Harold Goodwin

Harold Goodwin (22 October 1917 – 3 June 2004) was an English actor born in Wombwell, West Riding of Yorkshire, England.

Life and career Goodwin trained at RADA and was a stage actor at Liverpool repertory theatre for three years. He appeared in numerous British films of the 1950s and 1960s, usually playing 'flat cap'-wearing working class characters from Northern England or low ranks in the military.

He had significant parts in the war films The Dam Busters (playing Guy Gibson's batman, 'Crosby'), Bridge on the River Kwai and The Longest Day. He can also be seen in films such as The Ladykillers, Sea of Sand, Angels One Five and The Cruel Sea (in which he was the ASDIC operator).

Goodwin made hundreds of appearances in British television programmes such as Minder (as Dunning, episode Get Daley!, 1984) and a notable role in All Creatures Great and Small. Goodwin was a 'staple' of the popular 1980s sitcom, That's My Boy, and United!.

His last major television appearance was playing the part of Joss Shackleton, father to Vera Duckworth, in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street in 1991. His final television appearance was as a window cleaner in One Foot in the Grave in 1992.

Goodwin died on 3 June 2004, at the age of 86.

Selected filmography

Young and Innocent (1937) – Driver of the pig-cart (uncredited) The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950) – Edwin Dance Hall (1950) – Jack The Magnet (1950) – Pin-Table Attendant The Galloping Major (1951) – Street Stall Owner (uncredited) The Man in the White Suit (1951) – Wilkins Appointment with Venus (1951) – 2nd Naval Rating Green Grow the Rushes (1951) – Gosling The Last Page (1952) – Frank the Waiter (uncredited) Judgment Deferred (1952) The Card (1952) – John (uncredited) Angels One Five (1952) – A.C. 2 Wailes The Cruel Sea (1953) – ASDIC Operator Grand National Night (1953) The Million Pound Note (1954) – Horace (uncredited) The Gay Dog (1954) – Bert Gay The Harassed Hero (1954) – Twigg The Ship That Died of Shame (1955) – Second Customs Officer A Kid for Two Farthings (1955) – Chick Man (uncredited) The Dam Busters (1955) – Wing Comdr. Gibson's Batman, Crosby The Ladykillers (1955) – Parcels Clerk (uncredited) You Lucky People (1955) – Pvt. Rossiter Now and Forever (1956) – Lorry driver Who Done It? (1956) – Pringle (uncredited) Charley Moon (1956) – Sid The Long Arm (1956) – Official at Somerset House The Last Man to Hang? (1956) – Cheed Zarak (1956) – Sgt. Higgins Three Men in a Boat (1956) – Maze Keeper (Maze) Carry On Admiral (1957) – Parker (uncredited) Sea Wife (1957) – Daily Telegraph Clerk The Prince and the Showgirl (1957) – Call Boy The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) – Baker Barnacle Bill (1957) – Duckworth Law and Disorder (1958) – Blacky Girls at Sea (1958) – Wal Sea of Sand (1958) – Road Watch The Square Peg (1958) – (uncredited) Quatermass and the Pit (1958) - Corporal Gibson The Captain's Table (1959) – Matthews (uncredited) The Mummy (1959) – Pat The Ugly Duckling (1959) Wrong Number (1959) – Bates Sink the Bismarck! (1960) – Airman in Phone Montage (uncredited) Operation Cupid (1960) – Mervyn The Bulldog Breed (1960) – Streaky Hopkinson The Terror of the Tongs (1961) Nearly a Nasty Accident (1961) – Aircraft Mechanic On the Fiddle (1961) – Corporal Reeves Never Back Losers (1961) – Floyd Scotland Yard (film series) - (1961) - The Square Mile Murder - Fingers McLeod Hair of the Dog (1962) – Percy Crooks Anonymous (1962) – George The Traitors (1962) – Edwards The Phantom of the Opera (1962) – Bill The Longest Day (1962) – British Soldier (uncredited) The Fast Lady (1962) Number Six (1962) The Hi-Jackers (1963) – Scouse The Comedy Man (1964) – Second Assistant Director The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb (1964) – Fred Die, Monster, Die! (1965) – Taxi Driver (UK version) United! (1965-66) - Trainer Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River (1968) – Six-Eyes Wiener Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969) – Burglar (uncredited) The Bushbaby (1969) – Steward Some Will, Some Won't (1970) – Williams Sykes (1974) – Bus Driver All Creatures Great and Small (1975) – Dinsdale's Uncle Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt (1976–1977, TV Series) – Harry Jabberwocky (1977) – 1st Peasant Rosie (1981) - Councillor Blake One Foot in the Grave (1992, TV Series) – Window cleaner