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Cecil Bevan

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Cecil Bevan's 1939 Spotlight photo

Cecil Stuart Reginald Bevan (May 1, 1875 – January 22, 1953) was a British supporting and character actor on stage and screen.[1][2][3]

Early life

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Bevan was born in London,[1] the son of a clergyman, Reverend Cecil Bevan.[4] He worked as an accountant and partnership agent,[5] and acted as an amateur with groups including the Romany Amateur Dramatic Club at St. George's Hall, London in 1900,[6] and the Phoenix Amateur Dramatic Club at the Bijou Theatre, London, in 1901.[7]

Career

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By 1907, Bevan had begun acting professionally with George Alexander's company[1] in Alfred Sutro's new play, John Glayde's Honour.[8][9][10] He also appeared with the Herbert Sleath Company[11] and the London Repertory Theatre under its director J. T. Grein.[12][13]

In 1912, he played the governor of HM Prison Holloway in a satirical play by Lillie Langtry titled Helping the Cause, in which Langtry played a militant suffragist. The play, with the cast including Langtry, Bevan, Leonora Braham and Alfred Mansfield, toured the United Kingdom and the United States.[14][15][16][17][18]

In the 1910s and 1930s-40s, Bevan appeared in West End theatres in supporting roles in plays by dramatists such as Harley Granville-Barker, Elmer Rice, Jerome K. Jerome, and Julius J. and Philip G. Epstein.[12][19] He received praise for his performances, in particular for his role as Christopher Branley in John Glayde's Honour by Alfred Sutro (1907-1908),[8][9] Captain Montgomerie in W. Somerset Maugham's Lady Frederick (1908),[20] and Dr. O'Shea in Roland Pertwee's Pink String and Sealing Wax (1943).[21][22][23]

Bevan also appeared on screen from 1921 to 1952. His performance as Sampson Brass in The Old Curiosity Shop (1921) was described as "excellent".[24] His last appearance on screen was as Reverend Mayne in Autumn Crocus (1952).[1]

Personal life

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He married twice, firstly to Violet Gordon Robbins in 1900,[4] and later to Frieda Haesler.[25] He was a member of the Green Room Club[26] and the Conservative Association.[1] He died in 1953 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, where he had lived for over thirty years.[1]

Selected stage performances

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Year Title Author Theatre Role Notes
1900 A Pair of Spectacles Sydney Grundy, adapted from Les Petits Oiseaux by Eugène Labiche and Alfred Delacour St. George's Hall, London Percy Goldfinch Romany Amateur Dramatic Club[6]
1900 The Money Spinner Arthur Wing Pinero St. George's Hall, London Lord Kingussie Romany Amateur Dramatic Club [27]
1905 Mrs. L'Estrange Kinsey Peile Shaftesbury Theatre, London Jules [28]
1907 John Glayde's Honour Alfred Sutro Theatre Royal, Bath Christopher Branley George Alexander Productions [8]
1908 John Glayde's Honour Alfred Sutro Borough Theatre, Stratford; The Kennington Theatre, south-east London Christopher Branley George Alexander Company[9][10]
1908 Lady Frederick W. Somerset Maugham King's Theatre, Sunderland; Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne Captain Montgomerie [29][20]
1909 A White Man Edwin Milton Royle Theatre Royal, Woolwich; Empire Theatre, Southend-on-Sea Earl of Kerhill Herbert Sleath Company [11][30]
1911 The Quality of Mercy Hall Caine Theatre Royal, Manchester Mr. Pettigrew John Hart and M. V. Leveaux. World Premiere[31]
1912 Helping the Cause Percy Fendall and Lillie Langtry Oldham Coliseum Theatre, Greater Manchester; Glasgow Empire Theatre, Scotland; B. F. Keith's Theater, Cincinnati; Hippodrome Theater (Cleveland, Ohio); Orpheum Theater, Brooklyn, United States Sir Martyn Mangles, governor of Holloway gaol [14][15][16][17]
1912 The Right Sort (a short version of The Degenerates) Sydney Grundy The Empire Palace Theatre, Leeds Duke of Orme [32]
1914-1915 The Dynasts Thomas Hardy, adapted by Harley Granville-Barker Kingsway Theatre, London 1st Passenger; Colonel Graham; General Sir Thomas Picton [12]
1915 On Trial Elmer Rice Lyric Theatre, London Clerk [12]
1915 The World of Boredom Adapted from Édouard Pailleron's Le Monde où l'on s'ennuie by Maria Leonard and J. T. Grein Queen's Theatre, London Monsieur de Millets [12]
1915 The Three Patriots Jerome K. Jerome Queen's Theatre, London Doctor [12]
1915 The Dummy Harvey J. O'Higgins and Harriet Ford Prince of Wales Theatre, London Fisher [12]
1917 Ruts Harry Wall Court Theatre, London Mr. Boulder London Repertory Theatre, dir. J. T. Grein[12][13]
1933 The Brontës Alfred Sangster Royalty Theatre, London William Smith Williams [33]
1943 Pink String and Sealing Wax Roland Pertwee Theatre Royal, Brighton; Theatre Royal, Nottingham; Duke of York's Theatre, London Dr. O'Shea [1][21][22][23][19]
1944 Pink String and Sealing Wax Roland Pertwee Phoenix Theatre, London Dr. O'Shea [19]
1945 Chicken Every Sunday Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein, based on the novel by Rosemary Drachman Taylor Savoy Theatre, London Reverend Wilson [19][34]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1921 The Old Curiosity Shop Sampson Brass [35][24]
1937 The Elder Brother Coroner [2][36]
1937 Jump for Glory Cyril [35]
1937 Night Ride [37]
1937 The Cavalier of the Streets [38][39]
1937 Paradise for Two, released in the US as The Gaiety Girls Renaud or Renard [2][35][40][41]
1938 The Beautiful One Scribe [42]
1939 Inspector Hornleigh on Holiday Man In Solicitor's Office [43]
1942 Let the People Sing Minor Role [44]
1943 Subject for Discussion #5 of the Into Battle series produced by the Ministry of Information[45]
1945 Twilight Hour Hartley [2]
1945 Waltz Time Minister of Health [2][46]
1947 The White Unicorn Clerk to the Assizes [2]
1948 The Blind Goddess Morton [2]
1949 Once Upon a Dream Wright [2]
1950 The Reluctant Widow [2]
1951 Night Was Our Friend Clerk of the Court [2][35]
1952 Autumn Crocus Reverend Mayne, the clergyman [1][47]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Actor's Death. Mr. C.S.R. Bevan". Tunbridge Wells Courier. Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. 30 January 1953. p. 5. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Palmer, Scott (1988). British film actors' credits, 1895-1987. McFarland. p. 65. ISBN 9780899503165. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  3. ^ "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008". FamilySearch. Retrieved 20, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "The Weddings of the Week". The Gentlewoman. 28 July 1900. p. 39. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  5. ^ "Partnerships Dissolved" (PDF). The London Gazette. 23 June 1899. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Amateur Dramatic Notes". Lady's Pictorial. 10 March 1900. p. 19. Retrieved 15 May 2025. Mr. Cecil Bevan gave Percy Goldfinch a pleasant and fresh personality; he has a good stage voice and is entirely free from self-consciousness.
  7. ^ "Amateur Dramatic Notes". Lady's Pictorial. 16 February 1901. p. 22. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  8. ^ a b c "Bath Theatre Royal. John Glayde's Honour". Somerset Guardian and Radstock Observer. Radstock, Avon, England. 12 October 1907. p. 6. Retrieved 12 May 2025. Mr. Cecil Bevan is excellent as Christopher Branley.
  9. ^ a b c "The Borough, Stratford". The Stage. 7 May 1908. p. 19. Retrieved 13 May 2025. Mr. Cecil Bevan makes the most of the quaint and unintentionally facetious Christopher Branley.
  10. ^ a b "The Kennington, S.E." The Stage. 21 May 1908. p. 19. Retrieved 13 May 2025. [T]he Princess and her lover [are played] by Miss Beatrice Smith and Mr. Cecil Bevan, who show considerable strength in the third and fourth acts.
  11. ^ a b "Theatre Royal, Woolwich". Woolwich Herald. 13 August 1909. p. 6. Retrieved 12 May 2025. as the Earl of Kerhill, his cousin, Mr. Cecil Bevan scores immensely.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h Wearing, J. P. (2013). The London Stage 1910-1919: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810893009. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  13. ^ a b "The Court. London Repertory Theatre. "Ruts."". The Stage. 22 February 1917. p. 16. Retrieved 13 May 2025. Mr. Cecil Bevan also doing well as the supposed "sea-green, incorruptible" Boulder.
  14. ^ a b "Farces at the Coliseum". The Era. 17 February 1912. p. 23. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  15. ^ a b "The Glasgow Empire. Mrs. Langtry". Scottish Referee. 29 April 1912. p. 6. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  16. ^ a b "At B. F. Keith's". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati, Ohio. 10 November 1912. p. 46. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  17. ^ a b "Hippodrome". The Cleveland Press. 26 November 1912. p. 11. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  18. ^ "Brooklyn Theatres Claim Their Thousands of Pleased Votaries. Vaudeville Lure is Potent Yet". The Brooklyn Daily Times. Brooklyn, New York. 15 October 1912. p. 6. Retrieved 17 May 2025.
  19. ^ a b c d Wearing, J.P. (2014). The London Stage 1940-1949: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. ISBN 9780810893061. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  20. ^ a b "The Provinces. Sunderland". The Stage. 3 December 1908. p. 9. Retrieved 15 May 2025. Mr. Cecil Bevan contributes an incisive impersonation of Captain Montgomerie.
  21. ^ a b ""Pink String and Sealing Wax", Royal, Brighton". The Stage. 12 August 1943. p. 5. Retrieved 12 May 2025. [E]xcellent character sketches by Cecil Bevan as an old-fashioned doctor ...
  22. ^ a b "Nottingham". The Stage. 19 August 1943. p. 4. Retrieved 12 May 2025. Cecil Bevan is excellent as Dr. O'Shea.
  23. ^ a b "The Duke of York's. "Pink String and Sealing Wax."". The Stage. 9 September 1943. p. 1. Retrieved 12 May 2025. Cecil Bevan [is] ... a doctor in the professionally impeccable Dr. Watson tradition
  24. ^ a b "Criticisms of the Films: "The Old Curiosity Shop"". The Bioscope. 5 May 1921. p. 66. Retrieved 15 May 2025. Cecil Bevan is excellent as the fantastic Brass.
  25. ^ "Engagements". Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser. 20 August 1943. p. 8. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  26. ^ "Local Wills". Kent & Sussex Courier. 1 May 1953. p. 6. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  27. ^ "Amateur Dramatic Notes". Lady's Pictorial. 26 May 1900. p. 57. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  28. ^ Wearing, J.P. (2013). The London Stage 1900-1909: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810892941. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  29. ^ "The Provinces - Eastbourne". The Stage. 3 September 1908. p. 6. Retrieved 16 May 2025. The unpleasant role of Captain Montgomery is admirably filled by Mr. Cecil Bevan.
  30. ^ "Provincial Theatricals. Southend-on-Sea". The Era. 18 September 1909. p. 13. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  31. ^ ""The Quality of Mercy"". The Era. 9 September 1911. p. 19. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  32. ^ "Leeds Amusements. Empire Palace". Skyrack Courier. Barkston Ash, Yorkshire. 5 July 1912. p. 8. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  33. ^ Wearing, J.P. (2014). The London Stage 1930-1939: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. ISBN 9780810893047. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  34. ^ "The Savoy. "Chicken Every Sunday"". The Stage. 28 June 1945. p. 1. Retrieved 12 May 2025. Cecil Bevan [is] the most "Anglican" parson who ever served the Episcopal Church of America.
  35. ^ a b c d Gifford, Denis, ed. (2016). British Film Catalogue Two Volume Set - The Fiction Film/The Non-Fiction Film · Volume 1. Taylor & Francis. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
  36. ^ "Reviews. The Elder Brother". Picturegoer. 7 August 1937. p. 26. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  37. ^ "Night Ride Starts at Pinewood". Kinematograph Weekly. 1 April 1937. p. 49. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  38. ^ "London Trade Shows". Kinematograph Weekly. 11 March 1937. p. 6. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  39. ^ "Famous American Story at Gem". West Middlesex Gazette. 11 December 1937. p. 4. Retrieved 16 May 2025. [O]ther colourful characters in this typical Arlen work are carried out by Cecil Bevan, ...
  40. ^ Nugent, Frank S. (31 March 1938). "'The Gaiety Girls,' a Bright London Musical, Opens at Rivoli". The New York Times. p. 15. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  41. ^ "Reel Reviews". The Brooklyn Citizen. Brooklyn, New York. 31 March 1938. p. 12. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  42. ^ "Television" (PDF). Radio Times. pp. 18, 20. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  43. ^ ""Inspector Hornleigh" Gets Busy". Kinematograph Weekly. 25 May 1939. p. 27. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  44. ^ "Priestley Film Cast". Kinematograph Weekly. 20 November 1941. p. 34. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  45. ^ ""Subject for Discussion"". The Lancet: 533. 24 April 1943. Retrieved 13 May 2025. This little tale is acted superbly by Milton Rosmer, Cecil Bevan, Ann Davis and others.
  46. ^ Tinée, Mae (24 July 1946). "'Waltz Time' Is a Pleasant Film Operetta". Chicago Tribune. p. 25. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
  47. ^ ""Autumn Crocus"". The Perthshire Advertiser. Perth, Tayside, Scotland. 16 August 1952. p. 10. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
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