Archie Duncan (actor)

Archie Duncan (26 May 1914 – 24 July 1979) was a Scottish actor born in Glasgow.[1]

Archie Duncan
Richard Greene (left) and Archie Duncan in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1958)
Born(1914-05-26)26 May 1914
Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Died24 July 1979(1979-07-24) (aged 65)
London, England
OccupationActor
Years active1948-1975

Duncan's father was a regimental sergeant major in the army and his mother was a postmistress. He attended Glasgow's Govan High School and worked as a welder in Glasgow shipyards for a decade.[2]

He began his career in repertory theatre and West End plays. His professional acting debut was in Juno and the Paycock in May 1944 at the Alhambra Theatre, Glasgow.[2]

Although he appeared in over 50 television series and movie roles, he is best remembered for two: Inspector Lestrade in the 1954 series Sherlock Holmes[3]:960 and as Little John in The Adventures of Robin Hood[3] from 1955 to 1960.

Duncan was replaced in the Little John role by Rufus Cruikshank for 13 episodes after Duncan was injured when a horse bolted toward spectators, mostly children, watching the location filming of the episode "Checkmate" on 20 April 1955. He grabbed the bridle, stopping the horse, but the cart it was pulling ran him over, causing a fractured kneecap and cuts and bruises. He received the Queen's Commendation for Bravery Award[2] and £1,360 in damages from Sapphire films.

He also played the ditch digger in the 1969 film Ring of Bright Water who dispatched the star otter Mij with his spade, towards the end.[4]

On 24 July 1979 Duncan died at home in London. He was 65.[2]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1948CounterblastDr. McKegneyUncredited
1949Operation DiamondMcPherson
1949FloodtideCharlie Campbell
1949The Bad Lord ByronJohn Murray
1950The Gorbals StoryBull
1950The Elusive PimpernelMan in bath
1951Happy Go LovelyPolice InspectorUncredited
1951Flesh and BloodSergeant
1951Circle of DangerAngusUncredited
1951The Lavender Hill MobChief CashierUncredited
1951Green Grow the RushesConstable Pettigrew
1952The Last PagePolice ConstableUncredited
1952The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie MenRed Gill
1952Home at SevenStation SergeantUncredited
1952Castle in the AirConstable
1952You're Only Young Twice
1952The Brave Don't CryWalter Hardie
1952Hot IceWilson
1953Street CornerChief InspectorUncredited
1953Laxdale HallPolice Sergeant
1953Johnny on the RunThe Crofter
1953Twice Upon a TimeDoorman
1953CounterspyJim Fenton
1953The Master of BallantraeMessengerUncredited
1953Rob Roy, the Highland RogueDugal MacGregor
1954Trouble in the GlenNolly Dukes
1956X the UnknownSgt. YeardyeUncredited
1957The Devil's PassGeorge Jolly
1957Saint JoanRobert de Baudricourt
1957Saint JoanRobert de Baudricourt
1958Harry BlackWoolsey
1959John Paul JonesDuncan MacBean
1960The Boy and the PiratesScoggins
1960Tess of the Storm CountryHamish MacLean
1961Very Important PersonScottish CaptainUncredited
1961What a WhopperMacdonald
1962Postman's KnockInspector
1963The Mouse on the MoonUSAF General
1963Lancelot and GuinevereSir Lamorak
1964The Horror of It AllMuldoon Marley
1967The Man OutsideSupt. Barnes
1969Ring of Bright WaterRoadmender
1975The Wilby ConspiracyGordon(final film role)

References
  1. "Archie Duncan".
  2. Aaker, Everett (2011). Encyclopedia of Early Television Crime Fighters: All Regular Cast Members in American Crime and Mystery Series, 1948-1959. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co. pp. 204–206. ISBN 978-0-7864-6409-8.
  3. Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  4. "Ring of Bright Water - BBC Two". BBC.
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