Gordon Cameron Jackson, OBE (19 December 1923 – 15
January 1990) was a Scottish Emmy Award-winning actor best remembered
for his roles as the butler Angus Hudson in Upstairs, Downstairs and
George Cowley, the head of CI5, in The Professionals.
Gordon Jackson was born in Glasgow in 1923, the youngest of five
children. He attended Hillhead High School, and in his youth he
took part in BBC radio shows including Children's Hour.[1] He left
school aged 15 and became a draughtsman for Rolls-Royce.[2] His
film career started in 1942, when producers from Ealing Studios
were looking for a young Scot to act in The Foreman Went to France
[2] and he was suggested for the part. After this, he returned
to his job at Rolls-Royce, but he was soon asked to do more films,
and he made the decision to make acting his career.[3] Jackson
soon appeared in other Ealing films, including San Demetrio London,
The Captive Heart, Eureka Stockade and Whisky Galore!. In the early
years of his career, Jackson also worked in rep in Glasgow, Worthing
and Perth.