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Glyn Houston

Glyn Houston

Actor · Died July 3, 2019, aged 93 · Tonypandy, Glamorgan, Wales, UK

The younger brother of matinee idol Donald Houston attended elementary school in Wales but was largely self-educated with a love of sports and a strong leaning towards the arts and humanities. Glyn's working life began on his grandmother's milk round in Tonypandy. After leaving the Rhondda Valley he held down a variety of short-lived jobs and war-time appointments: with the Bristol Aeroplane Company, as a gunner with the Fleet Air Arm, a labourer on the docks at Cardiff and with the Military Police. Eventually posted to Singapore, Glyn served with the Royal Signals Regiment where his comedic potential was first recognised. Having joined the Entertainments National Service Association (and being promoted to Acting Sergeant) he put together a variety show for serving troops which toured India. Following demobilisation at war's end, brother Donald helped him secure a position as assistant stage manager with the Guildford Repertory Theatre. On-the-job training in touring plays was to provide the foundation for a screen career which began when the director Basil Dearden created a part specifically for him in the Ealing production of The Blue Lamp (1950). Over the next six years, Glyn would appear regularly in films playing assorted working class types, sailors and soldiers (frequently Cockneys) in dramas with a crime, naval or military theme. These included classic productions like The Clouded Yellow (1950), The Cruel Sea (1953), Turn the Key Softly (1953) (famously, as Joan Collins's first onscreen lover) and The One That Got Away (1957). Many were small parts or even cameos, but occasional leads eventually followed. In Solo for Sparrow (1962), Glyn enjoyed a rare starring turn as a Scotland Yard Inspector turned private eye who brings down a gang of villains (one of them a young Michael Caine). He had a further leading role as yet another policeman in Emergency (1962), surfaced in a couple of Hammer horrors and played the comic foil in four Norman Wisdom farces, beginning with A Stitch in Time (1963). From 1958 Glyn also appeared in a staple of TV shows, live broadcasts, anthologies, soap operas and classic adaptations (notably, Lord Peter Wimsey's impeccable manservant Mervyn Bunter in Clouds of Witness (1972)) and Rosa Bud's guardian Grewgious in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1993) . His most consistent stock-in-trade characters continued to be serious professionals, generally in uniformed garb as officers (Colonel Wolsey in Doctor Who (1963) "The Awakening"), or, most frequently, police inspectors and superintendents (Outbreak of Murder (1962), Gideon C.I.D. (1964), Z Cars (1962), Softly Softly (1966)). Though he maintained a prolific career on stage in plays by Chekov, Shaw, Miller and others, his one self-confessed regret was not having become a leading light on the Shakespearean stage. Glyn Houston became recipient of a Bafta Cymru special award in 2008 for outstanding contribution to film and television. His autobiography, "Glyn Houston, A Black and White Actor", appeared the following year.

Read more

Biography from IMDb.

Born
October 23, 1925
Died
July 3, 2019 (aged 93)
From
Tonypandy, Glamorgan, Wales, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
24 on MovieCove · 106 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 29% in 30 days

What are Glyn Houston's films like?

Across their 8 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 29th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 28th percentile
: browse their Action movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
28%
Morality
25%
Society
23%
Ideas
9%
Self
8%
Survival
8%
Friendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 8 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 4 · Serious 1 · Dark 3

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 4 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 4 · Charged 2 · Intense 2

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 3 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 4 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 7 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
4
Absurd
3
Joyful
2
Melancholic
3
Warm
2
Other
3

How their films linger

Feel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet2
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Glyn Houston's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 12 of their 24 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Glyn Houston's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

106 credits, 24 with a MovieCove page.

  • Changing Time: Living and Leaving Doctor Who (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • The Mystery of Edwin Drood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Grewgious

  • The Sherman Plays (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Ronald Judge

  • Thatcher: The Final Days(1991)

    as Bernard Ingham

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Old Scores (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Aneurin Morgan

  • Troublemakers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 6 episodes · as Albert Griggs

  • Conspiracy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as William Brain

  • Heartland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Old Jack

  • The Play on One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Old Jack

  • After Henry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Clifford

  • Inspector Morse(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as George Craven

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Freud (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 3 episodes · as Professor Meynert

  • Doctor Who: The Awakening (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Colonel Ben Wolsey

  • If You Go Down in the Woods Today(1981)

    as Ticket Collector

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Sea Wolves(1980)

    as Peters

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Breakaway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 6 episodes · as C.S. Bert Sinclair

  • Keep It in the Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 31 episodes · Actor

  • Minder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Harry

  • Shoestring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Major Ross Hansford

  • A Horseman Riding By (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 12 episodes · as John Rudd

  • Target (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Mostyn Price

  • Are You Being Served?(1977)

    as Cesar Rodriguez

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Robin's Nest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Police Sgt. Collins

  • Beasts: The Dummy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Sidney Stewart

  • Doctor Who: The Hand of Fear (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Professor Watson

  • Beasts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as Sidney Stewart

  • The XYY Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 3 episodes · as Tom Moody

  • Nine Tailors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 4 episodes · as Bunter

  • Sporting Scenes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Vince

  • The Black Dog (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Nathaniel Crabbe

  • Crown Court (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 3 episodes · as Chief Inspector Griffiths · as Robert Ager

  • The Long Chase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 13 episodes · as Tom Corby

  • Country Matters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Nathaniel Crabbe

  • Lord Peter Wimsey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 17 episodes · as Bunter

  • Lord Peter Wimsey: Clouds of Witness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 5 episodes · as Bunter

  • Man Charged (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Det. Insp. Isaacs

  • Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Henry Curtis

  • Brett (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Bless This House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Geoffrey

  • Granny Gets the Point (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Mr. Collins

  • Doomwatch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Gerald Marlowe

  • There Is Also Tomorrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Colonel Ronald Sutherland

  • ITV Saturday Night Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Evan

  • Headline Hunters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Actor

  • The Expert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack Norton

  • Sanctuary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Girl in a Black Bikini (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 6 episodes · as Det. Sgt. Napier

  • Where the Buffalo Roam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Actor

  • Softly, Softly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • The Spies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Chief Superintendent Matthews

  • BBC Play of the Month (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as John Geronwy Jones

  • Invasion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Police Sergeant Draycott

  • The Brigand of Kandahar(1965)

    as Marriott

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Gideon's Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sgt. Carmichael

  • One Way Pendulum(1965)

    as Detective Inspector Barnes

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Secret of Blood Island(1965)

    as Berry

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • The Wednesday Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Colonel Ronald Sutherland

  • A Stitch in Time(1963)

    as Corporal Welsh

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Doctor Who(1963)

    Show 2 episodes · as Colonel Ben Wolsey · as Professor Watson

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Panic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Mike

  • Solo for Sparrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Inspector Sparrow

  • Outbreak of Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 7 episodes · Actor

  • Suspense (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Emergency (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Inspector Harris

  • Z-Cars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Stryker of the Yard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Flame in the Streets(1961)

    as Hugh Davies

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Green Helmet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Pit Manager

  • Drama 61-67 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Inspector Hastings · as Spencer

  • The Wind of Change (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Sgt. Parker

  • Payroll (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Frank Moore

  • The Bulldog Breed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Gym Instructor (uncredited)

  • Sunday-Night Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • There Was a Crooked Man(1960)

    as Smoking Machinist

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Deadline Midnight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 39 episodes · Actor

  • Circus of Horrors(1960)

    as Carnival Barker (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Battle of the Sexes(1960)

    as 2nd Porter

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Sink the Bismarck!(1960)

    as Able Seaman - 'Prince of Wales' (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • No Hiding Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • Four Desperate Men(1959)

    as Navy Rating (Uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Tiger Bay(1959)

    as Detective at Police Station (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Follow a Star (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Fred (uncredited)

  • Nowhere to Go(1958)

    as Box office clerk

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • A Night to Remember(1958)

    as Stoker (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The One That Got Away(1957)

    as Harry 'Hurricane'

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Birthday Present (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Police Officer in Court (uncredited)

  • The Case of The Smiling Widow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Bates

  • The Third Key(1956)

    as Detective Sergeant in 'Q' car

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Who Done It? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Arresting Policeman (uncredited)

  • Colonel March of Scotland Yard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Peter Ridgway

  • Lost (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Bus Driver

  • Dixon of Dock Green (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Woody

  • Passage Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Charley Boy

  • The Sleeping Tiger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Bailey

  • The Sea Shall Not Have Them(1954)

    as Knox

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • River Beat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Charlie Williamson

  • Turn the Key Softly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Bob

  • The Cruel Sea(1953)

    as Phillips

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Great Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Ned Rutter

  • Wide Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as George

  • I Believe in You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Passerby (uncredited)

  • Girdle of Gold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Dai Thomas

  • High Treason (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Railway shunter (uncredited)

  • Trio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Ted

  • Waterfront (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Sailor (uncredited)

  • The Blue Lamp(1950)

    as Barrow Boy (Uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 87th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 106 titles from 1950 to 2006; peak year 1960.

Highest rated

The Third Key (1956)

Midcredits 81st

Film career

19502006

Peak 1960 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1950Screen debut· The Blue Lamp
  • 1963Career best· A Stitch in Time

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting106 of 106: 106 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score65th

By decade

1950s28 · acting1960s37 · acting1970s24 · acting1980s11 · acting1990s5 · acting2000s1 · acting

Billing

usually 13th · top billed in 0% of 12 roles
5060

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Glyn Houston's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 61st percentile, the median of all 22; across their 8 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 39th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Approval · how many liked their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Reach · how many have seen their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 8

Midcredits score across 24 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 24 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · actor

Are You Being Served? (1977)

75th percentile spread · 21% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

A Night to Remember (1958)

Midcredits 97th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 44. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Glyn Houston work with?

People who share at least 2 of Glyn Houston's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; John Gilling shares the most, 2.

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers