
Robert Coote
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Robert Coote (4 February 1909 – 26 November 1982) was an English actor. He played aristocrats or British military types in many films, and created the role of Colonel Hugh Pickering in the long-running original Broadway production of My Fair Lady. Coote was born in London and educated at Hurstpierpoint College in Sussex. He began his stage career at the age of 16, performing in Britain, South Africa, and Australia before arriving in Hollywood in the late 1930s. He played a succession of pompous British types in supporting roles, including a brief but memorable turn as Sgt. Bertie Higginbotham in Gunga Din (1939). His acting career was interrupted by his service as a squadron leader in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. He played Bob Trubshawe in Powell and Pressburger's A Matter of Life and Death (1946), chosen for the first-ever Royal Film Performance on 1 November 1946, before he returned to Hollywood, where his films included The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947), Forever Amber (1947), The Three Musketeers (1948), and Orson Welles' Othello (1952). In 1956, Coote created the role of Colonel Pickering in the original Broadway production of My Fair Lady (1956–62), which he reprised in the musical's 1976–77 Broadway revival. He also originated the role of King Pellinore in the Broadway production of Camelot (1960–63). He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his performance as Timmy St. Clair in the NBC TV series The Rogues (1964–65). In 1966, Coote appeared with Jackie Gleason and Art Carney in an episode of The Honeymooners entitled "The Honeymooners in England", broadcast on CBS-TV from Miami. In his last feature film performance, Coote portrayed one of the critics dispatched by Vincent Price in Theatre of Blood (1973). His final role was on television, playing orchid nurse Theodore Horstmann in the 1981 NBC-TV series Nero Wolfe, starring William Conrad in the title role. In most film and TV adaptations of Nero Wolfe mysteries, before and since, Horstmann has been a very minor character, but Coote's Horstmann got considerable screen time in the series. The veteran British character actor died in his sleep at the New York Athletic Club in November 1982, at the age of 73. Coote was a close friend of actor David Niven, sharing a house with Niven for a time in the late 1930s and living in a flat over Niven's garage for several years after the Second World War.
Known For
Credits
- 1981 ·Nero Wolfeas Theodore Horstmann
- 1979 ·Sweepstakesas
- 1973 ·Theatre of Bloodas Oliver Larding
- 1967 ·The Whitehall Worrieras
- 1966 ·The Swingeras Sir Hubert Charles
- 1964 ·The Roguesas Timmy St. Clair
- 1963 ·The V.I.P.sas John Coburn
- 1962 ·The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonas Self
- 1960 ·The League of Gentlemenas Bunny Warren
- 1959 ·Rawhideas
- 1958 ·The Horse's Mouthas Sir William Beeder
- 1958 ·Westinghouse Desilu Playhouseas Terry
- 1956 ·The Swanas Capt. Wunderlich
- 1952 ·The Merry Widowas Marquis De Crillon
- 1952 ·Scaramoucheas Gaston Binet
- 1951 ·Othelloas Roderigo
- 1951 ·The Desert Fox: The Story of Rommelas British Medical Officer
- 1950 ·Lux Video Theatreas Stephen
- 1950 ·Lux Video Theatreas Joe Worton
- 1950 ·Lux Video Theatreas Lawton
- 1950 ·Robert Montgomery Presentsas
- 1950 ·Robert Montgomery Presentsas Sir Archibald Bruern
- 1948 ·Studio Oneas Dr. Gordon
- 1948 ·The Three Musketeersas Aramis
- 1947 ·Luredas Detective Wilson
- 1947 ·The Ghost and Mrs. Muiras Mr. Coombe
- 1946 ·A Matter of Life and Deathas Bob Trubshawe
- Future ·Best Of Enemiesas
- 1979 ·Institute for Revengeas Wellington
- 1978 ·Filming Othelloas
- 1969 ·Charley's Auntas Col. Sir Francis Chesney
- 1968 ·Prudence and the Pillas Henry Hardcastle
- 1968 ·Kenneras
- 1967 ·The Cool Onesas Stanley Krum
- 1966 ·Alice Through the Looking Glassas The Red King
- 1966 ·A Man Could Get Killedas Hatton / Jones
- 1964 ·The Golden Headas
- 1960 ·Lord Arthur Savile's Crimeas Baines
- 1958 ·Merry Andrewas Dudley Larabee
- 1955 ·The Constant Husbandas The Best Man
- 1952 ·The Prisoner of Zendaas Fritz von Tarlenheim
- 1951 ·Soldiers Threeas Maj. Mercer
- 1950 ·The Elusive Pimpernelas Sir Andrew ffoulkes
- 1949 ·The Red Danubeas Brigadier C.M.V. Catlock
- 1948 ·Berlin Expressas Sterling
- 1947 ·The Exileas Dick Pinner
- 1947 ·Forever Amberas Sir Thomas Dudley
- 1946 ·Cloak and Daggeras Cronin
- 1943 ·Forever and a Dayas Blind Officer
- 1942 ·Commandos Strike at Dawnas Robert Bowen
- 1940 ·You Can't Fool Your Wifeas Battincourt
- 1940 ·Vigil in the Nightas Dr. Caley
- 1939 ·Nurse Edith Cavellas Bungey
- 1939 ·Bad Landsas Eaton
- 1939 ·The House of Fearas Robert Morton
- 1939 ·Gunga Dinas Bertie Higginbotham
- 1939 ·Mr. Moto's Last Warningas Rollo Venables
- 1938 ·The Girl Downstairsas Karl
- 1938 ·Blond Cheatas Gilbert Potts
- 1938 ·A Yank at Oxfordas Wavertree
- 1937 ·The Sheik Steps Outas Lord Eustace Byington
- 1937 ·The Thirteenth Chairas Stanby
- 1936 ·Rangle Riveras Reggie Mannister, Flight-Lieutenant
- 1933 ·Loyaltiesas Robert
- 1931 ·Sally in Our Alleyas Waiter At Party