Nigel Dennis Patrick Wemyss-Gorman (2 May 1912 – 21 September 1981) was an English actor and stage director born into a theatrical family.
During the late 1940s and 1950s, he became known as a debonair leading man in British films, though he could also portray rogues.[1] He featured in The Sound Barrier (aka, Breaking Through the Sound Barrier, 1952), under the direction of David Lean.
Biography
Patrick was born in London, England, the son of Thomas Joseph Charles Aubrey Wemyss Gorman (born 1875 – died 19??) and actress Dorothy Hilda Turner (1890–1969).[2]
Stage actor
He made his professional stage debut in The Life Machine at the Regent Theatre, in Kings Cross, London, in 1932 following a period in repertory. Thereafter he appeared in many successful plays, including Half a Crown (1934), Ringmaster (1935), Roulette (1935), The Lady of La Paz (1936) and Madmoiselle (1936)
He followed it with Tony Draws a Horse (1939) and Children to Bless You (1939).
Second World War
His acting career was put on hold until after service in the Second World War, during which, as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the King's Royal Rifle Corps, he fought in the Middle East, North Africa and Italy.
Film career
His debut film performance was as a reporter in a supporting romantic role in Mrs. Pym of Scotland Yard (1940). It was filmed in July 1939 and released the following year. After the war, Patrick appeared in Morning Departure (1946) on TV and Fools Rush In, Tomorrow's Child (1946) and Noose (1947) on stage.
Patrick reprised his Who Goes There! (1952) performance on film then played a test pilot in the popular The Sound Barrier (1952). He was then in Meet Me Tonight (1952) and The Pickwick Papers (1952). Due mostly to The Sound Barrier, exhibitors voted Patrick the seventh most popular British film star with the public, in 1952.[5]
Patrick was in Grand National Night (1953) and was the ninth most popular British star.[6] On stage he was in Escapade (1953) and Birthday Honours (1953).
The following year he was in Forbidden Cargo (1954) and was one of several British stars in The Sea Shall Not Have Them (1954). He supported Richard Widmark in A Prize of Gold (1955) for Warwick Films, who announced Patrick might direct In All Dishonesty for them on stage.[7] It did not happen. Instead Patrick starred in a comedy All for Mary (1955). On stage he was in Green Room Rags (1954) and The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker (1955).
On stage Patrick directed No Way to Kill (1958) and Not in the Book (1958) and acted in and directed Pleasure of His Company (1959).
He starred in Sapphire (1959), winner of Best British Film at the 1960 BAFTA Film Awards. It was directed by Basil Dearden who then used Patrick in The League of Gentlemen (1960). On stage he acted in and directed Settled Out of Court (1960).
Other stage appearances included Best of Friends (1970), Reunion in Vienna (1971), Habeas Corpus (1974), The Pay Off (1974), Dear Daddy (1976) and Peter Pan (1978). He also worked steadily as a director.
Personal life and death
He married the actress Beatrice Campbell at St James's, Spanish Place, Marylebone, London on 12 January 1951.[13] She predeceased him in 1979; he died, two years later, from lung cancer, on 21 September 1981.[14]
^"New film". The Advertiser. Vol. 93, no. 28, 737. Adelaide. 16 November 1950. p. 10. Retrieved 30 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Casting new Mills film". The Mail. Vol. 39, no. 1, 949. Adelaide. 8 October 1949. p. 5 (Sunday Magazine). Retrieved 30 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Girl Raiders Disturbed". The Newcastle Sun. No. 10, 776. New South Wales, Australia. 11 September 1952. p. 7. Retrieved 30 August 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
