Kynaston Reeves

Philip Arthur Reeves (29 May 18935 December 1971), known professionally as Kynaston Reeves, was an English character actor who appeared in numerous films and many television plays and series.

Early life Reeves was born in London on 29 May 1893 and was the first of two sons of Arthur Robert Reeves (born 1855) and Clarissa Mary Kynaston (b. 1864). His brother was John Edward.

He was married to the Australian Jewish stage actress Paula Sabina. They had two children, Thomas and Suzanne.

Career Philip Arthur Reeves, professionally known as P. Kynaston Reeves or Kynaston Reeves, took his mother's maiden name as a middle name

After playing the Reverend Edmund Ovington opposite Otto Kruger in the 1938 film, Housemaster, Reeves developed a speciality for portraying authority figures, such as judges, doctors, professors and clergymen.

Television was to provide a valuable source of income. In 1950, Reeves was invited to perform the character of Mr Growser in a BBC Television children's show, The Cruise of The Toytown Belle.

This led to further work for the children's department at the BBC, namely in adaptations of Shakespeare's The Tempest (as Alonso, King of Naples) and Philip Wade's Jenny Meade (as Mr Steele), both produced in 1951.

Reeves was then offered one of his most notable acting parts on television, namely that of Henry Quelch, form master to the 'Fat Owl of the Remove', Billy Bunter, in the long-running television series Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School. He recorded six episodes in 1952, after which fellow actors Raf De La Torre, John Woodnutt and Jack Melford began sharing the portrayal of this supporting character. Making just a single episode in 1954 ("Bunter Won't Go"), Reeves then returned to reprise the performance for two more episodes in 1956, and a further four in 1957, following which he gave up the role.

In 1959 he played the Duke of Omnium in all six episodes of another series from the BBC, The Eustace Diamonds, adapted from the novel by Anthony Trollope about the London society scandal caused in the 19th century when a diamond necklace goes missing. but would go on to play an entirely different character called Dickens in the 1968 screening of "Legacy Of Death", by which time Linda Thorson was portraying John Steed's female sidekick.

Reeves also appeared in seven of 26 episodes of the classic BBC television series The Forsyte Saga, broadcast in early 1967, playing Nicholas Forsyte. During a period of steady cinematic work, he also found time to portray a "testy old millionaire" in Carry On Regardless in 1961.

A year before his death in 1971, he made both his final television appearance and his last film. In a dramatic enactment during an edition of the BBC arts magazine Omnibus, he took the part of French painter Renoir in a piece entitled "A Requiem for Modigliani", describing the final part of the Italian artist's life, and his love affairs. And in the cinema, he fulfilled a small role in The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, the 1970 film which starred Robert Stephens and Geneviève Page.

Death Reeves died of cerebral thrombosis in Lewisham, London, on 5 December 1971, at the age of 78.

Selected filmography

Many Waters (1931) – Minor Role (uncredited) Frail Women (1932) – (uncredited) The Sign of the Four (1932) – Bartholomew Sholto (uncredited) The Lodger (1932) – Bob Mitchell Puppets of Fate (1933) – John Heath The Crimson Candle (1934) – Inspector Blunt The Broken Melody (1934) – Colonel Fitzroy Jew Süss (1934) – (uncredited) Vintage Wine (1935) – Benedict Popinot Dark World (1935) – John Take a Chance (1937) – Blinkers Grayson A Romance in Flanders (1937) – Major Burke Housemaster (1938) – The Rev. Ovington The Citadel (1938) – Doctor (uncredited) The Outsider (1939) – Sir Montague Tollemach Dead Men are Dangerous (1939) – James Franklin Inspector Hornleigh (1939) – Dr. Manners Sons of the Sea (1939) – Prof Devar The Stars Look Down (1940) – Strother The Flying Squad (1940) – Magistrate Two for Danger (1940) – Dr. George Frencham The Prime Minister (1941) – Lord Stanley (uncredited) This England (1941) – (uncredited) The Young Mr. Pitt (1942) – Minor Role (uncredited) They Met in the Dark (1943) – Naval Officer in Charge of Court Martial The Night Invader (1943) – Sir Michael Strawberry Roan (1944) – Horse Dealer Murder in Reverse (1945) – Crossley King's Counsel The Rake's Progress (1945) – Oxford Dean (uncredited) The Echo Murders (1945) – Beales Bedelia (1946) – Mr. Bennett This Was a Woman (1948) – Dr. Morrison Vice Versa (1948) – Dr. Chawner Counterblast (1948) – Lucas' Butler (uncredited) The Weaker Sex (1948) – Captain Dishart The Guinea Pig (1948) – The Bishop The Winslow Boy (1948) – Lord Chief Justice Badger's Green (1949) – Dr. Wetherby For Them That Trespass (1949) – The Judge (uncredited) Madness of the Heart (1949) – Sir Robert Hammond The Twenty Questions Murder Mystery (1950) – Gen. Maitland Madeleine (1950) – Dr. Penny Tony Draws a Horse (1950) – Dr. Bletchley Trio (1950) – Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited) Blackout (1950) – Mr. Dale The Mudlark (1950) – General Sir Ponsonby (uncredited) Smart Alec (1951) – Uncle Edward Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. (1951) – Adm. Lord Hood Song of Paris (1952) – Vicar Penny Princess (1952) – Burgomaster – Policeman Top Secret (1952) – Barworth Director Top of the Form (1953) – The Dean Laxdale Hall (1953) – Rev. Ian Macaulay Four Sided Triangle (1953) – Lord Grant Eight O'Clock Walk (1954) – Mr. Munro The Crowded Day (1954) – Mr. Ronson Burnt Evidence (1954) – Pathologist Fun at St. Fanny's (1955) – Mc. Tavish Guilty? – Colonel Wright Brothers in Law (1957) – Mr. Justice Lawson High Flight (1957) – Air Minister Fiend Without a Face (1958) – Prof. R.E. Walgate A Question of Adultery (1958) – Judge Carlton-Browne of the F.O. (1959) – Sir Arthur Carlton-Browne School for Scoundrels (1960) – General In the Nick (1960) – Judge The Night We Got the Bird (1961) – Mr. Warre-Monger Carry On Regardless (1961) – Sir Theodore Shadow of the Cat (1961) – The Grandfather Don't Bother to Knock (1961) – Neighbor Go to Blazes (1962) – 1st Clubman In the Doghouse (1961) – Colonel Hide and Seek (1964) – Hunter The Caramel Crisis (1966) Gates to Paradise (1968) – Superior Hot Millions (1968) – Quayle (uncredited) Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) – Willoughby (uncredited) The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970) – Old Man (uncredited)