John Grieve (14 June 1924 – 21 January 2003) was a Scottish actor, best known as the engineer Macphail in the BBC adaptation of Neil Munro's Para Handy stories, Para Handy - Master Mariner (1959–60), returning to that role in the BBC Scotland version, The Vital Spark (1965–67, 1973–74).[1]
John Grieve | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 14 June 1924 |
| Died | 21 January 2003 (aged 78) Glasgow, Scotland |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Occupation | Actor |
Born in Maryhill, Glasgow, Grieve attended the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, before joining the Citizens Theatre in 1951.[1][2] Grieve worked in variety alongside many familiar Scottish comedians, including Stanley Baxter and Jimmy Logan.[3] Although principally known for his comic roles, he appeared in drama films such as The Thirty-Nine Steps (1978), Eye of the Needle (1981) and the BBC docudrama Square Mile of Murder (1980).[4][5] His stage roles include the part of the King's Jester in the premier of The Burning (1971) by Stewart Conn.
He had a brief recurring role as Frank Marker's probation officer in the Thames Television series Public Eye.[6] He played Sandy Duncanson in BBC's adaptation of Neil Munro's The New Road, in a BBC drama about the Union of the Parliaments in 1707 he played John Hamilton, 2nd Lord Belhaven and Stenton who delivered a controversial speech against the Union, and appeared on BBC Scotland's Hogmanay celebrations,[7][8] one of which (Into '85) was broadcast nationally from Gleneagles and became notorious for Grieve, apparently worse the wear with alcohol, unable to recite a brief poem and collapsing into laughter, along with other shambolic incidents featured in the same programme. The BBC as a result did not broadcast Hogmanay-themed programmes thereafter.[9][10]
He appeared in two episodes (eleven years apart) in the television series All Creatures Great and Small as Dr. Harry Allinson,[11] whose practice was next door to Skeldale House.
Theatre edit
| Year | Title | Role | Company | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Kidnapped | Cluny MacPherson | Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh | Bill Bryden | adaptation by Keith Dewhurst |
Filmography edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | The 39 Steps | Lowrie - Sheep Herder | Uncredited |
| 1961 | Don't Bother to Knock | Bus Conductor | |
| 1978 | The Thirty Nine Steps | P.C. Forbes | |
| 1981 | Eye of the Needle | Inspector Kincaid |
References edit
- ^ a b "John Grieve Actor who put the character into comedy and who engineered a comedy classic". HeraldScotland.
- ^ "John Grieve | Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
- ^ "John Grieve from The Gazetteer for Scotland". www.scottish-places.info.
- ^ "John Grieve | Movies and Filmography". AllMovie.
- ^ "Square Mile of Murder". 12 June 1980. p. 58 – via BBC Genome.
- ^ "BFI Screenonline: Public Eye (1965-75)". www.screenonline.org.uk.
- ^ "The New Road Part 5 A Balance of Accounts (1973)". BFI. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021.
- ^ "A New Year Party at The White Heather Club". 1 January 1963. p. 21 – via BBC Genome.
- ^ Five… Four… Three… Two… One! Off The Telly, Steve Williams.January 2001.
- ^ Joy of Six: Memorable Christmas and New Year TV events The Guardian, Scott Murray. 24 December 2008. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
- ^ "Bulldog Breed (1978)". BFI. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020.
External links edit
- John Grieve at IMDb
