Anthony Dawson
Biography
Anthony Dawson was a Scottish-born actor, best known for his supporting roles in British films.
Arguably his most memorable roles were the henchman Professor Dent in the first James Bond film, Dr. No" (1962), and as C. J. Swann/Captain Lesgate in Alfred Hitchcock's Dial M for Murder (1954). In the latter film, he is blackmailed by Tony Wendice (Ray Milland) into murdering Wendice's wife Margot (Grace Kelly). In his unpublished memoirs, Rambling Recollections, Dawson reminisced about getting the part:
...I had never met Hitchcock before, and yet he was about to do me the most fantastic good turn I could imagine. In that wonderful fat man's Cockney voice, he said, slowly, drooping every word separately, as though he had all day: "Tony, I just called to let you know that I want you for this picture, so you're quite safe to make yourself a nice deal." What could I say? I mumbled my thanks and put the phone down, feeling rather dazed, electrified, stunned; all of these. The full impact of this call from Hitch was very soon to come home to me.
He died in January 1992, in Sussex, aged 75, after succumbing to cancer.
Filmography
With Hitchcock...
- Dial M for Murder (1954) — cast: Captain Lesgate (Swann) (Swann)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents...
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents - I Killed the Count: Part 1 (17/Mar/1957) — cast: Count Victor Mattoni
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents - I Killed the Count: Part 2 (24/Mar/1957) — cast: Count Victor Mattoni
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents - I Killed the Count: Part 3 (31/Mar/1957) — cast: Count Victor Mattoni
Image Gallery
Images from the Hitchcock Gallery (click to view larger versions or search for all relevant images)...
Links
