Roy Royston
| Roy Royston | |
|---|---|
Royston with Gina Palerme in Bric-a-Brac, 1915
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| Born |
5 April 1899 Mill Hill, London, England, UK |
| Died | 7 October 1976 (aged 77) Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, England, UK |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1912–1966 |
Roy Royston (5 April 1899 – 7 October 1976), whose original name was Roy Charles Crowden, was an English actor who appeared in a large number of films between 1912 and 1966, beginning as a child actor. Most of his films were silents made before the First World War, during the last year of which he served as a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps and was awarded the Military Cross.
He later developed a career in musical theatre, and his swan song was an appearance as an elderly clergyman in a Hammer Horror film of 1966.
Born at Mill Hill, North London, Roy Charles Crowden took the stage name of "Roy Royston" while still a boy. He was educated at Lynton College and also privately and first appeared on the stage on 19 December 1910 in a revival of Maurice Maeterlinck's play The Blue Bird at the Haymarket Theatre.
Between 1912 and 1914 Royston was the child star of a large number of silent films, most made by Lewis Fitzhamon. His younger brother also became an actor and took the stage name of Gerald Royston.
Under his real name of Roy Crowden, in the later stages of the First World War he was commissioned into the British Army as a temporary second lieutenant and joined the Royal Flying Corps. In June 1918 he was awarded the Military Cross, the citation reading –
T./2nd Lt. Roy Charles Crowden, Gen. List and R.F.C. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during operations. Observing a column of enemy troops marching along a road, he descended to a very low altitude, bombed them, and threw the column into complete confusion. Later on the same day, he attacked and caused heavy casualties to enemy infantry who were advancing across country. On another occasion he attacked one of six enemy scouts and destroyed it. He showed great determination and a splendid offensive spirit.
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