Reginald Lawrence Knowles (11 November 1911 – 23 December 1995), better known as Patric Knowles, was an English film actor. Born in Horsforth, West Riding of Yorkshire, he made his film debut in 1932, and played either first or second film leads throughout his career. He appeared in films from the 1930s to the 1970s.
Life and career
Early life
Reginald Lawrence Knowles was born on 11 November 1911 in Horsforth.[1]
British acting career
Knowles began his acting career with the British sound films early in 1932, calling himself Patric Knowles. He made his film debut in Men of Tomorrow (1932), produced by Alexander Korda.
During the same time, Knowles met Gladys Enid Percival, an actress and homemaker, and married the 23-year-old on 3 October 1935.[3]
After a few tours Knowles went to London and appeared in By Appointment in 1936, where he was spotted by Irving Asher of Warner Bros. and got a Hollywood contract for more than 2 years.[4] He had the lead in his final British films, The Brown Wallet (1936), directed by Powell; Fair Exchange (1936), directed by Ralph Ince; and Crown v. Stevens (1936), directed by Powell.[5]
Warner Bros
In 1936 he arrived in New York alongside his wife and appeared in his first American film, Give Me Your Heart (1936) with Kay Francis, released in Great Britain as Sweet Aloes, Knowles was cast as a titled Englishman of means.
In 1939 and at the age of 27, Knowles moved to his new residence with his wife in Tarzana, Los Angeles, California, USA. During his free time Knowles became a licensed private pilot in the late 1930s.[citation needed]
In 1940 a limerick circulated about Knowles: How pleasant to know Patric Knowles/ Who is the kindest of souls/ But being handsome and a British swell/ Nobody expects him to act very well/ Which is why he never gets good roles.[9]
World War II
In 1940 Knowles left Hollywood and travelled to Canada to enlist in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He had hundreds of hours of flying experience but an eye ailment meant he became an instructor.[10]
^Schallert, Edwin (9 March 1936). "Irvin Cobb, Film Future Secure, to Star in "Gentleman From Mississippi": Writer's Thespianic Adventure Proceeds Claude Rains and Charles Boyer Both Will Have Fling at Napoleon Interpretation; Choir Singer in "Stagestruck"". Los Angeles Times. p. 15.
^More than two decades after Flynn's death, biographer Charles Higham accused Flynn of having been a fascist sympathizer and Nazispy. Knowles, who had served in World War II as a flying instructor in the Royal Canadian Air Force, came to Flynn's defense, writing Rebuttal for a Friend as an epilogue to Tony Thomas' Errol Flynn: The Spy Who Never Was (Citadel Press, 1990) ISBN0-8065-1180-X.
^Bergan, Ronald (2 January 1996). "Obituary: Patric Knowles Secondary panache". The Guardian. p. 013.
^"Sergeant-Pilot Pat Knowles Pays Visit to Hollywood: Actor on Leave From Training Post With Canadian Air Force". Los Angeles Times. 19 March 1941. p. 3.
^ ab"Patric Knowles; British Actor". Los Angeles Times. 27 December 1995. p. VYB5.
^"Patric Knowles Has Schedule Of Farm Chores". The Washington Post. 13 December 1942. p. L3.
^Shipman, David (30 December 1995). "obituaries: Patric Knowles". The Independent (FINAL ed.). p. 14.
^"MISS DURBIN TO DO 'FOR LOVE OF MARY': Actress Is Named for Comedy by Universal-International-- 'Central Park' Postponed Buchman Buys "Dark Page"". New York Times. 7 December 1946. p. 27.
^"Patric Knowles Winds Up Tribute to St. Patrick in Jail". Los Angeles Times. 19 March 1947. p. 2.
^Knowles, Patric (2 January 1996). "Secondary panache". The Guardian. p. 13.
^Schallert, Edwin (27 May 1950). "Drama: Rooney Would Do Caddy Sleuth; Patric Knowles Plays Rebel in 'Quebec'". Los Angeles Times. p. 9.
Alistair, Rupert (2018). "Patric Knowles". The Name Below the Title : 65 Classic Movie Character Actors from Hollywood's Golden Age (softcover) (First ed.). Great Britain: Independently published. pp. 137–139. ISBN978-1-7200-3837-5.
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