Patrick Jordan obit

Patrick Jordan obituary

He was not on the list.

When the actor Patrick Jordan, who has died aged 96, was in Star Wars he had a choice. Did he want a guaranteed fee for his part as an Imperial Officer, or a tiny share of the royalties?

He got the part through his friend Alec Guinness with whom he had worked in the Old Vic theatre company in the 1940s. Jordan shared Guinness’s contempt for Star Wars, and was dubious about the film’s prospects, so he took the one-off fee. He regretted the decision ever after with rueful humour, claiming that had he chosen a cut he would never have had to work again.

As it was, he continued accepting whatever roles came his way. These included parts in some of the most popular TV series of the 1970s and 80s, including Minder, Angels, Terry and June, Shine on Harvey Moon, Poirot and a stint as Mr Darby in the ITV soap opera Crossroads. His last TV job came in a 1995 episode of The Bill.

Such work meant he was never away for long from the cottage in Alpheton, Suffolk, which he shared with his wife, Margery Gill, the prolific children’s book illustrator.

Paddy, as he was known, was usually around when called upon to pose for Margery’s drawings. Many of the men in her books had a Paddy look to them. He was also there to save her work when she occasionally threatened to burn it in frustration.

He was also my childhood neighbour and built me and my siblings a climbing frame, a go-kart and a swing in the back garden we shared.

The son of Albert, a regimental sergeant major who met his wife, Margaret, when she was a cook in the officers’ mess, Paddy was born and grew up in Harrow, north London. He met Margery in a bookshop in 1943, when he was a drama student. They married three years later and went on to have two daughters. After the second world war he joined the Old Vic company when it was performing at the New Theatre while the bomb-damaged Old Vic was being restored.

He appeared alongside Guinness and Renée Asherson in Taming of the Shrew, and was directed by Ralph Richardson in Richard II. Paddy corresponded with Asherson until her death in 2014, and reflected that they were last two actors still living from that celebrated company.

Paddy secured roles in a number of war films, notably The Battle of the River Plate (1956), The Longest Day (1962), The Heroes of Telemark (1965), Play Dirty (1969) and Too Late the Hero (1970). He played dependable soldiers who were also expendable – his characters tended to be shot quite soon after they appeared on screen. A scar on his right cheek gave him added authenticity in these roles.

He got the scar as a boy playing bows and arrows with his two brothers in the street near the family home. He would vividly act out what happened and how his mother fainted when her youngest son came to her with an arrow sticking out of his cheek.

Margery died in 2008. He is survived by his daughter, Tessa, four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. His other daughter, Ros, predeceased him.

Selected filmography

    Actor

Colin Blumenau, Nula Conwell, Peter Ellis, Trudie Goodwin, Jon Iles, Gary Olsen, Eric Richard, John Salthouse, Tony Scannell, Jeff Stewart, Mark Wingett, and Delia Swan in The Bill (1984)

The Bill

6.7

TV Series

Geoffrey Corbett

Asst. Commissioner

1991–1995

2 episodes

 

Wycliffe and the Cycle of Death (1993)

Wycliffe and the Cycle of Death

6.8

TV Movie

Col. Armitage

1993

 

David Suchet in Poirot (1989)

Poirot

8.6

TV Series

Tredwell

1989

1 episode

 

Noele Gordon in Crossroads (1964)

Crossroads

4.4

TV Series

Mr. Darby

Mr Darby

Det. Insp. Lindsay ...

1979–1988

14 episodes

 

Paradise Postponed (1986)

Paradise Postponed

8.0

TV Mini Series

Brooks

1986

3 episodes

 

Daniel Day-Lewis in My Brother Jonathan (1985)

My Brother Jonathan

7.4

TV Series

Mr. Martyn

1985

1 episode

 

Lifeforce (1985)

Lifeforce

6.1

Communications Officer (voice, uncredited)

1985

 

Samson and Delilah

5.9

Short

Sergeant

1985

 

Boswell's London Journal

TV Mini Series

Porter

1984

1 episode

 

Andrew Robertson and Michael Wynne in Cold Warrior (1984)

Cold Warrior

7.4

TV Series

Commander Betteridge

1984

1 episode

 

Bird of Prey 2 (1984)

Bird of Prey 2

8.4

TV Series

Mr. Miles

1984

1 episode

 

Kenneth Cranham in Shine on Harvey Moon (1982)

Shine on Harvey Moon

7.6

TV Series

Fireman

1984

1 episode

 

Hugh Lloyd in Jury (1983)

Jury

TV Series

William McCann

1983

1 episode

 

Squadron (1982)

Squadron

7.8

TV Series

Bradbury

1982

1 episode

 

Nanny (1981)

Nanny

8.1

TV Series

Hunt Master

1982

1 episode

 

Terry and June (1979)

Terry and June

6.4

TV Series

Eric

1981

1 episode

 

Julie Dawn Cole in Angels (1975)

Angels

6.6

TV Series

Tony

1980

2 episodes

 

Buccaneer

7.4

TV Series

Leary

1980

1 episode

 

George Cole in Minder (1979)

Minder

7.8

TV Series

Police Inspector

1979

1 episode

 

Anthony Andrews, Judy Geeson, Iain Cuthbertson, and Maurice Roëves in Danger UXB (1979)

Danger UXB

8.5

TV Series

Policeman

1979

1 episode

 

Accident

7.4

TV Series

Lionel Megson

1978–1979

6 episodes

 

Ian Ogilvy in Return of the Saint (1978)

Return of the Saint

6.7

TV Series

Insp. Sullivan

1978

1 episode

 

Julia Foster, Patrick Newell, and John Stride in Wilde Alliance (1978)

Wilde Alliance

7.5

TV Series

Adler

1978

1 episode

 

Barry Foster in Van der Valk (1972)

Van der Valk

7.1

TV Series

Barman

1977

1 episode

 

Paganini Strikes Again (1977)

Paganini Strikes Again

6.5

Jones

1977

 

The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976)

The Pink Panther Strikes Again

7.2

Detective

1976

 

It's Childsplay

TV Series

1976

1 episode

 

Killers

TV Series

Edward Heyman

1976

1 episode

 

Jack Warner in Dixon of Dock Green (1955)

Dixon of Dock Green

6.7

TV Series

Father MacMahon

Supt. Ramsey

Det. Insp. Parsons ...

1971–1976

5 episodes

 

Richard Chamberlain in The Slipper and the Rose: The Story of Cinderella (1976)

The Slipper and the Rose: The Story of Cinderella

6.9

Prince's Guard

1976

 

Phil Daniels, Ben Forster, Matthew Whiteman, and Julie Taylor in The Molly Wopsies (1976)

The Molly Wopsies

TV Series

Gypsy man

1976

1 episode

 

Margaret Ashcroft, Glynn Edwards, Anna Palk, John Stride, and John Wentworth in The Main Chance (1969)

The Main Chance

7.6

TV Series

Smith

Insp. Bertram

1972–1975

2 episodes

 

Brian Blessed, Diana Dors, Sinéad Cusack, Don Henderson, Freddie Jones, Nyree Dawn Porter, Robert Powell, and Dennis Waterman in Thriller (1973)

Thriller

7.8

TV Series

Inspector Turner

1975

1 episode

 

Julian Glover and Paul Daneman in Spy Trap (1972)

Spy Trap

8.8

TV Series

Hans Berndorf

1975

1 episode

 

The Way of the World

TV Movie

Coachman

1975

 

Colin Blakely and Michael Williams in The Hanged Man (1975)

The Hanged Man

7.5

TV Mini Series

Ernest Crichton (as Patrick Jordon)

1975

1 episode

 

Alfred Burke in Public Eye (1965)

Public Eye

8.5

TV Series

Barman

1975

1 episode

 

Norman Bowler, Stratford Johns, David Lloyd Meredith, and Frank Windsor in Softly Softly: Task Force (1969)

Softly Softly: Task Force

7.7

TV Series

Tate

1974

1 episode

 

The Nine Tailors (1974)

The Nine Tailors

8.1

TV Mini Series

Cranton

1974

4 episodes

 

Madhouse (1974)

Madhouse

6.2

Ship's Steward (uncredited)

1974

 

Judi Bowker in The Adventures of Black Beauty (1972)

The Adventures of Black Beauty

6.6

TV Series

Huntsman (uncredited)

1973

1 episode

 

Michael Gothard, Oliver Tobias, and Jack Watson in Arthur of the Britons (1972)

Arthur of the Britons

7.5

TV Series

Messenger

1973

1 episode

 

Nobody Is Norman Wisdom

8.0

TV Series

Androvitch

1973

1 episode

 

Stratford Johns and Frank Windsor in Jack the Ripper (1973)

Jack the Ripper

8.3

TV Mini Series

Police Officer

1973

1 episode

 

Special Branch (1969)

Special Branch

7.4

TV Series

Customs Official

1973

1 episode

 

Gene Barry, Barry Morse, and Catherine Schell in The Adventurer (1972)

The Adventurer

6.8

TV Series

Ryker

1973

1 episode

 

The Salzburg Connection (1972)

The Salzburg Connection

5.3

Richard Bryant

1972

 

Doomwatch (1970)

Doomwatch

7.3

TV Series

Lt. Commander Morrison

1972

1 episode

 

Tony Curtis and Roger Moore in The Persuaders! (1971)

The Persuaders!

8.0

TV Series

Pelli

1971

1 episode

 

Owen, M.D.

6.8

TV Series

Arthur Marvin

1971

2 episodes

 

Lesley-Anne Down in In the Devil's Garden (1971)

In the Devil's Garden

5.5

Sgt. Milton

1971

 

Ed Bishop in UFO (1970)

UFO

7.9

TV Series

Russian Base Cmdr.

1971

1 episode

 

Ian Bannen, George C. Scott, and Susannah York in Jane Eyre (1970)

Jane Eyre

6.4

TV Movie

Estate Agent

1970

 

Anthony Bate and Diana Coupland in Grady (1970)

Grady

TV Series

George Mitchell

1970

1 episode

 

Ursula Andress, David Warner, and Stanley Baker in Perfect Friday (1970)

Perfect Friday

6.4

Bank Guard

1970

 

The Amorous Adventures of a Young Postman (1970)

The Amorous Adventures of a Young Postman

3.2

Hartlieb von der Wies

1970

 

Man of Violence (1970)

Man of Violence

5.1

Mentobar Captain

1970

 

Too Late the Hero (1970)

Too Late the Hero

6.6

Sergeant Major

1970

 

The Last Escape (1970)

The Last Escape

5.1

Maj. Griggs

1970

 

ITV Playhouse (1967)

ITV Playhouse

6.9

TV Series

Det. Sgt. Brown

1970

1 episode

 

Kenneth Cope in My Partner the Ghost (1969)

My Partner the Ghost

7.7

TV Series

Smart

1969

1 episode

 

Stratford Johns in Softly Softly (1966)

Softly Softly

6.9

TV Series

Courtney

1968–1969

2 episodes

 

The Wednesday Play (1964)

The Wednesday Play

7.5

TV Series

Police constable

1969

1 episode

 

Michael Gambon and Iain Cuthbertson in The Borderers (1968)

The Borderers

8.3

TV Series

English Warden Sergeant

1969

1 episode

 

Play Dirty (1969)

Play Dirty

6.7

Maj. Alan Watkins

1969

 

Michael Jannie in Gold Is Where You Find It (1968)

Gold Is Where You Find It

5.8

Short

Insp. O'Regan

1968

 

The High Commissioner (1968)

The High Commissioner

6.0

Police Officer (uncredited)

1968

 

Man in a Suitcase (1967)

Man in a Suitcase

7.6

TV Series

Major Anderson

1968

1 episode

 

Patrick McGoohan in The Prisoner (1967)

The Prisoner

8.5

TV Series

Danvers

1967

1 episode

 

Ian Hendry and Jean Marsh in The Informer (1966)

The Informer

8.2

TV Series

Syd Heineken

1967

1 episode

 

Robbery (1967)

Robbery

6.9

Freddy (as Patrick Jordon)

1967

 

Thirty-Minute Theatre (1965)

Thirty-Minute Theatre

7.2

TV Series

Removal man

1967

1 episode

 

Sean Connery in You Only Live Twice (1967)

You Only Live Twice

6.8

Hong Kong Policeman #1 (uncredited)

1967

 

The Jokers (1967)

The Jokers

6.6

Plainclothes Policeman (uncredited)

1967

 

No Hiding Place (1959)

No Hiding Place

7.6

TV Series

George Mitchell

Ben Jordan

Sammy Taylor ...

1962–1967

4 episodes

 

Vendetta (1966)

Vendetta

8.1

TV Series

Umberto

1967

1 episode

 

Miss MacTaggart Won't Lie Down (1966)

Miss MacTaggart Won't Lie Down

6.4

Short

Newsdesk Reporter

1966

 

Emergency-Ward 10 (1957)

Emergency-Ward 10

6.4

TV Series

Detective

1966

1 episode

 

Ray Barrett, Geoffrey Keen, and Philip Latham in Mogul (1965)

Mogul

7.2

TV Series

Per Heiden

1966

1 episode

 

Where the Bullets Fly (1966)

Where the Bullets Fly

5.5

Russian

1966

 

Blue Light (1966)

Blue Light

7.5

TV Series

1966

1 episode

 

The Heroes of Telemark (1965)

The Heroes of Telemark

6.5

Henrik

1965

 

Patrick McGoohan in Secret Agent (1964)

Secret Agent

8.2

TV Series

Brewster

1965

1 episode

 

Bunny Lake Is Missing (1965)

Bunny Lake Is Missing

7.3

Policeman

1965

 

Joey Boy (1965)

Joey Boy

4.7

Real Miltary Policeman (uncredited)

1965

 

Delayed Flight

4.8

Carter

1964

 

Michael Aldridge and Leslie Sands in Cluff (1964)

Cluff

6.3

TV Series

William Mally

1964

1 episode

 

Espionage (1963)

Espionage

7.6

TV Series

Colonel Striton

1964

1 episode

 

William Lucas in The Marked One (1963)

The Marked One

5.9

Inspector Mayne

1963

 

Senta Berger, Romy Schneider, Melina Mercouri, Jeanne Moreau, Rosanna Schiaffino, and Elke Sommer in The Victors (1963)

The Victors

6.9

Tank Sergeant

1963

 

Underworld Informers (1963)

Underworld Informers

6.9

1st Inspector (uncredited)

1963

 

A Place to Go (1963)

A Place to Go

6.5

Police Officer (uncredited)

1963

 

Judy Geeson and Hennie Scott in Wings of Mystery (1963)

Wings of Mystery

6.6

McCarthy

1963

 

The Break (1962)

The Break

5.9

Driver

1962

 

In Search of the Castaways (1962)

In Search of the Castaways

6.5

Ayerton Hijacker Two (uncredited)

1962

 

The Amorous Mr. Prawn (1962)

The Amorous Mr. Prawn

5.6

Sergeant at Guard

1962

 

Richard Burton, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, John Wayne, Sean Connery, Sal Mineo, Eddie Albert, Richard Beymer, Red Buttons, Jeffrey Hunter, Roddy McDowall, Rod Steiger, Robert Wagner, Paul Anka, Arletty, Mel Ferrer, Steve Forrest, Gert Fröbe, Fabian, Jean-Louis Barrault, Bourvil, Ray Danton, Irina Demick, Leo Genn, Henry Grace, John Gregson, Paul Hartmann, Werner Hinz, Curd Jürgens, Alexander Knox, Peter Lawford, Christian Marquand, Kenneth More, Edmond O'Brien, Ron Randell, Madeleine Renaud, Robert Ryan, Tommy Sands, Richard Todd, Tom Tryon, Peter van Eyck, and Stuart Whitman in The Longest Day (1962)

The Longest Day

7.7

Lt. Richard Todd - British Soldier Talking to Maj. Howard (uncredited)

1962

 

Dilemma (1962)

Dilemma

6.4

Inspector Murray

1962

 

Candy Pibworth in Emergency (1962)

Emergency

5.6

Jimmy Regan

1962

 

Man Detained (1961)

Man Detained

6.2

Brand

1961

 

Stryker of the Yard (1957)

Stryker of the Yard

7.0

TV Series

(as Patrick Jordon)

1961

2 episodes

 

The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre (1959)

The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre

7.7

TV Series

Brand

1961

1 episode

 

Louis Hayward in The Pursuers (1961)

The Pursuers

8.3

TV Series

Ted (as Patrick Jordon)

1961

1 episode

 

The Frightened City (1961)

The Frightened City

6.2

Frankie Farmer

1961

 

John Newland in One Step Beyond (1959)

One Step Beyond

7.8

TV Series

Petty Officer

1961

1 episode

 

Young, Willing and Eager (1961)

Young, Willing and Eager

5.6

Wills

1961

 

Rendezvous (1957)

Rendezvous

7.4

TV Series

Seamus O'Neill

1961

1 episode

 

Interpol Calling (1959)

Interpol Calling

7.4

TV Series

Cpl. Khan

1960

1 episode

 

Richard Attenborough, Jack Hawkins, Roger Livesey, Nanette Newman, Nigel Patrick, and Melissa Stribling in The League of Gentlemen (1960)

The League of Gentlemen

7.2

Sergeant (uncredited)

1960

 

Sink the Bismarck! (1960)

Sink the Bismarck!

7.1

Agent in Norway (uncredited)

1960

 

SOS Gletscherpilot (1959)

SOS Gletscherpilot

6.8

Mr. Puckle

1959

 

The Giant Behemoth (1959)

The Giant Behemoth

5.7

Photo Lab Aide (uncredited)

1959

 

The Angry Hills (1959)

The Angry Hills

5.7

Bluey

1959

 

Richard Attenborough in The Man Upstairs (1958)

The Man Upstairs

6.5

Injured Sergeant

1958

 

Carve Her Name with Pride (1958)

Carve Her Name with Pride

7.2

Parachute Instructor (uncredited)

1958

 

White Hunter (1957)

White Hunter

7.1

TV Series

Wemblet (as Patrick Jordon)

1958

1 episode

 

O.S.S.

7.4

TV Series

Raoul

Max

1957

2 episodes

 

Belinda Lee in The Secret Place (1957)

The Secret Place

6.6

Constable (uncredited)

1957

 

Pursuit of the Graf Spee (1956)

Pursuit of the Graf Spee

6.6

Signalman, Aft-Conning, HMS Exeter (uncredited)

1956

 

The Buccaneers (1956)

The Buccaneers

7.2

TV Series

Jamie

Morgan

1956

2 episodes

 

The Adventures of the Big Man

TV Series

Bert

1956

1 episode

 

The Count of Monte Cristo (1956)

The Count of Monte Cristo

7.3

TV Series

Lackey (uncredited)

1956

1 episode

 

Leslie Dwyer, Philip Friend, and Mary Mackenzie in Operation Conspiracy (1956)

Operation Conspiracy

5.5

Captain Willis

1956

 

Patrol Car (1954)

Patrol Car

7.7

TV Series

Mac

Sandy Evans

1956

2 episodes

 

It's a Great Day! (1955)

It's a Great Day!

5.2

Policeman

1955

 

Stock Car (1955)

Stock Car

5.6

Jack

1955

 

No Smoking (1955)

No Smoking

5.8

Reporter

1955

 

The Flaw (1955)

The Flaw

5.6

Oliveri's Friend at the Club (as Pat Jordan)

1955

 

The Vise (1954)

The Vise

7.2

TV Series

Simpson

1955

2 episodes

 

You Lucky People! (1955)

You Lucky People!

5.1

Corporal (uncredited)

1955

 

The Dam Busters (1955)

The Dam Busters

7.4

Attendant in Officers' Quarters (uncredited)

1955

 

Portrait of Alison

TV Series

Charles White

1955

1 episode

 

The Gilded Cage (1955)

The Gilded Cage

5.2

Sergeant Miller

1955

 

You and Your Diesel

Short

Syd (as Pat Jordan)

1954

 

Companions in Crime (1954)

Companions in Crime

1954

 

Cross-Up (1954)

Cross-Up

5.7

Policeman in Squad Car (uncredited)

1954

 

The Sea Shall Not Have Them (1954)

The Sea Shall Not Have Them

6.3

Flight Sergeant (uncredited)

1954

 

BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950)

BBC Sunday-Night Theatre

7.8

TV Series

First sentry

Ambulance Man

1953–1954

2 episodes

 

John Bentley, Kathleen Byron, and Stuart Lindsell in Profile (1954)

Profile

5.3

Detective Sergeant (uncredited)

1954

 

The Embezzler (1954)

The Embezzler

6.4

Police Sergeant (uncredited)

1954

 

Johnny on the Spot (1954)

Johnny on the Spot

4.9

Bartender (uncredited)

1954

 

Dennis O'Keefe and Margaret Sheridan in The Diamond Wizard (1954)

The Diamond Wizard

5.7

First Fox & Hounds Detective (uncredited)

1954

 

Double Exposure (1954)

Double Exposure

5.9

Policeman (uncredited)

1954

 

River Beat (1954)

River Beat

6.2

Bert

1954

 

Alex Nicol and Eleanor Summerfield in The Black Glove (1954)

The Black Glove

5.6

Policeman #1 (uncredited)

1954

 

Stryker of the Yard

1953

 

Rheingold Theatre (1953)

Rheingold Theatre

8.4

TV Series

Young Man

1953

1 episode

 

A Ray of Sunshine: An Irresponsible Medley of Song and Dance (1950)

A Ray of Sunshine: An Irresponsible Medley of Song and Dance

5.4

The Comic

1950

 

The Browning Version

TV Movie

Peter Gilbert

1949