Edward Underdown facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Edward Underdown
Underdown in Beat the Devil (1953)
Born	Charles Edward Underdown (1908-12-03)3 December 1908 London, England
Died	15 December 1989(1989-12-15) (aged 81) Hampshire, England
Occupation	Actor, jockey
Years active	1932–1980
Spouse(s)	Hon. Rosemary Sybella Violet Grimston ​ ​ (m. 1953; div. 1964)​

Charles Edward Underdown (born December 3, 1908 – died December 15, 1989) was a talented English actor. He performed in plays, movies, and on television. Edward was born in London, England, and went to a famous school called Eton College in Berkshire.

He was also a skilled horse rider, known as a gentleman jockey. This love for horses often showed up in his acting roles.

Edward Underdown's Acting Career

Edward Underdown had a long and varied career. He appeared in many different types of shows.

Early Theatre Work

Edward started his acting journey on the stage. He performed in popular musicals and plays. Some of his early theatre roles included:

• Words and Music by Noël Coward
• Nymph Errant with music by Cole Porter
• Tonight at 8.30, another play by Noël Coward

Movies and TV Shows

Edward Underdown became well-known for his roles in films and on television. He acted in over 40 movies!

Famous Film Roles

Some of his notable film appearances include:

• Wings of the Morning (1937): This was Britain's first movie made in Technicolor. It was set in the horse racing world, which Edward loved.
• Beat the Devil (1953)
• Thunderball (1965): A classic James Bond film.
• Khartoum (1966)
• Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World (1973): A fun movie about a giant dog.

Popular TV Appearances

Edward also appeared in many popular TV series. You might recognize some of these:

• Danger Man
• The Saint
• The Avengers
• Dad's Army (1972): A very popular British comedy.
• Upstairs, Downstairs (1974)
• Doctor Who (1980): He played the character Zastor in the episode Meglos. This was his last acting role.

In 1950, people in the British film industry voted him the "most promising male screen newcomer." This showed how much potential they saw in him.

More About His Theatre Work

Edward performed in many plays in London and other cities. Here are a few more examples:

More About His Film Work

Edward's film career spanned many decades. Here are some more of his movie roles:

More About His Television Work

Edward was a familiar face on British television. Here are some more of his TV appearances:

Edward's Love for Horses

Edward Underdown had a deep passion for horses and horse racing.

His Early Riding Days

His father owned a large estate in Norfolk, England. This is where Edward learned to ride and became a very skilled horseman. Before he became an actor, he was a gentleman jockey. This means he rode horses in races for fun, not as a job. He was excellent at both flat races and hurdle races (where horses jump over obstacles).

Horses in His Acting Life

His love for horses even influenced his acting career. Two of his films, Wings of the Morning and The Rainbow Jacket, were about the world of horse racing. Wings of the Morning was filmed at Epsom Downs, a famous racecourse.

Interestingly, part of an episode of Dad's Army, a TV show Edward appeared in, was filmed at his old family estate in Norfolk. By then, the estate was owned by the military. Only parts of his old home, like the stables, were left. It must have been a unique experience for him to work on a show filmed where he grew up!

After Acting

Even after his acting career ended, Edward stayed connected to horses. He worked as a steward at Newbury Racecourse. This was a perfect job for him, as he truly loved horses and was an expert rider.

Military Service

Edward Underdown also served his country during Second World War.

Joining the Army

When he first tried to join the army, he went with a friend. When asked their jobs, Edward said "film star" and his friend said "cowboy"! The recruiting sergeant thought they were joking and didn't take them seriously at first. However, Edward did eventually join the Wiltshire Yeomanry.

War Hero

He served as an officer in the Wiltshire Yeomanry. He fought with the 8th Army in Africa during World War II. He had a distinguished record, meaning he served with honor and skill.

After the War

After the war, Edward went back to acting. But he also stayed in the Territorial Army, which is a group of part-time soldiers. He remained in the reserves until he reached the age limit. He retired as a captain and was given the honorary rank of major.