Bruce Seton
Encyclopedia
Major Sir Bruce Lovat Seton of Abercorn, 11th Baronet (29 May 1909 – 28 September 1969), better known as Bruce Seton, was a British
actor and soldier.
Seton was born in Simla
, India
, the younger of two sons of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Bruce Seton of Abercorn, 9th Baronet and his wife, Elma, and was educated at The Edinburgh Academy
and Sandhurst
. He was commissioned into the Black Watch
in 1929, but resigned his commission in 1932.
Seton's acting career began in 1935 when he starred in Ralph Ince
's film, Blue Smoke. On the set, he met fellow actor Tamara Desni
, and the two married in 1936 and divorced in 1940. A brief interruption in his career came during World War II
. In November 1939 he was commissioned Lieutenant
in the Cameronians, ending the war as a Major
. His last role was as the voice of Beadle in The Wonderful World of Disney from 1962-63. On the death of his brother in 1963 without male heirs, Seton inherited the former's baronetcy. Seton's second wife was actress Antoinette Cellier, but he had no male heirs and so, on his death in 1969, the title passed to his cousin, Christopher.
Played Inspector Fabian of Scotland Yard in 1950s TV series Fabian of the Yard
.
The series was based on the career of the former Scotland Yard Detective Inspector Robert Fabian who usually appeared briefly before the final fade-out to wind up the story.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
actor and soldier.
Seton was born in Simla
Shimla
Shimla , formerly known as Simla, is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills," a term coined by the British...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, the younger of two sons of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Bruce Seton of Abercorn, 9th Baronet and his wife, Elma, and was educated at The Edinburgh Academy
Edinburgh Academy
The Edinburgh Academy is an independent school which was opened in 1824. The original building, in Henderson Row on the northern fringe of the New Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, is now part of the Senior School...
and Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
. He was commissioned into the Black Watch
Black Watch
The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The unit's traditional colours were retired in 2011 in a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II....
in 1929, but resigned his commission in 1932.
Seton's acting career began in 1935 when he starred in Ralph Ince
Ralph Ince
Ralph Ince , was an American film director, actor and screenwriter of the silent era. He directed 171 films between 1910 and 1937. He also appeared in 110 films between 1907 and 1937....
's film, Blue Smoke. On the set, he met fellow actor Tamara Desni
Tamara Desni
Tamara Desni was a German-born British actress.-Biography:Born as Tamara Brodsky, the daughter of actress Xenia Desni, Tamara Desni was born in Berlin....
, and the two married in 1936 and divorced in 1940. A brief interruption in his career came during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. In November 1939 he was commissioned Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the Cameronians, ending the war as a Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
. His last role was as the voice of Beadle in The Wonderful World of Disney from 1962-63. On the death of his brother in 1963 without male heirs, Seton inherited the former's baronetcy. Seton's second wife was actress Antoinette Cellier, but he had no male heirs and so, on his death in 1969, the title passed to his cousin, Christopher.
Played Inspector Fabian of Scotland Yard in 1950s TV series Fabian of the Yard
Fabian of the Yard
Fabian of the Yard was a British police procedural television series based on the real-life memoirs of Scotland Yard detective Robert Fabian, made by the BBC and broadcast between November 1954 and February 1956. It is considered the earliest police procedural to be made for British TV, sharing...
.
The series was based on the career of the former Scotland Yard Detective Inspector Robert Fabian who usually appeared briefly before the final fade-out to wind up the story.
Selected filmography
- Flame in the HeatherFlame in the HeatherFlame in the Heather is a 1935 British historical drama film directed by Donovan Pedelty and starring Gwenllian Gill, Barry Clifton and Bruce Seton...
(1935) - Blue SmokeBlue SmokeBlue Smoke, also known as Nora Roberts' Blue Smoke, is a 2007 made-for-tv movie directed by David Carson, which stars Alicia Witt, Matthew Settle, and Scott Bakula. The film is based on the Nora Roberts novel of the same name. And is part of the Nora Roberts 2007 movie collection, which also...
(1935) - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1936)
- Love from a Stranger (1937)
- Father Steps OutFather Steps Out (1937 film)Father Steps Out is a 1937 British comedy film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring George Carney, Dinah Sheridan, Bruce Seton and Peter Gawthorne.-Cast:* George Carney - Joe Hardcastle* Dinah Sheridan - Helen Hardcastle* Bruce Seton - Johnnie Miller...
(1937) - Return to YesterdayReturn to YesterdayReturn to Yesterday is a 1940 British drama film directed by Robert Stevenson. It stars Clive Brook and Anna Lee. It was based on the play Goodness How Sad! by Robert Morley.-Cast:* Clive Brook as Robert Maine* Anna Lee as Carol Sands...
(1940) - The Middle WatchThe Middle Watch (1940 film)The Middle Watch is a 1940 British, black-and-white, comedy film, directed by Thomas Bentley and starring Ronald Shiner as the Ship's Mechanic or Engineer, Jack Buchanan, Greta Gynt, Fred Emney and Kay Walsh. It was produced by Associated British Picture Corporation...
(1940) - Scott of the AntarcticScott of the Antarctic (1948 film)Scott of the Antarctic is a 1948 film about Robert Falcon Scott's ill-fated expedition to be the first to the South Pole in Antarctica in 1910-12...
(1948) - Whisky Galore!Whisky Galore! (film)Whisky Galore! was a 1949 Ealing comedy film based on the novel of the same name by Compton MacKenzie. Both the movie and the novel are based on the real-life 1941 shipwreck of the S.S. Politician near the island of Eriskay and the unauthorized taking of its cargo of whisky...
(1949) - The Blue LampThe Blue LampThe Blue Lamp is a British crime film released in early 1950 by Ealing Studios, directed by Basil Dearden and produced by Michael Balcon. It stars Jack Warner as police constable George Dixon, Jimmy Hanley and Dirk Bogarde in an early role...
(1950) - Paul Temple's TriumphPaul Temple's TriumphPaul Temple's Triumph is a 1950 British crime film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring John Bentley, Dinah Sheridan and Jack Livesey. It was the third in the series of Paul Temple films. Temple is on the trail of a gang of international criminals trying to steal atomic secrets.-Cast:* John...
(1950) - Seven Days to NoonSeven Days to NoonSeven Days to Noon is a 1950 British drama / thriller film directed by John Boulting and Roy Boulting. Paul Dehn and James Bernard won the Academy Award for Best Story for this film.-Plot:The film is set in the early 1950s...
(1950) - Portrait of ClarePortrait of ClarePortrait of Clare is a 1950 British drama film directed by Lance Comfort and starring Margaret Johnston, Richard Todd, Robin Bailey and Ronald Howard.-Cast:* Margaret Johnston - Clare Hingston* Richard Todd - Robert Hart* Robin Bailey - Dudley Wilburn...
(1950) - Worm's Eye ViewWorm's Eye ViewWorm's Eye View is a 1951 British, Technicolor, comedy film, directed by Jack Raymond and starring Ronald Shiner as Sam Porter and Diana Dors as Thelma. It was produced by Henry Halsted and Byron Film.-Plot summary:...
(1951) - White CorridorsWhite CorridorsWhite Corridors is a 1951 British drama film directed by Pat Jackson and based on a novel by Helen Ashton. It starred Googie Withers, Godfrey Tearle, James Donald and Petula Clark. The film is set in a hospital shortly after the establishment of the National Health Service. At the 1951 BAFTAS it...
(1951) - The Cruel SeaThe Cruel Sea (film)The Cruel Sea is a 1953 British film from Ealing Studios starring Jack Hawkins and Donald Sinden, with Denholm Elliott, Stanley Baker, Liam Redmond, Virginia McKenna and Moira Lister...
(1953) - There's Always a ThursdayThere's Always a ThursdayThere's Always a Thursday is a 1957 British crime film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Charles Victor, Jill Ireland, Lloyd Lamble and Robert Raglan...
(1957) - Morning CallMorning Call (film)Morning Call is a 1957 British thriller film, directed by Arthur Crabtree and starring Greta Gynt and Ron Randell. The film was originally cast with George Raft and Bella Darvi as the leads, but Raft reportedly pulled out, citing dissatisfaction with the script...
(1957) - Strictly ConfidentialStrictly Confidential (film)Strictly Confidential is a 1959 British comedy film directed by Charles Saunders and starring Richard Murdoch, William Kendall, Maya Koumani and Neil Hallett. Two con-men, recently released from prison, are enlisted by a widow to help her recover control of her late husband's business which has...
(1959) - Make Mine a MillionMake Mine a MillionMake Mine a Million was a 1959 British comedy film starring Arthur Askey, Sid James, and Bernard Cribbins. It was directed by Lance Comfort. The film parodies the stuffiness of the 1950s BBC and the effect of television advertising in the era.-Plot:...
(1959) - The 39 StepsThe 39 Steps (1959 film)The 39 Steps is a 1959 British thriller film directed by Ralph Thomas, starring Kenneth More and Taina Elg. It is a remake of the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock film, based on the novel The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan....
(1959) - The League of GentlemenThe League of Gentlemen (film)The League of Gentlemen is a 1960 British crime film directed by Basil Dearden and starring Jack Hawkins, Nigel Patrick and Richard Attenborough. It was based on the 1958 novel by John Boland and adapted by Bryan Forbes, who also starred in the film...
(1960) - Just JoeJust JoeFor the professional wrestler who used the name "Just Joe", see Joe Hitchen.Just Joe is a 1960 British comedy film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Leslie Randall, Joan Reynolds, Michael Shepley and Anna May Wong.-Cast:* Leslie Randall - Joe...
(1960) - Gorgo (1961)
- Greyfriars Bobby: The True Story of a DogGreyfriars Bobby: The True Story of a DogGreyfriars Bobby is a 1961 Walt Disney Productions feature film starring Donald Crisp and Laurence Naismith in a story about two Scottish men who compete for the affection of a Skye Terrier named Bobby...
(1961) - The Pot CarriersThe Pot CarriersThe Pot Carriers is a 1962 British comedy drama film directed by Peter Graham Scott and starring Ronald Fraser, Paul Massie, Carole Lesley and Dennis Price...
(1962) - Fabian of the Yard. BBC TV 1950s.