Douglas Alexander Clarke-Smith (2 August 188812 March 1959), professionally known as D. A. Clarke-Smith or sometimes Douglas A. Clarke-Smith was a British actor. In a stage career lasting from 1913 to 1954, with interruptions to fight in both World Wars, he played a wide range of roles, in modern commercial plays and established classics. He was seen onstage in the West End, on tour in Britain, and on Broadway. In addition to his stage career, he appeared frequently on BBC radio, and was seen in numerous films between 1929 and 1956.

Life and career

Early years

Clarke-Smith was born on 2 August 1888 at Montrose, Scotland. He was educated at Blackheath, London, and Pembroke College, Oxford, where he joined the Oxford University Dramatic Society in 1910. He made his professional stage debut at the Kingsway Theatre in 1913 in Arnold Bennett's The Great Adventure, succeeding Clarence Derwent in the role of Ebag. On tour in the same play he was promoted to the leading role, Ilam Carve, created by Henry Ainley.

In 1914 on the outbreak of the First World War Clarke-Smith joined the Royal Artillery, and was mentioned in despatches three times."Mr D. A. Clarke-Smith", The Times, 13 March 1959, p. 15 In 1919 he joined the Birmingham Repertory Company where his roles included Young Marlowe in She Stoops to Conquer, John Worthing in The Importance of Being Earnest, Joseph Surface in The School for Scandal and in Shakespeare, Malvolio in Twelfth Night, Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, Shylock in The Merchant of Venice and Hotspur in Henry IV, Part 1.

Clarke-Smith was producer for the Lena Ashwell Players for nearly a year from December 1919. In 1920 he married the actress Alice Bowes. They had two children. The marriage was later dissolved. In the 1920s and 1930s Clarke-Smith was often seen on the West End stage in new plays including Six Characters in Search of an Author, and also in classics, playing Bonnington in The Doctor's Dilemma, Rank in A Doll's House, Kroll in Rosmersholm, Brack in Hedda Gabler and Solness in The Master Builder, and Shakespearean roles including Peter Quince in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Malvolio and Benedick. He appeared on Broadway in 1930 in Insult, by J. E. Harold Terry and Harry Tighe."Insult", Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved 4 August 2021

Later years

In 1928 Clarke-Smith made the first of his many broadcasts for the BBC."D. A. Clarke-Smith", BBC Genome. Retrieved 4 August 2021 In 1939 he joined the BBC Repertory Company but left later in the year to serve once more in the Army, becoming a staff captain. He was invalided out in 1944 and returned to the stage at the Liverpool Playhouse as a member of the visiting Old Vic Company. In June 1945 he married for the second time; his spouse was Catherine Rosemary Ellis; they had three children. Clarke-Smith's post-war stage career followed the pattern of his earlier years, interspersing new commercial plays with revivals of classics. The latter included Man and Superman in its entirety, including the rarely staged "Don Juan in Hell" episode; he played Roebuck Ramsden in the main play and the Statue of Don Gonzalo in the Hell scene. His final stage role was Mr Myers, QC, in Witness for the Prosecution in 1953–54.Parker, Gaye and Herbert, pp. 459–461

Clarke-Smith died on 12 March 1959, in Withyham in Sussex, aged 70.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes1929 Atlantic Freddie Tate–Hughes 1931 Bracelets Joe le Sage 1931 Michael and Mary Harry Price 1931 The Old Man John Lorney 1931 Shadows Gruhn 1932 Help Yourself Maj. Fred Harris 1932 The Frightened Lady Dr Amersham 1932 A Voice Said Goodnight Philip Gaylor 1932 A Letter of Warning Sir James Royd 1932 Illegal Franklyn Dean 1932 White Face Dr Rudd 1933 The Good Companions Ridvers 1933 Waltz Time Meyer 1933 The Ghoul Mahmoud 1933 Head of the Family Welsh 1933 I Was a Spy President of Investigation Board Uncredited1933 Mayfair Girl Captain Merrow 1933 Smithy Boyd 1933 Friday the Thirteenth Max 1933 Turkey Time Westbourne 1933 The Thirteenth Candle Blades 1933 The Laughter of Fools Plunket 1933 I'm an Explosive Lord Ferndale 1933 High Finance Dodman 1933 Follow the Lady Flash Bob 1934 Flat No. 3 Kettler 1934 Keep It Quiet Vendervell 1934 Designing Women Bowsfield 1934 Passing Shadows Stranger 1934 Warn London Dr Nicoletti 1934 A Cup of Kindness Mr Jim Finch 1934 The Perfect Flaw Louis Maddox 1934 Money Mad Phillips 1934 The Man Who Knew Too Much Binstead 1934 Lorna Doone Counsellor Doone 1934 The Feathered Serpent Joe Farmer 1934 Menace Sir Robert Conway 1935 Key to Harmony Rupert Golder 1935 Regal Cavalcade Narrator Voice1935 Murder by Rope Hanson 1936 Southern Roses Senor Estrello 1936 The Happy Family Mr Harrison 1937 Cafe Colette 1937 Splinters in the Air Warrant Officer 1937 Little Miss Somebody Mr Borden 1938 I've Got a Horse Fowler, Kings Counsel 1939 Wanted by Scotland Yard Inspector Williams 1939 Flying Fifty-Five Jacques Gregory 1947 Frieda Herriot 1951 Quo Vadis Phaon 1952 Something Money Can't Buy Critic 1952 The Pickwick Papers Dodson 1953 The Sword and the Rose Cardinal Wolsey 1954 Beau Brummell Sir John Wyatt Uncredited1956 The Man Who Never Was Consul Smith Uncredited1956 The Baby and the Battleship The Admiral

References and sources

References

Sources

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