Patric Knowles was born as Reginald Lawrence Knowles in 1911. He was destined to follow in his family's footsteps in the bookbinding business, but he had other plans. At the age of 14, he decided to leave home and pursue a career in acting. Despite being brought back home, he made his second escape a few years later and began his acting career in British sound films in 1932. He adopted the stage name Patric Knowles and quickly rose through the ranks of featured players in a series of 14 British films.
Knowles' early success in British films led to him being recommended for a Hollywood contract. His first American film was the big-screen soap opera "Give Me Your Heart" in 1936, where he played a noble cad. He then joined Errol Flynn in the well-received historical drama "The Charge of the Light Brigade" later that year.
Throughout the 1930s, Knowles had a few leading roles and often played second lead in comedies and dramas. He appeared in several films with Errol Flynn, including the classic "The Adventures of Robin Hood" in 1938. Knowles was a licensed private pilot and enjoyed freelancing, which allowed him to avoid being typecast.
In the 1940s, Knowles continued to work in Hollywood, appearing in a mix of films and television shows. He played clean-up hero in Universal's formula horror films, such as "The Wolf Man" in 1941, and also worked with Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. Despite his success, Knowles felt frustrated with his typecast characters and the realization that big fame would never come his way.
Knowles continued to work in television and film throughout the 1950s and 1960s, gradually tapering off his work. In the late 1960s, he began playing dignified military officers, such as Lord Mountbatten in the hit film "The Devil's Brigade." He spent his later years doing college lecturing, commercials, and writing a novel called "Even Steven."
