Claud Allister (born William Claud Michael Palmer, 3 October 1888 – 26 July 1970) was an English actor with an extensive film career in both Britain and Hollywood, where he appeared in more than 70 films between 1929 and 1955.
Life and career
He was born in London. After receiving his education at Felsted School in Essex, he began his career as a stockbroker's clerk in the City of London, but gave up a life in the Square Mile on deciding that he preferred the stage, upon which he made his début in 1910.
He toured England's repertory theatres playing minor parts up to the outbreak of World War I, when he was commissioned into the British Army as a subaltern, and saw active service with the Suffolk Regiment and the Machine Gun Corps.
Post-war he returned to acting, appearing in the West End in Bulldog Drummond, and in 1924 went to America to perform on the stage there initially. In 1929 he made his film début in The Trial of Mary Dugan. In 1934 he appeared in the West End in the historical play Mary Read.
Allister died on 26 July 1970 at Santa Barbara, California, aged 81.
