Geoffrey Bayldon

English actor (1924–2017)

Geoffrey Bayldon
Bayldon in 2009
Born	Albert Geoffrey Bayldon (1924-01-07)7 January 1924 Leeds, England
Died	10 May 2017(2017-05-10) (aged 93) Barnes, London^[1]
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1952–2010
Partner	Alan Rowe (died 2000)

Albert Geoffrey Bayldon^[2] (7 January 1924 – 10 May 2017)^[3] was an English actor.^[4] After playing roles in many stage productions, including the works of William Shakespeare, he became known for portraying the title role of the children's series Catweazle (1969–70).^[5] Bayldon's other long-running parts include the Crowman in Worzel Gummidge (1979–81) and Magic Grandad in the BBC television series Watch (1995).^[6]

Early life

Bayldon was born 7 January 1924^[3] in Leeds and attended Bridlington School and Hull College of Architecture.^[7] Following service in the Royal Air Force during World War II, he appeared in amateur theatricals and then trained at the Old Vic Theatre School.^[8]

Career

Bayldon enjoyed a substantial stage career, including work in the West End and for the RSC.^[9]^[10] He made several film appearances in the 1960s and 1970s, including King Rat (1965), To Sir, with Love (1967), Casino Royale (as Q) (1967), the Envy segment of The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins (1971), the Marc Bolan/T. Rex film Born to Boogie (1972), The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976), as well as the film versions of Steptoe and Son, Steptoe and Son Ride Again (1973) as the vicar, and Porridge (1979) as the Prison Governor.

Bayldon also appeared in several horror films; Dracula and Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed for Hammer Films and The House That Dripped Blood, Asylum and Tales from the Crypt for Amicus.^[4] In 2004, after many years of successful television work he appeared in the film Ladies in Lavender.^[11]

He appeared in Doctor Who with a guest appearance as Organon in The Creature from the Pit (1979) opposite Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor.^[12] Subsequently, he played an alternative First Doctor in two audio plays based on the Doctor Who television series by Big Finish Productions in the Doctor Who Unbound series: Auld Mortality (2003) and A Storm of Angels (2005).^[13] In 1963, Bayldon had been one of the first actors offered the role of the Doctor.^[14]

Bayldon's other television roles include, ITV Play of the Week (1957, 1959, 1964, 1967), The Avengers (1961 and 1967), Z-Cars (1963, 1968), Theatre 625 (1964–1968), The Wednesday Play (1968, 1969), ITV Sunday Night Theatre (1970, 1972), Space: 1999 (1976), The Tomorrow People (1976), Tales of the Unexpected (1980, 1983), Blott on the Landscape (1985), Star Cops (1987), Rumpole of the Bailey (1987), The Chronicles of Narnia (1989).^[15] He later took part in a number of BBC Schools programmes,^[16] where he displayed a number of otherwise unexploited talents (such as singing). In 1993, he played Simplicio in the Open University video Newton's Revolution.^[17]

In 1986, Bayldon provided the vocals on Paul Hardcastle's "The Wizard" which was also used (without the vocal) as the theme for BBC1's Top of the Pops.^[18]^[19]

Among his later television appearances were the Five game show Fort Boyard (1998–2001), Waking the Dead (2004), Heartbeat (2004) and Casualty (2006, after previous appearances in 1991, 1997 and 2004).^[15] His final television appearances, before his retirement, were New Tricks (2007) and My Family (2010).^[20]

Death

Bayldon died on 10 May 2017, aged 93, from undisclosed causes.^[21] He was predeceased by his partner, actor Alan Rowe, who died in 2000.

TV and film credits

The Stranger Left No Card (1952) as Hotel - Receptionist
Trent's Last Case (1952) as Reporter in Court (uncredited)
Sword of Freedom TV series (Episode, The Ship, 1957) as The Physician
Sword of Freedom TV series (Episode, The Lion and the Mouse, 1957) as Luigi
Sword of Freedom TV series (Episode, A Choice of Weapons, 1957) as Muzio
OSS TV series (Episode, Operation Dagger, 1957) as Abwehr Lieutenant
The Adventures of Robin Hood TV series (Episode, The Angry Village, 1957) as Cal
The Adventures of Robin Hood TV series (Episode, The Genius, 1958) as Count De Severne
The Camp on Blood Island (1958) as Foster – New Prisoner (uncredited)
Dracula (1958) as Porter
A Night to Remember (1958) as Wireless Operator Cyril Evans – Californian
The Two-Headed Spy (1958) as Dietz
Whirlpool (1959) as Wendel
Idol on Parade (1959) as Record Producer. (uncredited)
The Rough and the Smooth (1959) as Ransom
Libel (1959) as Second Photographer
Cone of Silence (1960) as Aircraft Controller (uncredited)
The Day They Robbed the Bank of England (1960) as The Bombardier bartender (uncredited)
An Age of Kings (miniseries, 1960) as Edmund of York / Worcester / Chief Justice
Man from Interpol (Episode, The International Diamond Incident, 1960) as Freddie
Suspect (1960) as Rosson
You Can't Win TV series (Episode, Epitaph on a Tin, 1961) as Mr Wishart
The Avengers (Episode, The Deadly Air, 1961) as Professor Kilbride
Greyfriars Bobby (1961) as The Vicar (uncredited)
Disneyland (Episode, The Prince and the Pauper: The Pauper King, 1962) as Sir Goeffrey
The Winter's Tale (1962) as Antigonus
The Webster Boy (1962) as Charlies Jamieson
Jigsaw (1962) as Constable at Murder Scene (uncredited)
The Longest Day (1962) as Officer at Eisenhower Briefing (uncredited)
The Amorous Prawn (1962) as 2nd Telephone – Operator
55 Days at Peking (1963) as Smythe
Z-Cars (Alarm Call, 1963) as Blake
Bomb in the High Street (1963) as Clay
Becket (1964) as Brother Philip (uncredited)
Detective (End of Chapter, 1964) as Stephen Protheroe
The Saint (The Scorpion, 1964) as Wilfred Garniman
Ghost Squad (Rich Ruby Wine, 1964) as Hartmann
The Massingham Affair (6 episodes, 1964) as Mr Lumley
Danger Man (A Very Dangerous Game, 1965) as Dickinson
Play of the Month (Luther, 1965) as Cajetan
King Rat (1965) as Squadron Leader Vexley
Life at the Top (1965) as Industrial Psychologist
Dead Man's Chest (1965) as Lane
Sky West and Crooked (1966) as Rev. Phillip Moss
Theatre 625 (The Family Reunion, 1966)
Where the Spies Are (1966) as Lecturer
The Saint (The Art Collectors, 1967) as Marcel Legrand
Theatre 625 (Incantation of Casanova, 1967) as Don Antonio Capitani
The Avengers (Escape in Time, 1967) as Clapham
Casino Royale (1967) as Q
Theatre 625 (Kittens Are Brave, 1967) as Gordon Shiplake
To Sir, with Love (1967) as Theo Weston
Two a Penny (1968) as Alec Fitch
Theatre 625 (To See How Far It Is, 1968) as Palmer
Assignment K (1968) as The Boffin
Inspector Clouseau (1968) as Gutch
A Dandy in Aspic (1968) as Lake
The Wednesday Play as Mr Mileson ("A Night with Mrs Da Tanka", 1968)
The First Lady ("King of Furness", 1968) as Albert Craig
Play of the Month (Saint Joan, 1968) as Archbishop of Rheims
Z-Cars (Breakdown: Part 1 & 2, 1968) as Mr Smayles
Otley (1968) as Inspector Hewett
The Wednesday Play ("A Child and a Half", 1969) as Henry Ramsden
Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969) as Police Doctor
Journey to the Unknown (1969) as Mr Plimmer (Episode "The Last Visitor")
Special Branch ("The Promised Land", 1969) as Alex Rushmer
The Bushbaby (1969) as Tilison
Codename (Opening Gambit, 1970) as Blair
Danton (1970) as Couthon
Scrooge (1970) as Pringle
Say Hello to Yesterday (1971) as Makelaar, Estate Agent
The Raging Moon (1971) as Mr Latbury
The House That Dripped Blood (1971) as Theo Von Hartmann (segment 4, "The Cloak")
Catweazle (26 episodes, 1970–1971) as Catweazle
Play of the Month (Platonov', 1971) as Sergei Voinitsev
The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins (1971) as Vernon (segment "Envy")
Tales from the Crypt (1972) as Guide
Van der Valk ("Blue Notes", 1972) as Joseph Kettner
Au Pair Girls (1972) as Mr Howard
Asylum (1972) as Max (segment: "Mannikins of Horror")
Born To Boogie (1972) as Waiter
The Adventures of Black Beauty (The Viking Helmet: Parts 1 & 2, 1972) as Professor Miles
The Strauss Family (Revolution, 1972) as Schlumberger
The Pathfinders ("Unusual Ally", 1973) as Dr Pers Anderson
Special Branch ("All the King's Men", 1973) as Sumner
Gawain and the Green Knight (1973) as Wiseman
Steptoe and Son Ride Again (1973) as Vicar
Armchair Theatre ("That Sinking Feeling", 1973) as Uncle Norman
Orson Welles Great Mysteries (The Ingenious Reporter, 1973) as Magistrate
Napoleon and Love (miniseries, 1974) as Prince van Mecklenburg
Alice Through the Looking-Glass (television film, 1974) as White Knight
Comedy Playhouse (Franklyn and Johnnie, 1974) as Franklyn Sims
Play of the Month ("The Wood Demon", 1974) as Dyadin
Crown Court ("The Murder Monitor", 1975)
Edward the King (miniseries, 1975) as Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman
The Slipper and the Rose (1976) as Archbishop
Space: 1999 – Number Eight ("One Moment of Humanity", 1976)
BBC2 Playhouse (The Mind Beyond: The Man with the Power, 1976) as Mr Smythe
The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) as Dr. Claude Duval
Charleston (1977) as Uncle Fred
Just William (1977 TV series) ("William's Lucky Day", 1977) as Great Man
The Duchess of Duke Street ("Shadows", 1977) as Collinghurst
Sky Hunter (1978) as Mr Charles Trim
The Famous Five ("Five Go to Billycock Hill", 1978) as Mr Gringle
All Creatures Great and Small ("Pride of Possession", 1978) as Roland Partridge
Worzel Gummidge (1979–81) as The Crowman
Porridge (1979) as the Prison Governor
Doctor Who ("The Creature from the Pit", 1979) as Organon
Cribb (Something Old, Something New, 1980) as Oom Ezra Winter
Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson ("The Case of the Deadly Tower", 1980) as Hadlock
Tales of the Unexpected ("Fat Chance", 1980) as Dr Applegate
The Monster Club (1981) as Psychiatrist
Lady Killers (My Perfect Husband, 1981) as Dr. French
Juliet Bravo ("Journeys", 1981) as Jack Lord
Bergerac ("Relative Values", 1981) as Henry Bernard
Tales of the Unexpected ("Down Among the Sheltering Palms", 1983) as Sid
Hallelujah! ("Counselling" and "Luncheon Club", both 1983) as Mr Sedgewick
Bullshot (1983) as Colonel Hinchcliff
All Creatures Great and Small 1983 Christmas special (television film, 1983) as Mr Mason
Hallelujah! (A Goose for Mrs Scratchit, 1984) as Jacob Marley
Blott on the Landscape (miniseries, 1985) as Ganglion
Hold the Back Page ("Fathers, Sons and Lovers", 1985)
In Loving Memory ("Up in the World", 1986) as Balloonist
All Passion Spent (television film, 1986) as William
Cause célèbre (television film, 1987) as Humphreys
Rumpole of the Bailey ("Rumpole and the Judge's Elbow", 1987) as Brinsley Lampitt
Star Cops ("Other People's Secrets", 1987) as Ernest Wolfhartt
The Storyteller ("Sapsorrow", 1988) as Koning
Madame Sousatzka (1988) as Mr Cordle
The Tenth Man (television film, 1988)
Dramarama (The Pisces Connection, 1989) as Visser
All Creatures Great and Small ("Where Sheep May Safely Graze", 1989) as Geoff Hatfield
Prince Caspian and the Voyage of the Dawn Treader (television film, 1989) as Ramandu
Campion – Rev Swithin Cush ("Mystery Mile: Part 1", 1990)
Van der Valk ("The Little Rascals", 1991) as Nicolas Meijers
l'Amore necessario (1991) as Bernardo
Casualty (Facing Up, 1991) as Duncan Frain
Soldier Soldier (Further Education, 1994) as Jack Knight
Tom & Viv (1994) as Harwent
Asterix in America (1994) as Getafix (English version, voice)
Magic Grandad (1995) as Magic Grandad
Last of the Summer Wine ("Adopted by a Stray", 1995) as Mr Broadbent
Wycliffe ("Wild Oats", 1995) as Gilbert Rawle
Pie in the Sky ("Black Pudding", 1995) as Seymour Flint
The Biz (1995, TV Series) as Markov
Faith in the Future ("Art Lovers", 1996) as Mr. Quigley
Casualty ("Déjà Vu", 1997) as Alby James
Casualty ("A Taste of Freedom", 1997) as James Ellington
Wycliffe ("Old Crimes, New Times", 1997) as Rechter
Heat of the Sun (miniseries, 1998) as Rafe Goodwin
Heartbeat ("Spellbound", 1998) as Follett
Peak Practice ("Once in a Lifetime" and "A Change of View", both 1998) as Alby James
Where the Heart Is ("Love", 1998) as Edward Smith
Asterix & Obelix Take On Caesar (1999) as Additional voice (voice, uncredited)
Midsomer Murders (Blue Herrings, 2000) as Arthur Prewitt
Where the Heart Is ("Relative Strangers", 2002) as Wally Vernon
Fort Boyard (1998–2001) as Professor
Looking for Victoria (television film, 2003) as Sir Henry Ponsonby
Ladies in Lavender (2004) as Mr Penhaligan
Waking the Dead (In Sight of the Lord, 2004) as Edward Atkinson
Casualty ("Inside Out", 2004) as Ralph Michaels
Heartbeat ("Money, Money, Money", 2004) as Gilbert Percy
Casualty ("Needle", 2006) as Wilf Simpson
New Tricks ("God's Waiting Room", 2007) as Leonard Casey
My Family (The Son'll Come Out, 2010) as Joe (final appearance)

References

^ "ALBERT GEOFFREY BAYLDON Deceased". RangersReview. Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 anyone having a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the deceased, late of 8 Sherwood Close, Barnes, London, SWI3 OJD, who died on 10/05/2017, must send written particulars to the address below by 16/11/2017, after which date the Estate will be distributed having regard only to claims and interests notified.
^ "findmypast.co.uk". search.findmypast.co.uk.
^ ^a ^b Passantino, Dom (11 May 2017). "Geoffrey Bayldon, beloved star of Catweazle, dead at 93". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
^ ^a ^b "Geoffrey Bayldon". Archived from the original on 19 March 2017.
^ "Geoffrey Bayldon, star of Catweazle and Worzel Gummidge, dies at 93". The Telegraph. 11 May 2017.
^ Saunders, Emmeline (11 May 2017). "Worzel Gummidge star Geoffrey Bayldon dies at the age of 93". Daily Mirror.
^ "Obituary – Geoffrey Bayldon, actor and star of Catweazle". The Herald. Glasgow. 13 May 2017.
^ Alan Curthoys & John Doyle (1985). Who's Who on Television, 1st Edition. Independent Television Books Ltd. ISBN 978-0-900727-72-6.
^ McFarlane, Brian (16 May 2016). The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9781526111968 – via Google Books.
^ "Geoffrey Bayldon - Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
^ "Geoffrey Bayldon – Movies and Filmography – AllMovie". AllMovie.
^ "The Creature from the Pit ★★".
^ "Doctor Who – Unbound – Released Items – Ranges – Big Finish". bigfinish.com.
^ Mason, Peter (11 May 2017). "Geoffrey Bayldon obituary". The Guardian.
^ ^a ^b TV.com. "Geoffrey Bayldon". TV.com. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
^ "Look and Read/Sky Hunter – BroadcastForSchools.co.uk". broadcastforschools.co.uk.
^ Newton's revolution: understanding motion. 17 September 2017. OCLC 369882613.
^ "Catweazle actor Geoffrey Bayldon dies aged 93". 12 May 2017. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
^ "Paul Hardcastle – The Wizard (Extended Version)". discogs. 1986.
^ "Worzel Gummidge and Catweazel star Geoffrey Bayldon dies aged 93". Independent.co.uk. 11 May 2017.
^ "Geoffrey Bayldon: Catweazle actor dies aged 93". BBC News. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2021.