Donald Houston

Actor, from Tonypandy to Where Eagles Dare

Donald Daniel Houston was born on 6 November 1923 at 10 Thomas Street, Clydach Vale, near Tonypandy in the Rhondda Valley, Glamorgan. His father, Alexander Houston, was a Scottish professional footballer, and his mother, Elsie Jones, ran a milk round in the valley. When Elsie died at the age of just 29, Donald and his younger brother, the actor Glyn Houston, were raised in Tonypandy by their grandmother while their father had to leave Wales to find work.

Donald left school to work at a local colliery before turning to acting, first treading the boards with the Pilgrim Players from 1940. His breakthrough came after the war with two films released in quick succession in 1949: 'The Blue Lagoon', opposite Jean Simmons, and 'A Run for Your Money', alongside Alec Guinness. The success of these roles established him as a leading man in British cinema through the 1950s and 1960s.

Houston went on to appear in dozens of British and Hollywood productions, including recurring roles in the 'Doctor' comedy series and in 'Carry On Jack' (1963). He also shared the screen with two fellow sons of Wales, Richard Burton and William Squire, in 'Where Eagles Dare' (1968), alongside Clint Eastwood. His final screen role came in the fantasy epic 'Clash of the Titans' (1981).

Donald Houston died in London on 13 October 1991, aged 67. The house of his birth in Tonypandy is marked today with a blue plaque, honouring one half of a Rhondda Valley acting family that also produced his brother Glyn.

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Welsh actor from Tonypandy, best known for The Blue Lagoon (1949) and Where Eagles Dare (1968); elder brother of actor Glyn Houston.

After their mother's early death, Donald and Glyn Houston were brought up by their grandmother in Tonypandy while their father, a footballer, moved away for work; the brothers' shared Rhondda upbringing later gave rise to two parallel and celebrated acting careers.

Donald's early work in colliery labour before the war gave way to stage experience with the Pilgrim Players, and by the early 1950s he was a well-established leading man, moving comfortably between drama, war films and comedy across a screen career of more than three decades.

Career Highlights

Launched to stardom in "The Blue Lagoon" (1949) opposite Jean Simmons
Co-starred in "A Run for Your Money" (1949) with Alec Guinness
Appeared alongside Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood in "Where Eagles Dare" (1968)
Played recurring roles in the "Doctor" comedy film series and "Carry On Jack" (1963)
Final screen role in "Clash of the Titans" (1981)

ℹ️ Born Donald Daniel Houston, 6 November 1923, Clydach Vale, Tonypandy, Rhondda Valley, Wales

ℹ️ Donald died in London on 13 October 1991, aged 67

Donald Houston was born and raised in Tonypandy in the Rhondda Valley, alongside his younger brother, fellow actor Glyn Houston; both were genuinely and strongly Welsh, not a distant ancestral claim.

From: Moriarty

Donald Houston's last film was 'Clash of the Titans' from 1981.

From: Ynysygwas

There's a scene in "Where Eagles Dare" when you can see Donald Houston from Tonypandy with William Squire from Neath and a certain R Burton from Pontrhydyfen all in the same frame. Clint Eastwood might have got in on the act too!

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