Kenneth Griffith (1921 - 2006)

When Kenneth Griffith died recently, his obituaries focused on his later career as a documentary film maker and on his reputation as a grumpy old sod. He probably wouldn't  have had it any other way; but most of us will actually remember him as a fine supporting player.

He was born in Tenby and raised by his grandparents. He left grammar school at fifteen with an ambition to act. He was still struggling in rep when he was called up to serve in the RAF. He was invalided out in 1942 thanks to illness and he joined the Old Vic.

His big break came in The Shop at Sly Corner at St Martin's Theatre. His portrayal of spivvy  blackmailer Archie Fellowes, set the pattern of his roles for the next few years, and he reprised the part both on TV and in film. For a while he cornered the market in untrustworthy, seedy characters but as his career progressed he moved up the social scale. In his career as supporting player he portrayed both Hitler and Napoleon, though usually the villainy was of a lesser level.

In the 60s and 70s, as well as his film work, he became ubiquitous as a guest artist in numerous TV series such as The Prisoner and Callan. It was however his TV documentaries that got most notice, beginning with a film on the siege of Ladysmith in 1964. His most notorious work was Hang Out Your Brightest Colours about Michael Collins. His films concentrated on the effects of British imperialism, and in an age of impartial documentaries his were unashamedly polemical. Several of his projects got shelved.

In his later years he remained angry and committed to his beliefs. Good for him!

Filmography as actor

 Kenneth Griffith at Amazon UK

 Kenneth Griffith at Amazon US