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{{Short description|English actor (1918–1996)}}
{{Cleanup|date=August 2006}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
<!-- Deleted image removed: ]'']] -->
{{More citations needed|date=August 2008}}
'''Patrick Cargill''' (], ] &ndash; ], ]) was a ] ].
{{Infobox person
| name = Patrick Cargill
| image = Actor_Patrick_Cargill.jpg
| caption =
| birthname =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1918|6|3|df=y}}
| birth_place = ], ], England
| death_date = {{death date and age|1996|5|23|1918|6|3|df=y}}
| death_place = ], England
| othername =
| occupation = Actor
| yearsactive =
| spouse =
}}
'''Patrick Cargill''' (3 June 1918{{spaced ndash}}23 May 1996)<ref name="Stevens">{{cite book
|last= Stevens
|first= Christopher
|title= Born Brilliant: The Life of Kenneth Williams
|publisher= John Murray
|year= 2010
|isbn = 978-1-84854-195-5
|page=370
}}</ref> was an English actor remembered for his lead role in the ] sitcom '']''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/1396912/index.html|title=BFI Screenonline: Cargill, Patrick (1918–1996) Biography|website=screenonline.org.uk}}</ref>


==Biography== ==Early life==
Cargill was born to middle-class parents living in ], ].After education at Haileybury College, he made his debut appearance in the Bexhill Amateur Theatrical Society. However, he aimed for a military career, and after being selected for training at the ]. Cargill became a ] in the ]. Cargill was born to middle-class parents living in ], ]. After education at ], he made his debut in the Bexhill Amateur Theatrical Society. However, he was aiming for a military career and was selected for training at the ] at Sandhurst. Cargill became a commissioned officer in the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/alt.obituaries/xN6qnUjAyMw/T3FlO5GZ9qYJ|title=Google Groups|website=groups.google.com}}</ref>


===The Stage=== ==Career==
After the ] ended, Cargill returned to Britain to focus on a stage career, and joined Anthony Hawtrey's company at Buxton, ], and later the Embassy Theatre at ] in London. He then became a supporting player in John Counsell's rep at ] alongside ] and ] and scored a huge hit in the revue ''The World's the Limit'', which was watched by ] and 26 of her guests one evening. He made his first West End appearance in ] in ]'s revue, ''High Spirits'' at the ]. He also co-wrote the stage play ''Ring For Catty'', with Jack Beale. The second of the '']'' films, '']'' produced in ] was based on this play. After the Second World War ended, Cargill returned to Britain to focus on a stage career, and joined ]'s company at ], ] and later the ] at ] in London. He became a supporting player in ]'s ] at ] alongside ] and ] and scored a huge hit in the revue ''The World's the Limit'', which was seen by ] and 26 of her guests one evening.{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}} He made his first ] appearance in 1953 in ]'s revue ''High Spirits'' at the ]. He also co-wrote the stage play ''Ring for Catty'', with ].<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.mercurytheatre.co.uk/mercury-voices/programme-for-ring-for-catty/ | title= Programme for 'Ring For Catty' | work= mercurytheatre.co.uk | access-date= 2020-03-03}}</ref> The second of the '']'' films, '']'', produced in 1959, was based on this play as was the 1962 film '']''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/artist/patrick-cargill-p10903|title=Patrick Cargill – Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos – AllMovie|website=AllMovie}}</ref>


After a number of other West End roles he landed that of Bernard in ''Boeing Boeing'' at the Apollo Theatre in 1962. The farce, which was almost tailor made for him, attracted major producers to him and he went on to star in ''Say Who You Are'' at ] in 1965 and to direct ''Not Now Darling'' by ] and ] at The Strand Theatre in 1968. After a number of other West End roles he was cast as Bernard in '']'' at the ] in 1962.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theatricalia.com/play/4e2/boeing-boeing/production/9k5|title=Production of Boeing Boeing – Theatricalia|website=theatricalia.com}}</ref> The farce, which was ideal for Cargill, drew the attention of major producers led to him starring in ''Say Who You Are'' at ] in 1965 and directing ''Not Now Darling'' by ] and ] at the ] in 1968.


===Television=== ===Television===
Cargill first came to TV notice when playing '']'' in the 1959 series '']''.


In 1960, Cargill played ] agent Herr Grosnitz in the BBC TV series "The Long Way Home".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0137092/|title=IMDB page for Patrick Cargill|website=]|date=25 September 2020}}</ref> He also performed on several occasions with ], twice in Hancock's final ] television series, including a role as the doctor who clashes with him in the well-known episode "]" (1961).<ref name="Stevens"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://theavengers.tv/forever/pnote-cargill.htm|title=Guest Actor Biography – Patrick Cargill|publisher=TheAvengers.tv|access-date=25 September 2008}}</ref> In 1961–62 he featured as the regular character Miguel Garetta in all 26 episodes of the British spy series ], and in 1962 he played Herr Straffen in '']'', a TV series by ], followed two years later by a major part of an episode of '']'' TV series. In 1967, he appeared in two episodes of '']'' as an unusually cruel and brutal ] in "]", and as a colleague from Number Six's pre-Village days in "]".<ref name=bfi/>
Cargill appeared several times with ], including the final ] series of ''"Hancock's Half-hour"'', as the Doctor to Hancock's patient in the famous episode ''"]"''(])<ref></ref>


Cargill starred in three television series of ] farces, adapted by ] and ] and entitled '']'' (1968–1973), which were shown on ]. These vignette Feydeau farces were originally intended to provide variety for ]ian audiences who were used to more than one production during an evening's entertainment. The third and final series showcased Feydeau's longer pieces.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/person/10903/Patrick-Cargill/biography|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604021036/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/10903/Patrick-Cargill/biography|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 June 2009|title=Full Biography – Patrick Cargill|last=Erickson|first=Hal|author2=Allmovie|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=]|author-link=Hal Erickson (author)|date=2009|access-date=25 September 2008}}</ref> Brahms and Sherrin turned six of their adaptations into book form, and published it as ''Ooh! La-La!'' in 1973, with a dedication: "To Patrick Cargill – First among Farceurs''".<ref>Brahms and Sherrin, unnumbered introductory page</ref>
In ] he appeared in two episodes of '']'' - as an unusually crude and brutal ] in "Hammer into Anvil" and as "Thorpe" in "Many Happy Returns".


In 1968, Cargill starred in '']'' on ] (written specifically for him) as Patrick Glover, a thriller writer and an inept father of two teenage daughters, played by ] (Anna) and Ann Holloway (Karen). The show ran until 1973 and was produced and directed by ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishclassiccomedy.co.uk/whod-be-a-dad-father-dear-father|title=Father Dear Father – British Classic Comedy|date=17 March 2017}}</ref>
He also starred in a series of adaptations of ] farces, translated by ] and ] and entitled ''Ohh La La'' on ] in ]. These vignette Feydeau farces were originally intended to provide variety for Parisian audiences who were used to more than one production for an evening's entertainment. The final of this series, the third, titled Patrick Cargill In Ooh La La! - showcased Feydeau's longer pieces. The three series ran from ] until ].<ref></ref>


Many performers who had worked before with the actor featured in an entertainment special called ''Patrick, Dear Patrick, An Evening with Patrick Cargill and His Guests'' (1972). Cargill was a friend of ] from their early acting days, and Macnee returned from California to make a guest appearance on the show. It included both Patricks singing "]".{{citation needed|reason=Original wording suggested that this might be rumour|date=March 2015}} Cargill's companion, Vernon Page, recounts that at the time of casting Cargill wanted to sing this duet with Sir ] and even visited him at the hotel in London where he was staying in an attempt to persuade him to appear, but Coward was either unwilling or unable to agree to the request and he died 15 months later. This one-off special production by ] also guest-starred Beryl Reid, with whom Cargill sang the duet "I Remember It Well" by ] and ] (from '']''). Cargill added a new response to the line "We drank champagne" (Cargill's line): "You gave me Coke, you drank the wine yourself, you soak!" (Reid's riposte).
''Father, Dear Father'' was written specifically for Cargill by ]. Cast as
Patrick Glover, a thriller writer; an inept father of two teenage daughters played by ] (Anna) and ] (Karen). The show ran until 1973 and showcased many other stars, such as ], Ian Carmichael, ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and Beryl Reid. The series was produced and directed by ], later to be the presenter of ] quiz show '']''. Many of these stars appeared in an entertainment special starring Cargill, called ''"Patrick Dear Patrick, An Evening with Patrick Cargill and His Guests"'' (Thames, 26 January 1972) Cargill was a friend of Patrick Macnee's from their early acting days and, in fact, Macnee returned from California to make a guest appearance on the show. Apparently it included both Patricks singing ]. '''Vernon Page''' recounts that, at the time of casting, Cargill wanted to sing this duet with ] and even visited him at the hotel in London where he was staying in an attempt to persuade him to appear, but Coward was either unwilling or unable to agree to the request and, indeed, he died 15 months later. This one-off special production by ] also guest-starred Beryl Reid with whom Cargill sang the duet ''I remember it well'' by ] and ]. Cargill even added lines to it: ''"We drank champagne" (Cargill's line) "You gave me Coke, you drank the wine yourself, you soak!" (Reid's riposte)''. Cargill made no further light entertainment shows of this genre.


In 1976 Cargill returned to the TV screens with ''The Many Wives of Patrick'', playing a middle-aged playboy, Patrick Woodford, who is trying to divorce his sixth wife in order to remarry his first. This series again showcased many famous stars such as ] and ] In 1976, Cargill returned to the TV screens with ''The Many Wives of Patrick'', playing a middle-aged playboy and antiques dealer, Patrick Woodford, who is trying to divorce his sixth wife in order to remarry his first.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/patrick-cargill-obituary-5614694.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/patrick-cargill-obituary-5614694.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Patrick Cargill: obituary|website=]|date=24 May 1996}}</ref> This series showcased many prominent stars such as ] and ]. The 1980s was something of a revival for Cargill's natural talent at farce. He co-starred in ''Key for Two'' with ] at the ] and then at the ] Theatre in ]'s ''After the Ball is Over''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theatricalia.com/play/5bt/after-the-ball-is-over/production/bqr|title=Production of After The Ball Is Over – Theatricalia|website=theatricalia.com}}</ref> In 1986, he starred with ] in '']'' at the ], in which he played the part of Senex.


The ] was something of a revival for Cargill's natural talent at farce. He co-starred in ''Key for Two'' with ] at the ] and then at the ] Theatre in ]'s ''After the Ball is Over''. In 1986 he starred in '']'' at the ], in which he played the part of Senex. In his final years, Cargill was seen in '']'' at the Playhouse in 1990 and after that he toured in ]'s British Airways Playhouse. He also played British Prime Minister ] in the 1990 British Sitcom '']'', which was cancelled after one episode. For the centenary staging of '']'' in 1992, Cargill played the part of the dreaded Spettigue.

In his final years, Cargill was seen in '']'' at The Playhouse in 1990 and after that he toured in ]'s British Airways Playhouse. For the centenary staging of '']'' in 1992, Cargill played the part of the dreaded Spettigue.


===Films=== ===Films===
His film appearances included ''An Alligator Named Daisy'' and ''Express Bongo''; two of the Carry On films: '']'' (1961) and '']''; '']'' in which he co-starred with ] and more notably ]'s '']'', in which he played the part of the butler, Hudson. With the exception of ''A Countess from Hong Kong'', his performances were never acclaimed. His film appearances included '']'' and '']''; two of the ''Carry On'' films: '']'' and '']''; '']'' (1965) starring ], '']'' (1969) with ] and ] and ]'s '']'', in which he played the part of the butler, Hudson.<ref name=bfi>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f9b217e|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401231750/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f9b217e|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 April 2019|title=Patrick Cargill}}</ref>


===Music=== ===Music===
A lesser known detail of Cargill's showbusiness career is the handful of recordings that he made in the 1960s and 70s. The first was an album called ''Father, Dear Father'' made in 1969. Cargill sang a medley of songs and to this day the album can be found being traded on specialist sites. The female voice on the album was not Noel Dyson (Nanny) but that of June Hunt, a friend of Cargill. A lesser known detail of Cargill's showbusiness career is the handful of recordings that he made in the 1960s and 1970s. The first was an album called ''Father, Dear Father'' (1969) in which Cargill sang a medley of songs. The female voice on the album was not Noel Dyson (Nanny) but that of June Hunt, a friend of Cargill.


He followed this with three singles. One called ''Father, Dear Father Christmas'' and another called ''Thinking Young'' and the final single called ''Father, Dear Father''. None of these recordings were commercially successful. He followed this with three singles. One called "Father, Dear Father Christmas" and another called "Thinking Young" and the final single called "Father, Dear Father." None of these recordings was commercially successful.


Cargill appeared as Sir Joseph Porter in '']'' at the ] in August 1983.<ref>Concert notices. ''Classical Music'', 6 August 1983, p10.</ref>
===Personal life===
From the mid ]s Cargill lived at '''Sheen Gate Gardens''' near ], ]. He spent his time 'resting' at '''Spring Cottage''', his country retreat situated In Warren Lane, near ], East Sussex.


==Personal life==
For many years Cargill's companion was '''Vernon Page''', an eccentric landscape gardener, poet and lampoon songwriter, until he married in ] with Cargill's blessing. Cargill was a private man, who quietly disliked his famous status. He would shun the awards ceremonies in favour of a quiet evening at home playing ]. He never made any public acknowledgment of his private life as he felt that to admit to being gay would damage his professional image. Notwithstanding his reluctance to come out in this respect, Cargill was happy being gay in his private life and his wit when not in the spotlight reflected that. Once, whilst lunching with Ray Cooney, the theatrical impresario, Cargill observed, when a particularly handsome waiter mistakenly removed his soup spoon, ''"aah look Ray, the dish has run away with the spoon"''. In the later years of his life, Cargill lived in ] with his last companion, '''James Camille Markowski'''.
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2012}}
From the mid-1960s Cargill lived at Sheen Gate Gardens, ]. He spent his time 'resting' at Spring Cottage, his country retreat situated in Warren Lane, near {{nowrap|]}}, East Sussex.


Cargill's private life was little known and his ] was not public for decades. For many years, Cargill's companion was Vernon Page, an eccentric landscape gardener, poet and lampoon songwriter, until he married in 1984 with Cargill's blessing. Cargill was a private man, who did not relish his celebrity status, though he was always kind to fans who approached him. He would shun the awards ceremonies in favour of a quiet evening at home playing ]. He never made any public acknowledgment of his private life as he felt that to confirm his homosexuality would damage his professional image. Notwithstanding his reluctance to "come out" in this respect, Cargill was happy in his private life and his wit when not in the spotlight reflected that. Once, whilst lunching with ], the theatrical impresario, Cargill observed, when a particularly handsome waiter mistakenly removed his soup spoon, "Aah, look Ray, the dish has run away with the spoon." In the later years of his life, Cargill lived in ] with his last companion, James Camille Markowski.
The love of his life was his ], a drop-head, black and dark green model of which only six were ever made. Cargill also had a ] and often told a story about driving through ] one day and on seeing one of the other five Bentley Drop-Heads at the traffic lights, waved furiously at the driver, only to realise that he was driving his Mini that day. In the mid ]'s he changed the Bentley for a ].


The love of his life was his ], a black and dark green model of which only six were ever made. Cargill also had a ] and often told a story about driving through ] one day and on seeing one of the other five Bentley Drop-Heads at the traffic lights, waved furiously at the driver, only to realise that he was driving his Mini that day. In the mid-1980s he changed the Bentley for a ].
He had innumerable pets, including a monkey, a parrot, and a wethered sheep. His favourite pet was Ra, a cross-border collie and Charles, a cat that lived at Spring Cottage and often attacked Cargill's house guests in their beds early in the morning by attempting to suckle their nipples, much to the alarm of its victims. (Recounted to the writer by '''Vernon Page''')

Cargill's many pets included a monkey, a parrot and a castrated ram. His favourites were Ra, a cross-border collie, and Charles, a cat that lived at Spring Cottage.


===Death=== ===Death===
At the time of his death at the age of 77, Cargill was suffering from a ] and was being nursed in a hospice in Richmond on Thames, London.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tonyhancock.org.uk/ham3news1.html|title=Patrick Cargill Dies|publisher=Tony Hancock Online|access-date=25 September 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080622191500/http://www.tonyhancock.org.uk/ham3news1.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 22 June 2008}}</ref> In 1995, the year before he died, Cargill had been struck by a car in Australia; though he was only slightly injured, this accident led to false reports that the cause of his death was a hit-and-run accident.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/patrick-cargill-the-perfect-gentleman-dies-in-sleep-1348852.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/patrick-cargill-the-perfect-gentleman-dies-in-sleep-1348852.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Patrick Cargill, the perfect gentleman, dies in sleep|website=]|date=24 May 1996}}</ref>
The year before Cargill died, he was knocked down by a car in ], which led to his cause of death being incorrectly reported as a hit and run accident. Suffering from a ], he was being nursed in a ] in Richmond, ] at the time of his death, aged 77<ref></ref>


==Quotations== ==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable"
*''""Comedy is instinctive. You know it's there but the moment you consciously search for it you're completely lost. Timing is a skill that you develop over the years. It gives you the necessary courage to wait - to pause while the audience gathers in anticipation."''
|-

! Year
*During the shooting for the Beatles film ''Help!'', Cargill was lounging by the pool when not required on set in the ]. ] was also by the pool, and leaned forward from the edge of the pool and said to Cargill: ''"Patrick, you have worked hard to achieve success and there must have been times when the going was tough. What's it like? I mean, was it fun to get where you are? I've never had that, you see. We never struggled, we just became famous, successful ... what have I missed?"'' Cargill replied quietly ''"It is different for everyone, John, you've missed nothing. Each person's life is unique and that is what makes life so interesting, you never know what is round the corner."''
! Title

! Role
*''"Well, really!"'' (Cargill's catchphrase from ''Father, Dear Father'')
! Notes
|-
|1949|| '']'' || Party Guest || Uncredited
|-
|1953|| '']'' || French Diplomat ||
|-
|1955|| '']'' || Steward || Uncredited
|-
|1956|| '']'' || Cashier #1 ||
|-
|1956|| '']'' || Navigation Officer || Uncredited
|-
|1956|| '']'' || Minor Role || Uncredited
|-
|1958|| '']'' || Commander ||
|-
|1959|| '']'' || Fritz ||
|-
|1959|| '']'' || A Psychiatrist || Uncredited
|-
|1960|| '']'' || Car Salesman || Uncredited
|-
|1961|| '']'' || Raffish Customer ||
|-
|1961|| '']'' || Binny || '']''
|-
|1963|| '']'' || Museum Guide ||
|-
|1963|| '']'' || Dr. Meadows ||
|-
|1963|| '']'' || Inspector Grayson ||
|-
|1964|| '']'' || Ransome ||
|-
|1964|| '']'' || Don Luis, the Spanish Governor ||
|-
|1965|| '']'' || Superintendent Gluck ||
|-
|1967|| '']'' || Hudson ||
|-
|1968|| '']'' || Commissioner Sir Charles Braithwaite ||
|-
|1968|| '']'' || Condor ||
|-
|1969|| '']'' || Auctioneer at Sotheby's ||
|-
|1970|| '']'' || Wallace Trufitt M.P. ||
|-
|1971|| '']'' || Nero ||
|-
|1973|| '']'' || Patrick Glover ||
|-
|1974|| '']'' || Dr. Harrison ||
|-
|1977|| '']'' || Fitzwilliam ||
|-
|1990||'']''|| ]||
|}


==References== ==References==
{{reflist}} {{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book| last= Brahms| author-link= Caryl Brahms| first= Caryl| author2= Ned Sherrin| author2-link= Ned Sherrin| title= Ooh! La-La!| year= 1973| location= London| publisher= W. H. Allen| isbn= 978-0-491-01091-7| url-access= registration| url= https://archive.org/details/oohlala0000brah}}


==External links== ==External links==
*{{imdb name|id=0137092|name=Patrick Cargill}} * {{IMDb name|0137092}}
*
* {{screenonline name|id=1396912|name=Patrick Cargill}}

{{Authority control}}


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Latest revision as of 04:14, 4 December 2024

English actor (1918–1996)

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Patrick Cargill
Born(1918-06-03)3 June 1918
Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, England
Died23 May 1996(1996-05-23) (aged 77)
Richmond, London, England
OccupationActor

Patrick Cargill (3 June 1918 – 23 May 1996) was an English actor remembered for his lead role in the British television sitcom Father, Dear Father.

Early life

Cargill was born to middle-class parents living in Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex. After education at Haileybury College, he made his debut in the Bexhill Amateur Theatrical Society. However, he was aiming for a military career and was selected for training at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. Cargill became a commissioned officer in the British Indian Army.

Career

After the Second World War ended, Cargill returned to Britain to focus on a stage career, and joined Anthony Hawtrey's company at Buxton, Croydon and later the Embassy Theatre at Swiss Cottage in London. He became a supporting player in John Counsell's repertory at Windsor alongside Brenda Bruce and Beryl Reid and scored a huge hit in the revue The World's the Limit, which was seen by the Queen and 26 of her guests one evening. He made his first West End appearance in 1953 in Ian Carmichael's revue High Spirits at the London Hippodrome. He also co-wrote the stage play Ring for Catty, with Jack Beale. The second of the Carry On films, Carry On Nurse, produced in 1959, was based on this play as was the 1962 film Twice Round the Daffodils.

After a number of other West End roles he was cast as Bernard in Boeing Boeing at the Apollo Theatre in 1962. The farce, which was ideal for Cargill, drew the attention of major producers led to him starring in Say Who You Are at Her Majesty's Theatre in 1965 and directing Not Now Darling by Ray Cooney and John Chapman at the Strand Theatre in 1968.

Television

Cargill first came to TV notice when playing Sergeant Cuff in the 1959 series The Moonstone.

In 1960, Cargill played Gestapo agent Herr Grosnitz in the BBC TV series "The Long Way Home". He also performed on several occasions with Tony Hancock, twice in Hancock's final BBC television series, including a role as the doctor who clashes with him in the well-known episode "The Blood Donor" (1961). In 1961–62 he featured as the regular character Miguel Garetta in all 26 episodes of the British spy series Top Secret, and in 1962 he played Herr Straffen in The Last Man Out, a TV series by Shaun Sutton, followed two years later by a major part of an episode of The Avengers TV series. In 1967, he appeared in two episodes of The Prisoner as an unusually cruel and brutal Number Two in "Hammer Into Anvil", and as a colleague from Number Six's pre-Village days in "Many Happy Returns".

Cargill starred in three television series of Feydeau farces, adapted by Ned Sherrin and Caryl Brahms and entitled Ooh La La! (1968–1973), which were shown on BBC 2. These vignette Feydeau farces were originally intended to provide variety for Parisian audiences who were used to more than one production during an evening's entertainment. The third and final series showcased Feydeau's longer pieces. Brahms and Sherrin turned six of their adaptations into book form, and published it as Ooh! La-La! in 1973, with a dedication: "To Patrick Cargill – First among Farceurs".

In 1968, Cargill starred in Father, Dear Father on ITV (written specifically for him) as Patrick Glover, a thriller writer and an inept father of two teenage daughters, played by Natasha Pyne (Anna) and Ann Holloway (Karen). The show ran until 1973 and was produced and directed by William G. Stewart.

Many performers who had worked before with the actor featured in an entertainment special called Patrick, Dear Patrick, An Evening with Patrick Cargill and His Guests (1972). Cargill was a friend of Patrick Macnee from their early acting days, and Macnee returned from California to make a guest appearance on the show. It included both Patricks singing "Mad Dogs and Englishmen". Cargill's companion, Vernon Page, recounts that at the time of casting Cargill wanted to sing this duet with Sir Noël Coward and even visited him at the hotel in London where he was staying in an attempt to persuade him to appear, but Coward was either unwilling or unable to agree to the request and he died 15 months later. This one-off special production by Thames Television also guest-starred Beryl Reid, with whom Cargill sang the duet "I Remember It Well" by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe (from Gigi). Cargill added a new response to the line "We drank champagne" (Cargill's line): "You gave me Coke, you drank the wine yourself, you soak!" (Reid's riposte).

In 1976, Cargill returned to the TV screens with The Many Wives of Patrick, playing a middle-aged playboy and antiques dealer, Patrick Woodford, who is trying to divorce his sixth wife in order to remarry his first. This series showcased many prominent stars such as Patrick Macnee and Dawn Addams. The 1980s was something of a revival for Cargill's natural talent at farce. He co-starred in Key for Two with Moira Lister at the Vaudeville Theatre and then at the Old Vic Theatre in William Douglas-Home's After the Ball is Over. In 1986, he starred with Frankie Howerd in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at the Chichester Festival Theatre, in which he played the part of Senex.

In his final years, Cargill was seen in Captain Beaky at the Playhouse in 1990 and after that he toured in Derek Nimmo's British Airways Playhouse. He also played British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in the 1990 British Sitcom Heil Honey I'm Home, which was cancelled after one episode. For the centenary staging of Charley's Aunt in 1992, Cargill played the part of the dreaded Spettigue.

Films

His film appearances included An Alligator Named Daisy and Expresso Bongo; two of the Carry On films: Carry On Regardless and Carry On Jack; Help! (1965) starring The Beatles, The Magic Christian (1969) with Peter Sellers and Ringo Starr and Charlie Chaplin's A Countess from Hong Kong, in which he played the part of the butler, Hudson.

Music

A lesser known detail of Cargill's showbusiness career is the handful of recordings that he made in the 1960s and 1970s. The first was an album called Father, Dear Father (1969) in which Cargill sang a medley of songs. The female voice on the album was not Noel Dyson (Nanny) but that of June Hunt, a friend of Cargill.

He followed this with three singles. One called "Father, Dear Father Christmas" and another called "Thinking Young" and the final single called "Father, Dear Father." None of these recordings was commercially successful.

Cargill appeared as Sir Joseph Porter in H.M.S. Pinafore at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in August 1983.

Personal life

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From the mid-1960s Cargill lived at Sheen Gate Gardens, Richmond on Thames. He spent his time 'resting' at Spring Cottage, his country retreat situated in Warren Lane, near Cross-in-Hand, East Sussex.

Cargill's private life was little known and his homosexuality was not public for decades. For many years, Cargill's companion was Vernon Page, an eccentric landscape gardener, poet and lampoon songwriter, until he married in 1984 with Cargill's blessing. Cargill was a private man, who did not relish his celebrity status, though he was always kind to fans who approached him. He would shun the awards ceremonies in favour of a quiet evening at home playing mahjong. He never made any public acknowledgment of his private life as he felt that to confirm his homosexuality would damage his professional image. Notwithstanding his reluctance to "come out" in this respect, Cargill was happy in his private life and his wit when not in the spotlight reflected that. Once, whilst lunching with Ray Cooney, the theatrical impresario, Cargill observed, when a particularly handsome waiter mistakenly removed his soup spoon, "Aah, look Ray, the dish has run away with the spoon." In the later years of his life, Cargill lived in Henley-on-Thames with his last companion, James Camille Markowski.

The love of his life was his Bentley, a black and dark green model of which only six were ever made. Cargill also had a Mini and often told a story about driving through Barnes one day and on seeing one of the other five Bentley Drop-Heads at the traffic lights, waved furiously at the driver, only to realise that he was driving his Mini that day. In the mid-1980s he changed the Bentley for a Rolls-Royce.

Cargill's many pets included a monkey, a parrot and a castrated ram. His favourites were Ra, a cross-border collie, and Charles, a cat that lived at Spring Cottage.

Death

At the time of his death at the age of 77, Cargill was suffering from a brain tumour and was being nursed in a hospice in Richmond on Thames, London. In 1995, the year before he died, Cargill had been struck by a car in Australia; though he was only slightly injured, this accident led to false reports that the cause of his death was a hit-and-run accident.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1949 Trottie True Party Guest Uncredited
1953 The Sword and the Rose French Diplomat
1955 An Alligator Named Daisy Steward Uncredited
1956 The Extra Day Cashier #1
1956 The Baby and the Battleship Navigation Officer Uncredited
1956 Around the World in 80 Days Minor Role Uncredited
1958 Up the Creek Commander
1959 The Night We Dropped a Clanger Fritz
1959 Expresso Bongo A Psychiatrist Uncredited
1960 Doctor in Love Car Salesman Uncredited
1961 Carry On Regardless Raffish Customer
1961 Clue of the Silver Key Binny Edgar Wallace Mysteries
1963 The Cracksman Museum Guide
1963 A Stitch in Time Dr. Meadows
1963 The Hi-Jackers Inspector Grayson
1964 This Is My Street Ransome
1964 Carry On Jack Don Luis, the Spanish Governor
1965 Help! Superintendent Gluck
1967 A Countess from Hong Kong Hudson
1968 Inspector Clouseau Commissioner Sir Charles Braithwaite
1968 Hammerhead Condor
1969 The Magic Christian Auctioneer at Sotheby's
1970 Every Home Should Have One Wallace Trufitt M.P.
1971 Up Pompeii Nero
1973 Father Dear Father Patrick Glover
1974 The Cherry Picker Dr. Harrison
1977 The Picture Show Man Fitzwilliam
1990 Heil Honey I'm Home! Neville Chamberlain

References

  1. ^ Stevens, Christopher (2010). Born Brilliant: The Life of Kenneth Williams. John Murray. p. 370. ISBN 978-1-84854-195-5.
  2. "BFI Screenonline: Cargill, Patrick (1918–1996) Biography". screenonline.org.uk.
  3. "Google Groups". groups.google.com.
  4. "Programme for 'Ring For Catty'". mercurytheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  5. "Patrick Cargill – Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos – AllMovie". AllMovie.
  6. "Production of Boeing Boeing – Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
  7. "IMDB page for Patrick Cargill". IMDb. 25 September 2020.
  8. "Guest Actor Biography – Patrick Cargill". TheAvengers.tv. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  9. ^ "Patrick Cargill". Archived from the original on 1 April 2019.
  10. Erickson, Hal; Allmovie (2009). "Full Biography – Patrick Cargill". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 4 June 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  11. Brahms and Sherrin, unnumbered introductory page
  12. "Father Dear Father – British Classic Comedy". 17 March 2017.
  13. "Patrick Cargill: obituary". Independent.co.uk. 24 May 1996. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022.
  14. "Production of After The Ball Is Over – Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
  15. Concert notices. Classical Music, 6 August 1983, p10.
  16. "Patrick Cargill Dies". Tony Hancock Online. Archived from the original on 22 June 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  17. "Patrick Cargill, the perfect gentleman, dies in sleep". Independent.co.uk. 24 May 1996. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022.

Sources

External links

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