John Robinson (11 November 1908 – 6 March 1979) was an English actor, who was particularly active in the theatre. Mostly cast in minor and supporting roles in film and television, he is best remembered for being the second actor to play the famous television science-fiction role of Professor Bernard Quatermass, in the 1955 BBC Television serial Quatermass II.
Biography
Robinson was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England. In 1939, he played Fortinbras in John Gielgud's production of Hamlet, the final play to be performed at the Lyceum Theatre before its closure.
He made his film debut in 1936 in The Scarab Murder Case, and during the 1930s he also began appearing on radio and in the newer medium of television. With only a short amount of time to cast a replacement, director Rudolph Cartier offered Robinson the role, as the only suitable actor available. In the 1960s, Robinson starred in another science-fiction series, R3, which had some similarities to Quatermass.