Patrick Cargill
A master of British comedic timing, his dry delivery and flustered persona made him a beloved television father figure.
1918–1996 (age 78)·English actor·Birthday: June 3·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Patrick Cargill embodied a very specific and cherished type of Englishness: the politely exasperated gentleman. Born in 1918, he served in the British Army during World War II before finding his calling on the stage. His breakthrough came on television, where his crisp diction and talent for playing men perpetually on the verge of a dignified meltdown found a perfect home. He is best remembered as Patrick Glover in the sitcom 'Father, Dear Father,' a hapless novelist and divorced dad navigating the chaos of two teenage daughters. The role cemented his image as the archetypal befuddled patriarch, a character he played with a warmth that prevented it from becoming a mere caricature. For decades, Cargill was a reliable and delightful presence on British screens, a character actor whose name might not have been first on the marquee, but whose performances were essential to the fabric of classic British comedy.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Patrick was born in 1918, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Patrick Was Born
The biggest hits of 1918
Patrick's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1918Born
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1923Started school
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1931Became a teenager
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1934Could drive
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1936Could vote
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1939Turned 21
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1948Turned 30
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1958Turned 40
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1968Turned 50
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1978Turned 60
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1988Turned 70
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Died at 78
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
Key Achievements
- Starred as the lead in the successful ITV sitcom 'Father, Dear Father' for seven series.
- Appeared in over 30 films, including a notable role in Alfred Hitchcock's 'The 39 Steps' (1959 version).
- Had a long-running stage career, performing in numerous productions in London's West End.
Did You Know?
He was a Captain in the British Army's Royal Artillery during World War II.
He was offered the lead role in the TV series 'Doctor Who' before William Hartnell, but turned it down.
The sitcom 'Father, Dear Father' was so popular it spawned two feature film adaptations.
“Playing the flustered Englishman is simply a matter of observing the chaos.”
