John Cater

John Edward Cater was born 17 January 1932 in Hendon, north London.^[3] His mother was a performer and a violinist who performed with the famous music hall troupe , The Pierinos. His father, like his grandfather, was a florist in Hendon. They came from a long line of gardeners who worked at Ickworth Park in Suffolk. .

Cater was just four years old when he enrolled in dance school. This early training formed the foundation for a lifetime of physical performance. ^[3] Cater went on to train at RADA alongside Joe Orton, Joan Collins, Peter O’Toole and Albert Finney.^[3]

Cater made his professional acting debut with the Dundee Repertory Theatre after graduating from RADA. He was hired by his friend, the actor Herbert Wise. For the next several years, Cater acted in repertory theatre and summer stock in Aberdeen.Cork, Edinburgh, Guildford, and Nottingham. In 1961, he joined Peter Hall newly-formed Royal Shakespeare Company first London RSC at the Aldwych Theatre. He made his debut with the RSC (and on the West End) in The Duchess of Malfi.^[3]

It was there that he met and later married fellow RSC actor Wendy Gifford in 1963.^[3]

They have two daughters. Their eldest daughter is the actress Emma Cater, married to RSC and film/ tv actor Simon Thorp. Their daughter is the actress and writer Tilly Thorp.

Cater’s television credits include: Danger Man; Z-Cars; The Avengers; The Baron; Doctor Who; Follyfoot; Softly, Softly; Department S; Up Pompeii!; Dad's Army; The Naked Civil Servant; I, Claudius; Alcock and Gander; The Duchess of Duke Street; Thriller (1975), The Sweeney; Inspector Morse; Bergerac; One Foot in the Grave; Lovejoy; Jeeves and Wooster; Midsomer Murders and Doctors.^[4]

His film appearances include: The Abominable Dr. Phibes, Dr. Phibes Rises Again and Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter.^[5]

Late in life, Cater's haemochromatosis led to severe arthritis, which significantly inhibited his acting career.^[3]

John Cater died of liver cancer on 21 March 2009. He was survived by his wife, Wendy, and his daughters Emma and Harriet.^[3]