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39-663: Rakoff is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: Alvin Rakoff (born 1927), Canadian television, stage and film director David Rakoff (1964–2012), Canadian-born American writer Jed S. Rakoff (born 1943), American judge Joanna Rakoff (born 1972), American journalist, poet, critic and novelist Simon Rakoff (born 1960), Canadian comedian Todd Rakoff (born 1946), American legal scholar See also [ edit ] All pages with titles containing Rakoff [REDACTED] Surname list This page lists people with

78-577: A Crook as Hallelujah Harry from 3 June 1940 to 12 July 1941, and Patrick Hamilton's play The Duke in Darkness from 1942 to 1943 at the Bristol Hippodrome . Following the end of the Second World War on 4 September 1945, Johns continued to be cast in leading roles. In Robert Hamer 's 1945 crime drama film Pink String and Sealing Wax , he played the "unexpectedly severe" Mr. Edward Sutton,

117-416: A Gentleman . In 1936, he starred as Sir John Brute alongside Kulia Crawley and Marda Vanne in an Embassy Theatre production of Sir John Vanbrugh 's The Provoked Wife , prompting the renowned theatre critic and newspaper journalist James Agate (styled "the best judge of acting of the day") to remark that his acting was "blazingly good" and his role a "magnificent performance which would have warmed

156-525: A medical student. While there, he met concert pianist Alyce Steele-Wareham, who was studying at the Royal Academy of Music . She encouraged him to pursue a career in drama and so he enrolled at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art . They married on 17 November 1922 in St Giles , London, and began touring with her family's theatre company. While touring South Africa on 23 October 1923, their only child, Glynis Johns

195-994: A middle-class Victorian and newly appointed court analyst; in Norman Walker 's 1946 drama film They Knew Mr. Knight , he played the main protagonist Tom Blake, playing to his "fretful features"; in Paul L. Stein 's 1948 thriller film Counterblast , he played Doctor Bruckner the Beast of Ravensbruck, an escaped Nazi who murders a visiting scientist from Australia and assumes his identity, "in splendid villainous mode". His supporting roles in this era included playing Ernest Bennett in Ralph Thomas' romantic comedy film Helter Skelter , and Bob Cratchit in Brian Desmond Hurst 's 1951 Christmas fantasy drama film adaptation of Charles Dickens 's A Christmas Carol , with Alastair Sim as

234-402: A new era for British theatre and cinema . Johns avoided conscription due to his age, and thus began his career in various roles, though most often as the quirky yet dignified "frightened men" described by Adam Benedick. Among his dozens of film roles were the ultracrepidarian Charlie Wickers in the thriller film Saloon Bar (1940) and the church warden Charlie Sims in the war film Went

273-682: A relish for Restoration comedy, but was also rated a ‘quintessential’ Priestley and Shavian actor in such shows as... Heartbreak House (1943), in which he replaced Robert Donat as Captain Shotover, and as Dolittle in Pygmalion (1947)"; his work of the prewar era was just the same. Less well-known are his roles in Frank Harvey 's play Saloon Bar from 15 November 1939 to 30 March 1940 at Wyndham’s Theatre in London, Ken Attiwill and Evadne Price 's play Once

312-468: Is different from Wikidata All set index articles Alvin Rakoff Rakoff awarded Sean Connery his first leading role, and gave Alan Rickman his first job when he was a drama student. Other actors he worked with early in their careers include Michael Crawford , Jeremy Irons , and Michael Caine . Rakoff was born on February 6, 1927. His mother came from Rivne , Ukraine; his father

351-469: Is recurrently hailed as one of Ealing Studios ' most prolific actors. In his book Realism and Tinsel: Cinema and Society in Britain 1939-48 , Robert Murphy describes Johns as a "mainstay of so many Ealing films". In September 2022, he was named the 40th most popular Welsh actor of all time, after being absent from public attention for almost fifty years and dead for thirty. Johns married twice. His first wife

390-828: The BBC Television Shakespeare series he cast the then unknown actor Alan Rickman as Tybalt . In 1997 he produced and co-directed the award-winning A Dance to the Music of Time with John Gielgud , Simon Russell Beale , and Miranda Richardson . His films include On Friday at Eleven (a.k.a. World in My Pocket in the U.S.) starring Rod Steiger ; Say Hello to Yesterday (1970), which he also wrote, featured Jean Simmons and Leonard Whiting ; Hoffman starred Peter Sellers ; City on Fire , which he co-wrote, starred Henry Fonda , Ava Gardner , and Shelley Winters . Rakoff's writing included Too Marvellous For Words ,

429-686: The West End and Bristol . He made his screen debut with Lady in Danger in 1934 and appeared in several supporting roles in the 1930s before becoming a leading man in the 1940s and 50s. In his most critically acclaimed period, he became an indelible part of British wartime cinema with starring roles in Saloon Bar (1940), The Next of Kin (1942), Went the Day Well? (1942), The Halfway House (1944), Twilight Hour (1945), and Dead of Night (1945). In

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468-456: The black-and-white comedy farce My Learned Friend (1943), the proprietor Rhys in the drama film The Halfway House (1944), and Major John Roberts in the drama film Twilight Hour (1945). Commenting on his role as the fearful architect Walter Craig in the 1945 mystery film Dead of Night , The Independent 's Adam Benedick describes his approach as having a "masterly touch". Of Johns' stage work, Benedick writes that he "showed

507-409: The surname Rakoff . If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name (s) to the link. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rakoff&oldid=1222605315 " Category : Surnames Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description

546-604: The British dominions of South Africa, Australia and New Zealand in 1923. He had various roles in West End productions throughout the 1920s following his graduation from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1924 when he made his West End debut with London's Grand Guignol , a Comedy Theatre production directed by Lewis Casson . From 24 January 1926, he portrayed Mr Mingan in Allan Monkhouse 's play Sons and Fathers with RADA. From 1931 to 1932, Johns starred in two productions at

585-469: The Day Well? (1942). In the Second World War propaganda film The Next of Kin (1942), Johns starred as the determined Agent 23 (Mr Arthur Davis), described by Robert Murphy as "the most cautious and effective agent – all the more sinister for being played by the kindly Welshman of so many other films of the period, Mervyn Johns." Following this, Johns played the homicidal maniac Arthur Grimshaw in

624-620: The Little Theatre in Bristol: When Knights Were Bold by Charles Marlowe and A Cup of Kindness by Ben Travers ; at the same theatre from 16 to 21 October 1932, he played Mr Blanquet in John Drinkwater 's comedy Bird In Hand . From 1932 to 1933, he starred in two more productions at Bristol's Little Theatre: The Rivals by Richard Brinsley Sheridan and Saint Joan by George Bernard Shaw . Following this, he played

663-461: The London Mask Theatre, Westminster Theatre and Whitehall Theatre . Of this role, Sieghard Erich Krueger writes that he "acheives [ sic ] a fine effect of crusted and downright integrity." Johns' final film role of the interwar era was as Thomas in the 1939 British adventure thriller film Jamaica Inn , directed by Alfred Hitchcock . The Second World War ushered in

702-867: The Magistrate's Clerk in Walter Hackett 's Hyde Park Corner from 5 October 1934 to 11 April 1935 at the Apollo Theatre in London, the same year as the eponymous film . Johns made his screen debut in 1934 as the reporter in Ben Travers ' comedy thriller Lady in Danger , going on to play Hemp in David MacDonald 's 1937 crime film The Last Curtain , Sir Wilfred Lucas in the 1938 TV Movie adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice , and Percival Clicker in Oswald Mitchell 's 1938 comedy film Almost

741-650: The United Kingdom through working extensively worldwide. A BBC adaptation in 1953 of the Irwin Shaw novel The Troubled Air was his first major writing assignment for television. In 1954, his production of Waiting For Gillian won the Daily Mail ' s National TV Award with actors Patrick Barr and Anne Crawford also honoured. He later recreated this production in French for transmission throughout France. In 1955, on

780-592: The cantankerous title character and miser. On stage, he appeared in Erskine Caldwell and Jack Kirkland 's production of Tobacco Road at the West End in 1949, Michael Norbury's play Love’s a Funny Thing from 10 to 12 March 1949 at The Ambassadors Theatre in London, Harold Martin's play The Martins’ Nest from 12 April to 12 May 1951 at the Westminster Theatre in London, James Forsyth's play Fulbert as

819-476: The courtroom drama television series Crown Court alongside his grandson, actor Gareth Forwood , from 1973 to 1975. In 1987, Johns appeared as a contributor in the documentary The Cavalry of the Clouds , produced by British regional commercial television station HTV West . Johns was known for his "mostly mild-mannered, lugubrious, amusing, sometimes moving 'little men'" in over 100 films and television series. He

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858-447: The heart's cockles of the old playgoers", saying that "in this actor's hands, Sir John is a brute indeed, not a pewling mooncalf, but a roaring bull. Mr Johns lets us see the pleasure he is taking in the fellow's brutish gusto. There are actors who could make the man as unbearable to an audience as he was to his own circle. Mr Johns, by lifting a corner of the brute's mind to show us his own, is right with Garrick." Two years later, Johns

897-584: The new channel BBC 2 was launched Rakoff was selected to direct plays filling the first three Sunday-night drama slots ( The Seekers ). He won his first Emmy Award in 1967 for Call Me Daddy , which had featured Donald Pleasence , and 15 years later won it again for A Voyage Round My Father ( Laurence Olivier , Alan Bates , and Jane Asher took the leads) which he produced and directed. His production of The Adventures of Don Quixote (1973) with Rex Harrison and Frank Finlay achieved international praise. In his 1978 production of Romeo & Juliet for

936-533: The night commercial TV first appeared in the UK he was asked by the BBC to offer the main opposition, The Hole In The Wall with Mervyn Johns and Sidney Tafler , of which The Times wrote: "Mr. Rakoff who seems to be a master of this medium". In his 1957 production Requiem for a Heavyweight he lifted an unknown actor, Sean Connery , from the ranks of walk-ons and gave Connery his first leading role. Also in this production

975-544: The postwar era, Johns worked regularly as a character actor at Ealing Studios with roles in They Knew Mr. Knight (1946), The Captive Heart (1946), Captain Boycott (1947), Easy Money (1948), and Scrooge (1951). He settled into supporting roles in later years with guest appearances on televised plays and anthology series . Johns also appeared in two films alongside his daughter Glynis Johns . David Mervyn Johns

1014-850: The story of Doris Day , at Wilton's Music Hall , London, and subsequently (2012) El Portal Theatre, Hollywood. He was a president of the Directors Guild of Great Britain . Rakoff died at his home in Chiswick , London on October 12, 2024, at the age of 97. (Richard Pasco, Barbara Leigh Hunt , Margaret Courtney, etc.) ( Ralph Richardson , Jeremy Irons, Richard Briers, etc.) ( Richard Briers , John Gielgud, Penelope Keith , Wayne Sleep , etc.) (Nicholas Jones) (written and directed) The Mill at Sonning (Anthony Valentine, Glynis Barber) ( Steven Pacey , Shona Lindsay) (Sally Hughes, Glyn Kerslake ) Mervyn Johns David Mervyn Johns (18 February 1899 – 6 September 1992)

1053-563: The story of lyricist Johnny Mercer presented at The Mill Theatre , Sonning, and King's Head Theatre, London. He had written three novels. His first, & Gillian , a romantic novel, was translated into 10 languages. His second, Baldwin Street , based on his early days in his parents' shop in Toronto, was published in 2008. The Seven Einsteins , a third novel, is a genetic thriller published in 2014. An adaptation of Raymond Chandler 's The Big Sleep

1092-468: The television series New Ramps For Old , in which he was cast alongside Harry H. Corbett and Colin Tapley , who played Kegworthy and Detective Inspector Welsh respectively. Following this, he was given the lead role of Lawrence Todhunter in six episodes of the television series Leave It to Todhunter in 1958. He is remembered for standout roles as Arthur Charles Parfitt and Edward Lumsden in five episodes of

1131-446: The uncle and guardian of Heloise beginning on 14 November 1951 at the Duke of York's Theatre in London, and Eric Linklater 's play The Mortimer Touch as Shurie from 30 April to 7 June 1952 at the same theatre. Though he had appeared in one television film (a made-for-television production of Pride and Prejudice in 1938), Johns made his television series debut relatively late when he

1170-416: Was a Welsh stage, film and television actor who became a fixture of British films during the Second World War . Johns appeared extensively on screen and stage with over 100 credits between 1923 and 1979. He made his theatrical debut while on tour of the British dominions in 1923. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art with honours in 1924, he appeared in a succession of diverse roles in

1209-489: Was another performer early in his career, Michael Caine . In 1958, Rakoff adapted, directed, and produced Herman Wouk 's The Caine Mutiny Court Martial for the BBC. In 1962, the BBC asked Rakoff to produce/direct its entry for the European-wide 'The Largest Theatre In The World' written especially for the occasion by Terence Rattigan and called Heart to Heart , with Kenneth More and Ralph Richardson . In 1964, when

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1248-537: Was born on 18 February 1899 in Pembroke , Wales. He attended Llandovery College , an independent boarding school in South Wales , following the graduation of his brother Howard Johns, later rector of Pusey and Weston-on-the-Green . From 1913, he played cricket and rugby for the school's national teams. Upon leaving, he wanted to pursue a career in medicine and so attended Royal London Hospital , where he trained as

1287-742: Was born. They returned to England a few weeks later and Johns re-enrolled at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where he graduated in 1924 with a gold medal. Johns also served as a combat patrol pilot in the Royal Flying Corps and later in the Royal Air Force during the First World War . Of his time in the service, he declared "I don’t think there was a single moment when I was not scared to death". Johns made his stage debut while he and his first wife, Alyce Steele-Wareham, were touring

1326-487: Was cast as Harold Simpson in the episode The Happy Sunday Afternoon of BBC Sunday Night Theatre in 1950. On the same show, he was given the role of Albert Eccles in the 1954 episode Caste , Samuel Pepys in the 1954 episode Ninety Sail , Rough in the 1957 episode Gaslight , and His Excellency the Governor in the 1957 episode His Excellency . In 1956, Johns was given the lead role of J. Philimore Sparkes in six episodes of

1365-685: Was cast in Ivor Novello 's play Comedienne (directed by Murray Macdonald), at the Aldwych Theatre in London. From 26 August 1937 to 12 March 1938, he played Ernest Beevers in J. P. Mitchelhill's adaptation of the J. B. Priestley time play Time and the Conways at the Duchess Theatre in London, and from 17 February to 17 June 1939, he played Sir Patrick Cullen in The Doctor’s Dilemma at

1404-721: Was concert pianist Alyce Maude Steele-Wareham, whom he married on 17 November 1922 in Saint Giles , London, and with whom he had his only child, the actress Glynis Johns , while on tour in Pretoria , South Africa . He and Glynis appeared together in two drama films: The Halfway House in 1944 and The Sundowners in 1960. After Alyce's death on 1 September 1971, he married actress Diana Churchill on 4 December 1976 in Hillingdon , London. Johns died on 6 September 1992 in Northwood , London at

1443-660: Was from Voronezh , Russia. His parents met in Toronto , Ontario , Canada. He is the third of seven children. His parents had a shop in Kensington Market . When Rakoff was 16, he changed his first name from Abraham to Alvin, inspired by Alvin York and the film Sergeant York . After graduation from the University of Toronto , he became a journalist and began writing for Canadian Broadcasting Corporation 's nascent television service. He

1482-525: Was produced in 2012. His theatre work ranged from Hamlet at Bristol Old Vic to a Charity Cruise performance at the Royal Albert Hall before Her Majesty the Queen , and continued with his association with The Mill Theatre, Sonning, directing productions of Separate Tables with Anthony Valentine and his own adaptation of Chandler's The Big Sleep . In 2010, Rakoff directed A Sentimental Journey ,

1521-526: Was seconded by the CBC to visit the UK − "the place where TV started". Days after arriving he sold a script to the British Broadcasting Corporation , at the time the only television broadcaster in the UK. The BBC subsequently invited him to join their television directors' training course. At 26 years of age, he became the youngest producer/director in the BBC drama department. He became a resident in

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