Ian Fleming (born Ian Macfarlane; 10 September 1888 – 1 January 1969) was an Australian character actor with credits in over 100 British films. One of his best known roles was playing Dr Watson in a series of Sherlock Holmes films of the 1930s opposite Arthur Wontner's Holmes.
Fleming also played a number of supporting roles in many classic British films of the era, including Q Planes (1939), Night Train to Munich (1940), We Dive at Dawn, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (both 1943) and Waterloo Road (1945). He also appeared regularly in the films of musical comedian George Formby. He also acted on stage, appearing as Robert Harley in Norman Ginsbury's historical work Viceroy Sarah in the West End.
Fleming's later career included appearances in many television series of the 1950s and 1960s, such as Fabian of the Yard, Hancock's Half Hour, Educated Evans, Dixon of Dock Green, Dr. Finlay's Casebook, The Forsyte Saga and The Prisoner.
Contents
Partial filmography
Film
Second to None (1927) as Brian Douglas
The Ware Case (1928) as Michael Adye
The Devil's Maze (1929) as Derek Riffington
The School for Scandal (1930) as Joseph Surface
The Sleeping Cardinal (1931) as Dr. Watson
The Missing Rembrandt (1932) as Dr. Watson
Lucky Girl (1932) as Lord Henry
Called Back (1933) as Dr Carter
After Dark (1933) as Henry Lea
The Third Clue (1934) as Mark Clayton
School for Stars (1935) as Sir Geoffrey Hilliard
The Triumph of Sherlock Holmes (1935) as Dr. Watson
Sexton Blake and the Mademoiselle (1935) as Henry Norman
The Riverside Murder (1935) as Henry Sanders
The Crouching Beast (1935) as Major Abbott
Prison Breaker (1936) as Stephen Shand
Excuse My Glove (1936) as Boxing Match Commentator
Jump for Glory (1937) as Coroner
Racing Romance (1937) as Martin Royce
Darby and Joan (1937) as Sir Ralph Ferris
Silver Blaze (1937), ( (akaMurder at the Baskervilles) as Dr. Watson
Dial 999 (1938) as Sir Edward Rigg
Quiet Please (1938) as Dr Craven
If I Were Boss (1938) as Mr Biltmore
Double or Quits (1938) as Sir Frederick Beal
The Nursemaid Who Disappeared (1939) as Sir Egbert Lucas
The Good Old Days (1939) (lost) as Lord Wakely
The Lion Has Wings (1939)
Men Without Honour (1939) as Frank Hardy
Q Planes (1939) as Air Minister
Three Silent Men (1940) as Pennington
It Happened to One Man (1940)
Night Train to Munich (1940)
Jeannie (1941)
They Flew Alone (1942) as Secretary
Let the People Sing (1942) as United Plastics Barrister
We Dive at Dawn (1943)
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943)
Waterloo Road (1945)
I Didn't Do It (1945) as Chief Inslector Twyning
They Knew Mr. Knight (1946) as Higgs
George in Civvy Street (1946) as Uncle Shad
Appointment with Crime (1946) as Prisoner Governor
Quartet (1948) as Ralph
A Matter of Murder (1949) as Det Sgt McKelvin
Hammer the Toff (1952) as Doctor Lancaster
Wings of Danger (1952) as Talbot
The Voice of Merrill (1952) as Dr Forrest
Black Orchid (1953) as Coroner
Park Plaza 605 (1953) as Colonel Santling
Eight O'Clock Walk (1954) as Jury Member
The Embezzler (1954) as Doctor (uncredited)
High Flight (1957) as Bishop
Innocent Meeting (1958) as Garside
Your Money or Your Wife (1960) as The Judge
Bluebeard's Ten Honeymoons (1960) as Lawyer
Return of a Stranger (1961) as Meecham
The Lamp in Assassin Mews (1962) as Albert Potts
Richard the Lionheart (1962) as Lord Chancellor
River Rivals (1967)
Television
Fabian of the Yard
Hancock's Half Hour
Dixon of Dock Green
Educated Evans
Dr. Finlay's Casebook
The Forsyte Saga (TV serial, 1967) as Lord Fontenoy
The Prisoner (1967)
Selected stage appearances
The Berg by Ernest Raymond (1929)
Viceroy Sarah by Norman Ginsbury (1935) as Robert Harley in the West End
The Blue Goose by Peter Blackmore (1941)
His Excellency by Campbell Christie (1950)