D.H. Hay Petrie was a diminutive Scots character actor renowned for his quirky personality and gift of gab. His acting career began while he was a drama student at St. Andrews University, where he performed in productions staged by the university's dramatic society.
Petrie's early career was marked by his service with the Royal Scots during World War I. Following the war, he transitioned to a career in the Shakespearean stage, where he was often billed as "D.H. Hay Petrie". He was a member of the Old Vic from 1920, earning widespread acclaim for his performances as Sly in "The Taming of the Shrew" and as Puck in "A Midsummer Night's Dream".
Petrie's film career saw him take on a range of eccentric personae, often cast in period dramas and Dickensian roles. Some of his most notable performances include playing the malevolent debt-collector Quilp in "The Old Curiosity Shop" (1934) and Uncle Pumblechook in "Great Expectations" (1946). His ability to effortlessly transition between genres and comedic to villainous roles cemented his status as an inveterate scene-stealer.
Petrie is perhaps best remembered for his roles as The MacLaggan in "The Ghost Goes West" (1935) and as the evil Dr. Fosco in "Crimes at the Dark House" (1940). Despite his many successes, Petrie was disappointed to have missed out on two of his most coveted roles: Sancho Panza in Feodor Chaliapin Sr.'s film version of "Don Quixote" (1933) and Quasimodo in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1939).
Petrie's life was cut short when he died suddenly, just two weeks after his 53rd birthday, from undisclosed causes.
