Basil Dignam (24 October 1905 – 31 January 1979) was an English actor.
Early life Dignam was born in Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire. Before acting, he tried many jobs, from working as a company clerk to a journalist.
Career Dignam acted on film and television between 1948 and 1978. He often appeared as an authority figure, such as Mr Justice Poynter in Crown Court, as a police officer, army general or peer. His television appearances included The Prisoner: Checkmate (1967) and The Champions (1968), as Sir Frederick in episode 2 "The Invisible Man".
Personal life Dignam was married to actress Mona Washbourne from 1940 until his death in 1979. His brother Mark Dignam was also a professional actor. Basil Dignam died, aged 73, in Westminster, London.
Selected filmography
Maytime in Mayfair (1949) – Commissionaire (uncredited) Smart Alec (1951) – Defending Counsel Two on the Tiles (1951) – Ship's Captain The Lady with a Lamp (1951) Appointment with Venus (1951) – R.A.M.C. Captain His Excellency (1952) – Security Officer Hammer the Toff (1952) – Superintendent There Was a Young Lady (1953) Carrington V.C. (1954) The Quatermass Xperiment (1955) – Sir Lionel Dean (uncredited) They Can't Hang Me (1955) – Wing Commander Riddle Touch and Go (1955) – Stevens The Narrowing Circle (1956) – George Pacey Private's Progress (1956) – Col. Martin (uncredited) Port of Escape (1956) – Det. Insp. Crawford The Intimate Stranger (1956) – Dr. Gray Reach for the Sky (1956) – Air Ministry Doctor (uncredited) The Weapon (1956) – (uncredited) The Counterfeit Plan (1957) – Police Commissioner You Pay Your Money (1957) – Currie Brothers in Law (1957) – Mr. Justice Emery Yangtse Incident: The Story of H.M.S. Amethyst (1957) – Sir Lionel Henry Lamb, British Ambassador at Nanking Man in the Shadow (1957) – Bit Part (uncredited) Three Sundays to Live (1957) – Davitt The Depraved (1957) – Tom Wilton Son of a Stranger (1957) – Dr. Delaney The Safecracker (1958) – Air Vice Marshal Them Nice Americans – Inspector Adams Innocent Sinners (1958) – Mr. Dyson – Olivia's Solicitor (uncredited) Up the Creek (1958) – Coombes The Spaniard's Curse (1958) – Guy Stevenson (uncredited) A Cry from the Streets (1958) – Police Inspector (uncredited) Carry On Sergeant (1958) – Third Specialist Further Up the Creek (1958) – Flagship Commander I Only Arsked! (1958) – (uncredited) Corridors of Blood (1958) – Chairman Room at the Top (1959) – Priest (uncredited) Carlton-Browne of the F.O. (1959) – Security Officer Sapphire (1959) – Doctor Burgess (uncredited) I'm All Right Jack (1959) – Minister of Labour A Touch of Larceny (1959) – Lt. Cmdr. Evans at P.R.O. (uncredited) The Spider's Web (1960) – Hugo Suspect (1960) – Dr Childs The Pure Hell of St Trinian's (1960) – Army Officer Sentenced for Life (1960) – Ralph Thompson Gorgo (1961) – Admiral Brooks The Secret Partner (1961) – Lyle The Fourth Square (1961) - Inspector Forbes The Court Martial of Major Keller (1961) – Morrell Fate Takes a Hand (1961) – Wheeler Life for Ruth (1962) – Lawyer Mapleton Lawrence of Arabia (1962) – Cavalry General at Field Briefing (uncredited) Seven Seas to Calais (1962) – Sir Francis Walsingham Master Spy (1963) – Richard Horton Heavens Above! (1963) – Prison Governor 80,000 Suspects (1963) – Medical Officer Boswell Ring of Spies (1964) – 2nd Member at Lord's (uncredited) Joey Boy (1965) – General The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders (1965) – Lawyer Rotten to the Core (1965) – The General Where the Spies Are (1965) – Major Harding Naked Evil (1966) – Jim Benson The Jokers (1967) – Bank Manager Cuckoo Patrol (1967) – Snodgrass I'll Never Forget What's'isname (1967) Assignment K (1968) – Howlett Twisted Nerve (1968) – Doctor Laughter in the Dark (1969) – Dealer Battle of Britain (1969) – Tactical Records Officer (uncredited) The Great White Hope (1970) – English Official (uncredited) 10 Rillington Place (1971) – Medical Board Persuasion (1971) - Sir Walter Elliot A Lizard in a Woman's Skin (1971) – The Commissioner (uncredited) Young Winston (1972) – Joseph Chamberlain Soft Beds, Hard Battles (1974) – Brigadier Edward the Seventh (1975) - Prime Minister Asquith
References
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