/Sir Nigel CraneOne Exciting Adventure as LavassorMenace as Col. Leonard CrecyGoin' to Town as Edward CarringtonEscapade Without Regret as Robert GodfreyThunder in the Night as Count Peter AlvinczySplendor as Martin DeeringChampagne Charlie as Charlie CortlandCrime Over London as Inspector GaryCafe Colette as RyanA Romance in Flanders as John MorleyWithin the Law as English EddieThe Under-Pup as Mr. Franklin CooperReno as John R. BantonI Take This Woman as Bill RodgersThe Case of the Black Parrot as Max ArmandMaisie Was a Lady as 'Cap' RawlstonShadows on the Stairs as Joseph ReynoldsPassage from Hong Kong as Capt. Duncan MacNeil-FraserCaptains of the Clouds as Group CaptainThe Strange Case of Doctor Rx as John CrispinPacific Rendezvous as Cmdr. Charles BrennanEagle Squadron as Sir James PatridgeThe Hard Way as John 'Jack' ShagrueThe Gorilla Man as Dr. DornAdventure in Iraq as Sheik Ahmid Bel NorThe Scarlet Claw as Lord PenroseMaisie Goes to Reno as Roger PelhamMarriage Is a Private Affair as Mr. SelworthThis Man's Navy as Sir Anthony TivallThe Man in Half Moon Street as Dr. Henry LatimerThe House of Fear as Simon MerrivaleThe Woman in Green as FenwickClub Havana as RogersNight in Paradise as CleomenesNight and Day as Bart McClellandWife Wanted as Jeffrey CaldwellThe Verdict as Clive RussellHumoresque as Victor WrightDishonored Lady as Victor KranishIvy as Dr. Berwick Secret Beyond the Door as Rick BarrettThe Black Arrow as Sir John SedleyThe Babe Ruth Story as Dr. MenziesYou Gotta Stay Happy as Dr. BlucherMadame Bovary as Marquis D'AndervilliersThe Iroquois Trail as Col. Eric ThorneRogues of Sherwood Forest as Sir GilesHi-Jacked as HagenHit Parade of 1951 as Two-to-One ThompsonThe Second Face as Todd WilliamsTales of Robin Hood as Sir Gui de ClairmontHollywood Story as Roland PaulThe Highwayman The Desert Fox as Lt. Col. Caesar von Hofacker The Son of Dr. Jekyll as Insp. StoddardBride of the Gorilla as Klaas Van GelderAll That I Have as Dr. James BradyThe Strange Door as Edmond de MaletroitLady in the Iron Mask as Minor Role The Golden Hawk as Jeremy SmithersPlymouth Adventure as Governor John Carver The Mississippi Gambler as Edmond DureauThe Bandits of Corsica as DianzaHouse of Wax as Sidney WallacePort Sinister as John KolvacThe Desert Rats as Colonel Flame of Calcutta as Lord Robert CliveAll American as Professor Carl BanningCasanova's Big Night as Signor Alberto Di GambettaThe Iron Glove as Cavenly, advisor to Prince JamesMagnificent Obsession as Dr. GiraudThe Law vs. Billy the Kid as John H. TunstallThe Raid as Col. TuckerKhyber Patrol as Brig. Gen. MelvilleCharade as Col. HeislerThe Prodigal as TobiahThe Purple Mask as Duc de LatourThe Scarlet Coat as Sir Henry ClintonThe King's Thief as Sir Edward ScottDiane as Lord BonnivetWomen Without Men as Insp. D.N. Hedges Blonde Bait as Insp. D.N. HedgesFrancis in the Haunted House as Neil FrazerThe Man Who Turned to Stone as CooperShe Devil as Sugar DaddyGod Is My Partner as Dr. James BradyIn the Money as Inspector Herbert SaundersThe Beat Generation as Will Belmont - Stan's Father The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake as Kenneth Drake
Television
Jungle Jim as Commissioner Morrison in 8 episodesLassie as Dr. Elwood MasonThe Adventures of Jim Bowie as John AndrewsHighway Patrol (American TV series) portrayed a vehicle thiefSergeant Preston of the Yukon as Sir Philip NorthrupPerry Mason as Edgar Ferrell/ Horace SelkirkAdventures of Superman as Delbert CarterTombstone Territory as Banker RacklinNorthwest Passage as Colonel George ClaytonWalt Disney Presents as Governor Rutledge Have Gun - Will Travel as Windrom