John Selby Clements, a renowned English actor and producer, was born on April 25, 1910, and passed away on April 6, 1988. He was a stalwart of the theatre, television, and film industries, leaving an indelible mark on the world of entertainment.
Clements' educational background was marked by his attendance at St Paul's School and St John's College, Cambridge University. He then went on to work with the illustrious Nigel Playfair and later joined Ben Greet's Shakespearean Company. His first stage appearance was in 1930, and he would go on to make over 200 stage appearances throughout his career.
In 1935, Clements founded the Intimate Theatre at Palmers Green, a unique combination of repertory and try-out theatre. He also worked as an actor-manager-producer, presenting numerous plays in the West End and starring in almost 200 productions. Clements' film career began in 1933 and saw him appear in a range of successful productions, including South Riding (1938) and The Four Feathers (1939).
Clements was married to the talented actress Kay Hammond, and together they enjoyed critical success on stage, particularly with their West End revival of Noel Coward's Private Lives in 1945. The couple also collaborated on Clements' own play, The Happy Marriage, which premiered in 1952.
As a film actor, Clements was reunited with Ralph Richardson in the successful production South Riding (1938) and went on to star in a series of British war films for Ealing Studios and British Aviation Pictures. He also appeared in the iconic film Gandhi (1982),playing the role of Advocate General.
Throughout his career, Clements received numerous accolades, including being made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 1956 and being knighted in 1968.
