Gerald Sim, a stalwart and subtle presence on the British stage and screen, left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment. Although his body of work was both prolific and varied, he will forever be remembered by the majority of viewers as the wily rector of the beloved television series To the Manor Born, which aired in 1979.
Born on June 4, 1925, in Liverpool, Gerald was the son of a Barings Bank employee. His elder sister, Sheila Sim, was also an actress. Gerald was educated in Kent and later trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA),where he developed a passion for acting after being captivated by a 1943 radio broadcast of John Gielgud's "The Great Ship".
Sim's extensive repertory experience spanned both England and Durban, South Africa, where he worked with the McNeale Company in 1954. He began his screen career with a small role in the 1947 film Fame Is the Spur, and went on to become one of Britain's most reliable and discreet screen character players.
Throughout his career, Sim was often cast as bumptious upper-class characters, obtuse vicars, police inspectors, barristers, and stiff-upper-lip military types. His clear voice and precise diction made him a convincing portrayal of these characters. He appeared in seven films directed by his brother-in-law, Richard Attenborough, including Oh! What a Lovely War, Young Winston, A Bridge Too Far, Gandhi, Cry Freedom, Chaplin, and Shadowlands.
Sim's television career was just as impressive, with guest roles in shows such as Dixon of Dock Green and The Avengers. He made a brief return to the stage in 1979 and made his final television appearance in 2007 in a 25th anniversary special of To the Manor Born.
