Imposing character actor Harry Andrews appeared in a wide assortment
of British, American, and international films almost exclusively as
a supporting player. Andrews graduated from Wrekin College in Shropshire.
During the 1930s he began his career as a distinguished stage actor
noted for his portrayals of Shakespearean roles at the Old Vic. After
army service he reappeared to make his cinema debut in Terence Young’s
The Red Beret (1953). Andrews continued to play most officer types including
the platoon sergeant Payne in A Hill in Korea (1956), the Air Vice Marshal
responsible for the fjord raids in 633 Squadron (1964), the military
detention camp RSM in The
Hill (1965), brigadier Blore in Play
Dirty (1968), a Whitehall defence official in Battle
of Britain (1969) and a lieutenant-colonel Thompson in Too Late
the Hero (1970).
Perhaps his most famous military role was that of MSM Tom Pugh alongside
John Mills in J. Lee-Thompson’s classic adventure Ice
Cold in Alex (1958). Though frequently typecast as the rugged military
types in films, Andrews broke the mould with his brilliant portrayal
of a flamboyant homosexual in the black comedy Entertaining
Mr. Sloane (1970) and the dotty Earl of Gurney in The
Ruling Class (1972). Andrews was awarded the CBE in 1966.
