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{{short description|British actor}}
{{Short description|British actor}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2013}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2012}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2012}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Reginald Gardiner
| name = Reginald Gardiner
| image = Reginald Gardiner in Perry Mason 1964.jpg
| image = Reginald Gardiner in Sweethearts trailer.jpg
| caption = [[Trailer (promotion)|Trailer]] for ''[[Sweethearts (1938 film)|Sweethearts]]'' (1938)
| caption = Reginald Gardiner in Perry Mason 1964
| birth_name = William Reginald Gardiner
| birth_name = William Reginald Gardiner
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1903|2|27|df=yes}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1903|02|27|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[London]], England, UK
| birth_place = [[London]], England, UK
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1980|7|7|1903|2|27|df=yes}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1980|07|07|1903|02|27|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Westwood, Los Angeles, California]], U.S.
| death_place = [[Westwood, Los Angeles, California]], U.S.
| resting_place = [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)|Forest Lawn Memorial Park]], [[Hollywood Hills]]
| occupation = Actor
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1927–1968
| years_active = 1927–1968
| spouse = Wyn Richmond<br>({{abbr|m.|married}} 19??; {{abbr|div.|divorced}} 19??)<br>{{marriage|Nadia Petrova<br>|1942}}
| spouse = Wyn Richmond<br>({{abbr|m.|married}} 19??; {{abbr|div.|divorced}} 19??)<br>{{marriage|Nadia Petrova<br>|1942}}
| children = 1
| children = 1
}}
}}


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==Film==
==Film==
Gardiner worked in almost 100 movies.<ref name=ig/> He started film work in crowd scenes, making his big film break in [[1927 in film|1927]] the [[silent film]] ''[[The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog|The Lodger]]'', by [[Alfred Hitchcock]].
Gardiner worked in almost 100 movies.<ref name=ig/> He started film work in crowd scenes, making his big film break in [[1927 in film|1927]] the [[silent film]] ''[[The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog|The Lodger]]'', by [[Alfred Hitchcock]].

[[File:Dictator charlie-10.jpg|thumb|Gardiner and [[Charlie Chaplin]] in ''[[The Great Dictator]]'' (1940)]]


His Hollywood film debut came in 1936.<ref name=fe/> During his career he was cast in numerous roles, often as a British butler. One of his most famous roles was that of Schultz in [[Charlie Chaplin]]'s ''[[The Great Dictator]]''. He also performed memorable turns as Beverly Carlton (a parody of Noël Coward) in ''[[The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942 film)|The Man Who Came to Dinner]]'', the spurned "almost-husband" in ''[[The Doctor Takes a Wife]]'', ''[[Christmas in Connecticut]]'' and – one of his most memorable roles – in the Laurel and Hardy epic ''[[The Flying Deuces]]''.
His Hollywood film debut came in 1936.<ref name=fe/> During his career he was cast in numerous roles, often as a British butler. One of his most famous roles was that of Schultz in [[Charlie Chaplin]]'s ''[[The Great Dictator]]''. He also performed memorable turns as Beverly Carlton (a parody of Noël Coward) in ''[[The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942 film)|The Man Who Came to Dinner]]'', the spurned "almost-husband" in ''[[The Doctor Takes a Wife]]'', ''[[Christmas in Connecticut]]'' and – one of his most memorable roles – in the Laurel and Hardy epic ''[[The Flying Deuces]]''.


==Television==
==Television==

On 4 October 1956 Gardiner appeared with [[Greer Garson]] as the first two guest stars in the series premiere of [[NBC]]'s ''[[The Ford Show|The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/the-tennessee-ernie-ford-show/october-4-1956/episode/1145421/recap.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120915055828/http://www.tv.com/the-tennessee-ernie-ford-show/october-4-1956/episode/1145421/recap.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 September 2012|title=The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show|publisher=tv.com|access-date=25 November 2010}}</ref>

In 1956 he was the guest star on "[[The Millionaire (TV series)|The Millionaire]]" in the episode "The Story of Waldo Francis Turner". Also in 1956 he starred as the title character in a pilot for "Mr. Belvedere", nearly thirty years before the more successful ''[[Mr. Belvedere]]'' made its debut.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0501920/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm}}</ref>
He made other guest appearances on television [[sitcom]]s of the 1960s, including [[Fess Parker]]'s [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] series, ''[[Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (TV series)|Mr. Smith Goes to Washington]]'' and [[Stanley Holloway]]'s ''[[Our Man Higgins]]''. He appeared in the 1964 ''[[Perry Mason (1957 TV series)|Perry Mason]]'' episode "The Case of the Ugly Duckling", as business owner Albert Charity, and in an episode of ''[[Alfred Hitchcock Presents]]'' ("Banquo's Chair"). In 1966, he was featured on ''[[Green Acres]]'' as orchestra conductor Sir Geoffrey in the first-season episode "Culture". His last major role was alongside [[Phyllis Diller]] in her 1966–1967 ABC series ''[[The Pruitts of Southampton]]''. Also in 1967 he made a guest appearance on ''[[Petticoat Junction]]'', in the episode "Uncle Joe and the Master Plan", as Gaylord Martindale.
Gardiner made numerous guest appearances on television in the 1950s and 1960s, including an episode of ''[[Alfred Hitchcock Presents]]'' ("Banquo's Chair"), [[Fess Parker]]'s [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] series, ''[[Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (TV series)|Mr. Smith Goes to Washington]]'', and [[Stanley Holloway]]'s ''[[Our Man Higgins]]''. In 1964, he guest-starred in the ''[[Perry Mason (1957 TV series)|Perry Mason]]'' episode "The Case of the Ugly Duckling", as business owner Albert Charity, and in the role of Mr. Maudlin in the season 6, episode 19, "Dead as a Dude" of ''[[77 Sunset Strip]]''. In 1966, Gardiner was featured on ''[[Green Acres]]'' as orchestra conductor Sir Geoffrey in the first-season episode "Culture". In 1967, he made a guest appearance on ''[[Petticoat Junction]]'', in the episode "Uncle Joe and the Master Plan", as Gaylord Martindale and, in 1968, he appeared as a butler in an episode of “The Monkees” titled “The Monkees Mind Their Manor”. Gardiner's last major role was alongside [[Phyllis Diller]] in her 1966–1967 ABC series ''[[The Pruitts of Southampton]]''.
He played role of Mr. Maudlin in season 6, episode 19, "Dead as a Dude" of ''77 Sunset Strip''.


==Recordings==
==Recordings==
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==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Gardiner was married twice. He first married Wyn Richmond, a British actress, but they divorced. Later he married model Nadia Petrova.<ref name=ig/>
Gardiner was married twice. He first married Wyn Richmond, a British actress, but they divorced. Later he married model Nadia Petrova.<ref name=ig/>

Gardiner had a son out of wedlock to Jane Bagnato, in Toronto Canada. Reginald James Gardiner born Jan 1st 1939- Jan 24th 1995. He left his son after 3 years to Marry Nadia.
Gardiner had a son out of wedlock with Jane Bagnato in Toronto, Canada: Reginald James "Jamie" Gardiner was born January 1, 1939. He left Jane and his son after three years to marry Nadia. Jamie's last name was changed to Williams at age 8, after his mother married Reginald Williams in 1947.


==Death==
==Death==
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* ''[[Josser on the River]]'' (1932) - Donald
* ''[[Josser on the River]]'' (1932) - Donald
* ''[[Leave It to Smith]]'' (1933) - Lord Redwood
* ''[[Leave It to Smith]]'' (1933) - Lord Redwood
* ''Radio Parade'' (1933) - Himself
* ''[[Radio Parade]]'' (1933) - Himself
* ''[[The Diplomatic Lover]]'' (1934) - Dersingham
* ''[[The Diplomatic Lover]]'' (1934) - Dersingham
* ''[[Virginia's Husband (1934 film)|Virginia's Husband]]'' (1934) - John Craddock
* ''[[Virginia's Husband (1934 film)|Virginia's Husband]]'' (1934) - John Craddock
Line 67: Line 70:
* ''[[Marie Antoinette (1938 film)|Marie Antoinette]]'' (1938) - Comte d'Artois
* ''[[Marie Antoinette (1938 film)|Marie Antoinette]]'' (1938) - Comte d'Artois
* ''[[Sweethearts (1938 film)|Sweethearts]]'' (1938) - Norman Trumpett
* ''[[Sweethearts (1938 film)|Sweethearts]]'' (1938) - Norman Trumpett
* ''[[The Girl Downstairs]]'' (1938) - Willie
* ''[[The Girl Downstairs (film)|The Girl Downstairs]]'' (1938) - Willie
* ''[[The Flying Deuces]]'' (1939) - François
* ''[[The Flying Deuces]]'' (1939) - François
* ''[[The Night of Nights]]'' (1939) - J. Neville Prime
* ''[[The Night of Nights]]'' (1939) - J. Neville Prime
Line 75: Line 78:
* ''[[My Life with Caroline]]'' (1941) - Paul
* ''[[My Life with Caroline]]'' (1941) - Paul
* ''[[A yank in the RAF|A Yank in the R.A.F.]]'' (1941) - Roger Pillby
* ''[[A yank in the RAF|A Yank in the R.A.F.]]'' (1941) - Roger Pillby
* ''[[Sundown (1941 film)|Sundown]]'' (1941) - Lt. Rodney 'Roddy' Turner
* ''[[Sundown (1941 film)|Sundown]]'' (1941) - Lieutenant Rodney 'Roddy' Turner
* ''[[The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942 film)|The Man Who Came to Dinner]]'' (1942) - Beverly Carlton
* ''[[The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942 film)|The Man Who Came to Dinner]]'' (1942) - Beverly Carlton
* ''[[Captains of the Clouds]]'' (1942) - Scrounger Harris
* ''[[Captains of the Clouds]]'' (1942) - Scrounger Harris
Line 90: Line 93:
* ''[[Cluny Brown]]'' (1946) - Hilary Ames
* ''[[Cluny Brown]]'' (1946) - Hilary Ames
* ''[[I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (film)|I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now]]'' (1947) - Will Hough
* ''[[I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (film)|I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now]]'' (1947) - Will Hough
* ''[[Fury at Furnace Creek]]'' (1948) - Capt. Grover A. Walsh
* ''[[Fury at Furnace Creek]]'' (1948) - Captain Grover A. Walsh
* ''[[That Lady in Ermine]]'' (1948) - Alberto
* ''[[That Lady in Ermine]]'' (1948) - Alberto
* ''[[That Wonderful Urge]]'' (1948) - Count André de Guyon
* ''[[That Wonderful Urge]]'' (1948) - Count André de Guyon
* ''[[Wabash Avenue (film)|Wabash Avenue]]'' (1950) - English Eddie
* ''[[Wabash Avenue (film)|Wabash Avenue]]'' (1950) - English Eddie
* ''[[I'll Get By (film)|I'll Get By]]'' (1950) - Himself (uncredited)
* ''[[I'll Get By (film)|I'll Get By]]'' (1950) - Himself (uncredited)
* ''[[Halls of Montezuma (film)|Halls of Montezuma]]'' (1951) - Sgt. Johnson
* ''[[Halls of Montezuma (film)|Halls of Montezuma]]'' (1951) - Sergeant Johnson
* ''[[Elopement (film)|Elopement]]'' (1951) - Roger Evans
* ''[[Elopement (film)|Elopement]]'' (1951) - Roger Evans
* ''[[Androcles and the Lion (1952 film)|Androcles and the Lion]]'' (1952) - Lentulus
* ''[[Androcles and the Lion (1952 film)|Androcles and the Lion]]'' (1952) - Lentulus
Line 103: Line 106:
* ''[[The Story of Mankind (1957 film)|The Story of Mankind]]'' (1957) - William Shakespeare
* ''[[The Story of Mankind (1957 film)|The Story of Mankind]]'' (1957) - William Shakespeare
* ''[[Rock-A-Bye Baby (film)|Rock-A-Bye Baby]]'' (1958) - Harold Hermann
* ''[[Rock-A-Bye Baby (film)|Rock-A-Bye Baby]]'' (1958) - Harold Hermann
* ''[[Alfred Hitchcock Presents]]'' (1959) (Season 4 Episode 29: "Banquo's Chair") - Major Cook-Finch
* ''[[Back Street (1961 film)|Back Street]]'' (1961) - Dalian
* ''[[Back Street (1961 film)|Back Street]]'' (1961) - Dalian
* ''[[Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation]]'' (1962) - Reggie McHugh
* ''[[Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation]]'' (1962) - Reggie McHugh
* ''[[What a Way to Go!]]'' (1964) - Painter
* ''[[What a Way to Go!]]'' (1964) - Painter
* ''[[Sergeant Deadhead]]'' (1965) - Lt. Comm. Talbott
* ''[[Sergeant Deadhead]]'' (1965) - Lieutenant Commander Talbott
* ''[[Do Not Disturb (1965 film)|Do Not Disturb]]'' (1965) - Simmons
* ''[[Do Not Disturb (1965 film)|Do Not Disturb]]'' (1965) - Simmons
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}
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|-
|-
| 1944|| ''[[Suspense (radio drama)|Suspense]]'' ||''Voyage Through Darkness''<ref name=twtd5>{{cite journal|title=Those Were the Days|journal=Nostalgia Digest|date=Spring 2016|volume=42|issue=2|page=37}}</ref>
| 1944|| ''[[Suspense (radio drama)|Suspense]]'' ||''Voyage Through Darkness''<ref name=twtd5>{{cite journal|title=Those Were the Days|journal=Nostalgia Digest|date=Spring 2016|volume=42|issue=2|page=37}}</ref>

''The Merry Widower''
''The Merry Widower''
|}
|}
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[[Category:Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)]]
[[Category:Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]]
[[Category:Alumni of RADA]]
[[Category:British expatriate male actors in the United States]]
[[Category:English expatriate male actors in the United States]]
[[Category:People from Westwood, Los Angeles]]
[[Category:People from Westwood, Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Male actors from London]]
[[Category:Actors from the London Borough of Merton]]
[[Category:People from Wimbledon, London]]

Latest revision as of 03:37, 16 June 2024

Reginald Gardiner
Trailer for Sweethearts (1938)
Born
William Reginald Gardiner

(1903-02-27)27 February 1903
London, England, UK
Died7 July 1980(1980-07-07) (aged 77)
Westwood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills
OccupationActor
Years active1927–1968
Spouse(s)Wyn Richmond
(m. 19??; div. 19??)
Nadia Petrova
​
​
(m. 1942)​
Children1

William Reginald Gardiner (27 February 1903 – 7 July 1980)[1] was an English actor on the stage, in films and on television.

Early years

[edit]

Gardiner was born in Wimbledon, England, and he was a graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.[2] His parents wanted him to be an architect, but he insisted on a career as an actor.

Stage and radio

[edit]

Gardiner started as a super on stage and eventually became well known on the West End stage. "He appeared in British revues, plays and films before delighting Broadway audiences in 1935 with a wallpaper imitation act in At Home Abroad."[2] His other Broadway credits include Little Glass Clock and An Evening with Beatrice Lillie.[3]

He was also well known to radio listeners, and was known on the air for his amusing train and car noises.

Film

[edit]

Gardiner worked in almost 100 movies.[1] He started film work in crowd scenes, making his big film break in 1927 the silent film The Lodger, by Alfred Hitchcock.

Gardiner and Charlie Chaplin in The Great Dictator (1940)

His Hollywood film debut came in 1936.[2] During his career he was cast in numerous roles, often as a British butler. One of his most famous roles was that of Schultz in Charlie Chaplin's The Great Dictator. He also performed memorable turns as Beverly Carlton (a parody of Noël Coward) in The Man Who Came to Dinner, the spurned "almost-husband" in The Doctor Takes a Wife, Christmas in Connecticut and – one of his most memorable roles – in the Laurel and Hardy epic The Flying Deuces.

Television

[edit]

Gardiner made numerous guest appearances on television in the 1950s and 1960s, including an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents ("Banquo's Chair"), Fess Parker's ABC series, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and Stanley Holloway's Our Man Higgins. In 1964, he guest-starred in the Perry Mason episode "The Case of the Ugly Duckling", as business owner Albert Charity, and in the role of Mr. Maudlin in the season 6, episode 19, "Dead as a Dude" of 77 Sunset Strip. In 1966, Gardiner was featured on Green Acres as orchestra conductor Sir Geoffrey in the first-season episode "Culture". In 1967, he made a guest appearance on Petticoat Junction, in the episode "Uncle Joe and the Master Plan", as Gaylord Martindale and, in 1968, he appeared as a butler in an episode of “The Monkees” titled “The Monkees Mind Their Manor”. Gardiner's last major role was alongside Phyllis Diller in her 1966–1967 ABC series The Pruitts of Southampton.

Recordings

[edit]

Gardiner recorded a curious and eccentric classic called "Trains", which was regularly played on the 1950s British radio programme Children's Favourites. This record consisted of a tipsy-sounding Gardiner reciting a monologue, which he first introduced in the 1935 Broadway revue At Home Abroad, about steam railway engines (which he claimed were 'livid beasts') and impersonating both the engines themselves and the sound of trains running on the track. This latter he famously characterised as 'diddly-dee, diddly-dum' to mimic the sound pattern as the four pairs of bogie wheels ran over joins between the lengths of track – a sound no longer heard since welded rail joins were introduced. "Trains" was released as a 78 and a 45 by English Decca Records (F 5278) which remained on catalogue into the 1970s. At the end of the record Gardiner signs off with "Well folks, that's all: back to the asylum." He was summoned to Buckingham Palace to give a performance in person.

Personal life

[edit]

Gardiner was married twice. He first married Wyn Richmond, a British actress, but they divorced. Later he married model Nadia Petrova.[1]

Gardiner had a son out of wedlock with Jane Bagnato in Toronto, Canada: Reginald James "Jamie" Gardiner was born January 1, 1939. He left Jane and his son after three years to marry Nadia. Jamie's last name was changed to Williams at age 8, after his mother married Reginald Williams in 1947.

Death

[edit]

Gardiner died of a heart attack at his home in Westwood, California, on 7 July 1980. He was survived by his wife.[1]

Filmography

[edit]

Selected stage credits

[edit]

Radio appearances

[edit]
Year Program Episode/source
1944 Suspense Voyage Through Darkness[4]

The Merry Widower

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Gardiner, Character Actor, Dies". Indiana Gazette. Pennsylvania, Indiana. 8 July 1980. p. 12. Retrieved 5 March 2016 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ a b c Katz, Ephraim (1979). The Film Encyclopedia: The Most Comprehensive Encyclopedia of World Cinema in a Single Volume. Perigee Books. ISBN 0-399-50601-2. pp. 465–466.
  3. ^ "We found 35 results for "Reginald Gardiner"". Playbill. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  4. ^ "Those Were the Days". Nostalgia Digest. 42 (2): 37. Spring 2016.
[edit]
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