Patrick Newell
Biography
Patrick Newell was a British actor who became a familiar face on television, often cast as a villain or in comic parts. Born in Hadleigh, Suffolk, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before finding steady work as a stooge in comedy shows, first for Arthur Askey and later for Jimmy Edwards. His best known role was Mother, the spymaster in The Avengers, after earlier appearances in two episodes of the series. He also turned up in Maigret, The Persuaders!, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), The Young Ones and a Doctor Who story, and played Inspector Lestrade in the 1980 series Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson. His film work included the Gluttony segment of The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins (1971), and in 1984 he played Sutton/Blessington in an ITV production of The Adventure of the Resident Patient alongside Jeremy Brett.
56years old at death
- Born Hadleigh
- Died Essex
- Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19
- Also credited as Patrick David Newell
Movie Career
- Films
- 3
- Career span
- 20 years1965 to 1985
Every film, newest first
- 1985Young Sherlock HolmesIMDb rating 6.8
- 1974VampiraIMDb rating 4.5
- 1965The Alphabet MurdersIMDb rating 5.2
Genres
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A role that slipped away
Newell was first cast as an inept recruit in Carry On Sergeant, the 1958 first Carry On film. Producer Peter Rogers said Newell arrived on the first day of filming, saw the real sergeant drilling the cast, and left in his Rolls-Royce, never seen again.
Early training
Newell attended Taunton School and finished his National Service, during which Michael Caine was a fellow recruit. He then trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art with Albert Finney and Peter O'Toole.
Big break
Newell's best-known part was Mother, the spymaster in The Avengers, after he had appeared in two earlier episodes of the show, including Diana Rigg's debut.
Patrick Newell movies on Netflix
Worked with
Patrick Newell shares two films with Freddie Jones, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Freddie Jones's page
David Niven's page
Robert Morley's page
Julian Glover's page
Maurice Denham's page
Roger Ashton-Griffiths's page
All films by Barry Levinson
Frank TashlinDirector, 1 film, 1965
All films by Frank Tashlin
Clive DonnerDirector, 1 film, 1974
All films by Clive Donner
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.