Wilfred Walter (2 March 1882 in Ripon, West Riding of Yorkshire – 9 July 1958 in Ashtead, Surrey) was an English film and theatre actor, sometimes credited as Wilfrid Walter.[1] He was born Franz Wilfrid Walter, son of the actor Richard Walter.[2]
Wilfred Walter | |
---|---|
Born | 2 March 1882 |
Died | 9 July 1958 | (aged 76)
Years active | 1935–56 (in films) 1918-50 (theatre) |
He was a Shakespearian actor during the first half of the 20th century, playing at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, Stratford-upon-Avon and the Old Vic, where his major roles included Mark Antony, Falstaff, Othello, Bottom and Titus Andronicus. [3][4]
His best-known film role was as Max Slessor the eponymous inmate in the 1938 comedy Convict 99, who is mistaken for the prison governor Benjamin Twist (Will Hay).[5] Walter also acted as the monstrous lumbering brute Jake, Dr Orloff's (Bela Lugosi) assistant in the 1939 film adaption of the Edgar Wallace thriller The Dark Eyes of London.[6]