Donald Pleasence was a renowned British actor, born on October 5, 1919, in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England.
He was the son of Alice (Armitage) and Thomas Stanley Pleasence, who worked on the railway. His grandfather was a signal man, and both his brother and father were station masters.
Donald's family had a strong connection to the railway, and he initially worked as a clerk at his father's station before becoming a station master at Swinton, Yorkshire.
However, he pursued his passion for acting, and in 1939, he joined the theatre company on the island of Jersey as an assistant stage manager.
During World War II, Donald served in the RAF, but was shot down over France, imprisoned, and tortured in a German POW camp.
After being repatriated, he returned to the stage, performing in various productions, including "The Brothers Karamazov" with Alec Guinness and "Caesar and Cleopatra" with Laurence Olivier.
He began his screen career in the 1950s, initially in small parts, but gained recognition for his roles in "The Adventures of Robin Hood" and "The Great Escape".
Donald also had a successful career in television, with notable performances in "The Twilight Zone" and "The Barchester Chronicles".
Throughout his career, he was known for his versatility, playing a wide range of characters, from villains to sympathetic figures.
Donald Pleasence was a talented and dedicated actor, and his performances continue to engage audiences to this day.
