Looking for Ben Williams

[Steve Crook]

I've found a Ben Williams listed in the cast for two of Anna May Wong's British films: Tiger Bay (1933) and Java Head (1934).





Ben Williams





E.

Thanks, it all adds to the picture we're building up about him

[manowar01]

He has a small 'blink and you'll miss it' talking role as the Welsh Mine Foreman in the Ray Milland film from 1951, 'Circle of Danger'. He is definitely appears to be in his 50's. He's also the only actor in the scenes set in Wales who talks with a genuine Welsh lilt.





Click to view:

[cornershop15]

Ben Williams in 'Cottage to Let' (1941)

He played a Scottish Fisherman who helps rescue 'Flight Lieutenant' John Mills from drowning. Who is the other actor?:

I spotted Ben again shortly afterwards, when the patient is taken to recover at the Cottage:

With their backs to camera are Muriel George and Jeanne De Casalis. You can just about see Hay Petrie on the left.

These are from the Network DVD I purchased earlier this month but you can also see the film on the Internet Archive:

Cottage to Let : Edward Black : Free Download & Streaming : Internet Archive

[Gerald Lovell]

Excellent further spotting of Ben, cornershop; he has quite pronounced dimples! And good to have you back!

[Geoffers]

Here's Ben in The Final Test, yet another very brief appearance but he still has a line or two.

[cornershop15]

Ben Williams in 'John and Julie' (1955)

Our first view of him in colour. As the Coach Driver who takes some girl guides on a trip, led by Jean St. Clair:

"Did I hear you call that girl Mary Jones, Miss?" - "It's my habit to address girls by their proper names!"

She's about to find out, however, that Mary Jones is actually Julie, who has taken her identity so she can go to London to catch a glimpse of the Queen with John. I've seen Jean St. Clair in other films, but not for a long time. She reminds me a lot of Damaris Hayman.

The British Transport film short Snowdrift at Bleath Gill (1955) was narrated by Deryck Guyler and a Ben Williams - you can see it on Youtube. Ben sounds as though he may have the lilt of a Welsh accent to me, and I'm guessing he's the same person who was in UMW. Whether he is also the film actor I don't know, but it seems probable.

Not sure if this gets us any further, except that Ben may have been born in Wales.

He has a small 'blink and you'll miss it' talking role as the Welsh Mine Foreman in the Ray Milland film from 1951, 'Circle of Danger'. He is definitely appears to be in his 50's. He's also the only actor in the scenes set in Wales who talks with a genuine Welsh lilt.

Ben has a very strong Welsh accent in his only scene in John and Julie and, assuming that 1895 birth date is correct, would have been 60 then.

[Gerald Lovell]

Ben's the uncredited police photographer in the middle here in The Terror (1938):

That's police superintendent John Turnbull at the French windows.

[Jeff Trigwell]

Hello.
Ben Williams was my grandfather. Unfortunately, I never met him or or know much about him. It was a very interesting thread because I do not know much about Ben. I emailed my father (Phil Trigwell) this thread and this was his reply:

Hallo!Ben Williams the actor was my father(I was born in 1947),and my mother was Etta Trigwell.They did'nt live together,but they had an 'on-off relationship 1946-1959.So I remember him well.We(my and my half/sister Pat and mother Etta) lived on Cale street Chelsea,and Ben lived (firstly in a flat on the Kings road(Mitre House),he then moved to a smaller flat behind Chelsea Town Hall.So I was really surprised when my son (Jeff Trigwell) told me about your Forum'!I have more info' about Ben,if you're interested(I have a good memory!). best Wishes Phil Trigwell (philtrigwell at hotmail.com)

Regards
Jeff Trigwell

Umeå Sweden

[cornershop15]

Thanks for contacting us, Jeff. Please give your father my regards. I'm sure I will come across more of Ben's appearances in films and, with luck, further references in old books and on the Internet.

Best Wishes,
Cornershop

[Steve Crook]

Hello.
Ben Williams was my grandfather. Unfortunately, I never met him or or know much about him. It was a very interesting thread because I do not know much about Ben. I emailed my father (Phil Trigwell) this thread and this was his reply:

Hallo!Ben Williams the actor was my father(I was born in 1947),and my mother was Etta Trigwell.They did'nt live together,but they had an 'on-off relationship 1946-1959.So I remember him well.We(my and my half/sister Pat and mother Etta) lived on Cale street Chelsea,and Ben lived (firstly in a flat on the Kings road(Mitre House),he then moved to a smaller flat behind Chelsea Town Hall.So I was really surprised when my son (Jeff Trigwell) told me about your Forum'!I have more info' about Ben,if you're interested(I have a good memory!). best Wishes Phil Trigwell (philtrigwell at hotmail.com)

Regards
Jeff Trigwell

Umeå Sweden

Thanks Jeff, but do you or your father know Ben's date (or even just the year) of birth?
We're fairly certain that it wasn't 1895

Steve

[Jeff Trigwell]

Thanks Jeff, but do you or your father know Ben's date (or even just the year) of birth?
We're fairly certain that it wasn't 1895

Steve

Hi! my father Ben Williams was born 1897 and died 1959 in Chelsea. He was in loads of bbc radio plays and on the classic recording of 'under milk wood' with richard burton ('54),ben lived in mitre house (kings road chelsea (early 50's) (he was a coal miner first(? swansea?)(had a daughter betty hopkins(she would be 94' today)he served in the royal artillery in Palestine in ww1 and he was an air raid warden in ww2.his last'' film i know of was 'the one that got away'(policeman at airport)Enclose ben's phone number..and a photo of me(i'm 64 now!..born 9 march 1947,in Manchester.Best wishes.
Ps i play music now and then.

[Geoffers]

Hi! my father Ben Williams was born 1897 and died 1959 in Chelsea. He was in loads of bbc radio plays and on the classic recording of 'under milk wood' with richard burton ('54),ben lived in mitre house (kings road chelsea (early 50's) (he was a coal miner first(? swansea?)(had a daughter betty hopkins(she would be 94' today)he served in the royal artillery in Palestine in ww1 and he was an air raid warden in ww2.his last'' film i know of was 'the one that got away'(policeman at airport)Enclose ben's phone number..and a photo of me(i'm 64 now!..born 9 march 1947,in Manchester.Best wishes.
Ps i play music now and then.

Many thanks. I have submitted updates to Ben's page on IMDb.com.