Gordon Jackson (actor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gordon Jackson
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Gordon Jackson as Mr. Hudson in Upstairs, Downstairs
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Gordon Cameron Jackson
19 December 1923 Glasgow, Scotland
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| Died | 15 January 1990 (aged 66) London, England
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1942–1990 |
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Gordon Cameron Jackson (19 December 1923 – 15 January 1990) was a famous Scottish actor. He was known for his roles as the butler Angus Hudson in the TV series Upstairs, Downstairs. He also played George Cowley, the boss of CI5, in The Professionals. Gordon Jackson also appeared in movies like Tunes of Glory and The Great Escape. He received a special honor called an OBE for his acting.
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Growing Up in Scotland
Gordon Jackson was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1923. He was the youngest of five children in his family. He went to Hillhead High School when he was younger. As a boy, he took part in BBC radio shows, including a program called Children's Hour.
When he was 15, Gordon left school. He started working as a draughtsman for a company called Rolls-Royce. A draughtsman is someone who makes detailed technical drawings or plans.
Starting His Acting Journey
Gordon Jackson's acting career began in 1942. Producers from Ealing Studios were looking for a young Scottish actor. They chose him for a part in the film The Foreman Went to France. After this movie, he went back to his job at Rolls-Royce.
However, he was soon asked to act in more films. He then decided to become a full-time actor. Gordon appeared in several other movies early on. These included Millions Like Us and Whisky Galore!. He also worked in repertory theatre. This is a type of theatre where actors perform different plays regularly. He performed in cities like Glasgow and Perth.
In 1949, he acted in the film Floodtide with actress Rona Anderson. They fell in love and got married two years later, on 2 June 1951. They had two sons together, named Graham and Roddy. In the same year, Gordon made his first appearance on the London stage. He was in a play called Seagulls Over Sorrento.
During the 1950s and 1960s, Gordon Jackson appeared on television. He was in shows like The Adventures of Robin Hood and The Avengers. He also had smaller parts in movies. These included The Great Escape and The Ipcress File. In 1969, he and his wife, Rona, had important roles in the film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. That year, he also won an award for his acting in a play version of Hamlet.
Famous Roles and Awards
Gordon Jackson became very well-known for playing Angus Hudson. Hudson was a strict Scottish butler in the TV drama Upstairs, Downstairs. He was in sixty episodes of the show from 1971 to 1975. In 1976, he won an Emmy Award for his excellent acting in one episode.
In 1974, he was named British Actor of the Year. Later, in 1979, he received the OBE honor. This is a special award given by the British monarch for great achievements. Gordon also acted alongside the famous actress Bette Davis in a TV film called Madame Sin (1972).
His next big TV role was in the police drama The Professionals, starting in 1977. He played George Cowley, the head of a special unit called CI5. He appeared in all 57 episodes of the show. The series finished in 1983. He also won an award called a Logie Award for his role in the Australian TV series A Town Like Alice (1981).
After these big roles, Gordon Jackson continued acting. He appeared in TV shows like Hart to Hart and Shaka Zulu. He also acted in films such as The Shooting Party and The Whistle Blower. He performed in plays too, including one based on a book by Agatha Christie. His last acting role was in a show called Effie's Burning. This show was broadcast after he passed away.
His Final Years
In December 1989, Gordon Jackson was diagnosed with bone cancer. He sadly passed away on 15 January 1990, in London, at the age of 66. He was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium.
Images for kids
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Gordon Jackson as Mr. Hudson in Upstairs, Downstairs
