Tom Bell(1933-2006)
- Actor
Tom Bell was one of the UK's finest actors but he never achieved the
star billing or recognition he so richly deserved. His career spanned
some 50 years. Time and time again, Bell gave memorable performances.
From the able seaman ordered to be flogged by a sadistic officer
played by Dirk Bogarde in the film, "HMS Defiant" (AKA "Damn the
Defiant") to Sergeant Otley in the ITV TV productions, "Prime Suspect"
to the vengeful character of Frank Ross in the Euston Films
mini-series, "Out". Bell was the consummate professional and he never
ever gave a bad performance. When the kitchen sink dramas became
fashionable in the 1960s and floods of angry young men emerged onto the
scene, he was in good company along with Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay,
to name just a couple. However, in his younger days, he had a British
working-class rebellious streak which stood in the way of any success
he might have had in the UK or US film industry, even though he never
created problems when working on a production. One incident in the
early 1960s probably damaged his career more than any other. A little
the worse for drink, he stood up at an awards function and asked Prince
Phillip to, "Tell us a joke!" In fact, so the story goes, Prince
Phillip handled the problem well by replying, "If you want jokes, you
should get a comedian". At the time, Bell was seated at the table of
the Producer and Director of, "The L-Shaped Room", namely Richard
Attenborough and Bryan Forbes who, probably seeing their future chances
of knighthoods slipping away, urged him to sit down and keep quiet. It
was reported that Leslie Caron, who starred with Bell in "The L-Shaped
Room", later talked to Prince Phillip who said he was amused by the
actor's remarks, even if Attenborough and Forbes were not. From then
on, though not being totally blacklisted, his reputation as a trouble
maker followed him for several years.
From the 1970s until he died on October 4th, 2006, Bell came into his own with a long list of impressive TV credits. His one venture into Hollywood, was when he appeared in an episode of "The Virginian" and a B-movie, "In Enemy Country". Bell gave, as usual excellent performances in both productions but Hollywood left him unimpressed and he returned to the UK.
From the 1970s until he died on October 4th, 2006, Bell came into his own with a long list of impressive TV credits. His one venture into Hollywood, was when he appeared in an episode of "The Virginian" and a B-movie, "In Enemy Country". Bell gave, as usual excellent performances in both productions but Hollywood left him unimpressed and he returned to the UK.
