Simon Lack

Simon Lack (19 December 1913  8 August 1980) was a Scottish actor, working mostly in England.[1]

Simon Lack
in The Avengers: False Witness (1968)
Born
Alexander MacAlpine

(1913-12-19)19 December 1913
Died8 August 1980(1980-08-08) (aged 66)
OccupationActor

He was born Alexander MacAlpine, in Cleland, Lanarkshire, Scotland.[2] Known locally as Alec, he was the youngest child and only son of his father, Alexander McAlpine (known as Sandy) and his mother, Euphemia Ritchie. His sisters were Charlotte (Lottie), Mary, Euphemia (Euphie), Agnes (Nan), and Jenny. Another sister, Jessie, died in childhood. Sandy McAlpine was a stonemason but worked down the mines when there was no masonry work available, making Simon Lack's later role in Proud Valley particularly poignant to those who knew him from his youth. Euphemia Ritchie's family were somewhat wealthier, but she was disowned on account of her choice of husband, and the family lived for many years in a one-room flat (known in Scottish working class language as a 'single end'), although it seems eventually one of her uncles relented and came to their aid.[3] Alec's earliest ventures into acting were in local theatres.[4]

He seems to have chosen the pseudonym Simon Lack when he embarked upon the London stage.

He lost five years during the Second World War (as did so many British actors). He served in the European theatre and was present at Monte Cassino.

After the war he returned to acting, getting back into stage work.[5]

He was also a member of the BBC Radio company during the late 1950s/early 1960s, and notably guest-starred in all but two of the Paul Temple serials (mysteries) that starred Peter Coke and Marjorie Westbury.[6]

His television roles included two Doctor Who serials; The Mind of Evil (1971) and The Androids of Tara (1978). He also guest-starred in episodes of The Saint, Jason King, and Doomwatch. He had co-starring roles in Telford's Change, Enemy at the Door and The Borgias.[7]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1938They Drive by NightRoy Allen - brother of man to be executed
1939Goodbye, Mr. ChipsWainwrightUncredited
1939Sons of the SeaPhilip Hyde
1940The Proud ValleyEmlyn Parry
1940Just WilliamRobert Brown
1947The Silver DarlingsDon
1948Bonnie Prince CharlieYoung Alan of Moidart
1956Port of EscapeReporterUncredited
1960Clue of the Twisted CandleJock
1960Cone of SilenceNavigator #1
1961On the FiddleFl / Lt Baldwin
1961The Court Martial of Major KellerWilson
1962The Durant AffairRoland Farley
1962The Longest DayAir Chief Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh-MalloryUncredited
1963Dr. Syn, Alias the ScarecrowDragoon Corporal
1969Battle of BritainRAF OfficerUncredited
1969Night After Night After NightEndell's Q.C.
1969The BushbabyFirst Officer
1970TrogColonel Vickers
1971All at SeaMr Parker
1980Love in a Cold ClimateDoctor

References

  1. "Simon Lack". BFI. Archived from the original on 9 December 2007.
  2. "National Portrait Gallery - Portrait - NPG x76211; Simon Lack (Alexander MacAlpine)". npg.org.uk.
  3. McMurtrie, M (Great niece, from personal knowledge of 'Uncle Alec' and immediate family information)
  4. "The Simon Lack Affair - Biography". volcanoseven.com.
  5. Caroline Miniscule. "The Face and the Voice: Simon Lack - an Obit". thefaceadthevoice.blogspot.co.uk.
  6. "Paul Temple And The Spencer Affair". radiolistings.co.uk.
  7. "Simon Lack". TV.com. CBS Interactive.



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