David Mervyn Johns

David Mervyn Johns, known as Mervyn Johns, was born in 1899, the son of William Johns and Margaret Anne Samuel. He was educated at Llandovery College and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London.
He appeared in several stage productions of such plays as, 'Mr. Trant' in "Dead Man's Pool" (June 10, 1924, to July 19, 1924, as 'Mr. Mingan' in "Saond And Fathers" (January 24, 1926-), "The Ghost Train" (1931-1932), "When Knights Were Bold" (1931-1932), "A Cup Of Kindness" (1931-1932), as 'Mr. Blanquet' in "Bird In Hand" (October 16, 1932, to October 21, 1932), "The Rivals" (1932-1933), "Saint Joan" (1932-1933), as 'Magistrate's Clerk" (October 5, 1934, to April 11, 1935), "Comedienne" (1938), as 'Ernest Beevers' in "Time And The Conways" (August 26, 1937, to March 12, 1938), as 'Sir Patrick Cullen' in "The Doctor's Dilemma" (February 17, 1939, to June 17, 1939), as 'Wickers' in "Saloon Bar" (August 28, 1939, to March 30, 1940), as 'Hallelujah Harry' in "Once A Crook" (June 3, 1940, to July 12, 1941), "The Duke In Darkness" (1942-1943), as 'Captain Shotover' in "Heartbreak House" (March 19, 1943, to October 9, 1943), "Tobacco Road" (1949), as 'Michael Norbury' in "Love's A Funny Thing" (March 10, 1949, to March 12, 1949), as 'George' in "Deadlock" (May 1, 1950, to June 17, 1950), as 'Harold Martin in "The Martins' Nest" (April 12, 1951, to May 12, 1951), as 'Fulbert, uncle and guardian of Heloise' in (November 14, 1951- ), as 'Shurie, a caretaker' in "The Mortimer Touch" (April 30, 1952, to June 7, 1952), as 'Ben Morton' in "The Keep" (November 22, 1961- ), as 'Mr. Withers' in "heirs And Graces" (May 15, 1965), and as 'Bob Cratchit' in "A Christmas Carol" (December 1971-January 1972). During his stage career he worked with the likes of or appeared at the Comedy Theatre in London, England, (now Harold Pinter Theatre, in London, England), the Little Theatre in Bristol, England, the Apollo Theatre (Shaftesbury Avenue), in London, England, the Westminster Theatre, in London, England, and Whitehall Theatre, London (now Trafalgar Theatre, in London, England), the Prince of Wales Theatre, in Birmingham, England, the Duchess Theatre, in London, England, the Wyndham's Theatre, in London, England, the Aldwych Theatre, in London, England, the New Theatre (now Noël Coward Theatre), in London, England, the Cambridge Theatre, in London, England, the Ambassadors Theatre, in London, England, the Prince of Wales Theatre, in Cardiff, Wales, the Grand Theatre, in Leeds, England, the Duke of York's Theatre, in London, England, the Theatre Royal, in Brighton, England, the Theatre Royal, in Bath, England, and the Wimbledon Theatre in London, England. During this time, he also made the transition to appearing in films. He made his actual film debut playing the role of 'Reporter' in the film "Lady In Danger" (1934). The comedy-thriller film which was directed by Tom Walls (who also stars), and which also stars Yvonne Arnaud and Leon M. Lion, tells the story of Richard Dexter, an Englishman who's assigned the task of transporting a Queen (Yvonne Arnaud) of a revolution-torn country to England incognito. Hiding her in his London apartment, then his country house gives rise to many misunderstandings among his employees, friends, and his Fianceé. Besides, "Scrooge" (1935), and "Lady In Danger" (1947), his many other film credits includes "Mister Hobo" (1935), "Foreign Affaires" (1935), "Pot Luck" (1936), "In The Soup" (1936), "Everything Is Thunder" (1936), "Dishonour Bright" (1936), "Song Of The Forge" (1937), "Storm In A Teacup" (1937), "Night Ride" (1937), "The Last Curtain" (1937), "Pride And Prejudice" (1938), "Almost A Gentleman" (1938), "Jamaica Inn" (1939), "The Midas Touch" (1940), "Convoy" (1940), "The Girl In The News" (1940), "Saloon Bar" (1940), "The Next Of Kin" (1942), "Somewhere In France" (1942), "Went The Day Well?" (1942), "The Bells Go Down" (1943), "My Learned Friend" (1943), "San Demetrio London" (1943), "The Halfway House" (1944), "Twilight Hour" (1945), "Dead Of Night" (1945, he played the leading role in the film), "Pink String And Sealing Wax" (1945), "They Knew Mr. Knight" (1946), "The Captive Heart" (1946), "Captain Boycott" (1947), "Easy Money" (1948), "Counterblast" (1948), "Quartet" (1948), "Edward, My Son" (1949), "Helter Skelter" (1949), "Diamond City" (1949), "Tony Draws A Horse" (1950), "The Magic Box" (1951), "The Frightened Bride" (1952), "The Horse's Mouth" (1953), "Valley Of The Song" (1953), "The Master of Ballatrae" (1953), "The Martin's Nest" (1954), "Romeo And Juliet" (1954), "The Hole In The Wall" (1955), "Truant In Park Lane" (1955), "Navy Heroes" (1956), "1984" (1956), "Moby Dick" (1956), "The Shield Of Faith" (1956), "Find The Lady" (1956), "The Counterfeit Plan" (1957), "Doctor At Large" (1957), "Danger List" (1957), "The Circle" (1957), "The Surgeon's Knife" (1957), "The Gypsy And The Gentleman" (1958), "The Devil's Disciple" (1959), "Once More, With Feeling!" (1960), "Never Let Go" (1960), "The Sundowners" (1960), "No Love For Johnnie" (1961), "Call Me Genius" (1961), "Line Of Enquiry" (1961), "Francis Of Assisi" (1961), "Echo Of Barbara" (1961), "The Keep" (1962), "Invasion Of The Triffids" (1963), "55 Days At Peking" (1963), "80,000 Suspects" (1963), "The Old Dark House" (1963), "The Victors" (1963), "They All Died Laughing" (1964), "The Heroes Of Telemark" (1965), "Who Killed The Cat?" (1966), "The National Health" (1973), "Thinking Man As Hero" (1973), and his last film role as 'Father Duggan' in "House Of Mortal Sin" (1976). Besides, "New Ramps For Old" in 1956, "Leave It To Todhunter" in 1958, and "Crown Court" from 1973 to 1975, his many other television credits include, "BBC Sunday-Night Theatre," "A Tale Of Two Cities," "White Hunter," "Armchair Theatre," "Knight Errant Limited," "Boyd Q.C." "Saturday Playhouse," "BBC Sunday-Night Play," "ITV Television Playhouse," "Drama 61-67," "Probation Officer," "Maigret," "The Third Man," "ITV Play Of The Week," "Detective," "No Hiding Place," "Secret Agent," "The Sullavan Brothers," "Knock On Any Door," "The Avengers," "Pardon The Expression," "The Saint," "Conflict," "Kate," "Dixon Of Dock Green," "The Adventurer," "The Strauss Family," "The Adventures Of Black Beauty," "QB VII," "Beryl's Lot," "The New Adventurers," "Kalvert's Diary," and "Shoestring."
He was married twice, first to pianist Alice Maude Steele Wareham Johns (1901-1970), from 1922 until her death in 1970, with whom he had one child, a daughter, the actress Glynis Johns who is still alive today at the age of 99, and who appeared with her father in the films, "The Halfway House (1944), and "The Sundowners" (1960), and to actress Diana Churchill (1919-1994), from December 4, 1976, until his death on September 6, 1992. He passed away in Norwood, England, on September 6, 1992, at the age of 93. Following his death, his funeral service and cremation were held privately and his ashes are currently in an unknown location. He was survived by his wife actress Diana Churchill and his daughter actress Glynis Johns. He was also an uncle of the Judge John Geoffrey Ramon Owen Jones (1928-2014), and grandfather of actor Gareth Forward (1945-2007).

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