Nigel Stock

Nigel Stock (21 September 1919 – 23 June 1986) was a British actor who played character roles in many films and television dramas. He played Dr. Watson in the BBC's television adaptations of the Sherlock Holmes stories between 1964 and 1968, and is known for his supporting roles as a solidly reliable English soldier or bureaucrat in several war and historical film dramas. He also played the title role in Owen, M.D. (1971—73) , and Hoofd-commissaris Samson in Van der Valk. He appeared in noted films such as Brighton Rock, The Dam Busters, Victim and The Great Escape.

Early life Stock was born in Malta, the son of an Army captain. He grew up in India before attending St Paul's School, London and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where he earned the Leverhulme Exhibition, Northcliffe Scholarship, and the Principal's Medal.

Military service Stock served in the Second World War with the London Irish Rifles and the Assam Regiment of the Indian Army in Burma, China and Kohima. He was honourably discharged with the rank of Major, having twice been mentioned in dispatches. His start in films came with uncredited bit parts in The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1938) and Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939). In 1937 he made his first credited film appearance in Lancashire Luck.

After his wartime service, Stock returned to acting. His film appearances included popular releases such as Brighton Rock (1947), The Dam Busters (1955), Victim (1961), The Great Escape (1963), The Lion in Winter and The Lost Continent (both 1968), and Russian Roulette (1975).

Between 1964 and 1968, Stock became a household name in the UK for his portrayal of Dr. Watson in a series of Sherlock Holmes dramas for BBC television. Later in life, he portrayed the mentor of Sherlock Holmes in Young Sherlock Holmes.

Stock and his third wife, Richenda Carey, had just appeared together on stage in the world premiere of Mumbo Jumbo in May 1986, when, on 23 June 1986, he died of a heart attack, aged 66.

Radio Giles Cooper - The return of General Forefinger (1961) Wimsey - Have His Carcase (BBC radio; 1981) as Inspector Umpelty Space Force (1984–85) as Magnus Carter 221B (1986) as Dr Watson

Selected filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1936 The Man Who Could Work Miracles Office Boy uncredited 1937 Lancashire Luck Joe Lovejoy1938 Break the News Stage Boy uncredited Luck of the Navy uncredited 1939 Goodbye, Mr. Chips John Forrester uncredited Sons of the Sea Rudd1947 It Always Rains on Sunday Ted Edwards Brighton Rock Cubitt 1951 The Lady with a Lamp George Winch 1952 Derby Day Jim Molloy1953 Appointment in London Co-Pilot uncredited Malta Story Giuseppe Gonzar aka Ricardi 1954 Aunt Clara Charles Willis1955 The Night My Number Came Up The Pilot The Dam Busters Flying / Off. F. M. Spafford, D.F.C., D.F.M.1956 Eyewitness Barney The Battle of the River Plate Chief Officer, Tairoa, Prisoner on Graf Spee uncredited 1958 The Silent Enemy Able Seaman Fraser 1960 Never Let Go Regan 1961 Victim Phip1962 H.M.S. Defiant Senior Midshipman Kilpatrick The Password Is Courage Cole 1963 The Great Escape Flt. Lt. Dennis Cavendish "The Surveyor"1964 Nothing but the Best Ferris Weekend at Dunkirk Un soldat brûlé The High Bright Sun Lt. Col. N. Park 1967 The Night of the Generals Otto1968 The Lost Continent Dr. Webster The Lion in Winter William Marshal 1970 Cromwell Sir Edward Hyde 1973 Bequest to the Nation George Matcham1975 Russian Roulette Ferguson Operation Daybreak General 1980 The Mirror Crack'd Inspector Gates 'Murder at Midnight' 1983 Yellowbeard Admiral 1985 Young Sherlock Holmes Rupert T. Waxflatter

Television Year Title Role Notes1960 No Hiding Place Sergeant Ward Episode: "Trial and Error" Police Surgeon Harry Davis Episode: "Wilful Neglect"1963 The Saint Jim Chase Episode: The Invisible Millionaire Edgar Wallace Mysteries George Matthews Episode: "To Have an to Hold" Lorna Doone Jeremy Stickles 7 episodes1964 Espionage Harry Forbes Episode: "Medal for a Turned Coat"1964-6 The Avengers Vladimir Petrov Sergeivitch Zalenko/Richard Carylon 2 episodes 1964-8 Sherlock Holmes Dr. Watson 29 episodes 1965 Danger Man Major Bert Barrington Episode: "Loyalty Always Pays"1966 Doctor Finlay's Casebook General Hannon Episode: "The General" Out of the Unknown Charles Dennistoun Episode: "Second Childhood"1967 Adam Adamant Lives! Oliver Meadows Episode: "The Deadly Bullet" The Prisoner The Colonel Episode: "Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling" 1970 Doomwatch Commander Charles Keeping Episode: "Project Sahara" 1970-1 The Doctors Dr. Thomas Owen 77 episodes 1971-3 Owen, M.D. Dr. Thomas Owen 63 episodes 1972 Colditz Gestapo Officer Episode: "Name, Rank and Number" 1974 Fall of Eagles General Alexeiev Episode: "Tell the King the Sky is Falling"1975 Churchill's People General Howe Episode: "Mutiny" The Main Chance George Fisher Episode: "When There's No Law" Quiller Loman 2 episodes1976 The Expert Sir Charles Lamborey Episode: "Inheritance" Softly, Softly: Task Force Dr. Tadman Episode: "Alarums and Excursions" 1977 Van der Valk Samson 12 episodes 1979 Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Roddy Martindale Episode: "Return to the Circus"1980 A Tale of Two Cities Jarvis Lorry 7 episodes The Good Companions Robert Fauntley Episode: "Supper at the Royal Standard"1981 Triangle Wally James 15 episodes Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years Admiral Domville Episode: "His Own Funeral" 1981-2 Yes Minister Sir Mark Spencer 2 episodes 1982 Doctor Who Professor Hayter Serial: "Time-Flight" 1985 The Pickwick Papers Samuel Pickwick Miniseries 1986 Unnatural Causes The Rev Davidson Episode: "Blood Hunt"1987 Worlds Beyond Clifford Barrington Episode: "The Barrington Case" Knights of God Brother Simon 7 episodes