John Robinson

John Robinson (11 November 1908 – 6 March 1979 ) was an English actor, who was particularly active in the theatre. Mostly cast in minor and supporting roles in film and television, he is best remembered for being the second actor to play the famous television science-fiction role of Professor Bernard Quatermass, in the 1955 BBC Television serial Quatermass II.

Biography Robinson was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England. In 1939, he played Fortinbras in John Gielgud's production of Hamlet, the final play to be performed at the Lyceum Theatre before its closure.

He made his film debut in 1936 in The Scarab Murder Case, and during the 1930s he also began appearing on radio and in the newer medium of television. With only a short amount of time to cast a replacement, director Rudolph Cartier offered Robinson the role, as the only suitable actor available. In the 1960s, Robinson starred in another science-fiction series, R3, which had some similarities to Quatermass.

Death Robinson died of cancer in London in March 1979, aged 70.

Partial filmography The Heirloom Mystery (1936) - Dick Marriott The Scarab Murder Case (1936) (lost) - Donald Scarlett All That Glitters (1936) - Taylor Farewell to Cinderella (1937) - Stephen Moreley Q Planes (1939) - Pilot (uncredited) The Lion Has Wings (1939) - Unnamed Character Under Your Hat (1940) - Performer Uneasy Terms (1948) - Brighton Detective Inspector The Story of Shirley Yorke (1948) - Dr. Bruce Napier Hammer the Toff (1952) - Linnett Emergency Call (1952) - Dr. Braithwaite Ghost Ship (1952) - Prof. Mansel Martineau Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) - Small Role (uncredited) The Constant Husband (1955) - Secretary Fortune Is a Woman (1957) - Berkeley Reckitt The Safecracker (1958) - Assistant Chief of Staff The Doctor's Dilemma (1958) - Sir Colenso Ridgeon And the Same to You (1960) - Archdeacon Humphrey Pomphret The Longest Day (1962) - Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay (uncredited) Lawrence of Arabia (1962) - Infantry General at Field Briefing (uncredited) Nothing but the Night (1973) - Lord Fawnlee