The Avengers International Fan Forum

denis rigg · Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 9:14 am Post subject:

Mark Heath

Actor, played Rev. Garfield Percival in Avengers episode The Little Wonders (1964).

As it turned out, the year of birth of Mark on all resources is incorrect. Most of the resources indicates 1940, while IMDb and clones of this base indicates 1930.

Actually, he was born approx. in 1926, came to U.K. in 1944 (as 18 years old) and was attached to R.A.F.'s entertainment section.

His lifetrace was lost for many years in the late 1980s and it was only recently discovered that he changed his stage name to Marcus Heath.

https://bbashakespeare.warwick.ac.uk/people/marcus-heath

Part of this information is already posted on IMDb:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0372684
_________________
Russian fan-site Steedumbrella.
http://steedumbrella.ru

Denis

dissolute · Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 4:26 pm Post subject:

Are you sure about that? There may well be two Mark Heaths, as the one in The Avengers is from Jamaica but the University of Warwick site lists Marcus Heath as being born in the US.
_________________
Mrs Peel, you're needed!
http://www.dissolute.com.au/the-avengers-tv-series/
Every episode from 1961 to 1977 plus more trivia than you can shake a brolly at.

denis rigg · Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 9:11 pm Post subject:

denis rigg · Posted: Thu May 16, 2019 2:13 am Post subject:

It is good that Piers raised the topic of discrepancies in information on the performers (even the world famous) in various confidential sources (see posts above on this page), as it is interesting to look at this in details (within the framework of The Avengers):

The main reason why we do not know the information about some actors lies in the fact that either the performers themselves or their agencies consciously create a certain myth around the created images. In such cases, there is never any one specific source (excluding family) that you can rely on to be sure that you are learning the facts. This is regardless of whether the source is an authority or not, whether someone is a friend or a distant relative of the person being studied, whether it is someone you trust or not. It simply often does not work properly. In this scheme there are facts based on the consideration of several sources, their comparison and study. It may take years when you will sure of something.

Let's look at examples:

BFI (British Film Institute - undoubtedly authorities).

Actor Edward Burnham

https://web.archive.org/web/20090906035726/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/48990

For many long years it was believed that the actor was born 23/11/1912 (Lincolnshire, England) as Edward Charles Burnham, and died 05/1992 (Manchester, Lancs., England).

BFI referred:
Checked birth and death at the Family Records Centre, London. Died in the Manchester, Lancashire born in the Spilsby, Lincolnshire registration district.

Obligated to this, many sites and people just took information from BFI and distributed. Only when in the beginning of 2010s one person at one of the forums (I don’t remember exactly where) wrote that he saw Edward in the series Black Books, there appeared a doubt that he died in 1992.
Soon people began to confirm the information that Edward is alive and thus the BFI changed the information about him.

https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba0826a00

Now it is right. Smile

Though some websites including IMDb still indicate his full name as Edward Charles Burnham, but in fact, his full name is Edward Noel Burnham.

There were many other errors on BFI that were corrected over time, but there are those that are still uncorrected, as for example:

John Scott, who played in Avengers episode The Rotters.

https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba02054ad

BFI indicates he born 20 February 1927, Finchley, London

No, in fact he born September 25, 1913 in Shoreditch, London, England, UK, while on 20 February 1927 in Finchley, London born other actor, known as Jonathan Scott, who played in Avengers episode The Morning After.

etc...

2. Directories like Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television, theatre programmes and other.

Here as rule takes information from old records which went through the agencies.

There you will learn all that we lived before: Honor Blackman was born in 1926, Elizabeth Sellars in 1923, and many other.

3. Authoritative print media like the newspaper The Stage and the magazine Variety.

Good sources for research and rare information, but with occasional throwing inaccuracies.

4. People who personally know the person being studied (not part of family).

A good example is Peter Wyngarde, who led many to believe that he was born in 1933. Smile

Many fans of the actor talked with different people who knew him well, but were not able to identify in what year he was born. There are inconsistencies and the puzzle is not going to.

5. Ancestry and similar datebases.

Good sources to find out the date of birth and death, the full name and the names of family members. Nevertheless, there you can stumble on sort of records that do not correspond to reality.

As for the instance, the same Peter Wyngarde or John Gayford, etc.

Well... Rolling Eyes

these are all indicators that we cannot be sure of focusing on only one-two even authoritative sources.

There are still many secrets around some of the performers of the series. Attention can be paid to people like:

Nicole Shelby

One part of sources cite that she was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, others that in Gulfport, Mississippi, USA! Where is truth? Confused

I still don't know. We could assume that there were two Nicole Shelby, if not that these sources point to some general similar information in her career, just like Mark Heath and Pamela Ann Davy.

Pamela Ann Davy

One part of sources cite that she was born in Sydney, Australia, others that in Melbourne, Australia, third - in Tasmania! Where is truth?

Based on all this, we still cannot figure out the path of Yole Marinelli, Laurie Leigh, Didi Sullivan and many others... But who knows for sure what will bring us tomorrow? Wink

_________________
Russian fan-site Steedumbrella.
http://steedumbrella.ru

Denis

denis rigg · Posted: Tue May 28, 2019 12:19 pm Post subject:

June Kidd

Played Horse (top) in Avengers episode Look - (Stop Me If You've Heard This One) But There Were These Two Fellers... (1968).

Real name: Doreen Birrell.

Born: May 1, 1915 in West Derby, Lancashire, England, UK

Firstly married on William Lappin, in 1935. After married on dancer James Henry Haggerty (alias Jimmy Kidd) in 1950.
Her son, by alias Paul Kidd (he is in mentioned Avengers episode too), often performed with his mother.

Died: July 6, 2010 in London, England, UK

Part of this info is already posted on IMDb:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0452254/
_________________
Russian fan-site Steedumbrella.
http://steedumbrella.ru

Denis

dissolute · Posted: Tue May 28, 2019 2:18 pm Post subject:

You wouldn't have a photo of June's face would you? I could never find one.

Also, I'm pretty sure Pamela Ann Davy was born in Tassie but I don't remember the source of my info. She certainly lived in Sydney as well.
_________________
Mrs Peel, you're needed!
http://www.dissolute.com.au/the-avengers-tv-series/
Every episode from 1961 to 1977 plus more trivia than you can shake a brolly at.

denis rigg · Posted: Thu May 30, 2019 6:59 am Post subject:

denis rigg · Posted: Fri May 31, 2019 10:05 pm Post subject:

John Bown

Actor.

Played Roger in Avengers episode All Done with Mirrors (1968).

I just realized that the actor is no longer with us. This is indicated on the site Tardis (Dr. Who fandom), info by based on note from Doctor Who Magazine 524 (dated by May 2018).

https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/John_Bown

I read this note in mentioned magazine.

Died: November 5, 2017

Recently sent this information about his death at IMDb. Info will soon posted there:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0101421
_________________
Russian fan-site Steedumbrella.
http://steedumbrella.ru

Denis

denis rigg · Posted: Sun Jun 02, 2019 4:06 am Post subject:

Hazel Graeme

Actress, model and fashion designer.

Played May Murton in Avengers episode Toy Trap (1961).

It became known that the year of birth of Hazel on IMDb is incorrect.

IMDb indicates the year as 1931, while actually:

Born: July 6, 1932 in Scotland, UK

Started a career under the name Hazel Graeme-Harrison.

Info will soon posted on IMDb:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0333663/

Someone by nick "birdy_artist" met her two years ago - some details here:

https://deskgram.net/p/1502452309068974925_186586561
_________________
Russian fan-site Steedumbrella.
http://steedumbrella.ru

Denis

denis rigg · Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 11:14 am Post subject:

June Hodgson

Model.

Participated as model in Avengers episode Killer Whale (1963).

Full name: June Mary Hodgson

Born: June 23, 1941 in England, UK

Reached success in her career already in the late 1950s. Won the title of first-ever Queen of Majorca. Smile

Died: July 26, 2000 in Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Part of this info is already posted on IMDb:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7163687
_________________
Russian fan-site Steedumbrella.
http://steedumbrella.ru

Denis

denis rigg · Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2019 10:24 am Post subject:

Ken Buckle

Stuntman and actor

Played a window cleaner in Avengers episode Super Secret Cypher Snatch (1968).

It became known that the year of death of Ken on BFI is incorrect:

https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2baaf91ac5

BFI indicates the year of death as 1995, and there was no way to find any clues for Ken on Ancestry and similar datebases for the add reason, because the name Ken Buckle is a pseudonym.

After careful research I came to the follow result:

Real name: Reginald Buckle

Yes, he always used that surname Buckle (while Buckell is mistake. I don't know, maybe Buckell came from the documents like Call Sheets).

Born: May 10, 1918 in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Died: November 21, 1994 in Ealing, London, England, UK

Info is already posted on IMDb:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0118543/

------------------------------------------------------------------------

By the way, Orderly (in the episode Split!) and Guard (in the episode The Morning After) are not Ken Buckle.

_________________
Russian fan-site Steedumbrella.
http://steedumbrella.ru

Denis

denis rigg · Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2019 11:36 pm Post subject:

George Lane Cooper

Stuntman and actor

Played Marvin in TNA episode Hostage (1977).

It became known that the year of death of George on all websites, related to the movies and TV, is incorrect.

I think that this mistake came from the magazine Stuntman 86, where it was said that George died in 2006 at the age of 61.

https://issuu.com/jonauty/docs/stuntman_86

I blindly trusted it many years until I finally wondered why nothing could be found there except the year of his death. Confused

It is curious that when for first time his death was mentioned in a well-known forum about British movie and TV, I absolutely lost sight of the following clue:

http://filmdope.com/forums/84652-mr-peter-braham.html

Messages

30-07-11 01:34 PM #11
Toscana

Aitch, do you know if George Lane Cooper is still with us?

30-07-11 08:15 PM #12
harryfielder

I asked about today.....

Steve Whyment (famous stuntman)
Hi aitch, no george went sadly about 8 to 10 years ago, he was a good old boy. So many have gone, terry plummer was the latest, his funeral was last thursday. Hope your'e keeping well yourself?. Take care. Steve.

Aitch,

Yes, Steve, George’s friend, hinted that George died sometime during 2001-2003. He was right.

Studying information about George from various sources, I came to the important details:
a) He was a professional British boxer named George Cooper until 1960. (Henry Cooper's brother was forced to change his name to Jim Cooper).
b) George's wife's name was Val.
с) He lived in London.

When I recently learned that George was a professional boxer in the 1950s, I thought if he was born in the mid-1940s (accordingly to magazine Stuntman 86), then it turns out that he started his professional career at the age of 8-12? Very Happy

After, I went to the website BoxRec and found only one Englishman, George Cooper, who was in business in the 1950s.

http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/44876

Biographical data is very different from what was stated in the Stuntman 86.

After, I went to Ancestry, and based on data from BoxRec, I discovered his full name and the fact that he married Valerie Sheehan.

Good match.

I went to the StarTiger website where I discovered that his personal address is listed as 16 Robin Hood Green, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 2.

Good match, again.

His latest work in stunt business was 2002 year according to film bases.

Good match, again.

Finally, as I said earlier, Steve Whyment mentioned that George died in the period 2001-2003.

Good match, again.

Well, this is quite enough to be sure for:

Full real name: George Ernest Edward Cooper.

Born: January 28, 1934 in England, UK

Married: Valerie Sheehan in 1980.

Died: February 8, 2002 in Bromley, Kent, England, UK

Part of this information is already posted on IMDb:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0178059/

------------------------------------------------------------------------

By the way, the year of death of stuntman Jack Cooper on IMDb is incorrect too. There indicated 2010.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0178109

Jack in Avengers episode The Master Minds (1965):

It was already mentioned at the end of 2009 that he died.
_________________
Russian fan-site Steedumbrella.
http://steedumbrella.ru

Denis

denis rigg · Posted: Mon Jun 17, 2019 11:14 am Post subject:

Wilfred Grove

Actor, played Male Nun in Avengers episode Dead on Course (1962).

Full name: Wilfred Stacey Grove

Born: May, 1931 in Nottinghamshire, England, UK

Married on Thelma Trigg, Charles Dickens expert. Smile

Since 2013 lives with Thelma in Royston, Hertfordshire.

Information is already posted on IMDb:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0343995/
_________________
Russian fan-site Steedumbrella.
http://steedumbrella.ru

Denis

denis rigg · Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2019 8:57 am Post subject:

Dane Howell

Actor, played Peter Somers in Avengers episode The Radioactive Man (1961).

As there are no screenshot (s) with Dane from Avengers episode "The Radioactive Man", we can not say with certainty that he played a part on the video record too, but in any case, he took part in rehearsals. Wink

Based on the book "The Face Pressed Against a Window: A Memoir" by Tim Waterstone, released in this year, it managed to finally go to the following conclusions:

Dane Howell is real name.

Born: 1948 in Folkestone, Kent, England, UK

Married to Camilla Sonia Laird-Clowes in 1979 (have 4 children).

This information is already posted on IMDb:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0310871/[/quote]

Dane lives in Westminster, London.
_________________
Russian fan-site Steedumbrella.
http://steedumbrella.ru

Denis

denis rigg · Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2019 5:25 am Post subject:

Laurie Leigh

Actress, played Dorothy in Avengers episode Bullseye (1962).

Real name is Eleanor, and it is very possible that she began her acting career as Eleanor Leigh.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0500210/

Born: September 16, 1932

Was married to clock restorer Woolf Leigh (real surname is Leibovitch) from 1952 to 1992 (his death). Son: David Leigh, instrument restorer and classical musician.

This information is already posted on IMDb:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0500254/

There is an interesting article about Laurie:

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/6639545.dont-give-up-hope/

Laurie Leigh was also known as the secretary of comedian Bob Hope.

Moreover, she played a part in creating the first James Bond. When Dr No, the first 007 film, was being planned, she was working for the movie's creators Harry Saltzman and Cubby Broccoli.

Saltzman's desk was covered in pictures of hunks. Laurie spotted Sean Connery, with whom she had appeared in a TV production of Anna Karenina.

Saltzman asked her view of the big Scot. She replied: "He's nice. Very nice."

Saltzman later took Connery for lunch at the Dorchester. When he saw every female in the restaurant turning to look at his guest, he realised they shared Laurie's assessment. Connery got the job.

Laurie lives in Oxford.
_________________
Russian fan-site Steedumbrella.
http://steedumbrella.ru

Denis