Finlay, Frank 1926–

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Finlay, Frank 1926–

PERSONAL

Born August 6, 1926, in Farnworth, Lancashire, England; son of Josiah and Margaret Finlay; married Doreen Joan Shepherd (an actress and journalist), 1954; children: Anna Catherine (an actress; known as Cathy Finlay), Daniel Joseph Laurence Finlay (an actor), Stephen Francis Finlay (an actor). Education: Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, graduated. Religion: Roman Catholicism.

Addresses:

Contact—c/o Alan Parker, Ltd., 55 Park Lane, London W1Y 3DD, England.

Career:

Actor. Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, associate member. Formed a business relationship with Alan Bridges, a director. Worked as a butcher's assistant and in factories and shops.

Member:

Garrick Club, British Catholic Stage Guild.

Awards, Honors:

Clarence Derwent Award, best actor, Actors' Equity Association, 1962, for Chips with Everything; Best Actor Award, TV Times, c. 1965; Academy Award nomination, best actor in a supporting role, Golden Globe Award nomination, best supporting actor, and Prize San Sebastian, best actor, San Sebastian International Film Festival, all 1966, and Film Award nomination, most promising newcomer to leading film roles, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, 1967, all for Othello; Society of Film and Television Arts Award, c. 1970, for "The Lie," Play for Today; Television Award nomination, best actor, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, 1972, for Casanova; Society of Film and Television Arts Award, c. 1973, and Television Award, best actor, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, 1974, both for The Adventures of Don Quixote; Television Award, best actor, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, 1974, for "Candide," Play of the Month, and for The Death of Adolf Hitler; Best Actor Award, TV Times, c. 1976, for Bouquet of Barbed Wire; named an honorary citizen of Baltimore, 1980; named man of the year, 1981; Film Award nomination, best supporting actor, British Academy of Film and Television Arts, 1983, for The Return of the Soldier; Golden Cinema Ticket Award and Positano Award, best film, both c. 1983, for La chiave; decorated commander, Order of the British Empire, 1984; named honorary fellow, Bolton Institute of Higher Education, 1992; Finlay's portrayal of Peter Manson was named one of the 100 greatest television characters, Channel 4 (England), 2001.

CREDITS

Stage Appearances:

Gaoler, The Queen and the Welshman, Lyric Hammersmith Theatre, London, 1957.

Mr. Matthews, Jessica, Guildford Repertory Company, Guildford, England, 1957.

Mr. Pinnock, The Telescope, Guildford Repertory Company, 1957.

Harry Kahn, Chicken Soup with Barley, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, England, then Royal Court Theatre, London, 1958.

Peter Cauchon, Saint Joan, Belgrade Theatre, 1958.

Percy Elliott, Epitaph for George Dillon, John Golden Theatre, New York City, 1958, then Henry Miller's Theatre, New York City, 1959.

Eric Watts, Sugar in the Morning, Royal Court Theatre, 1959.

Private Attercliffe, Sergeant Musgrave's Dance, Royal Court Theatre, 1959.

Harry Kahn, Chicken Soup with Barley, Royal Court Theatre, 1960.

Ivan Triletski, Platonov, Royal Court Theatre, 1960.

Libby Dobson, I'm Talking about Jerusalem, Royal Court Theatre, 1960.

Mr. Crape Robinson, The Happy Haven, Royal Court Theatre, 1960.

Stan Man, Roots, Royal Court Theatre, 1960.

Corporal Hill, Chips with Everything, Royal Court Theatre, then Vaudeville Theatre, London, 1962.

Alderman Butterthwaite, The Workhouse Donkey, National Theatre, then Chichester Theatre Festival, Chichester, England, 1963.

Chaplain de Stogumber, Saint Joan, National Theatre, London, then Chichester Theatre Festival, 1963.

First gravedigger, Hamlet, Old Vic Theatre, London, 1963.

Cocledemoy, The Dutch Courtesan, National Theatre, then Chichester Theatre Festival, 1964.

Iago, Othello, National Theatre, then Chichester Theatre Festival, 1964.

Cook, Mother Courage, National Theatre, 1965.

Dogberry, Much Ado about Nothing, National Theatre, 1965.

Giles Corey, The Crucible, National Theatre, 1965.

Iago, Othello, National Theatre, 1965.

Willie Mossop, Hobson's Choice, National Theatre, then Berlin and Moscow, 1965.

Joxer Daly, Juno and the Paycock, National Theatre, 1966.

Pavel Prokofyevich Dikoy, The Storm, National Theatre, 1966.

Jesus, Son of Man, Phoenix Theatre, Leicester, England, then Round House Theatre, London, both 1969.

Bernard Link, After Haggerty, Royal Shakespeare Company, Aldwych Theatre, London, 1970, then Criterion Theatre, London, 1971.

Peppino, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, National Theatre Company, Old Vic Theatre, 1973, later Queen's Theatre, London, 1974.

Sloman, The Party, National Theatre Company, Old Vic Theatre, 1973, later Queen's Theatre, 1974.

Ben Prosser, Watch It Come Down, National Theatre Company, Old Vic Theatre, 1976.

Daniel Thorndike, Tribute to the Lady, National Theatre Company, Old Vic Theatre, 1976.

Freddy Malone, Plunder, National Theatre Company, Old Vic Theatre, 1976.

Josef Frank, Weapons of Happiness, National Theatre Company, Lyttelton Theatre, London, 1976.

Henry VIII, Kings and Clowns, National Theatre Company, Phoenix Theatre, 1978.

Domenico Soriano, Filumena, National Theatre Company, Lyric Theatre, London, 1978, then St. James Theatre, New York City, 1980.

The Girl in Melanie Klein, National Theatre Company, Palace Theatre, Watford, England, 1980.

Salieri, Amadeus, National Theatre, Her Majesty's Theatre, London, 1982.

The Cherry Orchard, Haymarket Theatre Royal, London, 1983.

Captain William Bligh, Mutiny, Piccadilly Theatre, London, 1985.

Sir David Metcalfe, Beyond Reasonable Doubt, Queen's Theatre, 1987-88.

Black Angel, King's Head Theatre, London, 1990.

Sir Lewis Messenger, A Slight Hangover, Bromley, England, 1991.

Austin Sloper, The Heiress, Bromley, England, 1992.

Kipps, The Woman in Black, Bristol Old Vic Theatre, Bristol, England, 1993.

Mr. Darling and Captain Hook, Peter Pan, Chichester Festival Theatre, Norwich, England, 1995.

The Handy Man, Chichester Festival Theatre, 1999.

Appeared as Brother Andrew, Our Lady's Tumbler, Guildford Repertory Company.

Major Tours:

Iago, Othello, National Theatre, British cities, 1965.

Willie Mossop, Hobson's Choice, National Theatre, European cities, 1965.

Domenico Soriano, Filumena, National Theatre Company, U.S. cities, 1978-79.

The Cherry Orchard, British cities, 1983.

Sir David Metcalfe, Beyond Reasonable Doubt, Australian and British cities, c. 1988-90.

Sir Lewis Messenger, A Slight Hangover, British cities, 1991.

Austin Sloper, The Heiress, British cities, 1992.

Kipps, The Woman in Black, British cities, 1993.

Mr. Darling and Captain Hook, Peter Pan, British cities, 1994-95.

Inspector Rough, Gaslight, British cities, 1995.

Max Prince, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, British cities, c. 1997.

The Handy Man, British cities, 1999.

Film Appearances:

(Uncredited) Private Coke, The Longest Day, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1962.

Teddy's father, Life for Ruth (also known as Condemned to Life and Walk in the Shadow), J. Arthur Rank, 1962, Continental Motion Pictures, 1966.

Booking office clerk, The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (also known as Rebel with a Cause), Continental Motion Pictures, 1963.

(Uncredited) British embassy porter, Hot Enough for June (also known as Agent 8 3/4 and Agent 008 3/4), Continental Motion Pictures, 1963.

Captain Patterson, Private Potter, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1963.

Corsetiere, Doctor in Distress, J. Arthur Rank, 1963, Governor Films, 1964.

Drunk, The Wild Affair, Bryanston Pictures, 1963, Goldstone Film Enterprises, 1968.

Prout, The Comedy Man, British Lion, 1964.

Leon Sale, Underworld Informers (also known as The Informers), Continental Motion Pictures, 1965.

Iago, Othello, Warner Bros., 1966.

Inspector Lestrade, A Study in Terror (also known as Fog), Columbia, 1966.

Second fish porter, The Sandwich Man (also known as That Swinging City), J. Arthur Rank, 1966.

Council foreman, The Spare Tyres (short film), Monarch Film Corporation, 1967.

Harassed man, The Jokers, United Artists, 1967.

H. W. Manfred, The Deadly Bees, Paramount, 1967.

Robinson, Robbery, Embassy, 1967.

Chaplain, I'll Never Forget What's'isname (also known as I'll Never Forget What's 'Is Name), Regional, 1968.

Igor Bounin, The Shoes of the Fisherman, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1968.

Superintendent Weaver, Inspector Clouseau, United Artists, 1968.

Henry Durnley, Twisted Nerve, British Lion, 1968, National General Pictures, 1969.

Captain Davies, The Molly Maguires, Paramount, 1970.

John Carter, Cromwell, Columbia, 1970.

Narrator, The Body, Anglo-EMI Film Distributors, 1970, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1971.

Detective chief superintendent Velyan, Assault (also known as The Creepers, In the Devil's Garden, Satan's Playthings, and Tower of Terror), J. Arthur Rank, 1971.

Mr. Jones, Danny Jones, Oakshire Productions, 1971.

Marty Gold, Sitting Target, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/EMI, 1972.

William, Gumshoe, Columbia, 1972.

George Dabernon, Neither the Sea nor the Sand (also known as The Exorcism of Hugh), Tigon Film Distributors, 1972, International Amusements/Cinepix Film Properties, 1974.

Vincent Amafi, Shaft in Africa, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1973.

Porthos and O'Reilly, The Three Musketeers (also known as The Three Musketeers: The Queen's Diamonds and Los tres mosqueteros), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1974.

Porthos, The Four Musketeers (also known as The Four Musketeers: Milady's Revenge, The Four Musketeers: The Revenge of Milady, The Return of the Three Musketeers, The Revenge of Milady, and Los cuatro mosqueteros), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1974.

Father Geoghagen, The Wild Geese, Allied Artists, 1978.

Don Giulio (some sources cite role of Paul), Un ombra nell'ombra (also known as The Ring of Darkness), Aretusa Film/Rassy Film/Tanit Film, 1979.

Inspector Lestrade, Murder by Decree (also known as Sherlock Holmes and Saucy Jack and Sherlock Holmes: Murder by Decree), Avco-Embassy, 1979.

William Grey, The Return of the Soldier, European Classics, 1982.

Canarsky, Enigma, Embassy, 1983.

Nino Rolfe, La chiave (also known as The Key), Cannon, 1983.

Matthew Fox, The Ploughman's Lunch, Samuel Goldwyn, 1984.

Voice of Sigmund Freud, 1919, British Film Institute/Channel 4 Films, 1984, International Spectrafilms, 1986.

Professor Hans Fallada, Lifeforce (also known as Space Vampires), TriStar, 1985.

Edward Coke, King of the Wind, Enterprise Pictures/Shapiro/Glickenhaus, 1989.

Porthos, The Return of the Musketeers (also known as El regreso do los mosqueteros and Le retour des mousquetaires), Universal, 1989.

Chandu, La mansion de los Cthulhu (also known as Black Magic Mansion and Cthulhu Mansion), 1990.

Father Nunzio, Storia di una capinera (also known as Sparrow and Nisou no koi/Maria no namida), 1993.

Monsignor, Gospa, Penland Company, 1995.

John Rathbone, Tire a part (also known as Limited Edition), CTV International, 1997.

Rudi Wittfogel, For My Baby (also known as Goodnight Vienna), Showcase Entertainment, c. 1997.

Mike's father, So This Is Romance?, Bloomsbury Films, c. 1997, recut version known as Romance and Rejection, The Asylum.

Hudson Junior, Stiff Upper Lips (also known as Period!), Metrodome Distribution, 1998, Cowboy Booking International, 1999.

Eva's father, Dreaming of Joseph Lees, Twentieth Century-Fox/Fox Searchlight Pictures, 1999.

Charlie Fielding, Ghosthunter (short film), Amulet Films, 2000.

Mr. Heath, The Martins, Icon Film Distribution, 2001.

Dr. Robert Barrum, Silent Cry, INmotion Pictures, 2002.

Father, The Pianist (also known as Der Pianist, Le pianiste, and Pianista), Focus Features, 2002.

Commissaire Vionnet, The Statement (also known as Crimes contre l'humanite), Sony Pictures Classics, 2003.

Alfred, Lighthouse Hill, Carnaby International, 2005.

Roger, The Waiting Room, Bright Pictures, 2007.

Television Appearances; Series:

Jean Valjean, Les miserables, BBC, 1967.

Giovanni Casanova (title role), Casanova (also known as Il veneziano, vita e amori di Giacomo Casanova), BBC-2, 1971, syndicated, c. 1981.

Peter Manson, Bouquet of Barbed Wire, London Weekend Television, 1976.

Peter Manson, Another Bouquet, London Weekend Television, 1977.

Garrick, Mountain of Diamonds (also known as Burning Shore, Gluehender Himmel, La montagna dei diamanti, and La montagne de diamants), [Italy, France, and Germany], 1990.

Astley Yardley, How Do You Want Me?, BBC, 1998-99.

Uncle Irwin Green, The Sins, BBC, 2000, also broadcast on BBC America.

Eric Thornhill, Life Begins, Independent Television (England) and Showtime, 2004-2005.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Judge Peter Mahon, Erebus: The Aftermath, TV New Zealand and Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 1988.

Alcuin of York, Charlemagne, le prince e cheval (also known as Carlo Magno, Charlemagne, and Karl der Grosse), France 2, 1994.

General Bulstrode, The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns (also known as Leprechauns and Kampf der Kobolde), NBC, 1999.

Admiral Wagner, Longitude, Channel 4 (England) and Arts and Entertainment, 2000.

(Uncredited) Voice of God, In the Beginning, NBC, 2000.

(Uncredited; in archive footage) Peter Manson, The 100 Greatest TV Characters, Channel 4, 2001.

Arnold Tennison, Prime Suspect 6: The Last Witness (also known as Prime Suspect the Last Witness), Independent Television, 2003, broadcast on Masterpiece Theatre (also known as ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theatre, ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theatre: Prime Suspect 6, and Mobil Masterpiece Theatre), PBS, 2004.

Prime minister Asquith, The Lost Prince, BBC, 2003, broadcast on Masterpiece Theatre (also known as ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theatre and Mobil Masterpiece Theatre), PBS, 2005.

Arnold Tennison, Prime Suspect: The Final Act (also known as Prime Suspect 7 and Prime Suspect 7: The Final Act), Independent Television and PBS, 2006.

Tom Maxwell, Johnny and the Bomb (also known as Terry Pratchett's "Johnny and the Bomb"), BBC, 2006.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Van der Valk, Van der Valk und das Maedchen, 1972.

Van der Valk, Van der Valk und die Reichen (also known as Pas de frontieres pour l'inspecteur: Discretion absolue), 1973.

Van der Valk, Pas de frontieres pour l'inspecteur: Le bouc emissaire, 1975.

Abu Bakar, The Thief of Baghdad (also known as Le voleur de Bagdad), NBC, 1978.

Napoleon, Betzi, Anglia Television, 1978.

The ghost of Jacob Marley, A Christmas Carol, CBS, 1984.

Kravtsov, Sakharov, HBO, 1984.

Boris, Arch of Triumph, CBS, 1985.

Frank Strange, In the Secret State, BBC, 1985.

Count Razetta, Casanova (also known as Il veneziano, vita e amori di Giacomo Casanova), ABC, 1987.

Sergei Alliluyev, Stalin (also known as Sztalin), HBO, 1992.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Encounters—The Other Side (also known as The Other Side), BBC, 1992.

Pavel Rhele, An Exchange of Fire, Channel 4 (England), 1993.

Riorden, Sr., Station Jim, BBC, 2001.

Josef Haydn, Eroica, BBC, 2003.

Some sources cite an appearance in Van Der Valk and the Dead.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Eric Watts, Sugar in the Morning, 1959.

Soldier, Soldier, BBC, 1960.

The Compartment, BBC, 1961.

Fernand Destayac, "The Farquhar Connection," Studio Four, BBC, 1962.

Franco Angelo, "The Hard Knock," Armchair Theatre, Associated British Picture Corporation, 1962.

"Always Something Hot," Armchair Theatre, Associated British Picture Corporation, 1962.

(In archive footage) Iago, Great Acting: Laurence Olivier, [Great Britain], 1966.

Dogberry, Much Ado about Nothing, BBC, 1967.

Patrick Kelly, "Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width," Armchair Theatre, Associated British Picture Corporation, 1967.

"Oldenburg," Thirty-Minute Theatre, BBC, 1967.

Albert, "Blood of the Lamb," Wednesday Play, BBC, 1969.

Brutus, "Julius Caesar," Play of the Month, BBC, 1969.

This Happy Breed, 1969.

Andrew, "The Lie," Play for Today, BBC, 1970.

Shylock, "The Merchant of Venice," Play of the Month, BBC, 1972.

Adolf Hitler, The Death of Adolf Hitler, London Weekend Television, 1973.

Sancho Panza, The Adventures of Don Quixote (also known as Play of the Month: The Adventures of Don Quixote), broadcast on Play of the Month, BBC, 1973, broadcast on CBS, 1973.

Voltaire, "Candide," Play of the Month, BBC, 1973.

Frank Doel, "84 Charing Cross Road," Play for Today (also known as Play for Today: 84 Charing Cross Road), BBC, 1975.

Professor Abraham van Helsing, Count Dracula, BBC-2, 1977, broadcast on Great Performances, PBS, 1977.

Peppino, Saturday, Sunday, Monday (also known as Laurence Olivier Presents: "Saturday, Sunday, Monday"), BBC and Granada Television, c. 1977.

Dearth, "Dear Brutus," Play for Today, BBC, 1981.

Captain Manson, All for Love: Mona (also known as Mona), [Great Britain], c. 1982.

Narrator, Nine Days in May, BBC, 1984.

Professor Etherege, A Mind to Murder (also known as Dalgliesh: A Mind to Murder), Independent Television, 1995, broadcast on Mystery!, PBS, 1996.

Also appeared in television broadcasts of Aspects of Love and Tales from One Thousand and One Nights.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Mr. Henderson, "The Rocket Station," Target Luna, Associated British Picture Corporation, 1960.

George Lander, "The One That Got Away," You Can't Win, BBC, 1961.

George Tremaine, "Josie," The Younger Generation, Granada Television, 1961.

Ross Mayer, "Animals Can't Laugh," The Younger Generation, Granada Television, 1961.

Harvey, "Fire!," Z Cars, BBC, 1962.

Dr. Hans Kuperus, "The Murderer," Thirteen against Fate (also known as Thirteen against Fate: The Murderer), BBC, 1966.

Guest, The Morecambe and Wise Show, 1973.

Arthur Pearson, "There's One Born Every Minute," Tales of the Unexpected (also known as Roald Dahl's "Tales of the Unexpected"), Anglia Television and syndicated, 1981.

Title role, "The Witchsmeller Pursuivant," The Black Adder (also known as Blackadder), BBC, 1983.

"1987 Christmas Special," The Two Ronnies, BBC, 1987.

Harold Plumb, "Fruit of the Desert," Lovejoy, BBC and Arts and Entertainment, 1994.

Howard Franklin, "Lost and Found," Heartbeat (also known as Classic Heartbeat), Independent Television (England), 1994.

Derek, Common as Muck, BBC, 1994.

Paul Shane, Common as Muck, BBC, 1994.

Professor Coram Sergius, "The Golden Pince-Nez," The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, Granada Television, 1994, broadcast on Mystery!, PBS, c. 1995.

Edward Lawrence, The Grand, Independent Television, 1998.

Mr. Turner, "Legacy," Where the Heart Is, Independent Television, 2000.

Brand Spanking New Show (also known as Harry Enfield's "Brand Spanking New Show"), Sky Television (England), 2000.