John Grieve (actor)
Scottish actor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
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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 (Live 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
| Year | Title | Role | Company | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Kidnapped | Cluny MacPherson | Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh | Bill Bryden | adaptation by Keith Dewhurst |
| 1981 | Let Wives Tak Tent | Allan | Scottish Theatre Company | David Thompson | play by Robert Kemp |
| 1986 | Ane Satyre of the Thrie Estaites | Deceit | Scottish Theatre Company | Tom Fleming | play by Sir David Lyndsey, adapted by Robert Kemp |
| 1989 | The Cherry Orchard | Feers | Lyceum Theatre Company, Edinburgh | Hugh Hodgart | play by Anton Chekov, adapted by Stuart Paterson[12] |
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | The 39 Steps | Lowrie - shepherd | Uncredited |
| 1961 | Don't Bother to Knock | Bus Conductor | |
| 1978 | The Thirty Nine Steps | P.C. Forbes | |
| 1981 | Eye of the Needle | Inspector Kincaid |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Production | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Spindrift | Dougie MacLean (The Goat) | Finlay J. Macdonald | BBC Scotland | play by Naomi Mitchison and Denis Macintosh, adapted for television by Ada F. Kay |
| 1965-74 | The Vital Spark | MacPhail | Pharic Maclaren | BBC Scotland | adapted from the Para Handy stories of Neil Munro |
| 1995 | Hamish Macbeth S1 E1: "The Great Lochdubh Salt Robbery" | Whisky Bob | Nicholas Renton | BBC Scotland | Adapted from the mystery novels of M. C. Beaton |
