For other people with this or similar names, see John Mills (disambiguation). John Mills may refer to John Mills (1908–2005 an Academy Award-winning British actor John Atta-Mills (born 1944 a Ghanaian politician

John Mills
Born	Lewis Ernest Watts Mills 22 February 1908(1908-02-22) North Elmham, Norfolk, England
Died	23 April 2005 (aged 97) Denham, Buckinghamshire, England
Spouse(s)	Aileen Raymond (1927-1941) Mary Hayley Bell (1941-2005)

Sir John Mills CBE (born Lewis Ernest Watts Mills; 22 February 1908 – 23 April 2005) was an English actor, who made more than 120 films in a career spanning seven decades. Events 1495 - King Charles VIII of France enters Naples to claim the city's throne Year 1908 ( MCMVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year North Elmham is a village (population 1428 in Norfolk about 8 km (5 miles north of East Dereham on the west bank of the River Wensum. Norfolk (ˈnɔrfək is a low-lying county in East Anglia, England, United Kingdom. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Events 215 BC - A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Buckinghamshire (abbreviated Bucks) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Aileen Raymond (1910 - 2005 was an English television/stage actress Mary Hayley Bell Lady Mills ( 22 January The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. Events 1495 - King Charles VIII of France enters Naples to claim the city's throne Year 1908 ( MCMVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Events 215 BC - A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland An actor, actress, player or thespian (see terminology) is a person who Acts in a Dramatic production and who works

Life and career

Mills was born at the Watts Naval School in North Elmham, Norfolk, England, and grew up in Felixstowe, Suffolk. Watts Naval School was originally the Norfolk County School, a public school set up to serve the educational needs of the 'sons of farmers and artisans' North Elmham is a village (population 1428 in Norfolk about 8 km (5 miles north of East Dereham on the west bank of the River Wensum. Norfolk (ˈnɔrfək is a low-lying county in East Anglia, England, United Kingdom. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Felixstowe is a seaside town on the North Sea coast of Suffolk, England. Suffolk (ˈsʌfək is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. He was educated at Norwich High School for Boys (which since its move after World War II to Langley Park, Loddon, is known as Langley School), where it is said that his initials can still be seen carved into the brickwork on the side of the building in Upper St Giles Street. Norwich High School for Boys was an independent school in Norwich England Langley Hall is a red-brick building in the Palladian style located in Loddon Norfolk. He made his acting debut on the stage of the Sir John Leman School in Beccles in a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream when he played the part of Puck. Sir John Leman High School (grammar school until 1971 is currently a mixed-sex 13-18 comprehensive school serving part of the Waveney region in north Suffolk England Beccles is a Market town in Suffolk, England, within an area known as The Broads. A Midsummer Night's Dream is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, suggested by " The Knight's Tale " from This article is about Puck the character in Shakespeare's play for the mythological figure this is based on see Puck (mythology Puck, also known

Mills took an early interest in acting, making his professional debut at the London Hippodrome in The Five O'Clock Girl in 1929. The Hippodrome is a building on the corner of Charing Cross Road and Leicester Square in the City of Westminster, London. Year 1929 ( MCMXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He made his film debut in The Midshipmaid (1932), and appeared as Colley in the 1939 film version of Goodbye, Mr Chips, opposite Robert Donat. Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Goodbye Mr Chips ( 1939) is a British film based on the novel of the same name by James Hilton. Friedrich Robert Donat ( March 18, 1905 &ndash June 9, 1958) was an English Academy Award -winning Film and

Mills joined-up in September 1939 at the start of World War II, and was posted into the Royal Artillery. Events in September It is the start of the academic year in many countries in the Northern Hemisphere. Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Royal Artillery, is the common name for the Royal Regiment of Artillery, is an Arm of the British Army. He was later commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, and was discharged in 1941 due to medical reasons. Second Lieutenant is the lowest commissioned officer Military rank in many Armed forces. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He starred in his friend Noel Coward's In Which We Serve. Sir Noël Peirce Coward ( 16 December 1899 26 March 1973) was an English Actor, Playwright In Which We Serve is a 1942 War film that tells the story of the British destroyer HMS Torrin, as told in flashbacks by the survivors as

He took the lead in Great Expectations in 1946, and subsequently made his career playing traditionally British heroes such as Captain Robert Falcon Scott in Scott of the Antarctic (1948). Great Expectations is a 1946 British film directed by David Lean and based on the novel by Charles Dickens. Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 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 Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Over the next decade he became particularly associated with war dramas, such as The Colditz Story (1954), Above Us the Waves (1955) and Ice Cold in Alex (1958). War film is a Film genre concerned with Warfare usually about naval, air or land battles sometimes focusing instead on The Colditz Story is a 1955 Prisoner of war Film starring John Mills and Eric Portman. Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) Above Us the Waves is a 1955 War film starring John Mills, John Gregson, Donald Sinden, James Robertson Justice Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) Ice-Cold in Alex ( 1958) is a British film based on the novel of the same name by British author Christopher Landon. Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He often acted in the roles of people who are not at all exceptional, but become heroes due to their common sense, generosity and right judgement. Common sense (or when used attributively as an Adjective, commonsense, common-sense, or commonsensical) based on a strict construction In non-legal contexts a judgment is a balanced weighing up of evidence preparatory to making a decision Altogether he appeared in over 120 films.

For his role as the village idiot in Ryan's Daughter (1970) — a complete departure from his usual style — Mills won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Ryan's Daughter is David Lean 's 1970 film which tells the story of an Irish girl who has an affair with a British soldier during World Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts His most famous television role was probably as the title character in Quatermass for ITV in 1979. Professor Bernard Quatermass is a fictional character originally created by the writer Nigel Kneale for BBC Television. Quatermass (also known as The Quatermass Conclusion or Quatermass IV) is a British television science fiction Independent Television (generally known as ITV) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters set up under the Independent Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Also on the small screen, in 1974 he starred as Captain Tommy "The Elephant" Devon in the six-part television drama series The Zoo Gang, about a group of former underground freedom fighters from World War II, with Brian Keith, Lilli Palmer, and Barry Morse. Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. The Zoo Gang was a 1974 ITC Entertainment drama series that ran for six one-hour colour episodes World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Brian Keith (November 14 1921 – June 24 1997 was an American stage film and television actor Lilli Palmer, born Lillie Marie Peiser, ( May 24, 1914 – January 27, 1986) was a Golden Globe nominated German actress Herbert "Barry" Morse ( 10 June 1918 - 2 February 2008) was a British -born Canadian Actor of stage

He also starred as Gus the Theatre Cat in the filmed version of the musical Cats in 1998. Cats is an award-winning musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber based on Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar)

In 2002 Mills released his extensive home movie footage in a documentary/film entitled John Mills' Moving Memories, with interviews with Mills, his children Hayley, Juliet and Jonathon and Richard Attenborough. Richard Samuel Attenborough Baron Attenborough The film was directed and edited by Marcus Dillistone, and features behind the scenes footage and stories from films such as Ice Cold in Alex and Dunkirk. Marcus Dillistone is a British film director A close friend of Sir John Mills, he directed the film of Sir John's life Sir John Mills' Moving Memories. Ice-Cold in Alex ( 1958) is a British film based on the novel of the same name by British author Christopher Landon. Dunkirk is a World War II film made in 1958, starring John Mills, Richard Attenborough and Bernard Lee. In addition the film also includes home footage of many of John Mills' friends and fellow cast members including Sir Laurence Olivier, Harry Andrews, Walt Disney, David Niven, Dirk Bogarde, Rex Harrison, Tyrone Power. Laurence Kerr Olivier Baron Major Harry Fleetwood Andrews, CBE (born 10 November, 1911 - 6 March, 1989) was an English Actor Walter Elias Disney (December 5 1901 – December 15 1966 was a multiple Academy Award -winning American Film producer, director, Screenwriter James David Graham Niven (1 March 1910 – 29 July 1983 was an English Academy Award -winning Actor probably best known for his role as the punctuality-obsessed Sir Derek Jules Gaspard Ulric Niven van den Bogaerde ( 28 March, 1921  &ndash 8 May, 1999) better known by his Stage name Sir Reginald “Rex” Carey Harrison (5 March 1908 - 2 June 1990 was an English Academy Award and Tony Award -winning Theatre and Tyrone Edmund Power Jr (May 5 1914 – November 15 1958 usually credited simply as Tyrone Power and known sometimes as " Ty Power " was an

Honours

He was appointed a CBE in 1960. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In 1976 he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II

In 2002, he received a Fellowship of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), the highest award given by the Academy, and was named a Disney Legend by The Walt Disney Company. See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA is a British charity that hosts annual awards shows for film television television craft video games and forms of animation An academy ( Greek Ἀκαδημία is an institution of higher learning research or honorary membership Established in 1987, the Disney Legends program recognizes men and women who have made an extraordinary and integral contribution to The Walt Disney Company.

Family

The Wick on Richmond Hill in Richmond, Surrey, was the family home for many years. Richmond is a town and the principal settlement of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in England.

His sister Annette Mills (1894–1955) was known for being the partner of the puppet "Muffin", in the BBC Television series Muffin the Mule between 1946 and 1955. Annette Mills (1894 – 10 January 1955) was an English Actress, Dancer and broadcaster, and concert pianist Muffin the Mule is a Puppet character in British Television programmes for Children.

His first wife was the actress Aileen Raymond. Aileen Raymond (1910 - 2005 was an English television/stage actress They were married in 1927 and divorced in 1941. Year 1927 ( MCMXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

His second wife was the dramatist Mary Hayley Bell. Mary Hayley Bell Lady Mills ( 22 January Their marriage on 16 January 1941 lasted 64 years, until his death in 2005. Events 27 BC - The title Augustus is bestowed upon Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian by the Roman Senate. Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. They were married in a rushed civil ceremony, due to the war, and it was not until 60 years later that they had their union blessed by a church ^[1]. They had two daughters, Juliet, star of television's Nanny and the Professor and Hayley, a Disney child star noted for starring in The Parent Trap, and one son Jonathan Mills. Juliet Maryon Mills, (born 21 November 1941) is an English Character actress, born to the famous theater family of actor Sir John Mills Nanny And The Professor is a US fantasy Situation comedy created by AJ Carothers and produced by 20th Century Fox Television Hayley Catherine Rose Vivien Mills (born April 18, 1946) is an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award -winning English actress The Parent Trap (1961 is a Walt Disney Productions Feature film starring Hayley Mills, Maureen O'Hara and Brian Keith Hayley Mills's son, Crispian Mills, became a successful singer with the pop group Kula Shaker. Hayley Catherine Rose Vivien Mills (born April 18, 1946) is an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award -winning English actress Crispian Mills (born January 18, 1973 as Crispian John David Boulting; also known as 'Dodge' Kula Shaker are an English multi-platinum selling Psychedelic rock band who came to prominence during the Britpop era

Death

In the years leading up to his death, he appeared on television only on special occasions, his sight having failed almost completely in 1992. Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) After that, his film roles were brief but notable cameos.

He died aged 97 on 23 April 2005 at his home in Denham, Buckinghamshire following a chest infection. Events 215 BC - A temple is built on the Capitoline Hill dedicated to Venus Erycina to commemorate the Roman defeat at Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Buckinghamshire (abbreviated Bucks) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. A few months after Sir John's death, Mary Hayley Bell died on 1 December 2005. Mary Hayley Bell Lady Mills ( 22 January Events 800 - Charlemagne judges the accusations against Pope Leo III in the Vatican Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Filmography

Stage performances

• Great Expectations (1976)
• Cats (1998)
• Goodbye, Mr. Chips
• Of Mice and Men

Notes

External links

• John Mills at the Internet Movie Database
• It's Not Just Michael Powell: British Films of the 30s 40s and 50s
• Sir John Mills Theatre - Eastern Angles
• Quatermass.org.uk - John Mills Profile at the Nigel Kneale & Quatermass Appreciation Site