Guy Doleman

Guy Doleman
Doleman in The Prisoner (1967)
Born(1923-11-22)22 November 1923
Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand
Died30 January 1996(1996-01-30) (aged 72)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Years active1948–1992

Guy Doleman (22 November 1923 – 30 January 1996) was a New Zealand born actor, active in Australia, Britain and the United States. He is possibly best remembered for being the first actor to play Number Two in the classic cult series The Prisoner.

Early life

Doleman was born in Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand, later moving to Australia.

Career

During the 1940s and 1950s, Doleman was one of the busiest actors in Australia, appearing in the majority of films made there at the time, and being busy on radio, particularly in the drama Hagen's Circus, which made him a radio star in Australia.[1] Radio historian Peter Philp grouped Doleman with Peter Finch, Grant Taylor, Rod Taylor and Lloyd Berrell as part of "a wild but very colourful group of actors... who in their own way helped forge a wonderful ambience which was unique to Sydney radio."[2]

In 1952 he won a £300 Actor's Choice Award for his performance in the radio drama The Coward.[3] He used this money to go to Hollywood for a film in September 1953, where he tested for some films.[4]

He was cast in Long John Silver (1954) but passed on the role because it meant he had to wear contact lenses – Rod Taylor took the part instead.[5] He had moved to London by the early 1960s. Later he returned to Australia.

He is perhaps best known for his role as "Count Lippe" in the James Bond film Thunderball (1965) and as "Colonel Ross" in the three film adaptations of Len Deighton's Harry Palmer novels, starring Michael Caine, released between 1965 and 1967. He also played Number Two in the TV series The Prisoner (1967). Doleman's was the first of a pair of Number Twos who appeared in the first episode, "Arrival"; the second being played by George Baker.

Death

Doleman died of lung cancer in Los Angeles on 30 January 1996, aged 72.

Filmography

Theatre Credits

  • Little Lambs Eat Ivy, Minerva Theatre, Kings Cross, NSW, May 1949
  • Edward, My Son, Theatre Royal, Sydney, NSW, 16 September 1949
  • All for Mary national tour 1956-57
  • The Piccadilly Bushman national tour Sept 1959 – Feb 1960

Select Radio Credits

  • The Coward (1952)[8]
  • Chips (1954)[9]
  • The Orchard Walls (1954)[10]

References

  1. ^ Philp, Peter. Drama in Silent Rooms: A History of Radio Drama in Australia from the 1920s to the 1970s. Eureka Media. pp. 260–261.
  2. ^ Philp p339
  3. ^ "TODAY'S RADIO PROGRAMMES Sydneyman wins £300in 'Actors Choice'". The Argus. Melbourne. 14 August 1952. p. 4. Retrieved 22 March 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ Australian to Test. Los Angeles Times 2 Sep 1953: P32.
  5. ^ "LIMELIGHT". The Sun-Herald (Sydney, NSW : 1953 – 1954). Sydney. 2 May 1954. p. 71. Retrieved 22 March 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Australian actor gets Lucky break". Brisbane Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 24 September 1953. p. 24 (LAST RACE). Retrieved 14 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ Vagg, Stephen (17 November 2020). "Forgotten Australian TV Plays: The Grey Nurse Said Nothing". Filmink.
  8. ^ "TODAY'S RADIO PROGRAMMES Sydneyman wins £300in 'Actors Choice'". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 33, 056. Victoria, Australia. 14 August 1952. p. 4. Retrieved 14 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Chips Stars in DB Serial". The Age. No. 30, 903. Victoria, Australia. 20 May 1954. p. 1 ("THE AGE" RADIO SUPPLEMENT). Retrieved 14 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Has Lead in New Play". Illawarra Daily Mercury. New South Wales, Australia. 17 March 1954. p. 3. Retrieved 14 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.