Roland Culver

Had a sister Evelyn Culver (b. 1897) a stage actress, and a brother Douglas Edward Culver (b. 1899).

Roland Culver was born on August 21, 1900 in Crouch End, Middlesex, England as Roland Joseph Culver.

Originally trained as a pilot with the RAF in 1918 - 1919.

He made his stage debut as Paul in 'Peter and Paul' in 1924 with the Hull Repertory Theatre.

Urbane, gentlemanly British character actor with a penchant for comedy. He was educated at Highgate College and studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating in 1926. He was on stage from 1925, after his debut with the Hull Repertory Company, and was a regular performer on the London West End from the 1930's. During World War I, he served as a pilot in the newly formed Royal Air Force (1918-19) . In the 1940's, he left England for the USA under a two-year contract at Paramount Studios, but is best remembered for his performances in British films like French Without Tears (1940) (a part he also acted on stage), Dead of Night (1945), Trio (1950), as W. Somerset Maugham, and Obsessed (1951).

Appeared in two films .'...Without Tears' - French Without Tears (1940), which he also did on stage and considered it his theatre break through and English Without Tears (1944).

Wrote the play "A River Breeze" which was first performed at The Phoenix Theatre in London's West End in 1956. The cast included Culver himself, Naunton Wayne, Phyllis Calvert and Patrick Cargill.

He was an actor, known for Thunderball (1965), Dead of Night (1945) and The Emperor Waltz (1948). He was married to Nan Hopkins and Daphne Rye.

Was nominated for Broadway's 1966 Tony Award as Best Actor (Dramatic) for "Ivanov."

Made an OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the 1980 Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to drama.

Last on screen role was as Mr. Justice Twyburne in Rumpole of the Bailey: Rumpole and the Sporting Life (1983).