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Alexander Knox (16 January 1907 – 25 April 1995) was a Canadian actor and author of adventure novels set in the Great Lakes area during the 19th century.

Like all great supporting actors, he commanded professional respect from his peers whilst enjoying the anonymity of a “normal life.” As a child, my earliest recollection of him was as the surgeon who operated on Douglas Bader in “Reach For The Sky” (1956) yet by then he was already twelve years on from a Golden Globe award and an Oscar nomination for his leading role in “Wilson,” the biographical film about American President Woodrow Wilson. In the 60’s, he made notable appearances in “The Damned,” (1963) and guest appearances in three Sean Connery movies “Woman of Straw,” (1963),“You Only Live Twice,” (1967) and “Shalako” (1968).

Blacklisted in USA during the McCarthy witch hunt, he had repaired to Britain and appeared in scores of British films, most notably in two productions for the director Joseph Losey “These Are the Damned” (1962) and “Accident” (1967).

Married over 50 years to the actress Doris Nolan, he was a memorable spook in the television production of “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” (1979) and made a successful return to the London stage, frequently in plays by Henrik Ibsen and Clifford Odets. Outside his principal occupation, he was finally able to devote himself whole-heartedly to his long-standing literary ambition, as author of plays (“Old Master”, “Trafalgar Square”), screenplays and five adventure novels set in the wilds of 19th century Canada. Knox died in his adopted home in Benwick-Upon-Tweed, England, in 1995 at the age of 88.

Film aficionados can close their eyes and instantly recognize his distinctive voice without necessarily being able to name him, yet in his own way, he left a legacy that lives on.