A History Of Liverpool Thespians - Gerald Sim

 

Gerald Grant Sim was born on the 4th of June 1925 in Liverpool the son of Stuart Sim, a first world war veteran and an employee of Barings Bank, and his wife, Ida (nee Carter). His elder sister was the actress Sheila Sim and he became the brother-in-law of Richard Attenborough and David Attenborough. Coincidentally, he worked at the Leicester Haymarket in 1979 with the actor Karen Lewis before she even met and married Michael Attenborough, the director son of Richard and Sheila. The family moved south to Croydon, and Gerald was educated at Cranbrook school in Kent, and trained for the stage at RADA, apparently having become enamored with acting after listening to a 1943 radio broadcast of John Geilgud entitled 'The Great Ship'. Then followed extensive repertory experience, both in England, and in Durban, South Africa in 1954, with the McNeale Company. Beginning with an uncredited small role in 'Fame Is The Spur' (1947), there followed better parts in 'Whistle Down The Wind' (1961), 'The L-Shaped Room' (1962), 'Seance on a Wet Afternoon' (1964), 'King Rat' (1965) and 'The Wrong Box' plus 'The Avengers', both in 1966. Several of these films were directed by Bryan Forbes, a close friend and former producing partner of Richard Attenborough. Having married the British actress Deidre Benner in 1967 they lived happily in Hampton, on the Thames, with a fruitful garden and a dog. He loved cricket and was surprisingly keen on computers. 

With Tom Courtenay and Arthur Malet in 'King Rat' (1965)

He then appeared in seven films directed by his brother-in-law Richard Attenborough; 'Oh! What A Lovely War' (1969),Young Winston (1972), 'A Bridge Too Far' (1977), with his character Colonel Sims named after him, 'Gandhi' (1982), 'Cry Freedom' (1987), 'Chaplin' (1992) and 'Shadowlands' (1993). In two of these films, 'Whistle Down The Wind' and 'Oh! What a Lovely War', he appeared with his niece Charlotte Attenborough, Other noteable roles were in 'Ryan's Daughter' (1970), 'Dr.Jekyll and Sister Hyde' (1971), 'Frenzy' (1972), 'The New Avengers' (1977), 'Edward & Mrs. Simpson' (1978), 'Jack the Ripper' (1988) and 'Patriot Games' (1992).

as the rector in To the Manor Born

Although a stalwart subtle presence of British stage and screen, Gerald Sim's work was both prolific and varied and he will possibly be best remembered as the wily rector of the BBC TV series 'To the Manor Born' (1979).  He was most often featured as bumptious upper crusts (suitably convincing because of his clear voice and precise diction), obtuse vicars, police inspectors, barristers and very British stiff-upper-lip military types. After repeated guest roles in such TV prime time shows as 'Dixon of Dock Green' (1955) and 'The Avengers' (1961), he became firmly entrenched in the medium and never looked back. He had appeared on 'Coronation Street' (1982) as Ted Farrell, a wartime sweetheart of Betty Turpin and father to Gordon Clegg (Bill Kenwright), He briefly returned to the stage in 1979 before his wife died in 1999. Having retired he made one final TV appearance in 2007 in a 25th anniversary special of 'To the Manor Born'. In his later years, Gerald lived in Denville Hall which the family had actively supported for many years. This was the same north London care home for entertainers as his sister and brother-in-law occupied the rooms on either side of him.

Gerald Sim died on the 11th of December 2014.

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2023/08/a-history-of-liverpool-thespians-artro.html