Oliver Johnston (actor)
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30 April 1888
Oliver Johnston | |
|---|---|
 Publicity still, 1960 | |
| Born | Oliver Griffen Johnston 30 April 1888 Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England |
| Died | 22 December 1966 (aged 78) Westminster, London, England |
| Years active | 1938–1966 |
Oliver Griffen Johnston (30 April 1888 – 22 December 1966) was an English actor.
Film and television
Johnston started his film career in 1938, when he was already 50 years old.[4] Working until shortly before his death, he appeared in nearly 90 film and television productions, where he often portrayed meek or mild-mannered types in supporting roles.[5]
Johnston had a rather unremarkable acting career in film until he was nearly 70 years, when he was discovered by Charlie Chaplin.[1] He is perhaps best-remembered for his role in Chaplin's A King in New York (1957), where he played a large supporting role as the "faithful ambassador and solemn-serious straight man" to Chaplin's King.[6] Afterwards he got more film offers, including the literature adaption Kidnapped (1960) and fantasy/horror pictures like The Three Lives of Thomasina (1963), The Tomb of Ligeia (1964) and It! (1967).[4]
One of his last roles, released after his death in December 1966 at age 78, was in Chaplin's last film A Countess from Hong Kong (1967).[7] Here Johnston portrayed an old British businessman in Hong Kong, who introduces the leading characters of Marlon Brando and Sophia Loren to each other in the opening scenes.
