Basil Dignam (24 October 1905 – 31 January 1979) was an English character actor. Basil Dignam was born in Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire. Before the acting, he tried many jobs, from a company clerk to a journalist. He acted on film and television between 1948 and 1978. He often appeared as an authority figure, such as Mr Justice Poynter in Crown Court, as a police officer, army general or peer. Television appearances include The Prisoner: Checkmate (1967) and The Champions (1968), as Sir Frederick in episode 2 "The Invisible Man". Personal life He was married to actress Mona Washbourne from 1940 until his death in 1979. His brother Mark Dignam was also a professional actor. Basil Dignam died, aged 73, in Westminster, London. Selected filmography Maytime in Mayfair (1949) – Commissionaire (uncredited) Smart Alec (1951) – Defending Counsel Two on the Tiles (1951) – Ship's Captain The Lady with a Lamp (1951) Appointment with Venus (1951) – R.A.M.C. Captain His Excellency (1952) – Security Officer Hammer the Toff (1952) – Superintendent There Was a Young Lady (1953) Carrington V.C. (1954) The Quatermass Xperiment (1955) – Sir Lionel Dean (uncredited) They Can't Hang Me (1955) – Wing Commander Riddle Touch and Go (1955) – Stevens The Narrowing Circle (1956) – George Pacey Private's Progress (1956) – Col. Martin (uncredited) Port of Escape (1956) – Det. Insp. Crawford The Intimate Stranger (1956) – Dr. Gray Reach for the Sky (1956) – Air Ministry Doctor (uncredited) The Weapon (1956) – (uncredited) The Counterfeit Plan (1957) – Police Commissioner You Pay Your Money (1957) – Currie Brothers in Law (1957) – Mr. Justice Emery Yangtse Incident: The Story of H.M.S. Amethyst (1957) – Sir Lionel Henry Lamb, British Ambassador at Nanking Man in the Shadow (1957) – Bit Part (uncredited) Three Sundays to Live (1957) – Davitt The Depraved (1957) – Tom Wilton Son of a Stranger (1957) – Dr. Delaney The Safecracker (1958) – Air Vice Marshal Innocent Sinners (1958) – Mr. Dyson – Olivia's Solicitor (uncredited) Up the Creek (1958) – Coombes The Spaniard's Curse (1958) – Guy Stevenson (uncredited) A Cry from the Streets (1958) – Police Inspector (uncredited) Carry On Sergeant (1958) – Third Specialist Further Up the Creek (1958) – Flagship Commander I Only Arsked! (1958) – (uncredited) Corridors of Blood (1958) – Chairman Room at the Top (1959) – Priest (uncredited) Carlton-Browne of the F.O. (1959) –