Geoffrey Francis Murray Wilkinson, a man of the stage, was born in the charming town of Staines, Surrey, to Henry and Amy Wilkinson in the year 1889. His father, a stockbroker of some renown, provided a comfortable upbringing for the young Geoffrey, who would later make a name for himself in the world of acting.
As the 1891 census reveals, the Wilkinson family resided in Weir House, a picturesque abode located in Cookham, Berkshire. Fast forward to 1901, and the family had relocated to 17 Durham Villas, a charming address in the heart of Kensington, London.
Geoffrey's early forays into the world of acting began as early as 1915, when he listed his occupation as an actor, traveling with a troupe to various destinations. One such trip took him to the West Indies, where he and his fellow actors arrived back in England in 1915. At the time, his address was Marlow Church Walk, Thames Ditton.
However, Geoffrey's military service would soon interrupt his acting career. In 1916, he enlisted in the British Army, serving as a Private in the Army Service Corps. Due to his physical limitations, including a slightly deformed back and blindness in his left eye, he was primarily tasked with packing and loading artillery shells behind the lines. After being demobilized in 1919, Geoffrey resumed his acting career.
For the next several decades, Geoffrey traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada, performing in various Shakespearean troupes. His addresses during this time include Stratford-upon-Avon, where he resided in 1928, and various locations in SW London. In 1947, he even performed on Broadway in Shakespeare plays staged by the renowned Donald Wolfit.
Geoffrey's acting career eventually came to an end, and he passed away in late 1955 at the age of 66 in Poole, Dorset. Interestingly, his life took an unexpected turn when he was discovered during a casting call or search of stage actors, and his advanced age and physical limitations made him the perfect candidate for the role of Old Ben Gunn.
