Gerald Harper
Biography
Gerald Harper was an English actor who became a television name through two title roles, Adam Adamant Lives! and Hadleigh, and then returned to the theater, his main love. Born in Barnet in 1929, he set out to be a doctor but turned to acting while still at school, and after national service he gave up his Cambridge medicine course for RADA, starting at the London Arts Theatre and the Liverpool Playhouse before appearing in Charley's Aunt in London. His films included The Admirable Crichton (1957), Tunes of Glory (1960), The Young Ones (1961) and The Shoes of the Fisherman (1968). On stage he played Benedick at the Chichester Festival Theatre and took the part of Iago for the Bristol Old Vic, and he did a good deal of directing, including a Hebrew-language production of Blithe Spirit for the Israeli National Theatre. He also presented radio programs. He died in 2025.
96years old at death
- Born London Borough of Barnet
- Died
- Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
Movie Career
- Films
- 5
- Career span
- 11 years1957 to 1968
Every film, newest first
- 1968The Shoes of the FishermanIMDb rating 7.0
- 1964Wonderful LifeIMDb rating 5.3
- 1961The Young OnesIMDb rating 5.8
- 1960Tunes of GloryIMDb rating 7.5
- 1957The Admirable CrichtonIMDb rating 7.1
Genres
Share
Did you know?!
Early training
After serving as a second lieutenant in the Royal Artillery for two years of national service, Harper gave up his medicine course at Cambridge University and won a place at RADA.
First role
Harper began his professional stage work at the London Arts Theatre, then moved to the Liverpool Playhouse, before returning to London to appear in Charley's Aunt with Frankie Howerd.
Behind the camera
Harper directed many plays, including a production of Blithe Spirit that was staged in Hebrew at the Israeli National Theatre.
Beyond film
Harper hosted radio shows, among them The Sunday Affair on Capital Radio during the 1970s. In 1979 he appeared with Felicity Kendall in a radio serialization of Jilly Cooper's Prudence.
Gerald Harper movies on Netflix
Most often with
Sidney J. Furie directed two of these films. Six 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.
Films together
Melvyn Hayes's page
Cliff Richard's page
Richard O'Sullivan's page
Bruce Welch's page
Hank B. Marvin's page
Hank Marvin's page
All films by Sidney J. Furie
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.