Skelton Knaggs


Skelton Barnaby Knaggs was an English stage actor who also appeared in films, especially in horror films.

Biography

Knaggs was born in the Hillsborough district of Sheffield, England. Knaggs moved to London where he trained as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and subsequently became a Shakespearean actor. In addition to appearing on stage in Shakespeare's Cymbeline, Knaggs appeared in a few British films, including an uncredited role as a German orderly in Michael Powell's The Spy in Black.
At some point he moved to Los Angeles, California and found work as a character actor in Hollywood. Diminutive and distinctive-looking, with a strongly featured pock-marked face and charismatically voiced with an English Midlands provincial accent, he was cast in sinister roles, often in horror films. These ranged from uncredited bit parts to prominent roles in the Sherlock Holmes thriller Terror by Night, the all-star monster rally House of Dracula and three Val Lewton productions including The Ghost Ship. In the latter, a voice-over narrative by Knaggs is heard, representing the thoughts of his character, a mute seaman.
Back in London, he married Thelma Crawshaw in 1949, then returned to Hollywood. The last film in which he appeared was Fritz Lang's period adventure based on J. Meade Falkner's novel Moonfleet.

Death

An alcoholic, Knaggs died of cirrhosis of the liver in Los Angeles in 1955 at the age of 43. His body was buried in the 'Hollywood Forever Cemetery' in Los Angeles.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1936Everything Is ThunderYoung Man with LanternFilm debut, Uncredited
1936RembrandtMinor RoleUncredited
1937The High CommandFazerack
1938South RidingReg. Aythorne
1939The Spy in BlackGerman Sailor Looking for Capt. HardtUncredited
1939Torture ShipJesse Bixel
1940Diamond FrontierMorgan
1943Thumbs UpShooting Gallery ConcessionaireUncredited
1943Headin' for God's CountryJeff
1943Thank Your Lucky StarsVillager in PubUncredited
1943The Ghost ShipFinn - the MuteUncredited
1944The LodgerMan with CartUncredited
1944The Scarlet ClawVillager in PubUncredited
1944The Invisible Man's RevengeAlf Perry - a CabmanUncredited
1944None But the Lonely HeartLou 'Slush' AtleyUncredited
1945The Picture of Dorian GrayBlue Gate Fields WaiterUncredited
1945Isle of the DeadAndrew RobbinsUncredited
1945House of DraculaSteinmuhl
1946Terror by NightSands
1946Just Before DawnLouieUncredited
1946BedlamVarneyUncredited
1946Night and DayNewspaper VendorUncredited
1946A Scandal in ParisCousin Pierre
1946Dick Tracy vs. CueballRudolph
1947Dick Tracy Meets GruesomeX-Ray
1947Forever AmberBlueskinUncredited
1948The PalefacePete
1949Master MindsHugo
1951Retner
1952Million Dollar MermaidCheering Man on Tower BridgeUncredited
1952Blackbeard the PirateGilly
1953Botany BayNewgate Prisoner Drawing on Cell WallUncredited
1953Rogue's MarchFish
1954Casanova's Big NightLittle ManUncredited
1954General Electric TheaterMan on Crutches1 episode
1955Son of SinbadSidewalk SpectatorUncredited
1955TV Reader's DigestGibson1 episode
1955MoonfleetJacobFinal film