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Harry Landis

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For the American First World War veteran, seeHarry Richard Landis.

Harry Landis
Born
Hyman Jacob Londinsky[1]

(1926-11-25)25 November 1926
Stepney, London,England
Died11 September 2022(2022-09-11)(aged 95)
OccupationActor
Years active1954–2022

Harry Landis(bornHyman Jacob Londinsky,[2][3]25 November 1926 – 11 September 2022) was a British actor and theatre director.[4][5]He had a long career in theatre, film and television, spanning over 60 years. Landis was best known for playing barberFelix KawalskiinEastEndersfrom 1995 to 1997, and Mr. Morris in theChannel 4sitcomFriday Night Dinnerfrom 2012 to 2014.

Early life and education

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Harry Landinski, known as Harry Landis, was born Hyman Jacob Londinsky inStepneyin theEast End of Londonon 25 November 1926.[1]He came from a poor background as the only child of, Sarah (née Sadie Chibulam), and a father, Morris Londinsky, a taxi driver, who left when Harry was a baby.[1]Landis was educated at Stepney Jewish School until he was 14, when he left to become a chef in a kitchen.[6][7]However, he found out that apprenticeships were only available to those aged over 16. Landis got a job in a café, before working as a window cleaner and milkman.

While working in a factory, he would perform the show he had seen at theHackney Empirethe previous night, and the shop steward encouraged him to go to theUnity Theatre,which was linked to the trade union and labour movement. After an audition, Landis began working with them.[8]After doing his military service with theBritish ArmyduringWorld War II,he returned to the Unity Theatre, and, by then aged 20, he was awarded a grant by theLondon County Councilso he could study at drama school. Landis spent three years at theCentral School of Speech & Drama.[7][9]

Career

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Landis started acting aged 15. His first job after graduating from drama school was touring inShakespearewith the Elizabethan Theatre Company. After a spell in repertory theatre, he got a leading role inA Hill in Koreaas acockneyconscript. Other films followed, includingBitter Victory,Edge of Sanity,Ransom,The Informers,Private Potter,DunkirkandOperation Bullshine.In 2014, he was in the Hollywood blockbusterEdge of Tomorrow.[9]

His first television appearance was in 1955, in the pilot episode ofDixon of Dock Green.Landis appeared in several subsequent episodes, as well as the final episode over 25 years later. He appeared in over 200 TV shows before deciding to return to theatre.[citation needed]

This career move coincided with the 1956 change in British theatre led by theRoyal Court Theatre,and his background at the Unity Theatre made him suitable for many subsequent roles. These includedArnold Wesker'sThe Kitchen,followed byFrank Norman'sInsideout.They were followed byJohn Osborne'sTime Presentat theDuke of York Theatre,Journey's Endat theCambridge Theatre,andA Winter Tale,Ring Around the MoonandThe Government Inspector,all atThe Royal ExchangeinManchester.He also appeared inThe Ticket-of-Leave Manat theNational Theatre.

Landis then turned to directing, and after directing a few productions at the Unity Theatre, including a well-received production ofDeath of A Salesman,he became the artistic director of theMarlowe TheatreinCanterbury,where he directed some 40 plays and twopantomimes.He went on to direct national tours ofThe Long and The Short and the TallandThe Return of Sherlock Holmes.

In between directing, Landis appeared in many TV shows, such asMinder,and later continued to do so with series includingEastEnders,Goodnight Sweetheart,CasualtyandFriday Night Dinner.His last role was inCasualty,in 2018.

Landis was president ofEquityfor six years, from 2002 to 2008, and was a board member of the Equity Charitable Trust, from 1994 to 2001, as well as previously being Chairman of the Unity Theatre Trust.[1][10][11][12]

Personal life and death

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Landis married actress Hilary Crane (née Strelitz) in 1965; however, the marriage ended in divorce seven years later.[1]The marriage produced a daughter, Katy, and a stepson, Simon, from his wife's previous marriage.

Landis lived inHammersmith,West London, for over 40 years. Landis returned to live in the East End in the 2010s, with his partner of more than 30 years, Ingrid Curry, buying a flat inSpitalfields.[1][7]

He died from cancer on 11 September 2022, at the age of 95.[1][13]

Selected filmography

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References

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  1. ^abcdefgHayward, Anthony (22 September 2022)."Harry Landis obituary".The Guardian.Retrieved23 September2022.
  2. ^London Metropolitan Archives; London, England;Electoral Registers, Name: Hyman Jacob Londinsky Electoral Date: 1950 Address: 49 Alderney Road, Stepney, Tower Hamlets, England Living with mother Sadie Londinsky
  3. ^Hyman J Londinsky (General Register Office; United Kingdom; Reference:Volume 1c, Page 498; Stepney, Greater London; Oct-Nov-Dec 1926
  4. ^"Harry Landis".www.aveleyman.com.Retrieved24 June2021.
  5. ^"Harry Landis".BFI.Archived fromthe originalon 27 June 2019.Retrieved24 June2021.
  6. ^Cobbinah, Angela (16 September 2021)."Harry Landis: real-life drama".Camden New Journal.Retrieved8 August2022.
  7. ^abc"Harry Landis, Actor | Spitalfields Life".Retrieved24 June2021.
  8. ^"Harry Landis, Actor".Spitalfields Life.Retrieved8 August2022.
  9. ^ab"Harry Landis".The Jewish Lives Project.Jewish Museum London.Retrieved24 June2021.
  10. ^"Arc 2004 Minutes"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 28 July 2020.Retrieved10 March2020.
  11. ^"Home".unitytheatre.org.uk.
  12. ^"EQUITY CHARITABLE TRUST people - Find and update company information - GOV.UK".
  13. ^Obituaries, Telegraph (16 September 2022)."Harry Landis, actor who played a barber in EastEnders and the ghastly Mr Morris in Friday Night Dinner – obituary".The Telegraph.
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