Eynon Evans
Encyclopedia
Eynon Evans also known as E. Eynon Rees (18 May 1904 - 1989) was a Welsh
writer and film actor of the 1950s, mainly known for his radio and television work. During the 1940s he appeared on the BBC radio variety show Welsh Rarebit
as the comedic character Tommy Troubles, reaching an audience of 12 million.
In 1954 his play, The Happiness of Three Women was adapted for a film treatment. Evans himself starred, in the Maurice Elvey
directed film, as Amos the milkman, while the more notable leads included Donald Houston
and Petula Clark
. In 1955, Evans' book Room in the House
, was adapted for the screen by Alfred Shaughnessy
, and again directed by Elvey, though on this occasion Evans did not feature. Evans continued working in film throughout the 1950s, including an uncredited appearance as a ticket collector in Private's Progress
(1956), playing Decon in television children' drama The Buccanners
, one episode of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents
(1956) and another uncredited role in The Battle of the River Plate
(1956).
Along with his acting roles, Evans continued to produce feature-comedies for BBC Wales
TV. Described as 'uncomplicated, if robust' by film historian David Berry, his works included The Prodigal Tenor (1957), The Bachelor Brother (1960) and Jubille Concert (1961).
In 1958 he appeared in British the comedy westernThe Sheriff of Fractured Jaw
, which was followed by a few one-off appearances in TV shows. In 1959 he took small roles in two notable British films, playing Mr Morgan in J. Lee Thompson
's Tiger Bay
and Truscott in John Boulting's I'm All Right Jack
. After appearances in comedy films Friends and Neighbours
(1959) and Two-Way Stretch
(1960), he took a lead role in the 1960 television production of How Green Was My Valley
. Evans played family patriarch Gwilym Morgan, with Welsh actress Rachel Thomas
in the role of his wife.
Evans continued to take small TV roles through the early 1960s, and in 1962 he appeared in Only Two Can Play
and Go to Blazes
. Only Two Can Play was the third time he had appeared in a film starring Peter Sellers
, the others being I'm All Right Jack and Two-Way Stretch. 1964 saw Evans write and appear in a BBC television mini-series Ring out an Alibi. Evans played roles in several popular British television dramas in the late 1960s, including Danger Man
, Dixon of Dock Green
and Softly Softly
.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
writer and film actor of the 1950s, mainly known for his radio and television work. During the 1940s he appeared on the BBC radio variety show Welsh Rarebit
Welsh Rarebit (radio programme)
Welsh Rarebit was a Welsh radio variety show broadcasted from Cardiff by the BBC. First transmitted in 1938 by the Welsh Home Service, it became the main English language entertainment programme from the BBC in Wales during Second World War...
as the comedic character Tommy Troubles, reaching an audience of 12 million.
Career history
Evans was born in Nelson, Caerphilly in Wales in 1904. He became a bus driver, but switched jobs to become a full time script writer. He came to note in the 1940s when he appeared on the wartime variety show Welsh Rarebit, which was broadcast throughout Great Britain and France. His character 'Tommy Troubles', along with his friends Willie, Llew and Jimmy became cult characters endearing themselves to the British public. At its peak the show reached 12 million people. When the radio show switched from radio to television in the early 1950s, Evans transferred with it to the screen, writing further adventures for Tommy Troubles.In 1954 his play, The Happiness of Three Women was adapted for a film treatment. Evans himself starred, in the Maurice Elvey
Maurice Elvey
Maurice Elvey was the most prolific film director in British history. He directed nearly 200 films between 1913 and 1957. During the silent film era he directed as many as twenty films per year....
directed film, as Amos the milkman, while the more notable leads included Donald Houston
Donald Houston
Donald Daniel Houston was a Welsh actor whose first two films – The Blue Lagoon with Jean Simmons, and A Run for Your Money with Sir Alec Guinness – were highly successful...
and Petula Clark
Petula Clark
Petula Clark, CBE is an English singer, actress, and composer whose career has spanned seven decades.Clark's professional career began as an entertainer on BBC Radio during World War II...
. In 1955, Evans' book Room in the House
Room in the House
Room in the House is a 1955 film that was directed by Maurice Elvey. The film's screenplay, by Alfred Shaughnessy, is based on Eynon Evans's novel of the same name.-Cast and characters:...
, was adapted for the screen by Alfred Shaughnessy
Alfred Shaughnessy
Alfred James Shaughnessy , sometimes known as Freddy Shaughnessy, was an English scriptwriter and producer best known for being the script editor of Upstairs, Downstairs.-Early life:...
, and again directed by Elvey, though on this occasion Evans did not feature. Evans continued working in film throughout the 1950s, including an uncredited appearance as a ticket collector in Private's Progress
Private's Progress
Private's Progress is a 1956 British comedy film based on the novel by Alan Hackney. It was directed and produced by John and Roy Boulting, from a script by John Boulting and Frank Harvey.-Plot:...
(1956), playing Decon in television children' drama The Buccanners
The Buccaneers (TV series)
The Buccaneers was a 1956 Sapphire Films television drama series for ITC Entertainment, networked by CBS in the US and shown on ATV and selected ITV companies in the UK....
, one episode of Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents
Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents, is a 1950s syndicated anthology series hosted and occasionally starring Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.. The series offered Buster Keaton in his first dramatic role in the episode entitled "The Awakening". British actor Christopher Lee appeared in varied role in thirteen...
(1956) and another uncredited role in The Battle of the River Plate
The Battle of the River Plate (film)
The Battle of the River Plate is a 1956 British war film by director-writer team of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, starring John Gregson, Anthony Quayle and Peter Finch...
(1956).
Along with his acting roles, Evans continued to produce feature-comedies for BBC Wales
BBC Wales
BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. Based at Broadcasting House in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, it directly employs over 1200 people, and produces a broad range of television, radio and online services in both the Welsh and English languages.Outside...
TV. Described as 'uncomplicated, if robust' by film historian David Berry, his works included The Prodigal Tenor (1957), The Bachelor Brother (1960) and Jubille Concert (1961).
In 1958 he appeared in British the comedy westernThe Sheriff of Fractured Jaw
The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw
The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw is a 1958 British western comedy film directed by Raoul Walsh and starring Kenneth More and Jayne Mansfield.-Synopsis:...
, which was followed by a few one-off appearances in TV shows. In 1959 he took small roles in two notable British films, playing Mr Morgan in J. Lee Thompson
J. Lee Thompson
John Lee Thompson , better known as J. Lee Thompson, was an English film director, active in England and Hollywood.- Early years :...
's Tiger Bay
Tiger Bay (film)
Tiger Bay is a 1959 British crime drama film directed by J. Lee Thompson and produced and co-written by John Hawkesworth. It stars John Mills as a police superintendent who investigates a murder, his daughter Hayley Mills, in her first major film role, as a girl who witnesses the murder, and Horst...
and Truscott in John Boulting's I'm All Right Jack
I'm All Right Jack
I'm All Right Jack is a 1959 British comedy film directed and produced by John and Roy Boulting from a script by Frank Harvey, John Boulting and Alan Hackney, based on the novel Private Life by Hackney...
. After appearances in comedy films Friends and Neighbours
Friends and Neighbours
Friends and Neighbours is a 1959 British comedy film directed by Gordon Parry and starring Arthur Askey, Megs Jenkins and Peter Illing. At the height of the Cold War, a working-class British family have to entertain two visitors from Russia.-Cast:...
(1959) and Two-Way Stretch
Two-Way Stretch
Two-Way Stretch, sometimes titled Nothing Barred, is a 1960 British comedy film, about a group of prisoners who plan to break out of jail, commit a robbery, and then break back into jail again, thus giving them the perfect alibi – that they were behind bars when the robbery occurred...
(1960), he took a lead role in the 1960 television production of How Green Was My Valley
How Green Was My Valley
How Green Was My Valley is a 1939 novel by Richard Llewellyn, telling the story through narration of the main character, of his Welsh family and the mining community in which they live. The author had claimed to have based the book on his own knowledge of the Gilfach Goch area, but this was proven...
. Evans played family patriarch Gwilym Morgan, with Welsh actress Rachel Thomas
Rachel Thomas
Rachel Thomas OBE , was a Welsh character actress, well known to film and television audiences.Born in the village of Alltwen, near Pontardawe, Wales, she appeared in such classic films as The Proud Valley with Paul Robeson, Blue Scar and Tiger Bay...
in the role of his wife.
Evans continued to take small TV roles through the early 1960s, and in 1962 he appeared in Only Two Can Play
Only Two Can Play
Only Two Can Play is a 1962 comedy film based on the novel That Uncertain Feeling by Kingsley Amis. Sidney Gilliat directed the film from a screenplay by Bryan Forbes....
and Go to Blazes
Go to Blazes (1962 film)
Go to Blazes is a 1962 British comedy film directed by Michael Truman and starring Dave King, Robert Morley, Norman Rossington, Daniel Massey, Dennis Price, Maggie Smith, David Lodge. It also featured Arthur Lowe and John Le Mesurier, later to feature prominently in Dad's Army...
. Only Two Can Play was the third time he had appeared in a film starring Peter Sellers
Peter Sellers
Richard Henry Sellers, CBE , known as Peter Sellers, was a British comedian and actor. Perhaps best known as Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther film series, he is also notable for playing three different characters in Dr...
, the others being I'm All Right Jack and Two-Way Stretch. 1964 saw Evans write and appear in a BBC television mini-series Ring out an Alibi. Evans played roles in several popular British television dramas in the late 1960s, including Danger Man
Danger Man
Danger Man is a British television series that was broadcast between 1960 and 1962, and again between 1964 and 1968. The series featured Patrick McGoohan as secret agent John Drake. Ralph Smart created the program and wrote many of the scripts...
, Dixon of Dock Green
Dixon of Dock Green
Dixon of Dock Green was a popular BBC television series that ran from 1955 to 1976, and later a radio series. Despite being a drama series, it was initially produced by the BBC's light entertainment department.-Overview:...
and Softly Softly
Softly, Softly (TV series)
Softly, Softly is a British television drama series, produced by the BBC and screened on BBC 1 from January 1966. It centred around the work of regional crime squads, plain-clothes CID officers based in the fictional region of Wyvern - supposedly in the Bristol and Chepstow area of the UK...
.