Terry Kilburn

Terry Kilburn

Born: November 25, 1926
in West Ham, Essex, Greater London, England, UK
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Terence E. Kilburn (born 25 November 1926), known for his acting work prior to 1953 as Terry Kilburn, is an English-American actor. Born in London, he moved to Hollywood in the U.S. at the age of 10, and is best known for his roles as a child actor, in films such as A Christmas Carol (1938) and Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939) in the late 1930s and the early 1940s.

Kilburn was born in West Ham, Essex, in Greater London in 1926, to working-class parents. He did some unpaid acting as a young child, and an agent encouraged him to go to Hollywood. Kilburn and his mother immigrated to the U.S. in 1937, and his father arrived the following year. A talent scout for MGM discovered him rehearsing for Eddie Cantor's radio show, and he was cast in the British-set film Lord Jeff (1938).

Known for his innocent, dreamy, doe-eyed look, Kilburn achieved fame at the age of 11 portraying Tiny Tim in the 1938 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film version of A Christmas Carol, and also as four generations of the Colley family in Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939). He also played leading roles in two films which starred Freddie Bartholomew: Lord Jeff (1938) and Swiss Family Robinson (1940). He was featured in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1939) with Basil Rathbone.

In addition to Lord Jeff (1938), Kilburn worked alongside Mickey Rooney in Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever (1939), A Yank at Eton (1942), and National Velvet (1944). In 1946 he was in Black Beauty. In his early 20s, in 1947 and 1948, he was in four back-to-back Bulldog Drummond films, as Seymour, a reporter; and in 1950 he had small roles in two seagoing films.

After high school, Kilburn concentrated on stage work, and studied drama at UCLA. He made his Broadway debut, credited as Terrance Kilburn, as Eugene Marchbanks in a 1952 revival of George Bernard Shaw's Candida. He thereafter remained committed to live performances, as both actor and director.

After 1952 he was credited on screen as Terence Kilburn. His final feature film role was a small part in Lolita (1962). Between 1951 and 1969, he was also in nearly a dozen teleplays, television movies, and television series episodes.

Movies for Terry Kilburn...

Lolita
Title: Lolita
Character: Man
Released: June 13, 1962
Type: Movie
Humbert Humbert is a middle-aged British novelist who is both appalled by and attracted to the vulgarity of American culture. When he comes to stay at the boarding house run by Charlotte Haze, he soon becomes obsessed with Lolita, the woman's teenaged daughter.
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Fiend Without a Face
Title: Fiend Without a Face
Character: Capt. Al Chester
Released: July 3, 1958
Type: Movie
An American airbase in Canada provokes resentment from the nearby residents after fallout from nuclear experiments at the base are blamed for a recent spate of disappearances. A captain from the airbase is assigned to investigate, and begins to suspect that an elderly British scientist who lives near the base and conducts research in the field of mind over matter knows more than he is letting on..
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Slaves of Babylon
Title: Slaves of Babylon
Character: King Cyrus
Released: October 21, 1953
Type: Movie
The Jews are taken from Jerusalem and made slaves by King Nebuchadnezzar. In the meantime Cyrus, king of the Persians, who has been living as a shepherd, is proclaimed king and defeats Nebuchadnezzar.
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Only the Valiant
Title: Only the Valiant
Character: Trooper Saxton
Released: April 13, 1951
Type: Movie
Only the Valiant, a classic western adventure, based on a novel by Charles Marquis Warren, the film tells the story of a Cavalry officer who volunteers for a suicidal mission to fight the hostile Apaches in an effort to prove his loyalty to his men and the woman he loves.
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Fortunes of Captain Blood
Title: Fortunes of Captain Blood
Character: Kenny Jensen
Released: May 19, 1950
Type: Movie
When he unwittingly sends some of his men into a trap, pirate Captain Peter Blood decides to rescue them. They've been taken prisoner by the Spanish Marquis de Riconete who is now using them as slave labor harvesting pearls from the sea.
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Tyrant of the Sea
Title: Tyrant of the Sea
Character: Dick Savage
Released: February 22, 1950
Type: Movie
In 1803, the only thing standing between Napoleon and his plan of world domination is England and the British Navy. The admiralty, learning that Napoleon has assembled an invasion fleet decides to send out one of its vessels to destroy it the French flagship under cover of fog. Forced out of retirement, ruthless, tyrannical and temperamental Captain William Blake is put in command. He wields his command with sadistic fury until an epidemic of scurvy attacks the crew and, when he refuses to go ashore for needed provision, mutiny and insubordination results...and, then, the French flagship arrives.
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13 Lead Soldiers
Title: 13 Lead Soldiers
Character: Seymour
Released: April 30, 1948
Type: Movie
Captain Hugh "Bulldog" Drummond is called in to solve the murder of a man from whom two lead soldiers were stolen. Drummond learns that the two soldiers were part of a set of thirteen which formed the key to a hidden vault of treasure. Following some clever sleuthing and set-up on Drummond's part, the guilty man is trapped in the vault,which is hidden behind the fireplace.
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The Challenge
Title: The Challenge
Character: Seymour
Released: April 2, 1948
Type: Movie
Bulldog Drummond investigates the murder of a sea captain who died before revealing the location of his hidden gold.
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Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back
Title: Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back
Character: Seymour
Released: September 4, 1947
Type: Movie
Captain Hugh 'Bulldog' Drummond investigates the murder of the C.I.D. man who had been tracing validity of rival claims to a large estate.
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Bulldog Drummond at Bay
Title: Bulldog Drummond at Bay
Character: Seymour - Cub Reporter
Released: May 15, 1947
Type: Movie
"Bulldog" Drummond is vacationing in his country home in England, and his house if rifled by two thieves. After they leave he finds a card marked with some mysterious letters. Doris Meredith comes by the next day, pretending her car has broken down. Drummond knows better but plays along with her. Drummond calls Scotland Yard Inspector Holmes, and is informed that some of the letters comprise the code-name for a Yard-man who disappeared while carrying some diamonds from France to England. Doris tells Drummond the man is her brother. Drummond uses a decoy to lure the thieves out of hiding, but they adduct Doris.
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Song of Scheherazade
Title: Song of Scheherazade
Character: Midshipman Lorin
Released: February 26, 1947
Type: Movie
A beautiful cabaret dancer inspires composer Rimsky-Korsakov.
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Black Beauty
Title: Black Beauty
Character: Joe
Released: August 29, 1946
Type: Movie
Based on Anna Sewell's novel. In rural England of the 1880's, widower Squire Wendon is rearing his young daughter Anne. Her father has forbidden her to be present when their mare, "Duchess," gives birth. Anne sneaks out to the stable, however, and is discovered by her father who forbids her ever to ride Duchess again. Despite this punishment, he gives Anne Duchess's colt because it is her birthday, and she names him "Black Beauty."
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National Velvet
Title: National Velvet
Character: Theodore 'Ted'
Released: January 26, 1945
Type: Movie
Mi Taylor is a young wanderer and opportunist who finds himself in the quiet English countryside home of the Brown family. The youngest daughter, Velvet, has a passion for horses and when she wins the spirited steed Pie in a town lottery, Mi is encouraged to train the horse.
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Mercy Island
Title: Mercy Island
Character: Wiccy
Released: October 9, 1941
Type: Movie
The beautiful Florida Keys provide the setting of this adventure that tells the tale of a fun-filled fishing trip that becomes a nightmare when the charter boat is wrecked on an isolated island. Unfortunately, there are very few provisions and the group must fend for themselves. They are eventually assisted by a hermit, but before that one of the group goes insane, and another is eaten by an alligator.
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Swiss Family Robinson
Title: Swiss Family Robinson
Character: Ernest Robinson
Released: February 8, 1940
Type: Movie
A family setting out for a new life across the sea is shipwrecked on a deserted island. The family members collaborate to create a home for themselves in the jungle environment.
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The Arsenal Stadium Mystery
Title: The Arsenal Stadium Mystery
Character: Errand Boy
Released: November 1, 1939
Type: Movie
During a charity football match between Arsenal and touring amateur side Trojans, the Trojan's new star player collapses and dies. Inspector Slade of Scotland Yard is called in and declares it was murder. It takes all his ingenuity and another death before the motive is discovered and the killer revealed.
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The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Title: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Character: Billy
Released: September 1, 1939
Type: Movie
Having once again avoided criminal conviction, Professor Moriarity develops a murderous plan to “finish off” his last major nemesis, Sherlock Holmes, by making him fail to prevent the perfect crime. Does it involve a family curse, the crown jewels of England, or something else…
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They Shall Have Music
Title: They Shall Have Music
Character: Limey
Released: August 18, 1939
Type: Movie
The future is bleak for a troubled boy from a broken home in the slums. He runs away when his step father breaks his violin, ending up sleeping in the basement of a music school for poor children.
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Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Title: Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Character: John Colley / Peter Colley I / Peter Colley II / Peter Colley III
Released: July 28, 1939
Type: Movie
A shy British teacher looks back nostalgically at his long career, taking note of the people who touched his life.
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Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever
Title: Andy Hardy Gets Spring Fever
Character: Stickin Plaster
Released: July 21, 1939
Type: Movie
Young Andy develops a crush on his drama teacher. When his play is chosen as the school's annual production, Andy seizes the opportunity to spend as much time as possible with his pretty teacher. Meanwhile, Judge Hardy has his own problems when he gets conned into forming a phony aluminum corporation.
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The Great Man Votes
Title: The Great Man Votes
Character: Student
Released: January 13, 1939
Type: Movie
In 1923, Gregory Vance, a widower with two children, is a former scholar who has turned from book to bottle. He works, slightly, as a night-watchman, and his children, who know him for what he is and what he isn't, are his only admirers. Then, it is discovered that he is the only registered voter in a key precinct and the politicians, from both parties, arrive in droves bearing inducements. What he does about this situation, and the relatives who want to take his children away from him make up the story.
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Sweethearts
Title: Sweethearts
Character: Brother
Released: December 30, 1938
Type: Movie
Bickering husband-and-wife stage stars are manipulated into a break-up for publicity purposes.
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A Christmas Carol
Title: A Christmas Carol
Character: 'Tiny Tim' Cratchit
Released: December 16, 1938
Type: Movie
Miser Ebenezer Scrooge is awakened on Christmas Eve by spirits who reveal to him his own miserable existence, what opportunities he wasted in his youth, his current cruelties, and the dire fate that awaits him if he does not change his ways. Scrooge is faced with his own story of growing bitterness and meanness, and must decide what his own future will hold: death or redemption.
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Lord Jeff
Title: Lord Jeff
Character: Albert Baker
Released: June 17, 1938
Type: Movie
Spoiled child Geoffrey Bramer teams up with a pair of small time crooks to pose as an aristocrat and steal jewelry from exclusive shops. During a a caper, Geoffrey is caught and is sentenced to a reformatory where young men are trained to be sailors. He is befriended by model in-mate Terry O'Mulvaney but soon starts to get them both in trouble.