Charles Victor

Charles Victor (10 February 1896 – 23 December 1965) was a British actor who appeared in many film and television roles between 1931 and 1965. He was born Charles Victor Harvey.

Born in Southport, Lancashire, England, Victor was a fourth-generation English music hall entertainer. He left school when he was 15 to team with his father in a song-and-dance act for five years. After leaving that act, he briefly worked with his brother in an automobile agency before going into English musical comedy. In 1929, he joined the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, which was headed by Barry Jackson, and stayed with it for 10 years.

Victor appeared in just over 100 films between 1938 and 1966. The size and importance of his roles varied greatly. For example, in 1957 he played the lead role, with top billing, in the comedy There's Always a Thursday, whilst in the same year he had a bit part in the biopic After the Ball.

Late in life, Victor toured internationally in the role of Alfred Doolittle in My Fair Lady, performing the role on The Ed Sullivan Show on 19 March 1961 during a tribute to Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe.

Selected filmography

The Return of the Frog (1938) as Customer in Night Club (uncredited) Hell's Cargo (1939) as Mr. Martin Where's That Fire? (1939) as Garage Owner (uncredited) Laugh It Off (1940) as Colonel Contraband (1940) as Hendrick Dr. O'Dowd (1940) as Dooley Old Mother Riley in Society (1940) as Sir John Morgan You Will Remember (1941) as Pat Barrett Major Barbara (1941) as Bilton Old Mother Riley in Business (1941) East of Piccadilly (1941) as Editor This England (1941) Atlantic Ferry (1941) as Tim Grogan He Found a Star (1941) as Ben Marsh 49th Parallel (1941) as Andreas Ships with Wings (1941) as MacDermott Rush Hour (1941, Short) as Bus Inspector (uncredited) The Missing Million (1942) as Nobby Knowles Partners in Crime (1941) (uncredited) Breach of Promise (1942) as Sir William The Next of Kin (1942) as Joe, Irish seaman The Foreman Went to France (1942) as Aircraft Spotter on Works Roof They Flew Alone (1942) as Postmaster Let the People Sing (1942) as Bit Role (uncredited) Lady from Lisbon (1942) as Porter Seven Days' Leave (1942) as Mr. Charles Victor Those Kids from Town (1942) as Vicar The Peterville Diamond (1943) as Dan Squadron Leader X (1943) as Marks The Silver Fleet (1943) as Bastiaan Peters When We Are Married (1943) as Mr. Northrup The Bells Go Down (1943) as Bill, Dunkirk Survivor (uncredited) Undercover (1943) as Sergeant The Saint Meets the Tiger (1943) as Bittle Rhythm Serenade (1943) as Mr. Martin Escape to Danger (1943) as Petty Officer Flanagan My Learned Friend (1943) as 'Safety' Wilson They Met in the Dark (1943) as Pub Owner San Demetrio London (1943) as Deckhand It Happened One Sunday (1944) as Frisco Kid The Man from Morocco (1945) as Bourdille I Live in Grosvenor Square (1945) as Taxi Driver The Way to the Stars (1945) as Corporal Fitter The Rake's Progress (1945) as Old Sweat Caesar and Cleopatra (1945) as 1st. Porter Gaiety George (1946) as Danny Collier This Man Is Mine (1946) as Hijacker The Magic Bow (1946) as Peasant Driver While the Sun Shines (1947) as Tube Train Conductor Woman to Woman (1947) as Stage Manager Meet Me at Dawn (1947) as 1st Client Temptation Harbour (1947) as Gowshall Green Fingers (1947) as Joe Mansel While I Live (1947) as Sgt. Pearne The Calendar (1948) as John Dory Broken Journey (1948) as Harry Gunn Vote for Huggett (1949) as Mr. Hall Fools Rush In (1949) as Mr. Atkins Landfall (1949) as Mona's Father The Cure for Love (1949) as Henry Lancaster Waterfront (1950) as Bill The Woman in Question (1950) as Albert Pollard The Elusive Pimpernel (1950) as Colonel Winterbotham The Galloping Major (1951) as Sam Fisher Calling Bulldog Drummond (1951) as Insp. McIver The Magic Box (1951) as Industry Man Encore (1951) as Mr. Bateman (segment "The Ant and the Grasshopper") The Frightened Man (1952) as Rosselli Something Money Can't Buy (1952) as Borough Treasurer The Ringer (1952) as Inspector Wembury Made in Heaven (1952) as Aubrey Topham Appointment in London (1952) as Dobbie Those People Next Door (1953) as Joe Higgins Street Corner (1953) as Muller Murder Without Tears (1953) The Saint's Return (1953) as Chief Insp. Claud Teal Meet Mr Lucifer (1953) as Mr. Elder The Girl on the Pier (1953) as Inspector Chubb The Love Lottery (1954) as Jennings Fast and Loose (1954) as Lumper The Rainbow Jacket (1954) as Voss The Embezzler (1954) as Henry Paulson For Better, for Worse (1954) as Fred Police Dog (1955) as Sergeant Value for Money (1955) as Lumm An Alligator Named Daisy (1955) as Police Sergeant (uncredited) Dial 999 (1955) as Tom Smithers (U.S., ' The Way Out ') Now and Forever (1956) as Farmer Gilbert Charley Moon (1956) as Miller Moon The Extra Day (1956) as Bert Eyewitness (1956) as Police Desk Sergeant Home and Away (1956) as Ted Groves Tiger in the Smoke (1956) as Will There's Always a Thursday (1957) as George Potter The Prince and the Showgirl (1957) as Theatre Manager After the Ball (1957) as Stagehand Band of Angels (1957) as Officer (uncredited) Passion Holiday (1963) (uncredited) Made in Paris (1966) as Livingston (uncredited)