Tom Georgeson

Thomas Georgeson (8 August 1936 – 18 March 2026) was an English actor, known for his television and film work. His most notable credits were supporting parts in Between the Lines (1992–94) and in three dramas by Alan Bleasdale: Boys from the Blackstuff (1982), Scully (1984), and G.B.H. (1991). He appeared as the lawyer's clerk Clamb in the BBC One serial Bleak House (2005).

Early life

The fourth of eleven children, Georgeson planned to follow two of his brothers into training for the priesthood. As a result, he moved from a Liverpool secondary school to a Catholic boarding school in Wales. From there, he went to a seminary in Spain, aged 17 but after 18 months, gave up all ideas of becoming a priest. Instead, he studied philosophy for a while, returned to Liverpool and began doing amateur dramatics.

Career

Following national service as a radio direction finder in the RAF, Georgeson's career started as an assistant working in the Liverpool tailor's shop Jackson. In 1960, he accompanied a sister to Australia, since she wanted to join another brother who was living there. Once down under, Georgeson followed his father's wishes and became a primary school teacher but combined it with performing with the Therry Society, an Adelaide amateur dramatics company. In 1962, he married Primrose Newby, an actress and ballet dancer before returning to Britain with her three years later. His theatrical experience in Australia won him theatre performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company followed by repertory in Bristol, Nottingham, York and Liverpool. By now, Georgeson was also beginning a career on television.

Television work included roles in police and hospital dramas such as Holby City, Juliet Bravo, The Manageress, Peak Practice, Agatha Christie's Poirot, A Touch of Frost, Cadfael, The Bill, Dalziel and Pascoe, The Professionals and Z-Cars. He also appeared twice in Doctor Who (in the stories Genesis of the Daleks and Logopolis) and in Ashes to Ashes, Foyle's War, and The Crimson Petal and the White.

Georgeson's film credits included A Fish Called Wanda (1988), where his character's name was a play on his own ('George Thomason'), and the follow-up film Fierce Creatures (1997) as a spectator at the sea-lion centre. Georgeson is also well known for his stage work and was nominated for a 2002 London Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actor for his performance in Frozen at the Cottesloe Theatre (RNT).

Georgeson died in London on 18 March 2026, at the age of 89.

Filmography

Film

Television

External links

• at IMDb
• at Theatricalia
• at AusStage
• at British Film Institute
• discography at Discogs