Alex McCrindle (3 August 1911 – 20 April 1990) was a Scottish actor. He was best known for his role as General Jan Dodonna in Star Wars.

Biography

McCrindle was born in Glasgow. He began his acting career in 1937 starring in minor roles in UK Television. From 1946 to 1951 he played the role of Jock Anderson in Dick Barton – Special Agent. In 1951 he starred in his first film in the USA, The House in the Square. From there his acting career took off. He then did five more films: I Believe in You (1952), The Kidnappers (1953), Trouble in the Glen (1954), Geordie (1955) and Depth Charge (1960).

From 1962 to 1974 he went to television acting. In 1976 he was cast in the first Star Wars film as General Jan Dodonna, the first character to use the phrase "May the Force be with you", in any Star Wars media. He went back to minor roles on TV, including the role of the eccentric veterinarian Ewan Ross on All Creatures Great and Small.

McCrindle was a founding member of the actors' trade union Scottish Equity.

Personal life

McCrindle's second wife was the children's novelist and political activist Honor Arundel (1919–1973). He was survived by his three children: Catherine, Jessica, and Jean. According to Doris Lessing, McCrindle and Arundel's home in the 1950s was a hub of Communist Party activity and organisation.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1951I'll Never Forget YouJames BoswellUncredited
1952I Believe in YouTom Haines
1953Gilbert Harding Speaking of MurderMusic Critic
The KidnappersThe MinisterUncredited
1954Trouble in the GlenKeegan
1955GeordieGuardUncredited
1960Depth ChargeSkipper
1970The Private Life of Sherlock HolmesBaggageman
1977Star WarsGeneral Jan Dodonna
1978The Peregrine HuntersHawkeye Brown
1979Correction, PleaseHepworth
1981Eye of the NeedleTom
1986ComradesJailor

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1937The Ghost TrainJacksonTV Short
1938On the SpotPatrolman RyanTV movie
Juno and the PaycockSewing Machine ManTV movie
The Knight of the Burning PestleGeorge GreengooseTV movie
1952Wednesday TheatrePhilibent1 episode
1953BBC Sunday-Night TheatreScotsman1 episode
Wednesday TheatreMr. Poprad1 episode
1954Rheingold TheatreKelly1 episode
1956Adventure TheatreMusic Critic
1962The Dark IslandMr Stewart3 episodes
The Master of BallantraeCaptain Teach2 episodes
1963Kidnapped1st Crofter
1964Witch WoodRev. ProudfootTV movie
1965The SaintFergus MacLish1 episode
UndermindProfessor Emmett1 episode
1966–1967This Man CraigWillie Sinclair52 episodes
1968The Flight of the HeronKeppoch2 episodes
Mystery and ImaginationLapraik1 episode
1971The View from Daniel PikeCapt. McPhee1 episode
1973The View from Daniel PikeShakespeare1 episode
Adam SmithJimmy Black1 episode
Sutherland's LawJames Keenan1 episode
1974Sutherland's LawMacGillivray1 episode
1975The Hill of the Red FoxDeckhand1 episode
1976ShadowsMr. Campbell1 episode
1978Play for TodayTam1 episode
All Creatures Great and SmallEwan Ross1 episode
1979Dick TurpinDr. Hector Andrews1 episode
Play for TodayFather1 episode
1980Sounding BrassMr Mackenzie5 episodes
MackenzieBill Campbell2 episodes
1982Cloud HoweOld Leslie4 episodes
The Gentle TouchOld Man1 episode
1983Flying into the WindThe TrampTV movie
Reilly: Ace of SpiesMacDougal1 episode
1984The Country Diary of an Edwardian LadyMacbeth Bain1 episode
SakharovSiberia TrainmanTV movie
1988The Play on OneWilfEpisode: "Normal Service"
TaggartTramp1 episode
1989Screen TwoMan in OfficeSeason 5: Leaving
1988–1990High RoadBert3 episodes, (final appearance)

External links