Eric Portman : Obituary

Halifax Courier : 8th December, 1969



Halifax-born actor who rose to fame

ERIC PORTMAN, 66-year-old Halifax-born stage and film star, died at his home at St Veep (Cornwall) yesterday.

Mr Portman, a bachelor, was born at Chester Road, Akroydon, on July 13, 1903, the third of four children of the late Mr and Mrs Matthew Portman.

After leaving Rishworth School, he went to work in his father's outfitters' shop, which was then in the Arcade Royale, but his love of acting was so strong that whenever he could he took part in amateur productions with Halifax YMCA and Halifax Light Opera Society.

His professional stage career began at the Victoria Theatre, Sunderland, in 1924, with Robert Courtneidge's Shakespearean Company. Shortly after, with the same company, he made his first appearance in London in "The Comedy of Errors." With the exception of a part in "White Cargo" in 1925 and a tour in repertory the following year, he appeared almost exclusively in Shakespearean plays, chiefly with the Old Vic Company at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith.

From 1929 to 1932 he headed the Henry Baynton repertory company at Halifax Theatre Royal, which at that time was making a gallant, but decreasingly successful attempt, under Mr Percy Leonard, to keep "live" drama alive.

Halifax-born actor who rose to fame

Plays in which he took a leading part during those Halifax visits were "The Trial of Mary Dugan," "The Constant Nymph," "The Admirable Crichton," "White Cargo," "The Man in Possession," "The Case of the Frightened Lady," "The Last of Mrs Cheyney" and many others. There followed, until 1936, a succession of engagements with the Old Vic company.

In Shakespearean rôles, he made a name as Horatio, Bassanio, Dauphin and Romeo, and especially for his interpretation as Arcite in "The Two Nobel Kinsmen," a play built around Chaucer's "Knight's Tale."

At the Gate Theatre plays such as "The Master Builder" and "The Intruder" showed that a brilliant actor had arrived.

Parts in which he scored successes included Steven Undershaft in "Major Barbara," and Byron in "Bitter Harvest," "She Stoops to Conquer," "The Rivals," "Richard of Bordeaux," Congreve's "The Old Bachelor," Somerset Maugham's "Sheppey" and many others.

In 1936, Warner Brothers offered him a contract. He went to Hollywood, but little came from the contract and he returned to London and the stage.

Film début

His first film appearance was on Tod Slaughter's melodrama The Murder in the Red Barn. Soon he had film parts in Abdul the Damned, The Cardinal, Abide with me.

He later starred in The Prince and the Pauper, One of Our Aircraft is Missing, Uncensored, Squadron Leader X, Escape to Danger, Wanted for Murder, Millions Like Us, Men of Two Worlds, Zero Hour, and Cairo Road.

He won the Helen Terry Award for the best actor of 1948.

He never forgot his home town, and when he came to Halifax in March, 1943, in "Uncle Harry" at the Grand Theatre he was given a civic reception, and presented to the then Mayor (Ald J. Oddy) a cheque for £100 for Halifax Infirmary. On many occasions he assisted local charities, including the special appeal for Holy Trinity Schools in 1951.

He said this summer that he was giving up the stage, filming and television after heart trouble.



© Malcolm Bull 2021
Revised 15:04 / 12th May 2021 / 5182

Page Ref: P112_5

search tips advanced search
site search by freefind