Noel Drayton

American actor

Noel Drayton
Noel Drayton in an episode of One Step Beyond (1960)
Born	(1913-10-07)October 7, 1913 Cape Town, South Africa
Died	December 7, 1981(1981-12-07) (aged 68) Sedona, Arizona, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1950-1969; 1975

Noel Drayton (October 7, 1913 – December 7, 1981) was an actor who remains perhaps best known for playing supporting roles in Hollywood films like Elephant Walk, The Court Jester, Plymouth Adventure and Botany Bay during the 1950s. He also appeared as a guest actor on television shows like You Are There, Perry Mason and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. He is also known for the role of Mr. Hardcastle in nine episodes of the popular television show Family Affair.^[1]

Biography

There is little information provided about Drayton's life. Born in South Africa, he made his film debut with a notable supporting role in Jean Negulesco's Hollywood movie Under My Skin (1950). He remained very active as an actor during the 1950s, but his roles got smaller during the 1960s. He retired in 1969 and returned only for one movie into acting business: Gone with the West (1975), which was his final movie. He died on December 7, 1981, in Sedona, Arizona, aged 68. His body was cremated.^[2]

Partial filmography

Under my Skin (1950) - George Gardner
Plymouth Adventure (1952) - Miles Standish
Blackbeard the Pirate (1952) - Jeremy
Botany Bay (1952) - Second Mate Spencer
The Desert Rats (1953) - Captain (uncredited)
You Are There (1953-1956, TV, 6 episodes) - Judge Heywood / Governor Hutchinson / Captain Smith / Secretary of Senate
Knock on Wood (1954) - Little Man (uncredited)
Elephant Walk (1954) - Planter Atkinson
The Seven Little Foys (1955) - Priest (uncredited)
The Virgin Queen (1955) - Tailor (uncredited)
The Court Jester (1955) - Fergus
The 20th Century-Fox Hour (1955-1956; TV, 3 episodes) - Wilkins / Hedges / Alfred Bridges
TV Reader's Digest (1956; TV, 2 episodes) - Detective Inspector Herbert Gold / Captain Connor / Earl of Warwick
20 Million Miles to Earth (1957) - 1st Reuters News Correspondent (uncredited)
Across the Bridge (1957) - Reporter
Zero Hour! (1957) - Vancouver Control Man
Hong Kong Confidential (1958) - Owen Howard
Perry Mason (1958-1965; TV, 3 episodes) - Mr. Costelni / Art Expert / Ellis / Frank Buchanan - Ship Purser
The Wreck of the Mary Deare (1959) - Charlie Bell (uncredited)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1960; TV) (Season 5 Episode 35: "The Schartz-Metterklume Method") - Ben Huggins
Sea Hunt (1960-1961; TV, 3 episodes) - Dr. Graham / Dr. Wells (Season 4, Episode 11)/ Thomas Sherington / Lloyd Shepard
The Prize (1963) - Constable Ströhm (uncredited)
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1964; TV) (Season 2 Episode 19: "Murder Case") - Bar Steward
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964; TV, 1 episode) - Dr. Parker
Strange Bedfellows (1965) - Cab Driver (uncredited)
Assault on a Queen (1966) - Elevator Operator (uncredited)
The Wrecking Crew (1968) - Lord Hardwicke (uncredited)
Family Affair (1966-1970; TV series, 9 episodes) - Mr. Hardcastle
Topaz (1969) - Servant at Embassy (uncredited)
Gone with the West (1975) - Wagon Driver (final film role)

References

^ "Noel Drayton". American Film Institute. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
^ Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 25047-25048). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.