[47] They grew up in Ditchling, where their home 'The Limes' doubled as the local chemist's shop. Its star, and – it transpires – the best documentary frontman of all time, is his actor-father: Sir Donald Sinden. Much of the humour derived from the culture clashes between Robert's very stiff-upper-lip Britishness and Dorothy's devil-may-care New York view on life. Everyman editor and critic Gareth Lloyd Evans noted that his interpretation was "not…about colour or racialism" but one that illuminated the character's personal tragedy. [37], Sinden wrote two autobiographical volumes: A Touch of the Memoirs (1982) and Laughter in the Second Act (1985), edited the Everyman Book of Theatrical Anecdotes (1987), wrote a book to coincide with his BBC TV series The English Country Church (1988) and a collection of "epitaphs and final utterances" titled The Last Word (1994). [6] In 2000 the production won the LA Weekly Theater Award for Solo Performance. At his first entrance, he announces that he is "tingling with excitement" which is just what one wants from a tour guide. He is also the director and co-author of the touring anthology Seven Deadly Sins Four Deadly Sinners and was nominated for a Sony Award for his voice-overs for the Apple Computers TV advertisements. [2], In 1942, in Hove, Sinden befriended Lord Alfred Douglas (known as "Bosie"), who had been Oscar Wilde's lover. From 2001 to 2007 he played the part of senior judge (and father-in-law of the title character), Sir Joseph Channing in Judge John Deed and was the voice of Totally Viral. They each received a BAFTA nomination in 1979 for 'Best Light Entertainment Performance'[31] and the show received two additional BAFTA nominations that year. [2] He starred in multiple adaptations of John Dickson Carr's Dr. Gideon Fell mysteries, including The House on Gallows Lane, The Hollow Man and Black Spectacles, To Wake the Dead, The Blind Barber and The Mad Hatter Mystery. Marc was responsible for some of the output of the Theatre Royal, Windsor. (Palace)[29] and Two into One (Shaftesbury), both written and directed by Ray Cooney; 'Squire Sullen' in The Beaux' Stratagem (Lyttelton, Royal National Theatre) opposite Brenda Blethyn and Stephen Dillane; Over My Dead Body (Savoy) with June Whitfield; Underground with Raymond Burr (Prince of Wales and Royal Alexandra, Toronto); Ross with Simon Ward (Old Vic and Royal Alexandra, Toronto); Ray Davies' first musical Chorus Girls (Theatre Royal, Stratford East) written by Barrie Keeffe[30] and the première of Alan Bennett's Enjoy (Vaudeville) with Joan Plowright, directed by Ronald Eyre. He then became highly regarded as an award-winning Shakespearean and West End theatre actor and television sitcom star. [2], Investigative journalist James Montague, writing in the July 2014 issue of Esquire magazine, claimed that Sinden spied for the British Government's Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) during the filming of Clash of Loyalties in Iraq, after being made "an offer he couldn't refuse, appealing to his duty and his pride in Queen and Country." Lord Alfred Douglas-Wikipedia It is 1908 and Sir Antony Ross (Donald Sinden) from London has co-ordinated a team of explorers to go looking for his missing son in the Arctic Circle. The management gave him an engraved silver ashtray as a present in recognition of the fact, which he showed in the episode. Their first son, the actor Jeremy, died in 1996. A fellow of the ‘Royal Society of Arts,’ Sinden’s voice extraordinaire was once described by his long-time colleague Judi Dench as “a Christmas pudding of a voice, soaked in brandy.” Sinden was a stalwart of the British stage and screen. Actor Donald Sinden with his son Marc, and his granddaughter. In his Sky Arts documentary series Great West End Theatres, Sinden said that the play ran for 644 performances (19 months) and he was the only member of the cast not to have missed a performance: "As the play is the longest run in the [Haymarket] theatre's history, I therefore gave more consecutive performances in this theatre than any other actor since it was built in 1820." [29] His other featured television roles included guest-starring as the Colonel in an episode of The Prisoner ("Many Happy Returns", 1967). [2] In 2007, Sinden embarked on a UK, European and American theatre tour to talk about his life, work and anecdotes in An Evening with... Sir Donald Sinden. Donald Sinden Bio/Wiki, Net Worth, Married 2018 The son of a country chemist, the British actor Donald Sinden intended to pursue a career in architecture but was spotted in an amateur theatrical production and asked to join a company that entertained the troops during World War II (Sinden was rejected for naval service because of asthma). He starred in the Walt Disney Productions family film The Island at the Top of the World (1974), playing Sir Anthony Ross, which was filmed at Disney's studios in Burbank, California. "[27], The Daily Telegraph's review states "Great West End Theatres is a lovely documentary series, made by the director Marc Sinden. British theater, film and TV actor Donald Sinden has died at the age of 90 after suffering from prostate cancer, his son told the BBC on Friday.&lrm He said he died at his home in Kent, England. Much of the Spitting Image humour was centred around Sinden being a ″ham″ actor, forever overacting and behaving in an overly theatrical way. Jeremy Sinden. [54], It was announced that his estate on his death was valued at £2.3 million.[55]. Sinden has worked in film and theatre (mainly in London's West End) as both actor and producer and directed the documentary series Great West End Theatres, detailing the history of the 40 major playhouses in London. He was married to Delia Lindsay from 1977 until his death from lung cancer. For example, when his puppet, sitting in a restaurant, summons a waiter and asks "Do you serve a ham salad?" [9], In 1949, he appeared in The Heiress at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket opposite Ralph Richardson and Peggy Ashcroft, directed by John Gielgud. You work for them 'for the honour' of doing the greatest classical plays, not for the money, so you have to make up the financial short-fall somewhere". [14], He is co-producer of the film version of N.J. To American audiences, Mr. Sinden is best remembered for a … He was married to wife Diana for more than 50 years, until her death in 2004. [44][45], Sinden was born in St Budeaux, Plymouth, Devon[46] on 9 October 1923. His first West End production was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Entertainment and another won the Stage Award for Best Ensemble work at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Produced by his son Marc, this included, on 8 November 2007 as part of Marc's British Theatre Season, Monaco, a performance in front of Prince Albert of Monaco (the son of Grace Kelly, his co-star in the film Mogambo) at the Théâtre Princesse Grace, Monte Carlo. (REX/David Fisher) Theatre and film actor Sir Donald Sinden has died at his home aged 90, his son has said. On 9 October 2012, he celebrated his 89th birthday and his retirement after 30 years as the longest-standing President of the Royal Theatrical Fund (founded by Charles Dickens in 1839) with a celebration lunch for 350 guests at the Park Lane Hotel, London; this was compered by Russ Abbott, and the subsequent charity auction was conducted by Jeffrey Archer. Topsy achieved "some fame as a 'skirt dancer' and première danseuse at the Empire Theatre of Varieties in Leicester Square. Donald Alfred Sinden: Birthdate: October 09, 1923: Death: September 11, 2014 (90) Immediate Family: Son of Alfred Edward Sinden and Mabel Agnes Sinden Husband of Diana Sinden Father of Jeremy Sinden and Private Brother of Joyce M. Sinden and Leon F. Sinden. Offered a professional acting part by the Brighton impresario Charles F. Smith, he made his first professional appearance in January 1942, playing Dudley in a production of George and Margaret for the Mobile Entertainments Southern Area company (known as MESA) and in other modern comedies, playing to the armed forces all along the South Coast of England during the Second World War[2] and later trained as an actor for two terms[3] at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. He played snooty antiques dealer Simon Peel who lived next door to a competitor Oliver Smallbridge (played by Windsor Davies). In 1949, he appeared in The Heiress at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket opposite Ralph Richardson and Peggy Ashcroft, directed by John Gielgud. He also played Sir Henry Clithering, in Miss Marple, "The Blue Geranium," Episode 91, Agatha Christie, on BBC (Acorn TV). Brother: Leon Sinden Wife: Diana Sinden (m. 3-May-1948, d. 15-Sep-2004 stomach cancer, two children) Son: Jeremy Sinden (actor, b. The programme was nominated for a 'Best Situation Comedy' BAFTA in 1977. [46], He is an atheist and secularist, a Fellow of the Zoological Society, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Innholders and was awarded the Freedom of the City of London by the Lord Mayor Sir Kenneth Cork. Gielgud Award for Excellence in the Dramatic Arts, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play, Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Revival, Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance, BAFTA TV Award for Best Light Entertainment Performance, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11091536/Sir-Donald-Sinden-obituary.html, Sir Donald Sinden CBE (DLitt) – Actor — University of Leicester, "Dustin Hoffman riles Sir Donald Sinden with his comments about new film Quartet", An Evening with... Sir Donald Sinden at Solihull Arts Complex on 19 September 2009, https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/news/royal-shakespeare-company-looks-to-discover-a-new-musical-star-with-competition-to-reinterpret-songs-by-the-bard-10031411.html, Michael Coveney: Stand-up for comedy & sit-down criticism – - Blog, "The darkness at the heart of Much Ado About Nothing", https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/sep/12/donald-sinden?CMP=share_btn_link, "Plot Summaries, The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice", Open access: Documenting London's theatres, "1977 Television Situation Comedy | BAFTA Awards", "1979 Television Light Entertainment Performance", http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?adv=0&q=discovering+english+churches&media=all&yf=1923&yt=2009&mf=1&mt=12&tf=00%3A00&tt=00%3A00#search, Sir Donald Sinden CBE awarded DLitt from University of Leicester, Sir Donald Sinden awarded Honorary Doctor of Arts from University of Kent, http://www.whatsonstage.com/leicester-theatre/news/paul-kerryson-uk-theatre-awards_36132.html, http://www.contactmusic.com/sir-donald-sinden/news/actor-leon-sinden-dies_5017871, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/11092490/The-joy-of-Donald-Sinden.html, http://www.kentonline.co.uk/tenterden/news/family-and-friends-mourn-sir-23764/, http://hub.contactmusic.com/sir-donald-sinden/news/donald-sinden-leaves-3-7-million-in-his-will_4708528, "Funeral of actress with 'great gift for friendship, "Donald Sinden at Home, 1959 – British Pathe", Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Donald_Sinden&oldid=1006733562, Alumni of the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, Commanders of the Order of the British Empire, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2013, Turner Classic Movies person ID same as Wikidata, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with Trove identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 14 February 2021, at 14:10. Donald Alfred Sinden was born in Plymouth, England, on Oct. 9, 1923, and grew up in Ditchling, where his father was a chemist. Sir Donald Alfred Sinden CBE FRSA (9 October 1923 – 12 September 2014[1]) was an English actor in theatre, film, television and radio as well as an author. He became an actor serendipitously when a cousin, appearing in an amateur play, was called to active military duty and asked Mr. Sinden, whose asthma kept him from national service, to take over the role. Marc Sinden, a son who is an actor, producer and director, said the cause of death was prostate cancer. Two's Company was well received in Britain and ran for four seasons until 1979. Despite a lack of critical acclaim, the series was a TV ratings success and ran for 11 series until 1991. [42], After leaving Stanbridge Earls school in 1971 aged 17, Sinden studied on the acting course at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School from 1971–73 alongside fellow student Pete Postlethwaite. One episode in 1990 (A Car by Any Other Name) had Sinden being literally picked up by two police officers who were played by his own actor sons, Jeremy and Marc. His work was often secretive and undercover and it would have put him in danger to publicise his action while he was alive, but now he is dead it does not matter. He is not colourful or flamboyant, yet he has his niche in public favour, as a recent poll proved: British women-folk voted him "The face we'd most like to see across our breakfast table." Product ID: 3786871 / SCAN-VNG-03786871. He was the brother of Leon Sinden. [24][25], In 2013 Sinden presented a documentary series called Great West End Theatres, which describes the history and stories associated with each of 40 London theatres. The characters hated each other and were horrified when they discovered that their son and daughter were to be married – thus meaning they were related. Its star, and – it transpires – the best documentary frontman of all time, is his actor-father: Sir Donald Sinden, 90 years old next month. [39] He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 1966 and received the Freedom of the City of London in 1997. Sir Donald has been let loose and the effect is enchanting beyond belief. Son of actor Donald Sinden. [2][45] Marrying in 1977, he returned to acting in 1978, starting as an acting/ASM in weekly-repertory. The eulogy was read by Lord Archer. The veteran actor, Sir Donald Sinden, has died at his home following a long illness, his son has confirmed. Sinden made his first stage appearance at the amateur Brighton Little Theatre (of which he later became president) in 1941, stepping into a part in place of his cousin Frank, who had been called up to war and so was unable to appear. I admired him more than anyone I have ever met. His wife, Diana, appeared in the last episode. Donald Sinden, Actor: The Day of the Jackal. [4], A season at the Chichester Festival Theatre included 'Stephen Undershaft' in George Bernard Shaw's Major Barbara with Donald Sinden, directed by Christopher Morahan and as assistant director, Sam Mendes; at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, 'Broadbent' in Shaw's rarely seen John Bull's Other Island with Cyril Cusack, directed by Joe Dowling; 'Cassius' in a national tour of Julius Caesar for the New Shakespeare Company[31] and a 12-month national tour of Noël Coward's Private Lives with Gemma Craven. Produced by his son Marc, this included, on 8 November 2007 as part of Marc's British Theatre Season, Monaco, a performance in front of Prince Albert of Monaco (the son of Grace Kelly, his co-star in the film Mogambo) at the Théâtre Princesse Grace, Monte Carlo.[14]. [48], According to his second autobiography, while investigating his family genealogy he discovered that the only previous relatives who were also members of the theatrical profession were the Victorian brother and sister act of Bert and Topsy Sinden, who were distant cousins. One has the sense of a lifetime spent in this world, being poured out for our delight like glasses of vintage champagne."[28]. [citation needed], In Debrett's People of Today he lists his recreations as "exploring Provence, clay pigeon shooting and cigars" and is a member of the Noël Coward Society, the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association, Guards Polo Club and The Club at The Ivy. It is also, at times, incredibly funny. [4], In 1997 Sinden was appointed associate producer for Bill Kenwright Ltd. As associate producer his West End credits are Lady Windermere's Fan (Haymarket); An Ideal Husband (Haymarket and Gielgud) and Pygmalion (Albery), which he cast and co-directed. It is also, at times, incredibly funny. Sir Donald has been let loose, offering anecdotes and memories apparently as they occur to him and the effect is enchanting beyond belief. with Tom Selleck and as Martyn Price in the BAFTA and Emmy award-winning The Politician's Wife with Trevor Eve and Juliet Stevenson. "[18], Sinden co-directed Shakespeare's Villains (Haymarket) with Steven Berkoff, which was nominated for a Society of London Theatre Laurence Olivier Award for Best Entertainment[6] and Seven Deadly Sins Four Deadly Sinners, which he directed and also co-wrote with Carry On... writer Norman Hudis, which is still touring.
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