Actor. He was best known for playing the character roles of fathers, skippers, court clerks, tramps, curators, professors, miners, judges, distinguished gentlemen, proprietors, reverends, landlords, and coachmen, usually in adventure films, comedy films, and several television series. He will be best remembered for playing the role of 'Sam Howie' in the family romance film drama, "The Little Kidnappers" (1953). The film which was directed by Philip Leacock, which was written for the screen by Neil Paterson, and which also starred Jon Whitely, Vincent Winter, and Adrienne Corri, tells the story of a Scotsman, named Jim MacKenzie, living on a primitive homestead in Nova Scotia, is raising his two grandsons, Harry and Davy, following the death of their father in the Boer War. His son's death has developed antagonism by Jim MacKenzie toward all Dutchmen, which leads to Harry brawling at school with the son of a Dutchman. Harry falls down a cliff and is helped home by the community doctor, Willem Bloem, a Dutchman in love with Jim MacKenzie's daughter, Kirsty. Due to the old man's feelings, they must carry on a clandestine romance. Forbidden by their grandfather to have a dog, Harry and Davy "kidnap" an unattended baby and care for the child in a lean-to shack. When found, the baby proves to be the child of Jim MacKenzie's most-bitter Dutch enemy. He will also be best remembered for playing the role of 'Dr. Alexander Snoddie' in 54 episodes of the television series drama, "Dr. Finlay's Casebook," which originally aired from 1962 to 1970, and which also starred Bill Simpson, Andrew Cruickshank, Barbara Mullen, Eric Woodburn, and Effie Morrison, tells the story of Dr. Finlay who is a member of a medical practice in the Scottish town of Tannochbrae during the late 1920s. He was born one of eight children as Eric Melville Reis in Glasgow, Scotland, to Charles Lionel Reis (1849-1927), and his wife Elizabeth Woodburn Reis (1853-1915), on March 9, 1894, (another source says 1893). He was educated locally and served his country with the rank of Sapper, Highland Light Infantry, Labour Corps, Royal Engineers, during World War I, and later pursued an acting career. He made his actual film debut playing in the short musical film, "Full Steam" (1936). The film which was directed by R.A. Hopwood, also starred Gus Chevalier, Ken Douglas, and Maggie Eaton. Besides, playing the role of 'Sam Howie' in the family romance film drama, "The Little Kidnappers" (1953). The film which was directed by Philip Leacock, which was written for the screen by Neil Paterson, and which also starred Jon Whitely, Vincent Winter, and Adrienne Corri, tells the story of a Scotsman, named Jim MacKenzie, living on a primitive homestead in Nova Scotia, is raising his two grandsons, Harry and Davy, following the death of their father in the Boer War. His son's death has developed antagonism by Jim MacKenzie toward all Dutchmen, which leads to Harry brawling at school with the son of a Dutchman. Harry falls down a cliff and is helped home by the community doctor, Willem Bloem, a Dutchman in love with Jim MacKenzie's daughter, Kirsty. Due to the old man's feelings, they must carry on a clandestine romance. Forbidden by their grandfather to have a dog, Harry and Davy "kidnap" an unattended baby and care for the child in a lean-to shack. When found, the baby proves to be the child of Jim MacKenzie's most-bitter Dutch enemy and playing in the short musical film, "Full Steam" (1936). The film which was directed by R.A. Hopwood, also starred Gus Chevalier, Ken Douglas, and Maggie Eaton, his many other film credits include, "Bottle Party" (1936), "Piccadilly Playtime" (1937), 'You're Only Young Twice" (1952), "The Brave Don't Cry" (1952), 'Scotch On The Rocks" (1953), "High And Dry" (1954), "Wee Geordie" (1955), "Spindrift" (1959), "The Bridal Path" (1959), "The Pleasure Lovers" (1959), "The Battle Of The Sexes" (1960), "Tunes Of Glory" (1960), "The Innocents" (1961), "Two And Two Make Six" (1962), "Trial And Error" (1962), "The Amorous Mr. Prawn" (1962), "I Could Go On Singing" (1963), "Two Left Feet" (1965), "Miss MacTaggart Won't Lie Down" (1966), and "Ambush At Devil's Gap" (1966). Besides, playing the role of 'Dr. Alexander Snoddie' in 54 episodes of the television series drama, "Dr. Finlay's Casebook," which originally aired from 1962 to 1970, and which also starred Bill Simpson, Andrew Cruickshank, Barbara Mullen, Eric Woodburn, and Effie Morrison, tells the story of Dr. Finlay who is a member of a medical practice in the Scottish town of Tannochbrae during the late 1920s, his many other television credits include, "The Crimson Ramblers," "ITV Television Playhouse," McFarlane's Way," "Crime Sheet," "International Detective," "Armchair Mystery Theatre," "On Trial," "ITV Play Of The Week," "No Wreath For The General," "Cabaret Cartoons," "Turns" "BBC Sunday-Night Play," "Drama 61-67," "Dixon Of Dock Green," "Taxi!" "The Plane Makers," "Jury Room," "Jennings," "Dad's Army," "Nana," and "The Way We Live Now." His last film role was playing a 'Doctor' in the adventure film drama, "Kidnapped" (1971). The film which was directed by Delbert Mann, which was written for the screen by Jack Pulman, which was based on the story by Robert Louis Stevenson, and which also starred Michael Caine, Trevor Howard, Lawrence Douglas, Gordon Jackson, Donald Pleasence, Jack Hawkins, and Vivien Heilbron, tells the story of in eighteenth century Scotland, during the Jacobite Rebellion, a man named David Balfour claims his inheritance from his uncle who has him shanghaied on a ship where David Balfour meets fugitive Jacobite rebel, Alan Breck. He retired from acting shortly thereafter. Besides acting in films and on television, he was also a talented baritone singer, and he had a long and distinguished career on the stage including appearing in the role of 'Detective Inspector Dill' in the stage production of the play, "The Kill" (1958), at the Grand Theatre in Croydon, London, England, which also starred John Colin, John Boxer, A.J. Brown, Anne Ford, John Bryans, and Joan Peart, and he also appeared at the famed Windmill Theatre in London, England, in stage revues for sixteen years where he was highly acclaimed. He passed away in Camden, London, England, on October 25, 1981, and he was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium in Golders Green, London, England. He was married to Jean St. Clair Balls Woodburn (1881-1963), in Paddington, London, England, on March 21, 1922, and they were together until her death in Barnstaple, Devon, England, on March 31, 1963, on her 82nd birthday, The couple had one child together.
Actor. He was best known for playing the character roles of fathers, skippers, court clerks, tramps, curators, professors, miners, judges, distinguished gentlemen, proprietors, reverends, landlords, and coachmen, usually in adventure films, comedy films, and several television series. He will be best remembered for playing the role of 'Sam Howie' in the family romance film drama, "The Little Kidnappers" (1953). The film which was directed by Philip Leacock, which was written for the screen by Neil Paterson, and which also starred Jon Whitely, Vincent Winter, and Adrienne Corri, tells the story of a Scotsman, named Jim MacKenzie, living on a primitive homestead in Nova Scotia, is raising his two grandsons, Harry and Davy, following the death of their father in the Boer War. His son's death has developed antagonism by Jim MacKenzie toward all Dutchmen, which leads to Harry brawling at school with the son of a Dutchman. Harry falls down a cliff and is helped home by the community doctor, Willem Bloem, a Dutchman in love with Jim MacKenzie's daughter, Kirsty. Due to the old man's feelings, they must carry on a clandestine romance. Forbidden by their grandfather to have a dog, Harry and Davy "kidnap" an unattended baby and care for the child in a lean-to shack. When found, the baby proves to be the child of Jim MacKenzie's most-bitter Dutch enemy. He will also be best remembered for playing the role of 'Dr. Alexander Snoddie' in 54 episodes of the television series drama, "Dr. Finlay's Casebook," which originally aired from 1962 to 1970, and which also starred Bill Simpson, Andrew Cruickshank, Barbara Mullen, Eric Woodburn, and Effie Morrison, tells the story of Dr. Finlay who is a member of a medical practice in the Scottish town of Tannochbrae during the late 1920s. He was born one of eight children as Eric Melville Reis in Glasgow, Scotland, to Charles Lionel Reis (1849-1927), and his wife Elizabeth Woodburn Reis (1853-1915), on March 9, 1894, (another source says 1893). He was educated locally and served his country with the rank of Sapper, Highland Light Infantry, Labour Corps, Royal Engineers, during World War I, and later pursued an acting career. He made his actual film debut playing in the short musical film, "Full Steam" (1936). The film which was directed by R.A. Hopwood, also starred Gus Chevalier, Ken Douglas, and Maggie Eaton. Besides, playing the role of 'Sam Howie' in the family romance film drama, "The Little Kidnappers" (1953). The film which was directed by Philip Leacock, which was written for the screen by Neil Paterson, and which also starred Jon Whitely, Vincent Winter, and Adrienne Corri, tells the story of a Scotsman, named Jim MacKenzie, living on a primitive homestead in Nova Scotia, is raising his two grandsons, Harry and Davy, following the death of their father in the Boer War. His son's death has developed antagonism by Jim MacKenzie toward all Dutchmen, which leads to Harry brawling at school with the son of a Dutchman. Harry falls down a cliff and is helped home by the community doctor, Willem Bloem, a Dutchman in love with Jim MacKenzie's daughter, Kirsty. Due to the old man's feelings, they must carry on a clandestine romance. Forbidden by their grandfather to have a dog, Harry and Davy "kidnap" an unattended baby and care for the child in a lean-to shack. When found, the baby proves to be the child of Jim MacKenzie's most-bitter Dutch enemy and playing in the short musical film, "Full Steam" (1936). The film which was directed by R.A. Hopwood, also starred Gus Chevalier, Ken Douglas, and Maggie Eaton, his many other film credits include, "Bottle Party" (1936), "Piccadilly Playtime" (1937), 'You're Only Young Twice" (1952), "The Brave Don't Cry" (1952), 'Scotch On The Rocks" (1953), "High And Dry" (1954), "Wee Geordie" (1955), "Spindrift" (1959), "The Bridal Path" (1959), "The Pleasure Lovers" (1959), "The Battle Of The Sexes" (1960), "Tunes Of Glory" (1960), "The Innocents" (1961), "Two And Two Make Six" (1962), "Trial And Error" (1962), "The Amorous Mr. Prawn" (1962), "I Could Go On Singing" (1963), "Two Left Feet" (1965), "Miss MacTaggart Won't Lie Down" (1966), and "Ambush At Devil's Gap" (1966). Besides, playing the role of 'Dr. Alexander Snoddie' in 54 episodes of the television series drama, "Dr. Finlay's Casebook," which originally aired from 1962 to 1970, and which also starred Bill Simpson, Andrew Cruickshank, Barbara Mullen, Eric Woodburn, and Effie Morrison, tells the story of Dr. Finlay who is a member of a medical practice in the Scottish town of Tannochbrae during the late 1920s, his many other television credits include, "The Crimson Ramblers," "ITV Television Playhouse," McFarlane's Way," "Crime Sheet," "International Detective," "Armchair Mystery Theatre," "On Trial," "ITV Play Of The Week," "No Wreath For The General," "Cabaret Cartoons," "Turns" "BBC Sunday-Night Play," "Drama 61-67," "Dixon Of Dock Green," "Taxi!" "The Plane Makers," "Jury Room," "Jennings," "Dad's Army," "Nana," and "The Way We Live Now." His last film role was playing a 'Doctor' in the adventure film drama, "Kidnapped" (1971). The film which was directed by Delbert Mann, which was written for the screen by Jack Pulman, which was based on the story by Robert Louis Stevenson, and which also starred Michael Caine, Trevor Howard, Lawrence Douglas, Gordon Jackson, Donald Pleasence, Jack Hawkins, and Vivien Heilbron, tells the story of in eighteenth century Scotland, during the Jacobite Rebellion, a man named David Balfour claims his inheritance from his uncle who has him shanghaied on a ship where David Balfour meets fugitive Jacobite rebel, Alan Breck. He retired from acting shortly thereafter. Besides acting in films and on television, he was also a talented baritone singer, and he had a long and distinguished career on the stage including appearing in the role of 'Detective Inspector Dill' in the stage production of the play, "The Kill" (1958), at the Grand Theatre in Croydon, London, England, which also starred John Colin, John Boxer, A.J. Brown, Anne Ford, John Bryans, and Joan Peart, and he also appeared at the famed Windmill Theatre in London, England, in stage revues for sixteen years where he was highly acclaimed. He passed away in Camden, London, England, on October 25, 1981, and he was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium in Golders Green, London, England. He was married to Jean St. Clair Balls Woodburn (1881-1963), in Paddington, London, England, on March 21, 1922, and they were together until her death in Barnstaple, Devon, England, on March 31, 1963, on her 82nd birthday, The couple had one child together.
Bio by: The Silent Forgotten
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