Sir Felix Edward Aylmer Jones (21 February 1889 – 2 September 1979) was an English stage actor who also appeared in the cinema and on television. Aylmer made appearances in films with comedians such as Will Hay and George Formby.

Early life Felix Edward Aylmer Jones was born in Corsham, Wiltshire, the second of six children (five sons and a daughter) of Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Edward Aylmer Jones, of the Royal Engineers, and his wife Lilian, née Cookworthy. He was educated at King James's Grammar School, Almondbury, near Huddersfield, where he was a boarder from 1897 to 1900, Magdalen College School, and Exeter College, Oxford, where he was a member of Oxford University Dramatic Society (OUDS). He trained under the Victorian-era actress and director Rosina Filippi before securing his first professional engagement at the London Coliseum in 1911. He appeared in the world premiere of The Farmer's Wife by Eden Phillpotts at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in 1917. Between 1917 and 1919 he served as a junior officer in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (R.N.V.R.).

Career

He acted with Sir Laurence Olivier in Shakespearean films, appearing as Polonius in Hamlet (1948), and often played wise old men, such as Merlin in Knights of the Round Table (1953). He played the Archbishop of Canterbury in the film adaptation of Becket (1964), with Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole and gave elocution lessons to the young Audrey Hepburn.

His memorable style of delivery—dignified and learned— was frequently mimicked by comedians such as Peter Sellers and Kenneth Williams. Indeed, as dramatist and barrister John Mortimer noted, the mannerisms Aylmer brought to bear in his roles came to be imitated in real life by judges on the bench. Williams observed that although his impersonation of Aylmer was a speciality during his days with ENSA, the Armed Forces Entertainment Association, he came to the conclusion that none of the troops knew who was being impersonated.

Aylmer was President of Equity from 1950 to 1969. He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1950 King's Birthday Honours and knighted in the 1965 Queen's Birthday Honours.

He was also the narrator in the original version (and recobbled cut) of Richard Williams' unfinished animated project, The Thief and the Cobbler (1993).

At the age of 80 Felix Aylmer played a villain in an episode of Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) entitled "It's Supposed to be Thicker than Water". His last major screen role was as the Abbot in the sitcom Oh, Brother!, opposite Derek Nimmo (1968–70). He appeared as a doctor in an episode of the TV series Jason King called "If It's Got To Go, It's Got To Go" in 1972, at the age of 83.

Aylmer lived in Painshill House in Cobham, Surrey and died in a nursing home in Pyrford on 2 September 1979, at the age of 90.

Personal life

He married Cecily Minnie Jane Byrne during the First World War, and they had three children.

Publications Dickens Incognito (1959) The Drood Case (1964)

Selected stage credits The Inca of Perusalem (1916) The Farmer's Wife (1917) The Likes of Her (1923) The Terror (1927) Badger's Green (1930) Spider's Web (1954)

Filmography

1930–1940

Year Title Role Notes 1930 Escape Governor The Temporary Widow Public Prosecutor 1932 The World, the Flesh, the Devil Sir Henderson Trent 1933 The Shadow Sir Richard Bryant The Wandering Jew Ferera The Ghost Camera Coroner Home Sweet Home Robert Wilding KC 1934 The Path of Glory President of Thalia The Night Club Queen Prosecution Whispering Tongues Supt. Fulton Doctor's Orders Sir Daniel Summerfield released as The Doctor's Secret in USA My Old Dutch Judge The Iron Duke Lord Uxbridge 1935 The Clairvoyant Prosecutor Uncredited The Divine Spark Butler Hello, Sweetheart Peabody Old Roses Lord Sandelbury The Ace of Spades Lord Yardleigh Checkmate Henry Nicholls The Price of a Song Graham Her Last Affaire Lord Carnforth She Shall Have Music Donald Black 1936 The Improper Duchess Count Seidel Rhodes of Africa Johannesburg Diplomat Uncredited, released as Rhodes in USA Tudor Rose Edward Seymour released as Nine Days a Queen in USA In the Soup Counsel Uncredited Seven Sinners Sir Charles Webber Royal Eagle Windridge As You Like It Duke Frederick Dusty Ermine Police commissioner The Man in the Mirror The Earl of Wigan Sensation Lord Bouverie Jack of All Trades Managing director The Mill on the Floss Mr Wakem 1937 Action for Slander Sir Eustace Cunninghame Dreaming Lips Sir Robert BlakerThe Frog John Bennett Glamorous Night Diplomat The Vicar of Bray Earl of Brendon Victoria the Great Lord Palmerston The Rat Prosecuting Counsel The Live Wire Wilton 1938 South Riding Chairman of Council Bank Holiday Surgeon Just like a Woman Sir Robert Hummel Break the News Sir George Bickory Kate Plus Ten Bishop I've Got a Horse Lovatt Sixty Glorious Years Lord Palmerston released as Queen of Destiny in USA The Citadel Mr Boon 1939 Young Man's Fancy Sir Caleb Crowther 1940 Dr. O'Dowd President Spies of the Air Colonel Cairns The Girl in the News Prosecuting counsel Night Train to Munich Dr John Fredericks Charley's (Big-Hearted) Aunt The Proctor The Briggs Family Mr Sand The Case of the Frightened Lady Dr Amersham released as The Frightened Lady in USA Saloon Bar Mayor

1941–1950

Year Title Role Notes 1941 The Ghost of St. Michael's Dr. Winter Major Barbara James Kipps Architect Uncredited The Saint's Vacation Leighton Spellbound Mr Morton (AKA ' Passing Clouds '). Released as The Spell of Amy Nugent in USA Once a Crook King's counsel Atlantic Ferry bank president I Thank You Henry Potter South American George Mr Appleby Hi Gang! Lord Amersham 1942 The Seventh Survivor Sir Elmer Norton The Black Sheep of Whitehall Crabtree Uncensored Colonel von Hohenstein Sabotage at Sea John Dighton The Young Mr. Pitt Lord North 1943 The Peterville Diamond President Thursday's Child Mr Keith The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp The Bishop Escape to Danger Sir Alfred Horton The Demi-Paradise Mr Runalow 1944 Time Flies The Professor English Without Tears Mr. Spaggot Mr. Emmanuel Mr Emmanuel Henry V Archbishop of Canterbury 1945 The Way to the Stars Reverend Charles Moss The Wicked Lady Hogarth Caesar and Cleopatra First nobleman 1946 The Years Between Sir Enrst Forster The Magic Bow Signor Fazzini The Laughing Lady Sir Felix Mountroyal 1947 The Man Within Priest Green Fingers Daniel Booth The October Man Dr Martin A Man About the House Richard Sanctuary The Ghosts of Berkeley Square Col. H. "Bulldog" Kelsoe 1948 Hamlet Polonius The Calendar Lord Forlingham Quartet Martin (segment "The Colonel's Lady") 1949 Edward, My Son Mr Hanray Alice in Wonderland Dr Liddell / The Cheshire Cat Voice Christopher Columbus Father Perez Prince of Foxes Count Marc Antonio Verano 1950 Your Witness British judge released as Eye Witness in USA So Long at the Fair British consul Trio Bank manager (segment "The Verger") She Shall Have Murder Mr Playfair

1951–1960

Year Title Role Notes 1951 No Highway Sir Philip Uncredited The Lady with a Lamp Lord Palmerston The House in the Square Sir William, the Physician Uncredited, released as I'll Never forget You in USA Quo Vadis Plautius 1952 Ivanhoe Isaac The Man Who Watched the Trains Go By Mr. Merkemans released as The Paris Express in USA 1953 The Master of Ballantrae Lord Durrisdeer Knights of the Round Table Merlin The Triangle Brisetout (segment "A Lodging for the Night") 1954 The Love Lottery Winant The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp Joshua Webman 1956 Loser Takes All The Other Anastasia Chamberlain 1957 Saint Joan Inquisitor 1958 I Accuse! Edgar Demange The Two-Headed Spy Cornaz The Doctor's Dilemma Sir Patrick Cullen Separate Tables Mr. Fowler 1959 The Mummy Stephen Banning 1960 Never Take Sweets from a Stranger Clarence Olderberry Sr. From the Terrace James Duncan MacHardie Exodus Dr Liberman The Hands of Orlac Dr Francis Cochrane

1961–1992

Year Title Role Notes 1962 The Road to Hong Kong Grand Lama The Boys Judge 1963 The Running Man Parson 1964 Becket Archbishop of Canterbury The Chalk Garden Judge McWhirrey 1965 Masquerade Henrickson 1966 Out of the Unknown Mr. Bone Episode: Walk's End 1968The Champions Old Man Episode: The Beginning Decline and Fall... of a Birdwatcher Judge Hostile Witness Justice Osborne 1968–1970 Oh, Brother! Father Anselm 19 episodes 1970 Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) Joshua Crackan Episode: It's Supposed to be Thicker than Water 1972 Jason King Dr Wilstein Episode: If It's Got to Go, It's Got to Go 1973 Oh, Father! Father Anselm Two episodes 1992 The Thief and the Cobbler Narrator Original version and recobbled cut; released posthumously

References

External links

Performances in the theatre archive, University of Bristol