Nigel Stock (actor)

Nigel Stock
Born	Nigel Hector Munro Stock 21 September 1919(1919-09-21) Malta
Died	23 June 1986(1986-06-23) (aged 66) London, England
Spouse	Catherine Hodnett (29 April 1943-47) (div) 1 son Sonia Williams (div) 3 children Richenda Carey (? - 23 June 1986) (his death)

Nigel Hector Munro Stock (21 September 1919 – 23 June 1986) was a British actor of stage, screen, radio and television, who played major character roles in many films and television dramas.

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^{[disambiguation needed ]} Scholarship and the Principal's Medal.

Acting career and military service

He made his stage debut in 1931, and during his career achieved numerous classical and contemporary credits at various distinguished theatres, including the Old Vic and on Broadway, with productions of The Winter's Tale, Macbeth, She Stoops to Conquer, Uncle Vanya. 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.

His acting career was interrupted by wartime service between 1939 and 1945 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 despatches.

His film appearances included popular releases such as Brighton Rock (1947), The Dam Busters (1955), The Great Escape (1963), The Lion in Winter and The Lost Continent (both 1968), and Russian Roulette (1975).

Between 1964 and 1968, Nigel 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. His other numerous television credits included Danger Man (1965), The Avengers (1964 & 1966), The Prisoner (1967), Owen MD (1971–73), Van der Valk (1977), Doctor Who (1982), Yes Minister (1982), Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1979) and for the BBC A Tale of Two Cities 1980 television series as well as The Pickwick Papers (1985) as Mr. Pickwick.

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 in London of a heart attack, aged 66.

Radio

• Space Force (1984–1985) Magnus Carter

Selected filmography

Lancashire Luck (1937) Sons of the Sea (1939) It Always Rains on Sunday (1947) Brighton Rock (1947) Derby Day (1952) Malta Story (1953) Aunt Clara (1954) The Night My Number Came Up (1955) The Dam Busters (1955) Eyewitness (1956) The Silent Enemy (1958) Never Let Go (1960)

Victim (1961) H.M.S. Defiant (1962) The Password Is Courage (1962) The Great Escape (1963) Nothing But the Best (1964) The High Bright Sun (1964) The Night of the Generals (1967) The Lost Continent (1968) The Lion in Winter (1968) Cromwell (1970) Bequest to the Nation (1973) Operation Daybreak (1975)

External links

• Nigel Stock (actor) at the Internet Movie Database
• Nigel Stock (actor) at Find a Grave

Persondata
Name	Stock, Nigel
Alternative names	Stock, Nigel Hector Munro
Short description	Actor
Date of birth	1919-09-21
Place of birth	Malta
Date of death	1986-06-23
Place of death	London, England