David Tomlinson


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David Tomlinson
Born David Cecil MacAlister Tomlinson
May 7, 1917(1917-05-07)
Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England
Died June 24, 2000 (aged 83)
Westminster, London, England
Spouse(s) Audrey Freeman

David Cecil MacAlister Tomlinson (7 May 1917 – 24 June 2000) was an English film actor. He is primarily remembered for his roles as George Banks in Mary Poppins, Professor Emelius Brown in Bedknobs and Broomsticks and as Peter Thorndyke in The Love Bug.

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Early life

Born in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England on 7 May 1917,[1] Tomlinson attended the Tonbridge School, but left to join the Grenadier Guards. His introduction to the working world came as a clerk for London's Shell House. His stage career grew from amateur stage productions to his 1940 film debut in Quiet Wedding. His career was interrupted when he entered WWII service as a Flight Lieutenant in the RAF. His flying days continued after the war and he crashed a Tiger Moth plane near his backyard much to the chagrin of his neighbours. His father Clarence, a prominent London lawyer, defended him at his subsequent trial (for flying too low).

Film career

As George Banks, head of the Banks family in the 1964 Disney film Mary Poppins, David Tomlinson was known to generations of children for his role in one of the most popular family films of all time. Although Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke's characters are often seen as the breath of fresh air brushing through the Banks' home, Mr. Banks' role, and indeed Tomlinson's performance, is also noteworthy. Mr. Banks is a senior figure in a bank who takes his job very seriously and has little time for or patience with his children. Following a riot at the bank precipitated by the actions of his young son his character is forced to relinquish his job in a moving scene in which his bowler hat and umbrella are symbolically destroyed. By the end of the film, however, Mr. Banks is finally made a partner of the bank in a touching performance from Tomlinson, and Mary Poppins decides that her services are no longer required as Mr. Banks has learned to engage with his children on their level.

Mary Poppins brought Tomlinson continued work with Disney, appearing in The Love Bug (1969) and Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971). Throughout the rest of Tomlinson's film career, he never steered far from comedies. He retired from acting in 1979 to spend more time with his family; however, the enduring popularity of Mary Poppins ensured that he remained well-known.

As a testament to Tomlinson's decency and popularity with other entertainers, when Peter Sellers was recuperating in a London hospital following a heart attack he apparently said: "I only want to see David."

Personal life

Tomlinson was married for 57 years to actress Audrey Freeman and the two had four sons, David Jr., William, Henry and James. He died peacefully in his sleep at the King Edward the VII Hospital, Westminster at 0400 on 24 June 2000[2][3] after suffering a series of strokes. He was 83 years old.

His interment was located at Home Grounds at Stratford Saye in Berkshire.

Additional: The BBC page above states the couple were married for 47 years with his wife, Audrey Freeman, being 68 at the time of his death, meaning she was 21 when they were married.

Filmography

References

  1. ^ General Register Office of England and Wales - Birth Register for June Quarter of 1917, Henley Registration District, reference 3a 1531, listed as David C. M. Tomlinson, mothers maiden name as Sinclair-Thomson
  2. ^ General Register Office of England and Wales - Death Register for June 2000, Westminster Registration District, reference C49C 281, listed as David Cecil Tomlinson with a date of birth of 7 May 1917
  3. ^ "Mary Poppins Star Dies", BBC News, BBC (2000-06-24). 

External links

Further reading

  • Luckier Than Most, Tomlinson's autobiography, published in 1990.


Persondata
NAME Tomlinson, David
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Tomlinson, David Cecil MacAlister
SHORT DESCRIPTION Actor
DATE OF BIRTH 1917-05-01
PLACE OF BIRTH Henley, Oxfordshire, England
DATE OF DEATH 2000-06-24
PLACE OF DEATH Westminster, London, England






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