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Robert Coote

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
68

Gender
Male

Birthday
February 4, 1909 (117 years old)

Place of Birth
London, England, UK

Robert Coote

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Robert Coote (4 February 1909 – 26 November 1982) was an English actor. He played aristocrats or British military types in many films, and created the role of Colonel Hugh Pickering in the long-running original Broadway production of My Fair Lady.

Coote was born in London and educated at Hurstpierpoint College in Sussex. He began his stage career at the age of 16, performing in Britain, South Africa, and Australia before arriving in Hollywood in the late 1930s. He played a succession of pompous British types in supporting roles, including a brief but memorable turn as Sgt. Bertie Higginbotham in Gunga Din (1939). His acting career was interrupted by his service as a squadron leader in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. He played Bob Trubshawe in Powell and Pressburger's A Matter of Life and Death (1946), chosen for the first-ever Royal Film Performance on 1 November 1946, before he returned to Hollywood, where his films included The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947), Forever Amber (1947), The Three Musketeers (1948), and Orson Welles' Othello (1952).

In 1956, Coote created the role of Colonel Pickering in the original Broadway production of My Fair Lady (1956–62), which he reprised in the musical's 1976–77 Broadway revival. He also originated the role of King Pellinore in the Broadway production of Camelot (1960–63). He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his performance as Timmy St. Clair in the NBC TV series The Rogues (1964–65). In 1966, Coote appeared with Jackie Gleason and Art Carney in an episode of The Honeymooners entitled "The Honeymooners in England", broadcast on CBS-TV from Miami.

In his last feature film performance, Coote portrayed one of the critics dispatched by Vincent Price in Theatre of Blood (1973).

His final role was on television, playing orchid nurse Theodore Horstmann in the 1981 NBC-TV series Nero Wolfe, starring William Conrad in the title role. In most film and TV adaptations of Nero Wolfe mysteries, before and since, Horstmann has been a very minor character, but Coote's Horstmann got considerable screen time in the series.

The veteran British character actor died in his sleep at the New York Athletic Club in November 1982, at the age of 73.

Coote was a close friend of actor David Niven, sharing a house with Niven for a time in the late 1930s and living in a flat over Niven's garage for several years after the Second World War.

Known For

Acting

1981Nero Wolfeas Theodore Horstmann
1979Filming Othelloas
1979$weepstake$as Butler
1979Institute for Revengeas Wellington
1973Theatre of Bloodas Oliver Larding
1972Up the Frontas General Burke
1969Charley's Auntas Col. Sir Francis Chesney
1968Prudence and the Pillas Henry Hardcastle
1968Kenneras
1967The Cool Onesas Stanley Krum
1967The Whitehall Worrieras
1966The Swingeras Sir Hubert Charles
1966Alice Through the Looking Glassas The Red King
1966A Man Could Get Killedas Hatton / Jones
1965BBC Play of the Monthas Col. Sir Francis Chesney
1965BBC Play of the Monthas Mr. Eager
1964The Roguesas Timmy St. Clair
1964The Golden Headas
1963The V.I.P.sas John Coburn
1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonas Self
1960The League of Gentlemenas Bunny Warren
1960Lord Arthur Savile's Crimeas Baines
1959Rawhideas
1958The Horse's Mouthas Sir William Beeder
1958Westinghouse Desilu Playhouseas Terry
1958Merry Andrewas Dudley Larabee
1956The Swanas Capt. Wunderlich
1955The Constant Husbandas The Best Man
1952The Prisoner of Zendaas Fritz von Tarlenheim
1952The Merry Widowas Marquis De Crillon
1952Scaramoucheas Gaston Binet
1951Othelloas Roderigo
1951The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommelas British Medical Officer
1951Soldiers Threeas Maj. Mercer
1950The Elusive Pimpernelas Sir Andrew ffoulkes
1950Lux Video Theatreas Joe Worton
1950Lux Video Theatreas Lawton
1950Lux Video Theatreas Stephen
1950Robert Montgomery Presentsas
1950Robert Montgomery Presentsas Sir Archibald Bruern
1949The Red Danubeas Brigadier C.M.V. Catlock
1948Studio Oneas Dr. Gordon
1948The Three Musketeersas Aramis
1948Berlin Expressas James Sterling
1947The Exileas Dick Pinner
1947Forever Amberas Sir Thomas Dudley
1947Luredas Detective Wilson
1947The Ghost and Mrs. Muiras Mr. Coombe
1946A Matter of Life and Deathas Bob Trubshawe
1946Cloak and Daggeras Cronin
1943Forever and a Dayas Blind Officer
1942Commandos Strike at Dawnas Robert Bowen
1940You Can't Fool Your Wifeas Battincourt
1940Vigil in the Nightas Dr. Caley
1939Nurse Edith Cavellas Bungey
1939Bad Landsas Eaton
1939The House of Fearas Robert Morton
1939Gunga Dinas Bertie Higginbotham
1939Mr. Moto's Last Warningas Rollo Venables
1938The Girl Downstairsas Karl
1938Blond Cheatas Gilbert Potts
1938A Yank at Oxfordas Wavertree
1937The Sheik Steps Outas Lord Eustace Byington
1937The Thirteenth Chairas Stanby
1936Rangle Riveras Reggie Mannister, Flight-Lieutenant
1933Loyaltiesas Robert
1931Sally in Our Alleyas Waiter At Party
Best Of Enemiesas

Production