Harry Landis

Harry Landis (born Hyman Jacob Londinsky; 25 November 1926 – 11 September 2022) was a British actor and theatre director. He had a long career in theatre, film and television, spanning over 60 years. Landis was best known for playing barber Felix Kawalski in EastEnders from 1995 to 1997, and Mr. Morris in the Channel 4 sitcom Friday Night Dinner from 2012 to 2014.

Early life and education Harry Landinski, known as Harry Landis, was born Hyman Jacob Londinsky in Stepney in the East End of London on 25 November 1926. After doing his military service with the British Army during World War II, he returned to the Unity Theatre, and, by then aged 20, he was awarded a grant by the London County Council so he could study at drama school. Landis spent three years at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

Career Landis started acting aged 15. His first job after graduating from drama school was touring in Shakespeare with the Elizabethan Theatre Company. After a spell in repertory theatre, he got a leading role in A Hill in Korea as a cockney conscript. Other films followed, including Bitter Victory, Edge of Sanity, Ransom, The Informers, Private Potter, Dunkirk and Operation Bullshine. In 2014, he was in the Hollywood blockbuster Edge of Tomorrow.

Personal life and death Landis married actress Hilary Crane (née Strelitz) in 1965; however, the marriage ended in divorce seven years later.

Selected filmography Dixon of Dock Green (1955, 1963, 1966, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976) – Finch / Bill Andrews / Jenkins / Lodger / Painter / Banjo Hamilton / Keeley A Hill in Korea (1956) – Pvt. Rabin Bitter Victory (1957) – Private Browning Dunkirk (1958) – Dr. Levy Further Up the Creek (1958) – Webster Operation Bullshine (1959) – Gunner Wilkinson Desert Mice (1959) – German Soldier (uncredited) The Square Ring (1959) The Longest Day (1962) – British Soldier (uncredited) Private Potter (1962) – LCpl. Lamb The Small World of Sammy Lee (1963) – Lucky Dave's Clumsy Barman (uncredited) Billy Liar (1963) – Man on Train (uncredited) Doctor in Distress (1963) – Man in Cafe (uncredited) The Informers (1963) – Hicks (uncredited) Calculated Risk (1963) – Charlie Sergeant Cork (1966) – Richard Hewatt (episode "The Case of William Huckerby, Platelayer") Z Cars (1968, 1971, 1974) – Billy Rees / Matic / Vernon Go for a Take (1972) – Maurice The Fenn Street Gang (1972) – Doorman Play for Today (1972, 1976, 1977, 1977) – Inspector Fazil / Solly / Lionel / Jourdemayne Griffiths Crown Court (1973, 1975–1976) – Arnold Curl / Victor Garniss Ransom (1974) – Lookout Pilot – George Rawlings Whodunnit? (1976) – Chuck James (episode Dead Grass) Minder (1982, 1991) – Lenny Bowman / Monty Howards' Way (1985) – Bernie Rosen Casualty (1986, 2004, 2018) – Dimitri / Gordon Dodds / Joseph Rogerson Bergerac (1987) – Toby Newsom Edge of Sanity (1989) – Coroner You Rang, M'Lord? (1990) – Sea Captain The Bill (1990, 2003, 2007) – Mr Glickstein / Harry Davies / Henryk Mitzibrowski Jeeves and Wooster (1991) – Proprietor Goodnight Sweetheart (1993) – Manny Lovejoy (1993) – Leo EastEnders (1995–1997) – Felix Kawalski The Discovery of Heaven (2001) – Ibrahim My Family (2004) – Gino Holby City (2006, 2009) – Ronnie Shussett / David Mannstein Doctors (2009, 2017) – Ralph Freedman / Theo Parry M.I.High (2011) – Harry Fulson Friday Night Dinner (2012, 2014) – Lou Anthony Morris, "Mr Morris" Way to Go (2013) – Mr Rothstein Edge of Tomorrow (2014) – Old Man 3