Patric Knowles

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Patric Knowles was an English actor who appeared in a wide range of films from the 1930s to the 1970s and later acted on television. He was born Reginald Lawrence Knowles on November 11, 1911, in Horsforth, West Riding of Yorkshire, England. He later changed his name to reflect his Irish heritage.

Knowles began his acting career in Britain in 1932, appearing in films such as The Poisoned Diamond and The Girl in the Crowd. He gained attention in London and earned a Hollywood contract with Warner Bros. in 1936. In the United States, he starred in Give Me Your Heart (released in Britain as Sweet Aloes), The Charge of the Light Brigade (where he acted with Errol Flynn), and It’s Love I’m After.

During the late 1930s and 1940s, Knowles worked for several major studios, including RKO, MGM, 20th Century-Fox, Paramount, and Universal. He played a mix of leads and supporting roles in many films. One of his most famous parts was Will Scarlett in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) opposite Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. He also appeared in The Wolf Man (1941) and many other popular titles through the 1940s.

In the 1950s, Knowles continued in films such as Three Came Home (1950) and Mutiny (1952). He shifted more to television in the late 1950s and 1960s, making guest appearances on numerous shows. He later appeared in films like The Way West (1967), The Devil’s Brigade (1968), and Chisum (1970).

Knowles was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in television, received in 1960.

Personal life kept him in the public eye as well. He married Enid Percival in 1935, and the couple had two children, Antonia Vaughan and Michael. Around World War II, Knowles served in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a flying instructor due to an eye ailment; he also worked as a civilian flying instructor in the United States. He even wrote a novel, Even Steven, published in 1960.

Patric Knowles died on December 23, 1995, at the age of 84 in West Hills, California, from a brain hemorrhage. His career spanned several decades and included memorable roles in both film and television.