With his firm jawline and bristling mustache, Lionel Jeffries played a nice line of English eccentrics. This belied his RADA training. Following military service in WWII, he played his major roles - everything from Grandpa Potts in _Chitty Chitty Bang Bang .
An Associate Member of RADA.
Although he played Dick Van Dyke s father in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang , he was six months his junior in real life.
His hair fell out during a single week when he was 19. He tried wearing a wig to cover up his bald head but soon rejected it because it looked like "a dead moth on a boiled egg".
He served in the British Military during World War II where he was stationed at Burma (now Myanmar).
His parents were members of the Salvation Army, and worked in a mission in Londons East End.
He was considered for the roles of Dr. Hans Fallada, Dr. Armstrong and Sir Percy in Lifeforce .
Although he played June Thorburn s father in The Scarlet Blade , he was only five years her senior in real life.
Father of (Timothy) Ty Jeffries (also known as "Miss Hope Springs"), Elizabeth Jeffries , and Martha Jeffries.
Goth the role of Dr Ezra Mungo in the film Call Me Bwana after Terry-Thomas turned it down.
I was constantly rewriting the words of the comedy characters I was,given to bring them a comic humanity. Most of the people I played were,caught in desperation. In their hearts they knew that they were,failures - but they would never admit it, even to themselves.
I was the only bald student at RADA. Of course I was upset. Tried a,toupee once, but it looked like a dead moth on a boiled egg.
No one wants family entertainment any more. They want explicit sex. .
