Charles Edward Underdown (3 December 190815 December 1989) was an English theatre, cinema and television actor. He was born in London and educated at Eton College in Berkshire.
Notable work
Early theatre credits include: Noël Coward's Words and Music and Tonight at 8.30; Cole Porter's Nymph Errant; Moss Hart & Irving Berlin's Stop Press; and Streamline.
His film credits include: They Were Not Divided, Beat the Devil, Wings of the Morning, The Rainbow Jacket, The Woman's Angle, Her Panelled Door, The Camp on Blood Island, Dr. Terror's House of Horrors, Thunderball, Khartoum, The Magic Christian and Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World.
Television appearances include: Dad's Army, Danger Man, The Saint, The Avengers, The Rat Catchers, Weavers Green, Man in a Suitcase, Doomwatch, The Regiment, Colditz, Upstairs, Downstairs, Survivors, The Duchess of Duke Street and Doctor Who.
Both Wings of the Morning and The Rainbow Jacket were set in his beloved racing world, the former being set on Epsom Downs. Wings of the Morning, starring Henry Fonda, was Britain's first Technicolor film.
Edward Underdown was also a gentleman jockey and rode with great aplomb in both flat and hurdle races (see references to his riding career in John Hislop's books).
In 1950 he was voted by British exhibitors as the most promising male screen newcomer.
According to Ian Fleming's stepson, Underdown was the novelist's preferred choice for James Bond.
Personal life
Edward Underdown was born on 3 December 1908 in London.
Underdown was the son of Harry Charles Baillie Underdown and Rachel Elizabeth Orr. He married Hon. Rosemary Sybella Violet Grimston, daughter of Robert Grimston, 1st Baron Grimston of Westbury and Sybil Rose Neumann, on 10 February 1953. Charles Underdown and Rosemary Grimston were sixth cousins through their common ancestors Thomas Villiers, 1st Earl of Clarendon and Lady Charlotte Capell.
He died on 15 December 1989 in Hampshire aged 81.
Theatre appearances
Words and Music, Adelphi Theatre, London (1932-1933). The production was written and directed by Noël Coward. Nymph Errant, Adelphi Theatre, London (1933-1934). The production featured music and lyrics by Cole Porter. Streamline (revue), Palace Theatre, London (1932-1933). Stop Press, Adelphi Theatre, London (1934-1935). This was the London production of Moss Hart and Irving Berlin's revue, As Thousands Cheer. Tonight at 8.30 (billed as To-night at 7:30, due to the local curtain time), Liverpool Empire Theatre, Liverpool (November 1935) Tonight at 8.30, Phoenix Theatre, London (opened 9 January 1936) and New York (opened 24 November 1936). You Can't Take It with You, St. James's Theatre, London (opened 1937). The Grass is Greener, St Martin's Theatre, London (1958) and Theatre Royal, Brighton. The Long Sunset, Mermaid Theatre, London (1961). Past Imperfect, Theatre Royal, Brighton (1965).