Patrick Jordan

Patrick Jordan (20 October 1923 – February 2020) was an English theatre, film and television actor. He was active from the early 1950s through the mid-1990s. He was frequently cast in the role of a military or police official, which became his signature trademark in the industry.

Patrick Jordan was born on October 20, 1923, in Hendon, Middlesex, England, to Albert Patrick Jordan and Margaret Jordan. His father was a regimental sergeant major who met his wife when she was a cook in the officers' mess.

Jordan studied acting at The Old Vic Theatre in London. He made his stage debut in 1946, appearing in William Shakespeare's "Richard II" play at the New Theatre (now Noël Coward Theatre.) The play was directed by Ralph Richardson and its cast included famed English actors Harry Andrews, Rosalind Atkinson, Margaret Leighton, and Alec Guinness. He then performed in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew play, appearing alongside Renée Asherson, Bernard Miles, Patricia Burke, and Trevor Howard. While at the Old Vic, he performed in The Government Inspector and Coriolanus as well.

In 1949, he made his television debut, appearing alongside Mary Ellis and Barry Jones in the TV movie The Browning Version. His film debut came in 1953, with a minor uncredited role in Arthur Crabtree-directed crime/drama Stryker of the Yard.

Over the following years, Jordan appeared in several films and television series, oftentimes as a law enforcement official, such as The Black Glove (1954,) Double Exposure (1954,) The Embezzler (1954,) It's a Great Day! (1955,) The Secret Place (1956,) and The Man Upstairs (1958.)

In 1962, he was cast in the television series No Hiding Place, appearing in four different characters in four episodes:

• as Jimmy Corbett in the episode Accessories After the Fact (1962)
• as Sammy Taylor in the episode A Talk with Yargo Simms (1962)
• as Ben Jordan in the episode Alibis Are Fixed (1963)
• as George Mitchell in the episode It's All Happening (1967)

In the years 1971-1976, he was seen in five different roles in five episodes of BBC's Dixon of Dock Green (created by Ted Willis, Baron Willis.)

In 1977, through his Old Vic friend Alec Guinness, Jordan landed an uncredited role in Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill-starrer film Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. He played the character of an Imperial Officer, an aide to Grand Moff Tarkin (played by Peter Cushing,) in the film directed by George Lucas.

In 1979, Jordan landed the recurring roles of Detective Inspector Lindsay and Mr. Darby in the television series Crossroads. He was seen in ten episodes of the series –– as Inspector Lindsay in the first six, then as Mr. Darby in the remainder.

Jordan retired from acting in 1995, his last role being of "Geoffrey Corbett" in the December 2015 episode, Journey Home, of TV series The Bill. Earlier, he was seen in a February 1991 episode in another role.

Jordan married his wife Margery Gill (1925-2008,) a children's book illustrator, in 1946. The two had met three years ago in a bookshop, when he was a drama student. At home, Jordan would often pose for Margery's book illustrations.

The couple had two daughters –– Tessa and Ros (deceased.)

Jordan died in February 2020.