Frederick Treves (actor)

Frederick William Treves BEM (29 March 1925 – 30 January 2012) was an English character actor with an extensive repertoire, specialising in avuncular, military and titled types.

Frederick Treves

Treves in 2005
Born
Frederick William Treves

(1925-03-29)29 March 1925
Died30 January 2012(2012-01-30) (aged 86)
Spouse(s)Margaret Jean (née Stott)

Early life

Treves attended the Nautical College, Pangbourne and in World War II he served in the Merchant Navy. On his first voyage his ship, the refrigerated cargo liner Waimarama, was part of the Operation Pedestal convoy to Malta. On 13 August 1942 Waimarama was bombed by a German Junkers Ju 88 aircraft. The ship's deck cargo included containers of aviation spirit that burst into flame. Waimarama exploded and 83 of her 107 crew were killed.

Cadet Treves helped save several of his shipmates, including the only ship's officer to survive the sinking, Third Wireless Officer John Jackson. Treves, then 17 years old, received the British Empire Medal[1] and Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea for his actions.

After the war he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.[2]

Career

His over a hundred television credits included roles in A For Andromeda, The Cazalets, The Jewel in the Crown, A Dance to the Music of Time, The Politician's Wife, To Play the King, Lipstick on Your Collar, Summer's Lease, Bomber Harris, Trevor Griffiths' version of The Cherry Orchard, David Edgar's Destiny, The Naked Civil Servant and The Railway Children.[3]

Treves also guested in many continuing dramas, such as All Creatures Great and Small, Rosemary & Thyme, Monarch of the Glen, The Bill, The New Adventures of Black Beauty, Silent Witness, Kavanagh QC, Jeeves and Wooster, Inspector Morse, Agatha Christie's Poirot, Lovejoy, Rumpole of the Bailey , Yes, Prime Minister, Bergerac, Midsomer Murders, Heartbeat, Follyfoot, Miss Marple, Minder, Z-Cars, The Avengers, Doomwatch and in the Doctor Who story Meglos.[3]

His films included Freelance (1971), One Hour to Zero (1976), Sweeney 2 (1978), Charlie Muffin (1979), The Elephant Man (1980), Nighthawks (1981), Defence of the Realm (1985), Paper Mask (1990), The Fool (1990), Afraid of the Dark (1991), Mad Dogs and Englishmen (1995) and Sunshine (1999).[3]

As well as screen appearances, he also had a wide stage and radio career, and appeared with the National Theatre[2] from the late-1970s in David Hare's Plenty, Bernard Shaw's The Philanderer, Arnold Wesker's Caritas, Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh, and two Shakespeares - Leonato in Much Ado About Nothing (1981)[4] and Menenius in Coriolanus (1984).[5]

Personal life

Treves was from a medical family; his father was a physician and his great uncle was Frederick Treves, the surgeon who became famous for discovering Joseph Merrick, the "Elephant Man". In the David Lynch film The Elephant Man, the surgeon is played by Anthony Hopkins and Treves himself appeared in the character of Alderman.[2]

He married Jean Stott in 1956. He was survived by two sons and a daughter. His elder son is the actor Simon Treves.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1953Wheel of Fate
1956Jumping for JoyAttendantUncredited
1956The Long ArmDetective Tailing CreaseyUncredited
1956High TerracePolice Constable West
1957The Mark of the Hawk2nd Officer
1960Carry on ConstableRadio AnnouncerVoice, Uncredited
1971FreelanceCar Driver
1976One Hour to ZeroSupeintendent Parry
1976Devices and DesiresReverend Granville Moulton
1978Sweeney 2McKyle
1978On a Paving Stone Mounted
1979Charlie MuffinWilcox
1980The Elephant ManAlderman
1981NighthawksChief Police Inspector - London
1983A Flame to the Phoenix
1986Defence of the RealmArnold Reece
1986The Natural World - The Man Eaters of KumaonJim Corbett
1990Paper MaskDr. Mumford
1990The FoolSamuel Simpson
1991Afraid of the DarkEye Surgeon
1993Closing NumbersAnna's Father
1995Mad Dogs and EnglishmenSir Harry Dyer
1999SunshineEmperor

References

  1. "No. 35905". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 February 1943. p. 824. "Frederick William Treves, Cadet. The ship was hit by bombs while in a convoy and burst into flames fore and aft. The fierceness of the fire forced an Officer who could not swim to jump overboard. Cadet Treves, who was on his first voyage, swam to where the Officer was struggling in the oily water, ordered him to keep still, and, taking him by the head, got him away from the ship. Treves then found a piece of wood, to which the man was able to cling for support until rescued. But for the coolness and skill of the Cadet the Officer would have drowned."
  2. Treves on the Internet Movie Database
  3. Filmography on the Internet Movie Database
  4. Treves on the AHDS Performing Arts website
  5. Treves in Coriolanus on the Ian McKellen website
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