Dennis Price

Biography

Sophisticated and suave, British actor Dennis Price ( born Dennistoun Franklyn John Rose Price) (23 June 1915 – 6 October 1973) brought a touch of class to every character he portrayed. Price appeared first on the British stage before landing his first role in film in "A Canterbury Tale" as the protective police officer, Sergeant Peter Gibbs. Next up was a defining role as the calm, cool, and devilish murderer Louis Mazzini in the black comedy "Kind Hearts and Coronets," opposite Alec Guinness. Turning to the truly dark side, Price later took on the role of Major Charles Scott in the psychological thriller "Tunes of Glory," which revolved around dastardly post-World War II happenings in a Scottish Highland regimental barracks. Price later returned to comedy, playing a priggish wealthy American, Mr. Vernon, in "The Amorous Mr. Prawn." Price became known to television audiences playing Jeeves, the quintessential butler, opposite Ian Carmichael in the British series "The World of Wooster" which was adapted from the famous novels and short stories by P. G. Wodehouse. With a string of appearances in "B" horror movies like "Horror Hospital" and "Twins of Evil," Price became somewhat of a cult figure in later years, but he punctuated his career with a 1972 appearance in "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," opposite the top British stars of the day.