Frank Cellier

François Cellier (23 February 1884 – 27 September 1948), always known as Frank, was an English actor. Early in his career, from 1903 to 1920, he toured in Britain, Germany, the West Indies, America and South Africa. In the 1920s, he became known in the West End for Shakespearean character roles, among others, and also directed some plays in which he acted. He continued to act on stage until 1946. During the 1930s and 1940s, he also appeared in more than three dozen films.

Life and career Early years Cellier was born in Surbiton, Surrey, the only son of the conductor François Cellier and his wife, Clara née Short. He had five sisters and was educated at Cranleigh School. After leaving school, he spent three years in business.

Cellier made his first stage appearance in 1903 as Clement Hale in Arthur Wing Pinero's Sweet Lavender at the Town Hall in Reigate and thereafter made acting his career, He then extended his repertory in a wide variety of roles which he undertook on tour with the actress Florence Nellie Glossop-Harris (d. 1932), daughter of the actor-manager Augustus Harris, whom he married in 1910. She divorced him in 1925.

Cellier toured not only in Britain, but in Germany and the West Indies, and did not make his debut in London until 1914, when under his own management he appeared in Cheer, Boys, Cheer. the title role in Henry IV, Part 2, Cassio in Othello, Touchstone in As You Like It, Angelo in Measure for Measure, Ford in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Quince in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Kent in King Lear. Two of his most celebrated roles were in The Merchant of Venice and Twelfth Night, of which The Times said, "while he could wring the last drop of dramatic tension from the role of Shylock, he could also play Sir Toby Belch in such a way as to bring out the essence of the comedy without suggesting that the old reprobate had never known better days." He also appeared that year in Espionage, a play by Walter Hackett, at the Apollo Theatre. His final stage role was the father in Terence Rattigan's The Winslow Boy in 1946, which he played to great praise in London and was due to take to America but was prevented by ill-health from doing so.

Films Beginning in the 1930s, Cellier played roles in films, including Sheriff Watson in Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps (1935). He was also Monsieur Barsac in the comedy film The Guv'nor (1935).

Death Cellier died in London in 1948, aged 64.

Filmography

Gloria (1916) - Louis Martino Her Reputation (1931) - Henry Sloane Tin Gods (1932) - Major Drake The Golden Cage (1933) - Julian Sande Soldiers of the King (1933) - Col. Philip Markham Doss House (1933) - Editor The Song You Gave Me (1933) - Golf Club Patron (uncredited) Colonel Blood (1934) - Col. Blood The Fire Raisers (1934) - Brent Jew Süss (1934) - (uncredited) Lorna Doone (1934) - Capt. Jeremy Stickles The Dictator (1935) - Sir Murray Keith The 39 Steps (1935) - Sheriff Watson The Passing of the Third Floor Back (1935) - Wright The Guv'nor (1935) - Barsac Rhodes of Africa (1936) - Barney Barnato Tudor Rose (1936) - Henry VIII The Man Who Changed His Mind (1936) - Lord Haslewood / Clayton O.H.M.S. (1937) - Regimental Sergeant-Major Briggs Action for Slander (1937) - Sir Bernard Roper Take My Tip (1937) - Paradine Non-Stop New York (1937) - Sam Pryor Victoria the Great (1937) - Minor Role (uncredited) Kate Plus Ten (1938) - Sir Ralph Sapson A Royal Divorce (1938) - Talleyrand Sixty Glorious Years (1938) - Lord Derby The Ware Case (1938) - Skinner The Spider (1940) - Julian Ismay The Midas Touch (1940) - Corris Morgan Love on the Dole (1941) - Sam Grundy Quiet Wedding (1941) - Mr. Clayton Cottage to Let (1941) - John Forest Jeannie (1941) - Man Who Has Lost His Keys (uncredited) Ships with Wings (1942) - Gen. Scarappa The Black Sheep of Whitehall (1942) - Innsbach The Big Blockade (1942) - German: Schneider Give Us the Moon (1944) - Pyke Quiet Weekend (1946) - Adrian Barrasford The Magic Bow (1946) - Antonio Easy Money (1948) - Manager (segment The Teddy Ball Story) The Blind Goddess (1948) - The Judge (final film role)