AllMovie

From the 1950s through the late 2000s, Irish character actor Harry Towb enjoyed a prolific career that spanned half a century. He divided his time between stage, film, and television, working in each venue with great aplomb and dedication. Born in Larne, County Antrim, Ireland, the actor grew up in Belfast, then moved to England and essayed a series of stage roles during the 1950s, courtesy of various theatrical troupes. Cinematic roles generally typecast him as an Irish everyman, as evidenced by his contributions to The 39 Steps, Patton, Digby, The Biggest Dog in the World, and Carry on at Your Convenience. Meanwhile, in the theater, Towb excelled at everything from classical tragedy (Tiresias in Antigone) to contemporary musical comedy (Little Shop of Horrors). He remains best known to Britons, however, for his ongoing television work that cut across a broad spectrum of genres; programs that featured Towb included Z Cars, Moll Flanders, East Enders, and The Bill.