Roy Royston: Difference between revisions
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Born at [[Mill Hill]], [[North London]], Roy Charles Crowden took the name of "Roy Royston" while still a boy. Between 1912 and 1914 he was the child star of a large number of silent motion pictures, most made by [[Lewis Fitzhamon]]. He had a younger brother who took the name of [[Gerald Royston]] who also became an actor.<ref name=holmstrom>John Holmstrom, 'Roy Royston' in ''The moving picture boy: an international encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995'' (1996), pp. 13-14</ref> |
Born at [[Mill Hill]], [[North London]], Roy Charles Crowden took the name of "Roy Royston" while still a boy. Between 1912 and 1914 he was the child star of a large number of silent motion pictures, most made by [[Lewis Fitzhamon]]. He had a younger brother who took the name of [[Gerald Royston]] who also became an actor.<ref name=holmstrom>John Holmstrom, 'Roy Royston' in ''The moving picture boy: an international encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995'' (1996), pp. 13-14</ref> |
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Under his real name of Roy Charles Crowden, in the later stages of the [[World War I|First World war]] he was commissioned into the [[British Army]] as a temporary [[Second Lieutenant]] and joined the [[Royal Flying Corps]]. In June 1918 he was awarded the [[Military Cross]],<ref |
Under his real name of Roy Charles Crowden, in the later stages of the [[World War I|First World war]] he was commissioned into the [[British Army]] as a temporary [[Second Lieutenant]] and joined the [[Royal Flying Corps]]. In June 1918 he was awarded the [[Military Cross]],<ref name=mc>''[[London Gazette]]'', issue 30761 dated 21 June 1918 (Supplement), [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30761/supplements/7407 p. 7407]</ref> the citation reading - |
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{{quote|For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during operations. Observing a column of enemy troops marching along a road, he descended to a very low altitude, bombed them, and threw the column into complete confusion. Later on the same day, he attacked and caused heavy casualties to enemy infantry who were advancing across country. On another occasion he attacked one of six enemy scouts and destroyed it. He showed great determination and a splendid offensive spirit.<ref |
{{quote|For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during operations. Observing a column of enemy troops marching along a road, he descended to a very low altitude, bombed them, and threw the column into complete confusion. Later on the same day, he attacked and caused heavy casualties to enemy infantry who were advancing across country. On another occasion he attacked one of six enemy scouts and destroyed it. He showed great determination and a splendid offensive spirit.<ref name=mc/>}} |
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Beyond his early career in [[silent film]]s, Royston worked also in [[musical theatre]]. From February to April 1923 he appeared in ''[[The Cousin from Nowhere]]'' at the [[Prince's Theatre]], London, and he played the leading role of Jack Lloyd in the [[C. B. Cochran]] London production of ''[[Little Nellie Kelly (musical)|Little Nellie Kelly]]'' between 1923 and 1924.<ref>''The Stage Year Book 1921—1925'' (Carson & Comerford, Ltd., 1925) p. 172</ref><ref>'Theatres' (classified advertising) in ''The Times'', issue 43380 dated June 29, 1923, p. 12, col. D</ref> |
Beyond his early career in [[silent film]]s, Royston worked also in [[musical theatre]]. From February to April 1923 he appeared in ''[[The Cousin from Nowhere]]'' at the [[Prince's Theatre]], London, and he played the leading role of Jack Lloyd in the [[C. B. Cochran]] London production of ''[[Little Nellie Kelly (musical)|Little Nellie Kelly]]'' between 1923 and 1924.<ref>''The Stage Year Book 1921—1925'' (Carson & Comerford, Ltd., 1925) p. 172</ref><ref>'Theatres' (classified advertising) in ''The Times'', issue 43380 dated June 29, 1923, p. 12, col. D</ref> |
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Revision as of 22:13, 25 January 2012
Roy Royston | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 April 1899 |
| Died | 7 October 1976 (aged 77) Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, England |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1912 – 1966 |
Roy Royston (5 April 1899 – 7 October 1976), whose original name was Roy Charles Crowden, was an English actor who appeared in a large number of films between 1912 and 1966, beginning as a child actor. Most of his motion pictures were silent films made before the First World War, during the last year of which he served as a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps and was awarded the Military Cross.
He later developed a career in musical theatre.
Life
Born at Mill Hill, North London, Roy Charles Crowden took the name of "Roy Royston" while still a boy. Between 1912 and 1914 he was the child star of a large number of silent motion pictures, most made by Lewis Fitzhamon. He had a younger brother who took the name of Gerald Royston who also became an actor.[1]
Under his real name of Roy Charles Crowden, in the later stages of the First World war he was commissioned into the British Army as a temporary Second Lieutenant and joined the Royal Flying Corps. In June 1918 he was awarded the Military Cross,[2] the citation reading -
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during operations. Observing a column of enemy troops marching along a road, he descended to a very low altitude, bombed them, and threw the column into complete confusion. Later on the same day, he attacked and caused heavy casualties to enemy infantry who were advancing across country. On another occasion he attacked one of six enemy scouts and destroyed it. He showed great determination and a splendid offensive spirit.[2]
Beyond his early career in silent films, Royston worked also in musical theatre. From February to April 1923 he appeared in The Cousin from Nowhere at the Prince's Theatre, London, and he played the leading role of Jack Lloyd in the C. B. Cochran London production of Little Nellie Kelly between 1923 and 1924.[3][4]
On 8 October 1928 Royston opened in the Broadway production of Ups-a-Daisy at the Shubert Theatre, playing Roy Lindbrooke, an adventurous young author. Also in the cast was Bob Hope, as a butler. Ups-a-Daisy ran for 64 performances.[5]
In 1930 Royston starred as Jack in Michael Balcon's British musical film Just for a Song,[6] and in 1935 he appeared on screen again in the comedy The Big Splash.
During the Second World War Royston again reverted to the name of Crowden and served in the Balloon Branch of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. On 1 March 1942 he was promoted from Flying Officer to temporary Flight Lieutenant.[7]
After a break in his film career of some thirty years, Royston played a clergyman in the Hammer Horror movie The Plague of the Zombies (1966).[1]
He died at Kingston upon Thames in Surrey on 7 October 1976.[1]
Filmography
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References
- ^ a b c John Holmstrom, 'Roy Royston' in The moving picture boy: an international encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995 (1996), pp. 13-14
- ^ a b London Gazette, issue 30761 dated 21 June 1918 (Supplement), p. 7407
- ^ The Stage Year Book 1921—1925 (Carson & Comerford, Ltd., 1925) p. 172
- ^ 'Theatres' (classified advertising) in The Times, issue 43380 dated June 29, 1923, p. 12, col. D
- ^ Gerald Bordman, Richard Norton, American Musical Theatre: a Chronicle (Oxford University Press, 2010), p. 498
- ^ Rachael Low, The History of British Film, vol. 7 (Routledge, 2005) p. 339
- ^ London Gazette, issue 35503 dated 27 March 1942, p. 1391
External links
- Roy Royston at BFI Film & TV Database
- Roy Royston filmography at Internet Movie Database