Ernest Clark
Biography
Ernest Clark was a distinguished stage and screen character actor born on February 12, 1912, in Paddington, London. The son of a master builder, Clark attended Marylebone Grammar School and began his career as a local newspaper reporter. He made his professional debut at the Festival Theatre, Cambridge, in 1937 and performed frequently on the West End stage during the 1930s and 1940s. In 1950, he appeared in The Cocktail Party by T.S. Eliot in New York. British television viewers recognized him for playing Sir Geoffrey Loftus in a long running Doctor comedy series during the 1970s. Clark died on November 11, 1994, at the age of 82.
Career overview
Ernest Clark was a distinguished stage actor born on February 12, 1912, in Paddington, London. The son of a master builder, he was educated at Marylebone Grammar School. Before pursuing acting professionally, Clark worked as a reporter for a local newspaper and participated as a keen amateur actor. He made his first professional appearance in 1937 at the Festival Theatre in Cambridge. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, he appeared frequently on the West End stage. In 1950, he received rave reviews for his performance in T.S. Eliot's The Cocktail Party in New York.
Clark was also a prolific screen character actor. He is best known to viewers of British television for his role as the crusty Sir Geoffrey Loftus in a long running Doctor comedy series during the 1970s. Over the course of his career, he accumulated 77 known credits. He died on November 11, 1994, at the age of 82.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
79 titles- Queen of the Wild Frontier (1993) as Father (Voice)
- Doctor at the Top (1991)
- The Pope Must Die (1991) as Abbot
- Queenie (1987) as Sir Philip Wentworth
- Theban Plays: Oedipus the King (1986) as Chorus
- Memed My Hawk (1984) as Hatche's Father
- Gandhi (1982) as Lord Hunter
- The Agatha Christie Hour (1982) as Rogers
- Private Schulz (1981) as Fritsch
- The Cannon & Ball Show (1979) as The Professor
- The Cannon & Ball Show (1979) as Self
- All Creatures Great and Small (1978) as Duke of Mannerton
- Mixed Blessings (1978) as Mr. Huntley
- Doctor on the Go (1975)
- Doctor at Sea (1974)
- Away from It All (1973) as The Colonel
- Doctor in Charge (1972) as Professor Geoffrey Loftus
- Doctor at Large (1971) as Professor Loftus
- The Executioner (1970) as Roper
- Song of Norway (1970) as Councilman
- ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969) as Oliver Cox
- Run a Crooked Mile (1969) as Chairman
- Salt & Pepper (1968) as Col. Balsom
- The Chequers Manoeuvre (1968) as The Brigadier
- All Gas and Gaiters (1967) as The Dean, The Very Reverend Lionel Pugh-Critchley
- It! (1967) as Harold Grove
- The Cuckoo Patrol (1967) as Marshall
- Arabesque (1966) as Beauchamp
- Eye of the Devil (1966) as French Police Inspector (uncredited)
- Finders Keepers (1966) as Air Marshal
- The Stable Door (1966)
- BBC Play of the Month (1965) as Finch McComas
- Thirty-Minute Theatre (1965) as Brigadier Glover
- Masquerade (1965) as Minister
- The Secret of My Success (1965) as Earl of Aldershot's solicitor
- The Wednesday Play (1964) as Pritchard
- The Wednesday Play (1964) as Ivor Brendon
- HMS Paradise (1964) as Commander Trickett
- The Devil-Ship Pirates (1964) as Sir Basil Smeeton
- Nothing But the Best (1964) as Roberts
- Boy With a Flute (1964) as Sir George Noble
- Master Spy (1964) as Dr. Pembury
- Billy Liar (1963) as Prison Governor
- A Stitch in Time (1963) as Professor Crankshaw
- Ladies Who Do (1963) as Stockbroker
- Tomorrow at Ten (1963) as Police Doctor
- The Beverly Hillbillies (1962)
- Richard the Lionheart (1962) as Frederick
- The Scales of Justice (1962) as Mr. Hayes
- Time to Remember (1962) as Cracknell
- Drama 61-67 (1961) as Rex
- No Love for Johnnie (1961) as M.P. (uncredited)
- Partners in Crime (1961) as Ashton
- Three on a Spree (1961) as Colonel Drew
- Maigret (1960)
- Sink the Bismarck! (1960) as Captain Ellis - 'Suffolk'
- A Touch of Larceny (1960) as Cmdr. Bates
- No Hiding Place (1959)
- Interpol Calling (1959) as Inspector MacAndrew
- The Invisible Man (1958) as Sir Charles Anderson
- A Tale of Two Cities (1958) as Stryver
- Blind Spot (1958) as F. G. Fielding
- I Accuse! (1958) as Prosecutor at First Dreyfus Trial
- A Woman of Mystery (1958) as Mr. Harvey
- The Safecracker (1958) as Major Adbury
- The Man in the Sky (1957) as Maine
- Time Without Pity (1957) as Under Secretary
- The Birthday Present (1957) as Barrister
- 1984 (1956) as Outer Party Announcer
- Reach for the Sky (1956) as Wing Commander Beiseigel
- The Baby and the Battleship (1956) as Cmdr. Geoffrey Digby
- The Dam Busters (1955) as Air Vice-Marshal The Hon. Ralph Cochrane G.B.E., K.C.B., A.F.C.
- Beau Brummell (1954) as Dr. Warren
- Doctor in the House (1954) as Dr. Parrish
- Father Brown (1954) as Bishop's Secretary
- The Mudlark (1950) as Hammond
- Obsession (1949)
- When We Are Married (1949) as Councillor Albert Parker
- The Circus Clown (1934) as Vaudeville Act
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Ernest Clark best known for?
Ernest Clark is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Queenie (1987), Gandhi (1982), The Agatha Christie Hour (1982), Private Schulz (1981).
When and where was Ernest Clark born?
Ernest Clark was born on February 12, 1912 in Paddington, London, England, UK. They passed away on November 11, 1994.
How many credits does Ernest Clark have?
Ernest Clark has accumulated over 79 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1934 to 1993.
What is Ernest Clark's background in cinema and television?
Ernest Clark was a distinguished stage and screen character actor born on February 12, 1912, in Paddington, London. The son of a master builder, Clark attended Marylebone Grammar School and began his career as a local newspaper reporter. He made his professional debut at the Festival Theatre, Cambridge, in 1937 and per...
Ernest Clark by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- All Creatures Great and Small (1978) as Duke of Mannerton — aged about 66
- Gandhi (1982) as Lord Hunter — aged about 70
- A Stitch in Time (1963) as Professor Crankshaw — aged about 51
- Interpol Calling (1959) as Inspector MacAndrew — aged about 47
- The Invisible Man (1958) as Sir Charles Anderson — aged about 46
- The Birthday Present (1957) as Barrister — aged about 45
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