Harry Andrews

Harry Andrews was a British character actor known for his imposing physical presence in dozens of British films and television productions, including The Hill (1965), The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968), and The Ruling Class (1972). He was gay, and from the late 1950s was the partner of fellow actor Basil Hoskins, whom he met while filming Ice Cold in Alex (1958); the two lived together discreetly at Andrews's home near Salehurst, East Sussex, for more than thirty years, at a time when homosexuality remained criminalized in Britain until 1967 and public disclosure would have ended both of their careers. Andrews died at his Salehurst home on March 6, 1989, at age 77; Hoskins survived him until 2005 and is buried beside him at St Mary the Virgin, Salehurst. Andrews is one of many British actors of his generation whose homosexuality was known within the profession but concealed from the public throughout his lifetime.