George Sewell

[billy farmer]

I thought i would start a new Thread for George Sewell, an Actor who i have always liked and enjoyed watching in several films and many TV programmes.



George Sewell appeared in six of my all time favourite TV programmes - Gideon's Way, Randall And Hopkirk (Deceased), The Sweeney, Minder, Doctor Who and The Bill, George Sewell also appeared in many other TV programmes (many of which i have seen) including The Power Game, Z Cars, Dixon Of Dock Green, No Hiding Place, Man In A Suitcase, Softly Softly Task Force, Public Eye, Paul Temple, UFO, Special Branch, Rising Damp, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, The Gentle Touch, Tales Of The Unexpected, C.A.T.S. Eyes, Bulman, Home James!, The Upper Hand, The Detectives and Heartbeat.



George Sewell also appeared in many films including This Sporting Life, Sparrows Can't Sing, Robbery, The Haunted House Of Horror and Get Carter.



George Sewell first acted at the age of 35, while drinking in a pub one day he met the actor Dudley Sutton who recommended to Sewell that he audition for a production by Joan Littlewoods Theatre Workshop of Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be.



Sewell did so and the result was that he made his acting debut in the show at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, the show was a success and transferred to the West End, Sewell appeared in two more Littlewood productions, Sparrers Can't Sing and Oh, What A Lovely War! (which was later performed in Paris and on Broadway).



The experience Sewell garnered from stage acting led to a long career in both film and television, George Sewell was born in Hoxton, London on August 31st 1924.



Any other fans of this fine Actor on Brit Movie.

[batman]

Yes, Billy. He is one of my favourite actors. I prefer his incarnation of Special Branch to The Sweeney. IMHO the plots are more interesting and there is a real downbeat quality (especially in the pre-Patrick Mower episodes) that is truly evocative of it's era.

[Big Figure]

George was always totally believable as either a cop (Special Branch, for example) or a robber (Get Carter). Someone you wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of.



A fine actor.

[Gerald Lovell]

I was lucky enough to meet George Sewell in the late 80s and his pleasant manner belied his tough guy image. Another of those wonderful character actors whose performances you knew you could rely upon.

[billy farmer]

Here are some screencaps of George Sewell as Eric Jansen in the episode Vendetta For A Dead Man (1970) from the classic detective series Randall And Hopkirk (Deceased).

[Harbottle]

Another fan, always one of those totally believable actors. Amazing that he stumbled into acting as he was so good!



George being pressed to the wall by Bulldog Drummond's sports car in Deadlier than the Male.

[harryfielder]

We had a few pints together around Islington....



Aitch,

[Toscana]

Delivers one of the best ever right handers seen in a Euston Films production on the titles of Special Branch. Not 100% but I think he was related to the Gutteridge family. They are a large boxing family that includes journalist commentator Reg Gutteridge and wrestler Jackie Pallo, real name Jack Gutteridge.

[billy farmer]

A screencap of George Sewell as Frank Downing in the episode Rembrandt Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1982) from the classic Comedy Drama series Minder.

[billy farmer]

A screencap of George Sewell as Laughlin in the episode A Passing Opportunity (1983) from the classic Anglia TV series Tales Of The Unexpected.

[wellendcanons]

Lots of great screencaps of George Sewell in this thread. Thanks billy. George was a semi-regular in the series Manhunt, which I'm now close to completing. Just two episodes to go.

George was supposed to turn up at the second Gmex event in Manchester in 2006, but he cancelled through ill health. An actor I would love to have got the chance to meet. He was excellent at playing villains and I particularly liked him in his episodes of Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) and The Sweeney. Fantastic actor.

wec

[HUGHJAMPTON]

[flynn]

he was good in the Man in a Suitcase episode.The Sitting Pidgeon.
and even in UFO.with the dodgy irish jig.

[wellendcanons]

Great clip Hugh. Great to see excellent actors like George Sewell and Stuart Wilson having scenes together.

wec

[HUGHJAMPTON]

Great clip Hugh. Great to see excellent actors like George Sewell and Stuart Wilson having scenes together.

wec

Yeah, having thr right lines help, but that kind of acting pulls you into the story, imho.
Sewell's character here is slightly camp, with the "dear boy", but you still wouldn't want to mess with him.

He had agreat facility for comedy, too, as proven in The Detectives.

[Gerald Lovell]

Hands up for George as he faces the dustbins from space:



I encountered George a short while after he recorded this role and he said it was very difficult to keep a straight face!

[Moor Larkin]

He used his *tough copper* public image to great comic effect in The Detectives

[HUGHJAMPTON]

And halfway through this....

[wellendcanons]

Excellent clips Moor and Hugh. You always knew with George that he was going to be entertaining, no matter what part he played.

wec

[HUGHJAMPTON]

Very good1985 interview from Sig , not just talking about UFO but touching on his start in the business. S.i.G. #19 George Sewell Interview

And here's a trailer for his other GA project.