Alex McCrindle
Alex McCrindle (3 August 1911 – 20 April 1990) was a Scottish actor. He was best known for his role as General Jan Dodonna in Star Wars.
Alex McCrindle | |
|---|---|
| Born | 3 August 1911 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Died | 20 April 1990 (aged 78) Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1937–1990 |
| Spouse(s) | Sandy McCrindle (divorced)[1] Honor Arundel (1952–1973; her death) |
| Children | Catherine, Jessica, and Jean[2] |
Biography
McCrindle was born in Glasgow. He began his acting career in 1937 starring in minor roles in UK Television. From 1946 to 1951 he played the role of Jock Anderson in Dick Barton – Special Agent. In 1951 he starred in his first film in the USA, The House in the Square. From there his acting career took off. He then did five more films: I Believe in You (1952), The Kidnappers (1953), Trouble in the Glen (1954), Geordie (1955) and Depth Charge (1960).
From 1962 to 1974 he went to television acting. In 1976 he was cast as General Jan Dodonna in the first Star Wars film. He went back to minor roles on TV, including the role of the eccentric veterinarian Ewan Ross on All Creatures Great and Small.
McCrindle was a founding member of the actors' trade union Scottish Equity.[3]
Personal life
McCrindle's second wife was the children's novelist and political activist Honor Arundel (1919–1973). He was survived by his three children: Catherine, Jessica, and Jean.[2] According to Doris Lessing, McCrindle and Arundel's home in the 1950s was a hub of Communist Party activity and organisation.[4]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | I'll Never Forget You | James Boswell | Uncredited |
| 1952 | I Believe in You | Tom Haines | |
| 1953 | Gilbert Harding Speaking of Murder | Music Critic | |
| The Kidnappers | The Minister | Uncredited | |
| 1954 | Trouble in the Glen | Keegan | |
| 1955 | Geordie | Guard | Uncredited |
| 1960 | Depth Charge | Skipper | |
| 1970 | The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes | Baggageman | |
| 1977 | Star Wars | General Jan Dodonna | |
| 1978 | The Peregrine Hunters | Hawkeye Brown | |
| 1979 | Correction, Please | Hepworth | |
| 1981 | Eye of the Needle | Tom | |
| 1986 | Comrades | Jailor |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | The Ghost Train | Jackson | TV Short |
| 1938 | On the Spot | Patrolman Ryan | TV movie |
| Juno and the Paycock | Sewing Machine Man | TV movie | |
| The Knight of the Burning Pestle | George Greengoose | TV movie | |
| 1952 | Wednesday Theatre | Philibent | 1 episode |
| 1953 | BBC Sunday-Night Theatre | Scotsman | 1 episode |
| Wednesday Theatre | Mr. Poprad | 1 episode | |
| 1954 | Rheingold Theatre | Kelly | 1 episode |
| 1956 | Adventure Theatre | Music Critic | |
| 1962 | The Dark Island | Mr Stewart | 3 episodes |
| The Master of Ballantrae | Captain Teach | 2 episodes | |
| 1963 | Kidnapped | 1st Crofter | |
| 1964 | Witch Wood | Rev. Proudfoot | TV movie |
| 1965 | The Saint | Fergus MacLish | 1 episode |
| Undermind | Professor Emmett | 1 episode | |
| 1966–1967 | This Man Craig | Willie Sinclair | 52 episodes |
| 1968 | The Flight of the Heron | Keppoch | 2 episodes |
| Mystery and Imagination | Lapraik | 1 episode | |
| 1971 | The View from Daniel Pike | Capt. McPhee | 1 episode |
| 1973 | The View from Daniel Pike | Shakespeare | 1 episode |
| Adam Smith | Jimmy Black | 1 episode | |
| Sutherland's Law | James Keenan | 1 episode | |
| 1974 | Sutherland's Law | MacGillivray | 1 episode |
| 1975 | The Hill of the Red Fox | Deckhand | 1 episode |
| 1976 | Shadows | Mr. Campbell | 1 episode |
| 1978 | Play for Today | Tam | 1 episode |
| All Creatures Great and Small | Ewan Ross | 1 episode | |
| 1979 | Dick Turpin | Dr. Hector Andrews | 1 episode |
| Play for Today | Father | 1 episode | |
| 1980 | Sounding Brass | Mr Mackenzie | 5 episodes |
| Mackenzie | Bill Campbell | 2 episodes | |
| 1982 | Cloud Howe | Old Leslie | 4 episodes |
| The Gentle Touch | Old Man | 1 episode | |
| 1983 | Flying into the Wind | The Tramp | TV movie |
| Reilly: Ace of Spies | MacDougal | 1 episode | |
| 1984 | The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady | Macbeth Bain | 1 episode |
| Sakharov | Siberia Trainman | TV movie | |
| 1988 | The Play on One | Wilf | Episode: "Normal Service" |
| Taggart | Tramp | 1 episode | |
| 1989 | Screen Two | Man in Office | Season 5: Leaving |
| 1988–1990 | High Road | Bert | 3 episodes, (final appearance) |
References
- "Archived item". Archived from the original on 1 August 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
- "McCrindle, the founder of Scots Equity, dies". The Herald. Glasgow. 24 April 1990. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
- John Green: Britain's Communists. The Untold Story. Artery Publications, London 2016 (2. Auflage), ISBN 978-0-9558228-7-2, p. 109.
- Lessing, Doris (1997). Walking in the Shade: 1949–1962. London: HarperCollins. p. 108. ISBN 0002558610.