Terence De Marney

Terence De Marney
Born Terence Arthur De Marney
(1908-03-01)1 March 1908
London, England, UK
Died 25 May 1971(1971-05-25) (aged 63)
London, England, UK
Occupation British actor and writer
Years active 1931-1971
Spouse(s) Diana Dunbar
Beryl Measor

Terence De Marney (1 March 1908 – 25 May 1971) was a British film, stage, radio and television actor, as well as theatre director and writer.

Actor

The son of Violet Eileen Concanen and Arthur De Marney, and the grandson of noted Victorian lithographer Alfred Concanen, his career in the theatre began in 1923 and continued almost without interruption, taking in film, radio and television parts. He toured with Mrs Patrick Campbell in The Last of Mrs. Cheyne. In 1930 he played Gustave in The Lady of the Camellias, and toured South Africa as Raleigh in Journey's End. In 1934 he played Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet at the Open Air Theatre, and Giovanni in 'Tis Pity She's a Whore at the Arts. Thrillers tended to be his stock in trade, appearing in a revival of Sutton Vane's Outward Bound during the 1930s, as well as Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians and Dear Murderer. In later years he appeared in a revival of Gerald Du Maurier's Trilby.

He also appeared on radio as the Count of Monte Cristo, and was the first actor to portray Leslie Charteris' Simon Templar on radio, when The Saint debuted on Radio Athlone in 1940 for six episodes.

He made his film debut in 1931, and went on to appear in a number of quota quickies of the period, including mystery horror films The Unholy Quest (1934) and The Mystery of the Mary Celeste (1935), the latter opposite Bela Lugosi. These roles in the macabre would continue throughout his career and took in films such as Pharaoh's Curse (1957), the Boris Karloff vehicle Die, Monster, Die! (1965) and The Hand of Night (1966).

After starring in 'B' films like Dual Alibi (1948), and No Way Back (1949), he uprooted to Hollywood, where he appeared in a number of famous television series such as Bonanza, Wagon Train, Maverick and The Twilight Zone. He was a series regular in the role of Case Thomas on CBS's Johnny Ringo, with Don Durant, Mark Goddard, and Karen Sharpe.

De Marney played small roles in films such as The Ten Commandments (1956) and Spartacus (1960). He returned to Britain in the 1960s and continued to appear in television series such as Maigret, Dr. Finlay's Casebook, Doctor Who and Z-Cars. His last film appearance was in The Strange Affair (1968).

Director

In 1931 he became director of the Connaught Theatre, Worthing, and in 1932, with his brother, the actor Derrick De Marney, he founded the Independent Theatre Club at the Kingsway Theatre, where he directed Emil Ludwig's Versailles and an adaptation of Schnitzler's novel Fraulein Else. He also directed Louis Golding's Magnolia Street Story and Master Crook, originally called Cosh Boy. With his brother he alternated as Slim Callaghan in Meet Slim Callaghan at the Garrick Theatre and carried on the same role in the play's sequel Slim Carves, which he produced and directed.

Writer

De Marney wrote the play, Wanted for Murder in 1946 which was made into a film, and was also known as A Voice in the Night. With Percy Robinson he wrote the stage thrillers Whispering Gallery, Wanted for Murder and The Crime of Margaret Foley; he collaborated with Ralph Stock to write Search.

Death

Terence De Marney died in 1971, aged 63, after an accidental fall in front of a train in the London Underground. He was buried in the family plot at West Norwood Cemetery in South London.

Spouses

His first wife was Diana Hope Dunbar. His second wife was the actress Beryl Measor, who predeceased him.

Selected filmography

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