Hay Petrie
David Hay Petrie (16 July 1895 – 30 July 1948) was a Scottish actor noted for playing eccentric characters, among them Quilp in The Old Curiosity Shop (1934), the McLaggen in The Ghost Goes West (1935) and Uncle Pumblechook in Great Expectations (1946).
Hay Petrie was born in Dundee, Angus, Scotland, the son of Jessie and David Mathew Petrie, a decorator. He went to Harris Academy and later attended St Andrew's University, where he first discovered the stage. In 1915, he joined the Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) as a second lieutenant.
After the war, he studied with Rosina Filippi, joining the Old Vic Company appearing as "Starveling" in A Midsummer Night's Dream in 1920. In 1924 Albert de Courville brought Hay Petrie into vaudeville with The Looking Glass, in which he sang "Oh Shakespeare you're the best of all but you can't fill the fourteen shilling stall". His first film part was Many Waters in 1931. In 1928 he married Muriel Eleanor Gwendolen Stevens (1904-). During World War II he was an ARP warden.
Hay Petrie struggled with alcoholism, but was much loved by audiences and players. He was never more at home than when he was playing parts from the classical theatre, and for many he was the Shakespearean Clown of the early 1920s.
He died in London in July 1948, aged 53.
Acted in
The Queen of Spades
1949
as Herman's Servant
The Guinea Pig
1948
as Peck
The Fallen Idol
1948
as Clock Winder
Noose
1948
as the barber
The Monkey's Paw
1948
as Grimshaw, the Curio Shop Proprietor
Great Expectations
1946
as Uncle Pumblechook
Midnight Taxi
1946
as The Cabby
The Laughing Lady
1946
as Tom
The Voice Within
1946
as Fair Owner
Night Boat to Dublin
1946
as Station Master
For You Alone
1945
as Sir Henry Markham (uncredited)
Kiss the Bride Goodbye
1945
as Fraser
A Canterbury Tale
1944
as Woodcock
On Approval
1944
as Landlord
The Shipbuilders
1943
as Worker in Pagan's Office (uncredited)
They Met in the Dark
1943
as Waiter (uncredited)
Sabotage at Sea
1942
as Talkative sailor at table
They Flew Alone
1942
as Old General
Hard Steel
1942
as Mr. Kissack
One of Our Aircraft Is Missing
1942
as The Burgomaster
Rush Hour
1941
Cottage to Let
1941
as Dr. Truscott
Turned Out Nice Again
1941
as Drunk
The Spell of Amy Nugent
1941
as Cathcart
Quiet Wedding
1941
as Railway Porter
The Ghost of St. Michael's
1941
as Procurator Fiscal
Freedom Radio
1941
as Sebastian
Convoy
1940
as Minesweeper Skipper
Ten Days in Paris
1940
as Benoit
Pastor Hall
1940
as Nazi Pastor
Contraband
1940
as Axel Skold
Spy for a Day
1940
as Britt
Crimes at the Dark House
1940
as Dr. Isidor Fosco
The Thief of Bagdad
1940
as Astrologer
21 Days Together
1940
as John Aloysius Evan
Inquest
1939
as Stephen Neale
The Spy in Black
1939
as Engineer
Jamaica Inn
1939
as Sir Humphrey's Groom Sam
The Four Feathers
1939
as Mahdi Interpreter
Design for Murder
1939
as Old Dan
Q Planes
1939
as Stage Door Keeper
Consider Your Verdict
1938
as The Undertaker
Knight Without Armour
1937
as Station Master
Secret Lives
1937
as Robert Pigeon
The Two Frightened Ladies
1937
as Solicitor
Forget Me Not
1936
as New York theatre manager
The Conquest of the Air
1936
as Tiberius Cavallo
Rembrandt
1936
as Jeweller (uncredited)
The House of the Spaniard
1936
as Orlando
Men of Yesterday
1936
The Ghost Goes West
1935
as The McLaggen
Crimson Dynasty
1935
as Professor
Moscow Nights
1935
as Spy
I Give My Heart
1935
as Cascal
Invitation To The Waltz
1935
as Periteau
Peg of Old Drury
1935
as Mr. Rich
Blind Justice
1935
as Harry
Do Not Forget About Me
1935
as New York Manager
The Old Curiosity Shop
1934
as Quilp
Nell Gwyn
1934
as French Ambassador
The Queen's Affair
1934
as Waiter
Colonel Blood
1934
as Mr Edwards
Crime on the Hill
1933
as Jevons
Song of the Plough
1933
as Farmhand
The Wandering Jew
1933
as Merchant (Phase III)
Matinee Idol
1933
as Mr. Clappit
The Private Life of Henry VIII
1933
as The King's Barber (uncredited)
The Lucky Number
1933
as Photographer
Many Waters
1931
as Director
Gipsy Blood
1931
as Remenado
Night Birds
1930
as Scotty
Suspense
1930
as Scruffy