Geoffrey Bayldon

Geoffrey Balydon was a prolific English stage and screen actor who landed dozens of film and TV roles in a highly-productive career spanning sixty-plus years. Born and raised in Leeds, Balydon never intended on becoming an actor. He went to the Hull College of Architecture as a teen, and when World War II broke out, he did his patriotic duty by enlisting in Royal Air Force and serving his country. It was only after World War II ended that Balydon decided to pursue acting. He began his professional acting training at the prestigious Old Vic Theatre School, and by the late 40s was appearing in plays on the London stage. By the early 1950s, however, Balydon began gravitating towards film and television work. By the mid-50s he was landing guest spots on various British television shows, as well as small parts in films like "A Night to Remember" (1958), "Whirlpool" (1959), and "Libel" (1960). The following decade was Balydon's most notable period as a screen actor. In addition to appearing in "King Rat" (1965) and "To Sir With Love" (1967), Balydon also played Q in the spy comedy classic "Casino Royale" (1967). Balydon continued appearing regularly in both films and TV shows throughout the '70s, '80s and '90s, but his productivity began to slow once the new millennium hit. He appeared in his last film role in the 2010 romantic drama "Love/Loss", before retiring from acting for good. On May 10, 2017 Balydon died in his hometown of Leeds. He was 93.