Andrew Cruickshank

Andrew John Maxton Cruickshank (25 December 190729 April 1988 ) was a Scottish actor, most famous for his portrayal of Dr Cameron in the long-running UK BBC television series Dr. Finlay's Casebook, which ran for 191 episodes from 1962 until 1971. He was born in Aberdeen and died in London.

Life and career Andrew Cruickshank (Junior) was born to Andrew and Annie Cruickshank (Cadger), and was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School. He was to have entered the profession of civil engineering after completing his education, but instead joined provincial repertory theatres, leading to 1930 roles in Othello at the Savoy Theatre in London, as Maudelyn in Richard of Bordeaux at the Empire Theatre on Broadway in 1934, and culminating in his principal appearance (as three characters) on the London stage in 1935, at the Gate Theatre in the play Victoria Regina. In 1939 Cruickshank played Claudius in Tyrone Guthrie's modern-dress and uncut Hamlet at The Old Vic with Alec Guinness in the title role. He returned to Broadway in 1951 until 1952, as the Earl of Warwick in George Bernard Shaw's play Saint Joan, with Uta Hagen in the lead role.

He appeared in many television plays and series, amongst them A. J. Cronin's Dr. Finlay's Casebook, containing his most famous characterisation, Doctor Angus Cameron, a crusty but erudite senior partner in the rural general practice run in Tannochbrae, with the help of the much younger Doctor Alan Finlay (Bill Simpson) and "stiff Presbyterian" housekeeper Janet (Barbara Mullen). The highly popular BBC production ran from 16 August 1962 until 3 January 1971, after which Cruickshank continued with it on BBC Radio 4 for seven years, it having been adapted to that format since 10 March 1970. He finally bade farewell to the character on 18 December 1978, following its parting episode, "Going Home". In 1963 he played the title role in the BBC sitcom Mr Justice Duncannon, having appeared as that character in the final episode of the 1962 sitcom Brothers in Law.

Later on BBC Radio 4, Cruickshank starred in The Senior Partner, a light legal drama series by Donald Bull. The first series of eight episodes were broadcast in October and November 1980. A second series of 10 episodes were broadcast between October and December 1981.

In August 1985, Cruickshank presented The Auld Alliance: A Personal View as part of the Saltire Society's Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme.

His final performance on the stage was as Justice Treadwell in Beyond Reasonable Doubt at the Queen's Theatre in 1987. of series two of the ITV television production, King and Castle, which starred Nigel Planer and Derek Martin as partners in a debt collection agency, and in which Cruickshank played "Mr Hodinett". It was aired on 10 May 1988, just over a week after his death.

Partial filmography

Auld Lang Syne (1937) – Robert Burns The Mark of Cain (1947) – Sir Jonathon Dockwra The Idol of Paris (1948) – Prince Nicholas Forbidden (1949) – Inspector Baxter Paper Orchid (1949) – Inspector Clement Pill Your Witness (1950) – Sir Adrian Horth K.C. – Prosecutor The Angel with the Trumpet (1950) – Otto Alt The Reluctant Widow (1950) – Lord Bedlington Where No Vultures Fly (1951) – Governor (uncredited) The Cruel Sea (1953) – Scott Brown John Wesley (1954) – Trustee of Georgia John and Julie (1955) – Uncle Ben Richard III (1955) – Brackenbury The Secret Tent (1956) – Detective Inspector Thornton The Battle of the River Plate (1956) – Captain Stubbs – 'Doric Star' The Story of Esther Costello (1957) – Dr. Stein Innocent Sinners (1958) – Dr. Lynch-Cliffe A Question of Adultery (1958) – Dr. Cameron Kidnapped (1959) – Colin Campbell The 39 Steps (1959) – Sheriff The Stranglers of Bombay (1960) – Colonel Henderson There Was a Crooked Man (1960) – McKillup Greyfriars Bobby: The True Story of a Dog (1961) – Lord Provost El Cid (1961) – Count Gormaz Live Now, Pay Later (1962) – Vicar We Joined the Navy (1962) – Admiral Filmer Come Fly with Me (1963) – Cardwell Murder Most Foul (1964) – Justice Crosby Alibi For A Judge (1960) - Mr Justice Gerald Carstairs Wagner (1983) – Narrator Strangers and Brothers (1984) – M.H.L. Gay The Body in the Library (1984) – Conway Jefferson

Publications Andrew Cruickshank: An Autobiography (1988) Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London.