Arthur Treacher

Arthur Veary Treacher (23 July 1894 – 14 December 1975) was an English actor known for playing recognizable English stereotypes, especially butler and manservant roles, such as the P.G. Wodehouse valet character Jeeves and the kind butler Andrews in Heidi. He later became a well-known personality on American television, and lent his name to a fish and chips franchise.

Early life

Treacher was the son of a Sussex solicitor. He was educated at boarding school in Uppingham in Rutland.

Career

Treacher was a veteran of World War I serving as an officer in the Royal Garrison Artillery; his father had served with the Sussex Volunteer Artillery before his son's birth. After the war, he established a stage career and in 1926, went to America as part of a musical-comedy revue called Great Temptations. He was featured in the 1930 Billy Rose production Sweet and Low.

He began his film career in the 1930s, which included roles in four Shirley Temple films: Curly Top, uncredited Stowaway (1936), Heidi (1937) and The Little Princess (1939). Scenes intentionally put the 6' 4" Treacher standing or dancing side-by-side with the tiny child actress. They sing and dance together in The Little Princess an old song "Knocked 'em in the Old Kent Road" (clip available on YouTube.) Treacher filled the role of the ideal butler, and he portrayed P.G. Wodehouse's valet character Jeeves in the films Thank You, Jeeves! (1936) and Step Lively, Jeeves (1937). (Wodehouse, however, was unhappy with the way these films turned out, and refused to authorize any further Jeeves films.) Treacher played a valet or butler in several other films, including Personal Maid's Secret, Mister Cinderella and Bordertown.

The Constable

The Constable is a 2013 Hong Kong action drama film written, produced and directed by Dennis Law and starring Simon Yam.

Cast