"Two not so broke guys." - W.J. Flywheel, Webporium Curator THE PERSUADERS - START PAGE THE PERSUADERS - EPISODE GUIDE BACK TO NEAT STUFF HALL OF FAME MAIN PAGE THE PERSUADERS! EPISODE GUIDE 1. Overture September 18, 1971 "Break it to us gently..." - Danny Wilde "Well, they'll kill us. They have to kill us." - Judge Fulton "Oh, I thought they might do something serious!" - Lord Brett Sinclair slideshow Two unsigned personal invitations will bring the titled Englishman, Lord Brett Sinclair and the self-made oil tycoon, the American Danny Wilde to Monaco for an encounter with a stunning brunette and the Mediterranean crime syndicate. Writer: Brian Clemens, Director: Basil Dearden Guest Stars: Laurence Naismith, Imogen Hassall, Alex Scott, Neal Arden, Michael Godfrey Laurence Naismith who played Judge Fulton in The Persuaders appeared with Sean Connery in Diamonds Are Forever made the same year (1971). The British character actor was a Merchant Marine seaman before becoming an actor. He was also a qualified Judo instructor and earned two Black Belts in both Judo and Karate. Naismith made his London stage debut in 1927 in the chorus of the musical "Oh, Boy." Three years later, he joined the Bristol Repertory and remained with them until the outbreak of World War II. After serving nine years in the Royal Artillery (with the final rank of Acting Battery Commander), Naismith returned to the stage and also made his film debut. His seafaring background came in handy in a number of film roles, including the steamboat captain in Mogambo (1953), Dr. Hawkins in Boy on a Dolphin (1957), the captain of the Titanic in A Night to Remember (1958) and the First Sea Lord in Sink the Bismarck! (1960). Other film roles included The World of Suzie Wong (1960) and Jason and the Argonauts (1963). Naismith also made numerous television appearances in addition to The Persuaders! including, 12 O'Clock High, The Fugitive, Bonanza and playing Father Harris in the BBC sitcom Oh, Father! (1973). After retiring from acting, Naismith opened a pub called the Rowbarge in a small west Berkshire village. Years later after the death of his wife he moved to Australia to live with his son where he opened another pub. He is the grandfather to actor Woody Naismith. At 06:21, while Roger Moore is shown driving, there is a dark-skinned hand visible on the right (behind his drivers seat). At this point his character is alone in the car. 2. The Gold Napoleon September 24, 1971 "I'm not taking any wounded girl in my red Ferrari." - Danny Wilde slideshow An attempt to assassinate an art student at the Côte d'Azur airport lead Brett and Danny to a syndicate smuggling gold in the form of counterfeit coins. Writer: Val Guest, Director: Roy Ward Baker Guest Stars: Laurence Naismith, Susan George, Alfred Marks, Harold Goldblatt The front license plate on Wilde's car reads 221400MO but on the rear plate it is MO221400. When Wilde escapes from the villains he is wearing a beret but in the next shot the beret has completely disappeared. 3. Take Seven October 1, 1971 "That's the worst coffee I ever tasted in my whole life!" - Danny Wilde "It's tea..." - Lord Brett Sinclair slideshow Judge Fulton sends Brett and Danny to the aid of Jenny Lindley, whose supposedly long dead brother Mark has suddenly reappeared to wrest possession of the family estate from her. The judge believes that Mark is an impostor and his suspicions seem considerable when somebody tries to kill Jenny. Writer: Terry Nation, Director: Sidney Hayers Guest Stars: Laurence Naismith, Sinead Cusack, Christian Roberts, David Conron As Danny and Brett leave Conron's office, Danny puts his arm into the crook of Brett's. "Why wait until now?" asks Danny, and the shot changes. They're now not linking arms. They advance to the car and the shot changes again. They're now further apart still. 4. Greensleeves October 8, 1971 "Hey! What was that?" - Danny Wilde "Probably a rat. They get quite large down here. Just watch out for their left jabs!" - Lord Brett Sinclair slideshow The noble, yet abandoned manor of Greensleeves is strangely restored unbeknownst to its rightful owner, Lord Brett Sinclair, who now needs to impersonate himself to get to the bottom of the mystery. Writer: Terence Feely, Director: David Greene Guest Stars: Rosemary Nicols, Andrew Keir, Clifton Jones, Tom Adams The 'family portraits' on the staircase all have Roger Moore's face. The pub landlord warns Daniel that the fourth rung from the bottom of the ladder leading to the cellar is missing. However, when Daniel is seen getting to his feet after having 'fallen', the rung in question can clearly be seen in place. 5. Powerswitch October 15, 1971 "Isn't your friend supposed to meet us here?" - Pekoo Rayne "What else are friends for except to desert you in the hour of need?" - Lord Brett Sinclair slideshow The unexplained drowning of a go-go dancer and former 500m swimming champion will have Brett and Danny searching for answers in the mansion of a very large international financier. Writer: John Kruse, Director: Basil Dearden Guest Stars: Annette Andre, Laurence Naismith, John Phillips, Melissa Stribling 6. The Time and the Place October 22, 1971 "The last time I mistook a man for a rabbit was in a Playboy Club!" - Danny Wilde slideshow Danny accidentally finds the body of a dedicated political journalist in the estate of a right-wing British political candidate, but who would believe him when it mysteriously disappears? Writer: Michael Pertwee, Director: Roger Moore Guest Stars: Ian Hendry, Anna Palk, Robert Flemyng, Basil Dignam The first of two episodes directed by star Roger Moore. The other was The Long Goodbye (1971). There is a point-of-view shot through a gun barrel of Moore walking, foreshadowing his role as James Bond. Guest star Ian Hendry starred as "Dr. Geoffrey Brent" in Police Surgeon (1960). This led directly to The Avengers (1961) but, after only one season, he left to pursue film roles. He found plenty of work in movies (perhaps not surprisingly, often as doctors and police officers), and made occasional TV appearances including an episode of The New Avengers in 1976. His career was cut short on December 24th 1984, when he died from a internal hemorrhage at age 53. 7. Someone Like Me October 29, 1971 "Good! Come and meet the eighth wonder of the world! Her name's Annabelle, and she sits over there. We'll call her grandmother and make it a foursome!" - Danny Wilde slideshow Someone has gone to great trouble creating Lord Brett's flawless copy, who masquerades as his indistinguishable impersonator while in his absence. What is worth that endeavour and could Danny tell the difference between them? Writer: Terry Nation, Director: Roy Ward Baker Guest Stars: Tony Wright, Bernard Lee, Jeremy Burnham, Joanne Dainton "Shall we, children? Tramps awaits!" says Brett to Danny and the two girls at the close of the episode. This is a reference to one of the most exclusive members' clubs in the world, Tramp nightclub on London's Jermyn Street. At the time it was a mere two years old and one of the hottest nightspots in the capitol. Brett Sinclair (Roger Moore) asks Danny Wilde (Tony Curtis) to pick up Sam Milford's (Bernard Lee) telephone number. Danny Wild looks in Brett Sinclair's notebook and says: "Oh it's under "M"!". Bernard Lee played 'M' in the early James Bond movies even together with Roger Moore as James Bond a couple of years later. 8. Anyone Can Play November 5, 1971 "You think you could open your bonnet very carefully, I want to look at the engine." - Lord Brett Sinclair "It's not a bonnet, it's a hood!" - Danny Wilde slideshow With a fail-proof betting system, Danny walks out of a Brighton's gambling club with a suitcase full of money, but when he is mistaken for a Soviet paymaster, things are bound to get hairy. Writer: Tony Williamson, Director: Leslie Norman Guest Stars: Richard Vernon, Graham Weston, Dudley Foster, Cyd Hayman 9. The Old, the New, and the Deadly November 12, 1971 "I may not be that sort of a girl but the least you could do is try and persuade me!" - Suzy slideshow Once again, Danny's life is in grave danger as a newspaper photograph showing him carrying a case with a statuette of a German eagle will attract the attention of an ex-Nazi fanatical Count and his assassins. Writer: Brian Clemens, Director: Leslie Norman Guest Stars: Anna Gael, Derren Nesbitt, Juliet Harmer, Patrick Troughton, Frederick Jaeger, Michael Segal, Michael Anthony Danny Wilde (Tony Curtis), while taking a shower, gets a wrong number call in his room at the Plaza Athenée palace. He answers that there is no Mr Schwartz. Bernard Schwartz is Tony Curtis real name. Writer Brian Clemens was best known for The Avengers, Highlander II: The Quickening, Danger Man and Thriller. He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2010 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to Broadcasting and to Drama. Brett tells a story about Louis XV during the French revolution who was beheaded by the guillotine. The French king who was beheaded during the the French revolution was Louis XVI. 10. Angie... Angie November 19, 1971 "Forgive my rare sincerity, but everything passes and changes. Even old friends..." - Lord Brett Sinclair slideshow Danny goes for a trip down memory lane when he bumps into a long-lost childhood buddy from the Bronx. But soon bullets start to fly all over the sun-kissed French Riviera, when Danny learns that Angie is a hitman paid to rub out a witness against corruption in big business. Writer: Milton S. Gelman, Director: Val Guest Guest Stars: Larry Storch, Laurence Naismith, Kirsten Lindholm, Olivia Mela Olivia Mela, who appears as the girl in the purple bikini in "Overture" and the title sequence, appears here as well, three times, twice in a bikini, fleetingly in the Cannes swimming pool, seen from afar, and then as one of the lovely passersby in close-up. Soon after, she is the girl on the moped almost running Danny over outside the bank. She doesn't speak English, which is why she didn't have a speaking part. Guest Star Larry Storch has appeared in six films with Tony Curtis, including Who Was That Lady? (1960), 40 Pounds of Trouble (1962), Captain Newman, M.D. (1963), Wild and Wonderful (1964), Sex and the Single Girl (1964) and The Great Race (1965). Curtis and Storch also reunited for a 2003 run of the musical version of Some Like It Hot. In 2019 a "semi-retired" Storch at age 96 had a substantial social media presence with over 40,000 Facebook followers, a record for any male actor his age. When they are playing snooker, Angie pots one red ball, leaving at least 3 more reds, before potting the green. He then proceeds to pot all the colours without potting the remaining reds or taking the green out of the pocket to return it to the table. 11. Chain of Events November 26, 1971 "Make sure whoever has it, has no one to turn to for help. Make him the loneliest, most friendless man in the world..." - Beecham-Bennett slideshow Things turn volatile when unexpectedly, Danny gets himself handcuffed to a much-wanted attache case, sparking a relentless manhunt from both MI6 and Iron Curtain agents who need to recover the case at all costs. Writer: Terry Nation, Director: Peter R. Hunt Guest Stars: Suzanna Leigh, Peter Vaughan, George Baker, James Bree, Morris Perry The fake briefcase contains all the James Bond stories instead of secret electronic equipment. Both director Peter R. Hunt and actors Roger Moore and George Baker were involved in James Bond movies. Hunt (1925 - 2002) started out in the film industry as a clapper boy, by the 40's he was working in the editing department and by the 50's he was an assistant editor then a fully fledged editor. In 1962 as editor on the first James Bond film, Dr No, he helped to create a new fast style which put it's mark on action editing. From then on he was associated with all the early Bond films working his way up to second unit director then his directorial debut with 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' in 1969. Hunt both directed and edited this episode. Guest star George Baker (1931 - 2011) was an actor and writer, known for On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and I, Claudius (1976). George Bakers character's double-barreled shotgun is fired three times at Danny without being reloaded. 12. That's Me Over There December 3, 1971 "This is a friend of mine, Daniel Wilde Esquire, from New York." - Danny Wilde "[In southern American accent] Right proud to make your acquantaince, Sir." - Lord Brett Sinclair "That's New York, Louisiana." - Danny Wilde slideshow It's high time the masks fell off and a crooked colossal entrepreneur finally got what he deserved. This is definitely a job suited to Lord Brett Sinclair, or better yet, a job suited to Danny impersonating Brett. Writer: Brian Clemens, Director: Leslie Norman Guest Stars: Geoffrey Keen, Suzan Farmer, Laurence Naismith, Patrick Newell, Juliet Harmer This was the second appearance by Juliet Harmer as Prue. It was rare for anyone other than the main cast to reappear. Harmer and Laurence Naismith (Judge Fulton) were also cast members of the movie Quest for Love (1971). When Brett is bundled into a red car by kidnappers the window in the car door reflects the crew. 13. The Long Goodbye December 10, 1971 "I have a confession to make." - Carla II slideshow Brett and Danny accidentally discover a plane wreckage, and with it, a low-cost, high-grade synthetic fuel formula, which attracts a parade of oil tycoons and three "considerate" daughters, all claiming the formula. Writer: Michael Pertwee, Director: Roger Moore Guest Stars: Nicola Pagett, Laurence Naismith, Glynn Edwards, Madeline Smith, Peter Sallis, Deborah Moore Lord Brett Sinclair's Westminster address is 53 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1. The second of two episodes directed by star Roger Moore. The first was The Persuaders!: The Time and the Place (1971). Moore cast his daughter Deborah Moore as the Little Girl. She would later go on and become an actress appearing in Die Another Day (a 2002 Bond film starring Pierce Brosnan), Chaplin (1992), Into the Sun (1992), Rome (2007), and Sherlock (2010) Two years later, Madeline Smith would make a cameo in Roger Moore's first scene as British secret agent James Bond in the film Live and Let Die (1973), in which she had a small role as Miss Caruso, the beautiful Italian agent seen in bed with 007. When Danny is captive in the Taxi, they stop at a zebra crossing on Circus Road at the junction with St Anne's Terrace. They then go straight on down St John's Wood Terrace. After a quick cut shot to Danny, the Taxi is next shown at another zebra crossing at the same junction, only this time they are on St John's Wood High Steet. They then turn left back on to Circus Road and go back the way they had come from. It's not physically possible to get from one of these locations to the other without travelling at least half a mile down St John's Wood Terrace before even attempting to get back to that junction, but especially impossible to do it in the short duration of the cut shot. 14. The Man in the Middle December 17, 1971 "Now, what trouble did you get into?" - Danny Wilde slideshow Someone inside the British Intelligence has turned traitor, but when Brett and Danny's efforts to smoke out the traitor are intercepted, Brett's faint-hearted cousin must come to his rescue. Writer: Donald James, Director: Leslie Norman Guest Stars: Suzy Kendall, Laurence Naismith, Terry-Thomas, Stephen Greif Lord Sinclair's passport reveals his date of birth as November 10th 1930 and his place of birth as 'Mucknieth'. Mucknieth does not actually exist. His passport also lists his height as 6 feet 3 inches, that he has 'blond' hair and blue eyes and his country of residence as Scotland and not England. As the heroes are driving to exchange Archie for the girl, the scene behind the car is obviously fake and the green screen is even reflected on the bonnet of Brett's car. 15. Element of Risk December 24, 1971 "Sinclair? Weren't we at school together?" - Mitchell "I sincerely hope not." - Lord Brett Sinclair slideshow A concealed microfilm in a dark grey attache case dropped inconspicuously in Danny's luggage trolley, will trigger a game of masquerade as unlucky Danny will need to play along and act as an undisputed American criminal mastermind. Writer: Tony Barwick, Director: Gerald Mayer Guest Stars: June Ritchie, Laurence Naismith, Peter Bowles, Margaret Nolan, Carol Cleveland Guest star Carol Cleveland was a recurring cast member in Monty Python's Flying Circus and is commonly referred to as "the female Python". 16. A Home of One's Own December 31, 1971 "Oh, I'm sorry! You surprised me!" - Lucy Scott slideshow When Danny buys a ramshackle country cottage which he plans to renovate he is surprised by the fact that local squire Rupert Hathaway is desperate to buy it from him and will resort to violence when Danny refuses to sell. A woman named Lucy comes investigating the death of a colleague whom she believes was killed by Hathaway. Soon Danny, Brett and Lucy discover the squire is at the centre of some highly illegal goings-on to which the cottage is crucial. Writer: Terry Nation , Director: James Hill Guest Stars: Hannah Gordon, John Ronane, Talfryn Thomas This episode is featured as part of a Persuaders "movie" titled London Conspiracy (1974). A compilation movie, London Conspiracy is actually two completely unconnected episodes of the TV series stuck together to make a feature-length film with little or no attempt to make a coherent storyline. 17. Five Miles to Midnight January 7, 1972 "Do you want to shake hands or kiss?" - Sidonie slideshow On the run from the U.S. authorities and the Mob, an American gangster in Rome offers information expecting a reduced sentence, however, smuggling him out of the country will be no easy task for the Persuaders. Writer: Terry Nation, Director: Val Guest Guest Stars: Joan Collins, Robert Hutton, Laurence Naismith, Jean Marsh Early on there is an establishing shot of Brett driving his Aston Martin in the real Rome. After this point, however, any seemingly Italian number plates on cars are obvious fakes (made by the props department), whereas cars in the background have French number plates, revealing that the episode was mainly shot in France, not Italy. Driving along a country road shortly after fleeing Rome the dark shadow of the camera and tripod can be plainly seen against the bottom half of the vehicle. Driving the blue van through the countryside the shots of the cab show Sidonie wearing a pink top. In the wide shots of the van's exterior she is wearing beige. 18. Nuisance Value January 14, 1972 "I expect you back here at midnight, with Lisa, or there'll be a lot of trigger-happy people looking for you!" - Zorakin slideshow A blind double-date for Danny and Brett will eventually implicate the former in an outrageous case of abduction, when the spoiled offspring of a business tycoon will be kidnapped in broad daylight despite the valiant efforts to prevent it. Writer: David Rolfe and Tony Barwick, Director: Leslie Norman Guest Stars: Viviane Ventura, David Cargill, Ralph Bates, George Murcell 19. The Morning After January 21, 1972 [to Brett after evading a cyclist] "Don't feel bad. You'll get him on the way back!" - Danny Wilde slideshow After last night's farewell party, Lord Brett wakes up in bad shape, married and in the middle of a political conspiracy that targets a Scandinavian Diplomat. Writer: Walter Black, Director: Leslie Norman Guest Stars: Catherine Schell, Laurence Naismith, Tony Bonner, Yutte Stensgaard The back projection in the airport scene is from Arlanda Airport and not from Bromma Airport. Both of them are located in Stockholm, Sweden. The phones at the Judo club and at the City House, scenes taken place in Stockholm, Sweden are actually UK phones. 20. Read and Destroy January 28, 1972 "The important thing about lying is always to be absolutely sincere!" - Heidi Schulman slideshow The Persuaders and every spy in the business are after a British Agent for his highly confidential memoirs, nevertheless, before retrieving the manuscripts, they must first find them. Writer: Peter Yeldham, Director: Roy Ward Baker Guest Stars: Joss Ackland, Nigel Green, Kate O'Mara Danny Wilde meets with American agent Joe Pfeiffer on the centre-circle of an empty football ground to avoid anyone eavesdropping on their conversation. These scenes were filmed at Vicarage Road, the home of Watford Football Club. One of the signs in the beginning of the episode has German and Russian writing on it. You'd expect the Russian to be a translation of the German, but it isn't. While the German writing informs you that you are entering East Germany, the Russian writing says that it is forbidden to carry a weapon without a proper (military or police) service ID card. The "Allied Checkpoint" sign at the beginning of the episode shows four flags: UK, France, West Germany, and USA. By international convention of the time, there should have been no West German flag on that sign, only the flags of the three Western Allies. There is major grammatical error in the German writing on one of the signs in the beginning of the episode. Instead of "Sie betreten den DDR" it should correctly read "Sie betreten die DDR". 21. A Death in the Family February 4, 1972 "Well, there we are, My Lord. All done. May I compliment you on your choice of caskets? Best English oak, should last a lifetime." - Mr. Beebe slideshow Sadly, as a methodical assassin has been killing off the noble and honourable members of the Sinclair Clan one by one, Brett who is next in line, must find a way to flush him out, of course with the aid of Danny and a stunning Sinclair. Writer: Terry Nation, Director: Sidney Hayers, Leslie Norman (uncredited) Guest Stars: Diane Cilento, Denholm Elliott, Moultrie Kelsall, Roland Culver, Ivor Dean Terry Nation's script lifts significantly from Roy Horniman's novel "Israel Rank", filmed in 1949 as "Kind Hearts and Coronets". This is echoed in Roger Moore playing several roles, just as Alec Guinness did in the movie. In the ending scene Danny Wilde (Tony Curtis), Brett Sinclair (Roger Moore) and the Duke of Caith (Roland Culver) are preparing to go out each with a lady companion. The lady supposed to accompany The Duke of Caith is introduced by Brett Sinclair as "Mrs. Schwartz" and is actually played by a disguised Tony Curtis. Tony Curtis' real name is Bernard Schwartz. Guest Star Diane Cilento (right) was married to actor Sean Connery, the second of her three husbands, from 1962-1973. They had one son, the actor Jason Connery. Cilento was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Tom Jones (1963) and appeared in The Third Secret (1964) the following year. She also starred with Charlton Heston in the 1965 film The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965), and with Paul Newman in the 1967 western film Hombre (1967). In Connery's James Bond film You Only Live Twice (1967), she doubled for her husband's co-star Mie Hama in a diving scene because Hama was indisposed. Guest star Denholm Elliott (left) was a much-loved character actor who specialised in playing slightly sleazy/slightly eccentric and often flawed upper middle class English gentlemen. His career spanned nearly 40 years, becoming a well-known face both in Britain and in the States. He became most widely known to movie audiences as the academic Marcus Brody in two installments of the hugely successful Indiana Jones series, Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), and as the valet, Coleman, in the Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd comedy Trading Places (1983). He appeared in four films with Sean Connery: Robin and Marian (1976), A Bridge Too Far (1977), Cuba (1979) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). Elliott was born on May 31st, 1922 in Ealing, London, England, and educated at Malvern College, a private school in Worcestershire, England. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) but was asked to leave after one term. As Elliott later recalled: "They wrote to my mother and said, 'Much as we like the little fellow, he's wasting your money and our time. Take him away!'". Elliott served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. His plane was shot down over Germany in 1942 and he spent the rest of the War in Stalag 8B Prisoner of War camp in Silesia. Although he became widely recognized as a screen actor, he also had a prolific stage career, which included classical performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company and was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1988 Queen's New Year Honours List for his services to Drama. He also performed (with Joss Ackland) the first gay kiss seen on a West End stage in John Mortimer's play "Bermondsey" in 1971. Elliott was bisexual, tested HIV positive in 1987 and was diagnosed with AIDS in 1988. He continued working until a year before he died in 1992. His widow Susan Robinson documented their open marriage and her husband's bisexuality in her book "Denholm Elliott: Quest for Love", published two years after his death. Elliot and Susan had two children, Jennifer Elliott and Mark Elliott. Jennifer became addicted to heroin and hanged herself in 2003. Susan, (born March 7th, 1942 in Cleveland), died from injuries from a fire in her one bedroom flat on April 12th, 2007 in north London. Elliott's was divorced from his first wife Virginia McKenna (1954 - 1957). Rather than recast the role of Marcus Brody in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), director Steven Spielberg and writer David Koepp created a new character, Charles Stanforth, played by Jim Broadbent. The passing of Marcus Brody is acknowledged several times in the film, with a portrait of him hanging in the hallway outside Indy's classroom, a statue of him in a University courtyard, and a malt shop named "Brody's". 22. The Ozerov Inheritance February 11, 1972 "We? What do you mean, we? You don't have the time, you got a secret message to come to Switzerland, not me. I'm here for the winter sports, whoever she may be." - Danny Wilde slideshow Two members of the once-proud Russian Aristocracy are in desperate need of Lord Brett and Daniel's assistance to establish their right to a jewellery collection of immense value, however, not without exciting discoveries on the way. Writer: Harry W. Junkin, Director: Roy Ward Baker Guest Stars: Gladys Cooper, Prunella Ransome, Gary Raymond, Joseph Furst Tsar Nicholas's Daughter Anastasia is mentioned as escaping Russia in 1918 as it was believed at the time this episode aired that a woman called Anna Anderson living in the U S claiming that she was Anastasia might be genuine. Years later was it proved that she was not. This was Gladys Cooper's final role. Cooper was the daughter of journalist William Frederick Cooper and his wife Mabel Barnett and was born on December 18th, 1888 in Lewisham, London, England, UK. As a child she was very striking and was used as a photographic model beginning at six years old. She wanted to become an actress and started on that road in 1905 after being discovered by Seymour Hicks to tour with his company in "Bluebell in Fairyland". She came to the London stage in 1906 in "The Belle of Mayfair", and in 1907 took a departure from the legitimate stage to become a member of Frank Curzon's famous Gaiety Girls chorus entertainments at The Gaiety theater. Her more concerted stage work began in 1911 in a production of Oscar Wilde's comedy "The Importance of Being Ernest" which was followed quickly with other roles. From the craze for post cards with photos of actors - that ensued between about 1890 and 1914 - Cooper became a popular subject of maidenly beauty with scenes as Juliet and many others. During World War I her popularity grew into something of pin-up fad for the British military. She appeared in early British silent films starting in 1913 with The Eleventh Commandment (1913). She had roles in a few other movies in 1916 and 1917, but later that year she joined Frank Curzon to co-manage the Playhouse Theatre. An unusual direction for a woman of the period, she took sole control from 1927 until 1933. She was also doing plays, some producing of her own, and a few more films in the early 1920s and achieved major stage actress success appearing in W. Somerset Maugham's "Home and Beauty" in London in 1919 and triumphed in her 1922 appearance in Arthur Wing Pinero's "The Second Mrs. Tanqueray". She also debuted the role of Leslie Crosbie (the Bette Davis role in the 1940 film) in Maugham's "The Letter" in 1927. In 1934 Cooper made her first sound picture in the UK and came to Broadway with "The Shining Hour" which she had been doing in London. She and it were a success, and she followed it with several plays through 1938, including "MacBeth". About this time Hollywood scouts caught wind of her, and she began her 30 odd years in American film. That first film was also Alfred Hitchcock's first Hollywood directorial effort, Rebecca (1940). Her's was a small and light role as Laurence Olivier's gregarious sister, but she stood out all the same. Two years later she bit into the much more substantial role as Bette Davis' domineering and repressive mother in the classic Now, Voyager (1942) for which she received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress - the first of three. Aristocratic elderly ladies were roles she revisited in various guises throughout her long career. She returned to London stage work from 1947 and stayed for some early episodic British TV into 1950 before once again returning to the US, and continued to be busy on both sides of the Atlantic until her passing. Through the 1950s and into the 1960s Cooper did a few films but was an especially familiar face on American TV in teleplays, a wide range of prime time episodic shows, and popular sci-fi series including Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Twilight Zone, and The Outer Limits. When Enid Bagnold's "The Chalk Garden" opened in London in 1955, Cooper debuted as Mrs. St. Maugham and brought it to Broadway in October of that year where it ran through March of 1956. Her last major film was My Fair Lady (1964 - below right) as Henry Higgins' mother. The year before she had played the part on TV. In the film, the portrait prop of a fine lady over Higgins' fireplace is that of Cooper painted in 1922. In 1967 she was honored as a Dame Commander of the Order of British Empire (DBE) for her great accomplishments in furthering acting. Cooper died on November 17th, 1971 in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England, UK on pneumonia. 23. To the Death, Baby February 18, 1972 "Here he is. The English Lord. What are you doing here?" - Danny Wilde "Waiting for you to leave." - Lord Brett Sinclair slideshow The Persuaders vie for the attention of a gorgeous soap heiress who has fallen for the slippery charms of a deceiving con man, but in the end, who can really say that the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow isn't an illusion after all? Writer: Donald James, Director: Basil Dearden Guest Stars: Jennie Linden, Terence Morgan, Harold Innocent 24. Someone Waiting February 25, 1972 "Incidentally, I didn't make a sound when I approached you, and yet I felt that you knew I was there." - Morley Lyndon "Cheap aftershave. They don't remove enough of the alcohol. I'm still getting terrible whiffs!" - Lord Brett Sinclair slideshow As it appears, someone is going to great lengths to remind Brett and Danny the perils of the exciting world of motor racing, while in the meantime, the stinging innuendos of a grudge behind all this, will become a certainty. Writer: Terry Nation, Director: Peter Medak Guest Stars: Penelope Horner, David Neal, Lois Maxwell, Donald Pickering, Jenny Hanley Guest star Lois Maxwell re-teamed with Roger Moore in the recurring roles of Miss Moneypenny and James Bond in 6 movies. Guest star Jenny Hanley also appeared in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969). slideshow THE PERSUADERS - START PAGE THE PERSUADERS - EPISODE GUIDE BACK TO NEAT STUFF HALL OF FAME MAIN PAGE