Bruce Boa


Andrew Bruce Boa was a Canadian actor, who found success playing the token American in British films and television, usually playing military types. Boa's most recognizable film role is in The Empire Strikes Back as General Rieekan. On television, his most notable role is probably as the brash and rude American guest, Mr. Harry Hamilton, in the "Waldorf Salad" episode of the BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers.

Early life

Bruce Boa was born on 10 July 1930 in Calgary, Alberta, the second of three children of Ila and Andrew Boa, a clergyman. His older sister was Jungian analyst and author Marion Woodman, and his younger brother was Fraser Boa, also a Jungian analyst, who died in 1992. Boa attended the University of Western Ontario, graduating in 1952 with a degree in theology, then spent a brief period playing professional football for the Calgary Stampeders. After travelling through Europe, he began his acting career in England in 1958, and settled there permanently in the 1960s. In a 1959 interview he stated that he was also writing novels and film scripts; however, it would appear these works were not published or filmed.

Career

Boa's film credits include Man in the Middle, The Adding Machine, Who?, The Cherry Picker, The Omen, Silver Bears, Superman, Carry On Emmannuelle, A Touch of the Sun, The London Connection, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, Silver Dream Racer, Ragtime, Octopussy, Return to Oz, and Screamers. He also played the Marine colonel in Full Metal Jacket who chastises Matthew Modine's character over having a peace pin on his lapel while having "Born To Kill" written on his combat helmet.
On television, in 1977 he appeared in Come Back, Little Sheba, an episode of Laurence Olivier Presents, opposite Laurence Olivier and Joanne Woodward. Other television credits include: The Avengers, Out of the Unknown, The Champions, The Troubleshooters, The Saint, Ace of Wands, Special Branch, The Onedin Line, Z-Cars, The New Avengers, The Professionals, The Omega Factor, Dempsey & Makepeace, Astronauts, Hart to Hart, Remington Steele, Howards' Way, the 1979 miniseries A Man Called Intrepid, the 1988 television film The Bourne Identity, Tales of the Unexpected, As Time Goes By, Road to Avonlea, Kavanagh QC, Bulman and Warship.

Death

Boa died from cancer on 17 April 2004 in Surrey, England. He was survived by his British wife Cherry and their three children. He was also good friends with John Cleese.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1960Man in the MoonRoyFilm debut
1964Man in the MiddleMaj. Lawson
1967The Mini-AffairAmerican Newman
1969Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness?Car SalesmanUncredited
1969The Adding MachineDetective
1970The RevolutionaryGuest at Party
1973Who?Miller
1974The Cherry PickerDr. Softman
1976The OmenThorn's Aide
1977Silver BearsAmerican Banker
1978Carry on EmmannuelleU.S. Ambassador
1978SupermanJoint chief of general staffExtended version, Uncredited
1979The London ConnectionColonel
1979Unidentified Flying OddballAir Force OfficerUncredited
1979A Touch of the SunJim Coburn
1979A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley SquareMorgan Stanfield
1980The Ninth ConfigurationSergeant in Combat Shack
1980The Empire Strikes BackGeneral Carlist Rieekan
1980Silver Dream Racer2nd TV Reporter
1981RagtimeJerome
1982A Woman Called GoldaMr. MacyTV Movie
1983OctopussyGeneral Peterson
1984Scream for HelpSurgeon
1984The Razor's EdgeHenry Maturin
1985WaterUS Advisor
1985'US ColonelTV Movie
1985Return to OzPoliceman
1985'Houston LawyerTV Movie
1986The American WayCol. Parker
1987Full Metal JacketPOGE Colonel
1987Ping PongAmerican Tourist
1988HawksByron Deckermensky
1989SlipstreamGuard Supervisor
1989Murder StoryCorrigan
1990The Serpent of DeathBartlet
1991White LightClay Avery
1991Deadly Betrayal: The Bruce Curtis StoryAl PodgisTV Movie
1993For the MomentMr. Anderson
1993The NeighborBishop
1995ScreamersSecretary GreenFinal film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1962The AvengersBob Slade1 episode
1963The SaintJack WilliamsEpisode: "The Sporting Chance" Season 2, ep. 13
1963The Third ManInsp. McDonald1 episode
1966Out of the UnknownK.G. Bullen1 episode
1973The Rivals of Sherlock HolmesFreeling Poignton1 episode
1975ThrillerHanleyEpisode: "Good Salary - Prospects - Free Coffin"
1977The New AvengersMahon1 episode
1978The ProfessionalsJohn Jerry Patterson1 episode
1978LillieJoaquin Miller1 episode
1979Fawlty TowersMr HamiltonEpisode: "Waldorf Salad"
1981-83AstronautsBeadle13 episodes
1983Philip Marlowe, Private EyeDon LuigiEpisode: "The Pencil"
1983Hart to HartWilliam EadyEpisode: "Passing Chance"
1984President Francis PattonTV mini-series
1984Remington SteeleWallace CarlisleEpisode: "Maltese Steele"
1984Ellis IslandDoctor MooreTV mini-series
1986-90Howards' WayRobert Hudson3 episodes
1988Tales of the UnexpectedMr. Groober1 episode
1988The Bourne IdentitySenator CrawfordTV mini-series
1992-93Road to AvonleaMr. Harrison2 episodes
1993The Young Indiana Jones ChroniclesAmbassador KerensEpisode: "Vienna, November 1908"
1994ScarlettMinister1 episode
1995As Time Goes ByYoung Rocky1 episode
1997Kavanagh QCGovernor Stamford Cotton1 episode