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James Donald

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James Donald (May 18, 1917 - August 3, 1993) was a Scottish actor. Tall and gaunt he specialized in playing authority figures; military officers, doctors, or scientists.

Donald was born in Aberdeen, and made his first professional stage appearance sometime in the mid-30's. During World War II he appeared in minor roles in such propaganda classics as In Which We Serve (1942), Went the Day Well? (1942) and The Way Ahead (1944). However leading roles eluded him until Lust for Life (1956), in which he played Theo Van Gogh.

He then memorably portrayed Major Clipton in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) - the final words of the film are his: "Madness. Madness!" He also played Group Capt. Ramsey, the Senior British Officer in The Great Escape (1963), as well as supporting roles in other notable films both in Britain and the United States, including King Rat (1965), Cast a Giant Shadow (1966), and Quatermass and the Pit (1967). He regularly appeared in many TV dramas in the UK and USA, as well as on stage.

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