David Mervyn Johns (18 February 1899 â€" 6 September 1992) was a Welsh
film and television character actor who became a star of British films
during World War II. In the postwar era, he worked frequently at
Ealing Studios.Mervyn Johns started his career in the theatre in the
1920s, and then made his first film in 1935. Among his dozens of film
roles were the church warden in Went the Day Well? (1942), the fearful
architect Walter Craig in the mystery film Dead of Night (1945) and
Bob Cratchit in Scrooge (1951) with Alastair Sim. Johns also made many
television appearances, in series such as The Avengers, The Saint,
Danger Man and Dixon of Dock Green. He was known for his "mostly
mild-mannered, lugubrious, amusing, sometimes moving 'little men'" in
over 100 film and television series.Johns was twice married. His first
wife was the concert pianist Alys Steele. They had one daughter, the
actress Glynis Johns, born in South Africa, with whom he appeared in
The Halfway House (1944) and The Sundowners (1960). After Alys's death
in 1970 he married the actress Diana Churchill in 1976.
film and television character actor who became a star of British films
during World War II. In the postwar era, he worked frequently at
Ealing Studios.Mervyn Johns started his career in the theatre in the
1920s, and then made his first film in 1935. Among his dozens of film
roles were the church warden in Went the Day Well? (1942), the fearful
architect Walter Craig in the mystery film Dead of Night (1945) and
Bob Cratchit in Scrooge (1951) with Alastair Sim. Johns also made many
television appearances, in series such as The Avengers, The Saint,
Danger Man and Dixon of Dock Green. He was known for his "mostly
mild-mannered, lugubrious, amusing, sometimes moving 'little men'" in
over 100 film and television series.Johns was twice married. His first
wife was the concert pianist Alys Steele. They had one daughter, the
actress Glynis Johns, born in South Africa, with whom he appeared in
The Halfway House (1944) and The Sundowners (1960). After Alys's death
in 1970 he married the actress Diana Churchill in 1976.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.