Robert Leadam Eddison, OBE, was an English actor, born on June 10, 1908, to English parents Edwin Eddison and Hilda Muriel Leadham in Japan. He was a twin, sharing the birthdate with his brother Talbot Leadam Eddison. His paternal grandmother, Anna Paulina Tatham of Philadelphia, connected him to the Tatham Brothers Iron pipe manufacturers, while his paternal great-grandfather Henry Billington Tatham's name hinted at his Billington family heritage, who arrived in America on the Mayflower.
Eddison was renowned for his resonant, baritone voice and tall, lean figure. He had a versatile acting career, performing in various plays, including William Shakespeare's works, such as Hamlet at the Old Vic, and later taking on comic roles like Feste and Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night, as well as King Lear on the New York stage. He was also familiar with plays by Ibsen, Chekhov, and Sophocles, and played Canon Chasuble in Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest.
Eddison made his mark in radio, appearing in numerous BBC dramas throughout his career, with some of his final roles including Death in The Canterbury Tales and parts in an adaptation of Japanese Noh plays. Although his film career was limited, he had notable roles in Peter Ustinov's 1948 comedy Vice Versa, the electrical 'Nick' in The Boy Who Turned Yellow (1972),the college president in American Friends (1991),and a memorable cameo as the ancient Grail Knight in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, cautioning adventurers to choose wisely.
Born: June 10, 1908
Died: December 14, 1991
Nationality: English
Occupation: Actor
Known for: Resonant, baritone voice and tall, lean figure
Notable roles: Grail Knight in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, tragic ferryman in The Storyteller episode "The Luck Child", Hamlet at the Old Vic, Feste and Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night, King Lear on the New York stage, Canon Chasuble in The Importance of Being Earnest, Death in The Canterbury Tales, and parts in an adaptation of Japanese Noh plays.
