Ernest Clark

Ernest Clark MC (12 February 1912 – 11 November 1994) was a British actor of stage, television and film.

Early life Clark was the son of a master builder in Maida Vale, and was educated nearby at St Marylebone Grammar School. After leaving school he became a reporter on a local newspaper in Croydon. He had always wanted to be an actor and when offered a job with the local rep, he took it and apart from six years in the army during World War II, during which he won the Military Cross, he remained in the profession.

Career His first stage appearance was at the Festival Theatre, Cambridge in 1937, and he went on to appear in plays at both the West End in London, and Broadway in New York.

In 1955 he appeared on stage in Witness for the Prosecution at Henry Miller's Theatre in New York City, and on film as Air Vice-Marshal The Honourable Ralph Cochrane AFC RAF, AOC, No. 5 Group RAF in The Dam Busters (1955).

He is perhaps best remembered for his role as the irascible Professor Geoffrey Loftus in the television comedy series Doctor in the House and its sequels, apart from Doctor at Sea, in which he appeared as Captain Norman Loftus (the brother of Professor Loftus). He also played the stern and ascetic Dean in two series of the BBC sitcom All Gas and Gaiters (1967–71), although John Barron was the original Dean and returned for later series.

Clark was president of the actors' trade union Equity from 1969 to 1973.

Personal life and death He married three times: one of his wives was actress Avril Hillyer, the first two marriages were dissolved. His third marriage, from 1972 until his death, was to Julia Lockwood (née Margaret Julia Leon, 1941-2019), the actress daughter of the British film star Margaret Lockwood, with whom he had four children, Timothy, Nicholas, Lucy and Katharine. He died 11 November 1994 in Hinton St. George, Somerset, aged 82.

Filmography

Private Angelo – (uncredited) Obsession – (uncredited) Seven Days to Noon (1950) – Barber (uncredited) The Mudlark (1950) – Hammond (uncredited) The Long Memory (1952) – Prosecuting Counsel (uncredited) Doctor in the House (1954) – Dr. Parrish Father Brown (1954) – Bishop's Secretary Beau Brummell (1954) – Dr. Warren The Dam Busters (1955) – Air Vice-Marshall Ralph Cochrane. AOC, No.5 Group RAF 1984 (1956) – Outer Party Announcer Reach for the Sky (1956) – Wing Commander Beiseigel The Baby and the Battleship (1956) – Cmdr. Geoffrey Digby Stars in Your Eyes (1956) – Ronnie The Man in the Sky (1957) – Maine Time Without Pity (1957) – Under Secretary – Home Office The Birthday Present (1958) – Barrister A Tale of Two Cities (1958) – Stryver I Accuse! (1958) – Prosecutor – 1st Dreyfus trial The Safecracker (1958) – Major Adbury A Woman of Mystery (1958) – Harvey Blind Spot (1958) – F. G. Fielding A Touch of Larceny (1959) – Cmdr. Bates Sink the Bismarck! (1960) – Captain (Suffolk) No Love for Johnnie (1961) – M.P. (uncredited) Three on a Spree (1961) – Col. Drew Partners in Crime (1961) – Ashton Edgar Wallace Mysteries (Time to Remember) episode (1962) – Cracknell The Wild and the Willing (1962) – Vice Chancellor Tomorrow at Ten (1962) – Dr. Towers Master Spy (1963) – Doctor Pembury Billy Liar (1963) – Prison Governor Ladies Who Do (1963) – Stockbroker A Stitch in Time (1963) – Prof. Crankshaw Nothing But the Best (1964) – Roberts The Devil-Ship Pirates (1964) – Sir Basil Smeeton Boy with a Flute (1964) Short) Masquerade (1965) – Minister The Secret of My Success (1965) – Earl of Aldershot's solicitor Arabesque (1966) – Beauchamp Finders Keepers (1966) – Air Marshall It! (1967) – Harold Grove Cuckoo Patrol (1967) – Marshall Attack on the Iron Coast (1968) – Air Vice Marshall Woodbridge Salt and Pepper (1968) – Col. Balson Castle Keep (1969) – British Colonel (uncredited) The Executioner (1970) – Roper Song of Norway (1970) – Councilman Gandhi (1982) – Lord Hunter Memed, My Hawk (1984) – Father The Pope Must Die (1991) – Abbot