David Farrar (actor)

David Farrar
Farrar in Black Narcissus (1947)
Born(1908-08-21)21 August 1908
Forest Gate, Essex, England, UK
Died31 August 1995(1995-08-31) (aged 87)
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Resting placeAshes scattered into the Indian Ocean
Years active1937–1962
Spouse
Irene Elliot
(m. 1929; died 1976)
Children1

David Farrar (21 August 1908 – 31 August 1995) was an English stage and film actor.

His film roles include as the male lead in the Powell and Pressburger films Black Narcissus (1947), The Small Back Room (1949) and Gone to Earth (1950). According to one obituary, "He was particularly adept at conveying the weaknesses and human qualities in figures of authority and intelligence ... and he could be considered an early exponent of 'anti-hero' roles."[1] In 1949, exhibitors voted him the ninth-most popular British star.[2]

Director Michael Powell once spoke of his handsome appearance and distinctive "violet eyes", and his exceptional timing in films. Powell also stated that had Farrar been more interested in cinema and cared more about his career, he could have been a much more high-profile actor, as successful as any.[3]

  1. ^ Vallance, Tom (28 September 1995). "OBITUARIES: David Farrar". The Independent. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  2. ^ "Bob Hope Takes Lead from Bing In Popularity". The Canberra Times. 31 December 1949. p. 2. Retrieved 24 April 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ Black Narcissus (The Criterion Collection) (2001) DVD commentary