Eric Portman (1903 - 1969)

Eric Portman occupied a curious position in British film: not quite a star, not quite a character player. His screen persona was of a grouchy, spiky, complex personality - and his real-life personality seems to have parallels with that.

Eric Harrison Portman was born in Halifax, Yorkshire. His father was a wool merchant and Eric joined the family firm after leaving school, though he was heavily involved in amateur dramatics. He became a professional actor in 1923 and toured for a year or so before making his London debut. In 1927 he joined the Old Vic.

After leaving the Old Vic he appeared in commercial hits and "fringe" productions, and inevitably dabbled in quota films. His first was the Tod Slaughter shocker Maria Marten, or The Murder in The Red Barn - maybe an unexpected start for such a distinguished actor. He went to Broadway in 1937, and while in America, tried his luck in Hollywood. It was an experience he hated, and he soon returned to Britain.

His big break in cinema came in Powell and Pressburger's 49th Parallel in which he played the leader of a group of Germans trying to cross Canada. This set him up for the rest of the war, playing anti-heroes. As the war wore on, these anti-heroes turned into villains from the glue-pouring nutter in A Canterbury Tale to murderers in several films.

His stage work was even more impressive. He originated the lead roles in Rattigan's The Browning Version and Separate Tables, and Dorothy and Campbell Christie's His Excellency; though he only appeared in the film version of the latter. Separate Tables took him again to Broadway, where he stayed off-and-on for nearly a decade.

He developed a heart condition which hampered his career and finally killed him in 1969. 

Filmography

 Eric Portman at Amazon UK

 Eric Portman at Amazon US