Alex McCrindle (3 August 1911 – 20 April 1990) was a Scottish actor. He was best known for his role as General Jan Dodonna in Star Wars.

Alex McCrindle
Born(1911-08-03)3 August 1911
Glasgow, Scotland
Died20 April 1990(1990-04-20) (aged 78)
Edinburgh, Scotland
OccupationActor
Years active1937–1990
Spouse(s)Sandy McCrindle (divorced)[1]
Honor Arundel
(m. 1952; died 1973)
ChildrenCatherine, Jessica, and Jean[2]

Biography

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McCrindle was born in Glasgow. He began his acting career in 1937 starring in minor roles in UK Television. From 1946 to 1951 he played the role of Jock Anderson in Dick Barton – Special Agent. In 1951 he starred in his first film in the USA, The House in the Square. From there his acting career took off. He then did five more films: I Believe in You (1952), The Kidnappers (1953), Trouble in the Glen (1954), Geordie (1955) and Depth Charge (1960).

From 1962 to 1974 he went to television acting. In 1976 he was cast as General Jan Dodonna in the first Star Wars film. He went back to minor roles on TV, including the role of the eccentric veterinarian Ewan Ross on All Creatures Great and Small.

McCrindle was a founding member of the actors' trade union Scottish Equity.[3]

Personal life

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McCrindle's second wife was the children's novelist and political activist Honor Arundel (1919–1973). He was survived by his three children: Catherine, Jessica, and Jean.[2] According to Doris Lessing, McCrindle and Arundel's home in the 1950s was a hub of Communist Party activity and organisation.[4]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1951 I'll Never Forget You James Boswell Uncredited
1952 I Believe in You Tom Haines
1953 Gilbert Harding Speaking of Murder Music Critic
The Kidnappers The Minister Uncredited
1954 Trouble in the Glen Keegan
1955 Geordie Guard Uncredited
1960 Depth Charge Skipper
1970 The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes Baggageman
1977 Star Wars General Jan Dodonna
1978 The Peregrine Hunters Hawkeye Brown
1979 Correction, Please Hepworth
1981 Eye of the Needle Tom
1986 Comrades Jailor

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1937 The Ghost Train Jackson TV Short
1938 On the Spot Patrolman Ryan TV movie
Juno and the Paycock Sewing Machine Man TV movie
The Knight of the Burning Pestle George Greengoose TV movie
1952 Wednesday Theatre Philibent 1 episode
1953 BBC Sunday-Night Theatre Scotsman 1 episode
Wednesday Theatre Mr. Poprad 1 episode
1954 Rheingold Theatre Kelly 1 episode
1956 Adventure Theatre Music Critic
1962 The Dark Island Mr Stewart 3 episodes
The Master of Ballantrae Captain Teach 2 episodes
1963 Kidnapped 1st Crofter
1964 Witch Wood Rev. Proudfoot TV movie
1965 The Saint Fergus MacLish 1 episode
Undermind Professor Emmett 1 episode
1966–1967 This Man Craig Willie Sinclair 52 episodes
1968 The Flight of the Heron Keppoch 2 episodes
Mystery and Imagination Lapraik 1 episode
1971 The View from Daniel Pike Capt. McPhee 1 episode
1973 The View from Daniel Pike Shakespeare 1 episode
Adam Smith Jimmy Black 1 episode
Sutherland's Law James Keenan 1 episode
1974 Sutherland's Law MacGillivray 1 episode
1975 The Hill of the Red Fox Deckhand 1 episode
1976 Shadows Mr. Campbell 1 episode
1978 Play for Today Tam 1 episode
All Creatures Great and Small Ewan Ross 1 episode
1979 Dick Turpin Dr. Hector Andrews 1 episode
Play for Today Father 1 episode
1980 Sounding Brass Mr Mackenzie 5 episodes
Mackenzie Bill Campbell 2 episodes
1982 Cloud Howe Old Leslie 4 episodes
The Gentle Touch Old Man 1 episode
1983 Flying into the Wind The Tramp TV movie
Reilly: Ace of Spies MacDougal 1 episode
1984 The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady Macbeth Bain 1 episode
Sakharov Siberia Trainman TV movie
1988 The Play on One Wilf Episode: "Normal Service"
Taggart Tramp 1 episode
1989 Screen Two Man in Office Season 5: Leaving
1988–1990 High Road Bert 3 episodes, (final appearance)

References

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  1. ^ "Archived item". Archived from the original on 1 August 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  2. ^ a b "McCrindle, the founder of Scots Equity, dies". The Herald. Glasgow. 24 April 1990. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  3. ^ John Green: Britain's Communists. The Untold Story. Artery Publications, London 2016 (2. Auflage), ISBN 978-0-9558228-7-2, p. 109.
  4. ^ Lessing, Doris (1997). Walking in the Shade: 1949–1962. London: HarperCollins. p. 108. ISBN 0002558610.
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