David Tomlinson

Biography

The English actor, singer and comedian David Tomlinson worked in theater, film and television, moving from amateur productions to a screen debut in Quiet Wedding in 1940. Born in Henley-on-Thames, he served in the Second World War as a flight lieutenant in the Royal Air Force, then returned to British cinema, playing one of three escaping airmen in The Wooden Horse in 1950. He was regarded as both a lead and a character player, and he rarely strayed far from comedy, remaining best known for three Disney films: George Banks in Mary Poppins (1964), the hapless Peter Thorndyke in The Love Bug (1968) and Professor Emelius Browne in Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971). The cast recording of Mary Poppins won a Grammy for Best Recording for Children, and he was named a Disney Legend in 2002.

83years old at death

Born May 7, 1917Henley-on-Thames
Died June 24, 2000Buckinghamshire
Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20

Movie Career

Films: 14
Career span: 84 years1941 to 2025

Genres

Comedy57%, 8 films
Adventure36%, 5 films
Drama36%, 5 films
Fantasy29%, 4 films
Thriller29%, 4 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

First role
Tomlinson's stage career grew out of amateur stage productions, and it eventually brought him to his film debut in 1940, in Quiet Wedding.
A change of course
Tomlinson's career paused when he joined the RAF as a Flight Lieutenant in the Second World War. He trained as a pilot in Canada, then taught flying in the UK, and still appeared in three more films.

David Tomlinson movies on Netflix

Silent Night, Deadly Night2025IMDb rating 6.1as Max Benedict
Dominique1980IMDb rating 5.5as Attorney
From Hong Kong with Love1975IMDb rating 4.0as Sir John Mac Gregor
Bedknobs and Broomsticks1971IMDb rating 7.1as Emelius
The Love Bug1968IMDb rating 6.5as Thorndyke
The Liquidator1965IMDb rating 5.9as Quadrant
The Truth About Spring1965IMDb rating 6.4as Charles Skelton
War-Gods of the Deep1965IMDb rating 5.3as Harold Tufnell-Jones
Mary Poppins1964IMDb rating 7.8as Mr. Banks
Tom Jones1963IMDb rating 6.3as Lord Fellamar
So Long at the Fair1950IMDb rating 7.1as Johnny Barton
Miranda1948IMDb rating 6.8as Charles
I See a Dark Stranger1946IMDb rating 6.9as Intelligence Officer
"Pimpernel" Smith1941IMDb rating 7.2as Steve

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Mary Poppins1964 Comedy, Family, Fantasyas Mr. Banks
IMDb rating 7.8200K votes
Bedknobs and Broomsticks1971 Adventure, Comedy, Familyas Emelius
IMDb rating 7.144K votes
The Love Bug1968as Thorndyke
IMDb rating 6.519K votes
Tom Jones1963as Lord Fellamar
IMDb rating 6.316K votes
Silent Night, Deadly Night2025as Max Benedict
IMDb rating 6.17.8K votes
War-Gods of the Deep1965as Harold Tufnell-Jones
IMDb rating 5.33.0K votes
So Long at the Fair1950as Johnny Barton
IMDb rating 7.12.9K votes
Miranda1948as Charles
IMDb rating 6.81.3K votes

Most often with

Robert Stevenson directed three of these films. Eight actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Trevor Howard

Reginald Owen

John Le Mesurier

Jean Simmons

Glynis Johns

Raymond HuntleyRobert StevensonDirector, 3 films

Films together

Trevor Howard2 films together, 1946 to 1965
Trevor Howard's page
- The Liquidator1965IMDb rating 5.9Tomlinson as QuadrantHoward as Mostyn
- I See a Dark Stranger1946IMDb rating 6.9Tomlinson as Intelligence OfficerHoward as Lt. David Bayne
Reginald Owen2 films together, 1964 to 1971
Reginald Owen's page
- Bedknobs and Broomsticks1971IMDb rating 7.1Tomlinson as EmeliusOwen as Gen. Teagler
- Mary Poppins1964IMDb rating 7.8Tomlinson as Mr. BanksOwen as Admiral Boom
John Le Mesurier2 films together, 1965
John Le Mesurier's page
- The Liquidator1965IMDb rating 5.9Tomlinson as QuadrantMesurier as Chekhov
- War-Gods of the Deep1965IMDb rating 5.3Tomlinson as Harold Tufnell-JonesMesurier as Rev. Jonathan Ives
Jean Simmons2 films together, 1950 to 1980
Jean Simmons's page
- Dominique1980IMDb rating 5.5Tomlinson as AttorneySimmons as Dominique Ballard
- So Long at the Fair1950IMDb rating 7.1Tomlinson as Johnny BartonSimmons as Vicky Barton
Glynis Johns2 films together, 1948 to 1964
Glynis Johns's page
- Mary Poppins1964IMDb rating 7.8Tomlinson as Mr. BanksJohns as Mrs. Banks
- Miranda1948IMDb rating 6.8Tomlinson as CharlesJohns as Miranda Trewella
Raymond Huntley2 films together, 1941 to 1946
Raymond Huntley's page
- I See a Dark Stranger1946IMDb rating 6.9Tomlinson as Intelligence OfficerHuntley as J. Miller
- "Pimpernel" Smith1941IMDb rating 7.2Tomlinson as SteveHuntley as Marx
Robert StevensonDirector, 3 films, 1964 to 1971
All films by Robert Stevenson
- Bedknobs and Broomsticks1971IMDb rating 7.1Tomlinson as Emelius
- The Love Bug1968IMDb rating 6.5Tomlinson as Thorndyke
- Mary Poppins1964IMDb rating 7.8Tomlinson as Mr. Banks
Also two films together2 more actors
- Charles PatonMiranda (1948) and "Pimpernel" Smith (1941)
- Zena MarshallSo Long at the Fair (1950) and Miranda (1948)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Awards

One award and honor.

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David Tomlinson's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Other honors
2002	Disney Legends (posthumous)		Honored

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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