John Cater

John Edward Cater was born 17 January 1932 in Hendon, north London.[3] His father, like his grandfather, was a florist. His mother was a violinist who performed with the dance trio The Piroinos. He was diagnosed with hereditary haemochromatosis, which led his body to absorb too much dietary iron, but it caused him few problems for most of his life.[3]

Cater was just four years old when he enrolled in dance school. He was attending Hendon Preparatory School when, in 1939, he and his entire class were evacuated from London to Devon. He remained in Devon until he was 16 years old, graduating from Shebbear College.[3]

Upon graduation, he satisfied his national service in the Royal Army Educational Corps.[3]

After leaving the army, Cater enrolled at RADA in 1948.[3]

Cater made his professional acting debut with the Dundee Repertory Theatre after graduating from RADA. He was hired by his friend, the actor Herbert Wise. For the next several years, Cater acted in repertory theatre and summer stock in Aberdeen, Cork, Edinburgh, Guildford, and Nottingham. In 1961, he joined Peter Hall newly-formed Royal Shakespeare Company first London RSC at the Aldwych Theatre. He made his debut with the RSC (and on the West End) in The Duchess of Malfi.[3]

He married fellow RSC actor Wendy Gifford in 1963.[3]

His television credits include: Danger Man; Z-Cars; The Avengers; The Baron; Doctor Who (in the serial The War Machines); Follyfoot; Softly, Softly; Department S; Up Pompeii!; Dad's Army; The Naked Civil Servant; I, Claudius; Alcock and Gander; The Duchess of Duke Street; Thriller (1975), The Sweeney; Inspector Morse; Bergerac; One Foot in the Grave; Lovejoy; Jeeves and Wooster; Midsomer Murders and Doctors.[4]

His film appearances include: The Abominable Dr. Phibes, Dr. Phibes Rises Again and Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter.[5]

Late in life, Cater's haemochromatosis led to severe arthritis, which significantly inhibited his acting career.[3]

John Cater died of liver cancer on 21 March 2009. He was survived by his wife, Wendy, and his daughters Emma and Harriet.[3]

• John Cater at IMDb
• Obituary in The Guardian
• John Cater (Aveleyman.com)