Trivia

Urbane, gentlemanly British character actor with a penchant for comedy. He was educated at Highgate College and studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating in 1926. He was on stage from 1925, after his debut with the Hull Repertory Company, and was a regular performer on the London West End from the 1930's. During World War I, he served as a pilot in the newly formed Royal Air Force (1918-19) . In the 1940's, he left England for the USA under a two-year contract at Paramount Studios, but is best remembered for his performances in British films like French Without Tears (1940) (a part he also acted on stage), Dead of Night (1945), Trio (1950), as W. Somerset Maugham, and Obsessed (1951).

His first wife, Daphne Rye, became the casting agent for H.M. Tennent and was instrumental in the careers of many stars, including Kenneth More. She is reputed to have discovered Richard Burton. In her later years, she was seen as somewhat "formidable"; Nigel Hawthorne said, "How daunting it was to hear her voice coming from a darkened auditorium during auditions".

1240th guest on BBC Radio 4's "Desert Island Discs" (August 3, 1974)

Originally trained as a pilot with the RAF in 1918 - 1919.

His hobbies include golf and if it hadn't been for his theatre and film career he would have liked to have been a professional golfer.

Father of the actors Michael Culver and Robin Culver.

Made an OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the 1980 Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to drama.

Appeared in two films .'...Without Tears' - French Without Tears (1940), which he also did on stage and considered it his theatre break through and English Without Tears (1944).

Wrote the play "A River Breeze" which was first performed at The Phoenix Theatre in London's West End in 1956. The cast included Culver himself, Naunton Wayne, Phyllis Calvert and Patrick Cargill.

Was nominated for Broadway's 1966 Tony Award as Best Actor (Dramatic) for "Ivanov."

Born in the Highgate area of London.

Had a sister Evelyn Culver (b. 1897) a stage actress, and a brother Douglas Edward Culver (b. 1899).

He started wearing toupees when he was 29 in the West End play 'French Without Tears' and then in the film version.

Wrote his autobiography 'Not Quite a Gentleman'.

Considered 'On Approval' was his break through in films and that his parts in that and 'French Without Tears' were his favourites.

He made his stage debut as Paul in 'Peter and Paul' in 1924 with the Hull Repertory Theatre.

To Each His Own was his first American film.

Last on screen role was as Mr. Justice Twyburne in Rumpole and the Sporting Life (1983).