Brewster Mason

Brewster Mason (30 August 1922 – 14 August 1987) was an English actor born in Kidsgrove, Staffordshire, whose career encompassed stage, film, and television work across more than four decades. He made his stage debut at the Finsbury Park Open Air Theatre in 1947, subsequently building his reputation through repertory theatre, the West End, and Broadway.

Mason's Broadway appearance came in 1962 with The Affair. That same year he appeared on film in Private Potter, playing the Brigadier. His earlier film work included The Dam Busters (1954), in which he portrayed Flt. Lt. R.D. Trevor-Roper, Guy Gibson's rear gunner.

A long association with the Royal Shakespeare Company defined much of Mason's stage career, spanning from 1963 until his death in 1987. His RSC roles were wide-ranging and included the Earl of Warwick in The Wars of the Roses (1963 and 1964), Claudius in Hamlet opposite David Warner in the title role (1965 and 1966), and Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night (1966). In 1967 he played Lafeu in All's Well That Ends Well and Banquo in Macbeth, followed by Julius Caesar and Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor in 1968. His 1969 credits included Women Beware Women, Wolsey in Henry VIII, and Falstaff in When Thou Art King. Subsequent RSC work brought him the roles of Undershaft in Major Barbara (1970), Othello (1971), Falstaff in Henry IV (1975), and Gaunt in Richard II (1986).

A period away from stage and film work in 1957, following a leg injury, led Mason to join the BBC's Radio Drama Repertory Company. During that time he took on roles including Rupert Dreisler in Paul Temple and the Spencer Affair and Salty West in Paul Temple and the Lawrence Affair.

Mason's television credits included The Pallisers (1974), Edward the Seventh (1975), Disraeli (1978), Quatermass (1979), and Tales of the Unexpected (1980–81). He portrayed Otto von Bismarck in both Edward the Seventh and Disraeli. In addition to his performing career, he taught classical acting at the University of California, Irvine during the late 1960s, early 1970s, and early 1980s.

Mason died on 14 August 1987 at the age of 64 following a fall that occurred while he was performing in Richard II at the Barbican Theatre in London.