Gordon Mulholland
Gordon Mulholland (30 April 1921, Cape Town, South Africa – 30 June 2010, East London, South Africa) was a South African actor best known for his performances in the TV soap opera The Villagers and the movie Jock of the Bushveld.
Early life
[edit]He was born in Cape Town in 1921 to parents Sam Mulholland and Nell.[1] It was not a happy upbringing; he was the only child of five to survive childhood.[1]: 10 His mother was the main breadwinner while his father was described as crook and a drunkard.[1]: 10 He was eventually taken into care at Nazareth House. He attended Marist Brothers College but failed to complete matric.[1]: 10
Career
[edit]During World War II, he joined the army entertainment corps and entertained the troops as a stand-up comedian in North Africa and Italy, performing with Sid James and Laurence Harvey.[1]: 10 [2] After the war ended, he left for London and performed at variety and music halls including the Windmill Theatre.[1]: 10 [2] He eventually migrated to West End theatres, performing in productions such as Guys and Dolls and Kiss Me Kate.[1]: 10 He later starred in minor roles in British film productions.[2]
He returned to South Africa in 1967, making his career in theatre and on Springbok Radio with Adrian Steed and Cyril Green.[2][3]: 3 When television arrived in South Africa in 1976, he starred in The Villagers as mining boss Hilton McRae.[2] He performed in theatre with Rex Garner and Clive Scott, and some of his major productions included Fiddler on the Roof and My Fair Lady.[1]: 10
Marriage
[edit]Mulholland was married twice, first to Muff Evans and secondly to actress Diane Wilson, whom he married in 1963 but divorced in 1972.[1]: 10 [2] He had three sons from the two marriages: Sean, Matthew and Jamie.[2]
Death
[edit]Mulholland suffered a stroke in 2009, leaving his left side paralyzed, and after spending a year in a nursing home, he was brought back to East London and died at his son's home.[1]: 10 [4]: 5
Selected filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]- Treasure Island (1950) – Durgin
- The Lady Craved Excitement (1950) – A Lunatic
- Cheer the Brave (1951)
- Hands of Space (1961)
- Coast of Skeletons (1965) – Mr. Spyker
- Der Rivonia-Prozess (1966) – Farmer (uncredited)
- Kruger Miljoene (1967) – Balloon observer (voice, uncredited)
- The Cape Town Affair (1967) – Warrant Officer du Plessis
- The Professor and the Beauty Queen (1967) – Joe
- Stop Exchange (1970)
- Vengeance Cops (1971) – Capt. Venter (voice, uncredited)
- Z.E.B.R.A. (1971) – Charles Lester (English version) (voice, uncredited)
- One Away (1976) – Detective, 'Big man'
- Mister Deathman (1977) – Dr. Halstead
- Jock of the Bushveld (1986) – Tom Barnett
- Act of Piracy (1988) – Captain Jenkins
- Headhunter (1988) – Prof. Robert Sinclair
- Rising Storm (1989) – Whitefish Aldana
- River of Death (1989) – Fanjul
- The Evil Below (1989) – Max Cash Senior
- Accidents (1989) – Tom Black
- Act of Piracy (1990) – Loring
- Traitor's Heart (1999) – Donald Brody
Television
[edit]- The Villagers (1976-1978)
- Westgate (1981) – Warren Bartlett
External links
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Barron, Chris (4 July 2010). "Gordon Mulholland". Sunday Times (South Africa).
- ^ a b c d e f g "Gordon Mulholland dies, aged 89". News24. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
- ^ "Celebrated 89-year-old actor Gordon Mulholland dies". The Citizen (South Africa). 2 July 2010.
- ^ Bailey, Candice (1 July 2010). "SA screen and stage star Gordon Mulholland dies". The Star (Johannesburg).
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