The Unforgettable - Gordon Jackson 

In the early 80s my wife and I were standing outside of the Palais Theatre in Melbourne after just having seen a Barry Humphries show. We were waiting for taxis to start turning up and standing next to us was Gordon Jackson, on his own. He too was waiting for a taxi. At that time I was a film and TV critic for The Age newspaper; I couldn't pass up the opportunity to chat with one of my favourite actors of all time. I'd seen him in Whiskey Galore and then followed his career closely. When I told him this he seemed genuinely grateful for my words of praise. For well over 20 minutes or so my wife and I had a brilliant conversation with, "…call me Gordon.". Like us he was a big fan of Barry Humphries. He said he could have gone backstage to see Barry but didn't want to bother him when he saw Barry's dressing room was already crowded. Gordon displayed a quick and wicked sense of humour as we three observed the crowd streaming out of the theatre. Telling us he loved coming to Australia because, he said, very few people recognised him (even though Upstairs Downstairs was a huge hit in our country). He said he could go shopping or pop into a pub and be himself which, I think, he always was; self effacing in a dry, witty way. Gordon told us it was a pity that we could not meet up tomorrow for lunch because he was leaving for home the next day. I spent my time in newspapers interviewing some of the world's big stars and directors (I mentioned I'd had a few drinks with Robert Morley recently) he said he was great friends with Morley since they had worked together many years before. Out of all the 'celebrities' I'd met Gordon Jackson was one of the most 'normal', enjoyable people I'd ever encountered and I shall treasure our accidental meeting always. What a gentleman and what a truly talented professional, although I can't imagine him ever agreeing with that. I was so pleased to be able to thank him for the countless hours of entertainment he'd given me... and the rest of the world. RIP Gordon. Cheers, BH.

Most people will remember him as Mr Hudson. But for me he always be George Cowley of The Professionals. RIP

He was absolutely fantastic in Upstairs Downstairs. He really made that programme the success that it was

I'm a Yank who's loved British comedy...and drama...since I was a kid. Gordon Jackson as "Hudson" is a legend to this day!

Gordon Jackson was one of those actors you knew if he was starring in a role then it was going to be brilliant. You weren't a 'jobbing actor' Mr Jackson you were a star. God bless you sir

I find myself crying watching this tribute to someone that I grew up watching on the telly. Just as I did on the day that he died. I remember it very well,as I was sat in a van,trying to defrost my hands on the heater as I had just been replacing a roof gutter on a freezing cold wet day in January of -1990. I nearly passed out with the pain in my hands,as they started to defrost. I had the radio on,and it announced that the actor Gordon Jackson had passed away,and the pain in my hands instantly subsided,and was replaced with an aching in my heart,and I am not ashamed to say I shed a few tears that day. He is the only person I ever remember crying for,that wasn't a close personal friend or relative. I am glad to hear that he was indeed a lovely man in real life,and it sounds like he was a wonderful father and husband. He went far too early. I would have loved to have met him,he was so humble and down to earth. I hope you are resting in peace Gordon Jackson.

One of Britain’s very best actors 🇬🇧

Gem of a man. Also in my favorite movie the prime of miss jean brodie.

It's so good to know that he was such a fine man on as well as off screen. I know him from Upstairs Downstairs, that I first watched in England in 1975. Then again in the 90s and again today - (I'm on episode 11 of Season 3 - and don't want it to end!) Gordon Jackson plays Mr. Hudson the Head Butler, and is by far my favorite character in a show where almost every single actor & actress is AWESOME!! Gordon Jackson made his mark & will be remembered not only as a Great Actor, but a Fine Man - May his soul rest in eternal peace. He doesn't need to be recycled/reborn - he fulfilled his Karma while he lived by thinking saying & doing it right, and now deserves a good rest - Amen, Ahmen, Ahmain!

For me he will be ever remembered as Cowley one of the greatest TV characters in history

I had pleasure in meeting this gentleman, he used to come to my fish and chip shop in Belsize Park and have a takeaway and I said to him one day if you ring me up I make sure it's ready so you don't need to wait, so you don't get pestered and he said to me no that's ok I don't mind waiting absolute gentleman and it was a pleasure to know him.

As Cowley he was part of my childhood. .thanks for the memories Gordon

He was one of those fine actors you take for granted - its only looking back you realise how amazingly versatile ha was

Such a lovely man and great actor gone to soon r.i.p

Gordon was a fine actor who appeared in so many British films and TV series.

Such a beautiful actor and lovely man born not too far from where I was.Great speaking voice as well.R.I.P.Gordon and may your legacy live forever.

While he was opening a supermarket in Camden Town in 1970s, he recalled meeting my mum in a workers' cafe near the Roundhouse in 1969 (his Hamlet performance). He remembered my brother and I, "the blond boy and his brown haired brother", as he said. Lovely memories.

Brilliant actor. I never seen him in anything I didn’t like. My favourite though was Upstairs Downstairs. I just love that series and I am re watching it, for the umpteenth time. So many great actors in it, my favourites, Gordon Jackson, Pauline Collins, John Alderton, Angela Baddeley and Jean Marsh. Thank you for all the joy you gave during your career Gordon Jackson.

What a great tribute to a great actor. He somehow slipped under the radar, and never really got the acclaim he so richly deserved. RIP Mr. Jackson, your Star is undimmed.

Great face from my childhood, always makes me smile, When he said he was watching a film and said to his wife "this is the worst flm Ive ever seen" then he said he walked through the door in the next scene hahaha

Amazing, I’m 22 and grey up watching Upstairs Downstairs well beyond the time and still enjoyed it

When I was just a little boy, age 4 or 5, my parents let me stay up late to watch "Upstairs Downstairs" with them. I just adored Mrs. Bridges and Hudson, the cook and butler. Obviously, much of the plot was too mature for my young mind to comprehend, but these two characters were almost like my "tv-grandparents". Sadly, I never got to know my real grandparents very well; they were quite old when I was born. Angela Baddeley and Gordon Jackson were delightful actors.

Mr. Jackson was such a lovely actor! I adored him in DS / US..............................

Mr.Gordon Jackson (my mums favorite x) and the utter boss of CI5 George Cowley (keeping Bodie and Doyle in check always) .... such a true gentleman and a great actor...very sorely missed R.I.P

Wow. John Alderton. Still as handsome as ever. Gordon should’ve been knighted. Such a fine actor.

This guy was brilliant. Would have loved to have had the opportunity to shake his hand.

Gordon was an immensely talented actor who is sadly no longer with us. His role as the ever dependable and loyal servant Hudson in Upstairs Downstairs was outstanding and unforgettable. A truly excellent performer.

Worked with Gordon on one of his last films 'The shooting party', he played the poacher & i supplied the rabbit he took out of the net he had caught, always had a smile & enthusiasm which made everything easy, true professional.

Who can forget him in the professionals RIP Gordon Jackson.

Fantastic actor one of my idols growing up. RIP Gordon Jackson

Thank you for letting us "strangers" watch this marvelous, brilliant tribute for the GREAT actor Gordon Jackson.

We should all aspire to be like Mr. Jackson. What a class act.

He was a fabulous actor....loved his Fine fare advert....lovely stuff

Gordon Jackson war ein fantastischer Schauspieler. Ich bin Deutscher und habe nur gute Erinnerungen an Ihn in seinen Filmen. RIP Mr. Jackson

He was a brilliant actor, a humble kind unique gentleman. Sadly he left us far too soon.

Loved upstairs and downstairs watched it for years since young.

Wonderful actor, marvellous in upstairs downstairs. A treat to watch him.

Gordon had such great screen presence, even if he wasn't saying much you couldn't ignore him. Marvellous actor.

That was a delightful tribute to te wonderful dear GORDON JACKSON Thankyou all... 🌟 💙❤🌒🌔

Loved the professionals 💕

A true gentleman and certainly dressed as one. Few sported a tweed jacket as well as Gordon. RIP

A wonderful actor. Held in such high esteem - and love.

R.I.P. TO GORDON JACKSON FOREVER REMEMBERED IN ALL MOVIES AND TELEVISION. "UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS" THE VERY BEST " BUTLER" INDEED !! FROM U.K. (2022).

I loved Jackson as Hudson in Up Down, his acting was first class.

Nothing here surprises me. "Gentlemans gentleman" sums it up. You see it less and less these days unfortunately.

When I was a kid I watched the professionals Bodie was my favourite! Now I'm older, I find Gordon Jackson to be the true talent, and he was amazing! He was the absolute essential element to that show

This guy in "A Town like Alice" was bloody brilliant. Just like the rest of the cast.

I remember him as Hudson in Upstairs Downstairs, but especially as George Cowley in The Professionals. He was brilliant as Bodie and Doyle's boss, and like a true Scotsman he loved a pure malt scotch when the work was done. He was a fine actor, always gave fully committed performances: you never doubted he was the character he portrayed. RIP Gordon Jackson. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

The most underrated actor ever the great Gordon Jackson should have been sir Gordon Jackson

A great humble man. Pauline's final remembrance was so touching

Brilliant brilliant actor

He was an amazing actor. My little brother and I sneaked into the movies in 1960 and loved his movies. Later on we loved him in Upstairs/Downstairs. RIP

great upload- Thanks. Always thought Upstairs Downstairs was the greatest period drama series ever made and Gordon Jacksons portrayal of Hudson was simply magnificant

That was so very moving. I'm sure a lot of us didn't know half of what work he had done. Such a lovely man. Thank you so much for sharing.

Gordon Jackson Oh what wasn't he in a good man n actor ❤ very humble... The Professionals with Martin Shaw who had so much love n respect for Gordon. . Up Stairs Down stairs wow such dignity best butler ever Hudson great cast too never forget...Fabulous.. so many movies tv he was in big demand n so wonderful to watch ))thats it level headed look on acting.... A great man ❤🌟🌟 Thanku iwish these beautiful peoble could live forever..... Mar 22nd 💙💙 😙

One of the most great actors I knew in my life,Mr Gordon Jackson

One of my all time favourite old school British Actors and underrated on an international scale and could of been big in Australia and the US not just UK and Europe.

Amazing man. You don’t find em like that these days.

thank you Gordon Jackson.. upstairs downstairs was and still is a memory of family togetherness for me as we grew up watching this amazing series and all the characters hold a special place in my heart forever and a special thanks to Hudson for calming my OCD in later years.

He also held his own with Hollywood heavyweights like Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson in "The Great Escape" and Marlon Brando in ''Mutiny on the Bounty".

As Cowley in "The Professionals" Hard,arrogant,cynical,tough Scotsman.What was there not to like.

Gordon Jackson, one of lifes true gentleman...

Anything he did was magic he brought the character to life ,, bodie Doyle wouldn’t be the professionals without his character,,, Cowley

He was fab as Hudson. The programme was really an all time great of British TV.

He was ferocious as Cowley, but such a great actor. RIP

Gordon Jackson, I knew, even just from seeing him on television and films, that sure, he must have been, a wondeful person in real life. God bless his soul🌳 Amen🙏

a phenomenal actor all his acting work was just incredible

I didn't realise he did so many movies what a great man

This is simply lovely. Gordon Jackson was a wonderful actor. He made me cry when Lily rebuked him.

Like all the truly great actors, he never seemed to "act". He was always believable.

Oh, that was absolutely marvelous for me to be able to watch so many great moments, interviews, witnesses and homages rendered to the great actor and man who Gordon Jackson was. The documentary perfectly succeeded in showing the real person, the friend, the father and the true gentleman behind the professional. Thanks thousand times for this gift I'll save preciously among my most cherished documents.

Great actor and gone well before his time!

Great Actor still very much missed RIP Gordon Jackson xx

He was class act and one of a kind.

The role of Hudson in Upstairs Downstairs was the mirror of Gordon Jackson's heart.

Brilliant actor in everything he ever did, so underated in my opinion

Gordon Jackson was clearly a great kind person. This shone out in his performances, even as Cowley in The Professionals. Without him The Professionals would have been largely forgettable.

Best show on the planet! Loved it. Never missed a show!

Consummate skill, & a decent individual - rare qualities then as now. Sadly missed :)

Love Gordon Jackson!

A proper great actor, underrated for sure, but not by his peers, who all rated him very highly, as he was tremendously versatile and gifted in playing many different roles and characters. I grew up in the late 1970s so I fondly remember him as the hard CI5 boss Cowley in the hit series The Professionals, and as the prim and proper head Butler Hudson in Upstairs and Downstairs. A great actor, and a lovely person.

A legendary, always wonderful gentleman actor of the old school!

I always found his acting role as a lamentor ...as in his bearing and his voice especially...a father figure...!!!!!

No mention of the 2 films and 2 mini series he made in Australia in the 50s and the 80s and his friendship with Aussie Icon Chips Rafferty. He and Chips appeared together in 3 films, Biiter Springs, Eureka Stockade, both made in Australia and Mutiny on the Bounty. In the 1980s he appeared in 2 Aussie mini series, A Town like Alice with Helen Morse and My Brother Tom. He was a frequent visitor to Australia during his career.

Wonderful actor; thank you for the memories.

I would not trust her as far as a flick of a feather duster! Ooh Mr Hudson! Classic ❤

My favourite actor and I was so sad to miss this, delighted when I looked and found some kind soul had put it on youtube. Thank you so much. What a marvellous actor and clearly a sweet, sweet man.

Lovely. What a lovely man. Love from England.

Many years ago there was a shopping centre in a town in Scotland. Part of the opening was was a draw for an air flight to somewhere. Gordon picked the winner who happened to be my mother. She managed to get the flight changed to Canada so that she could come visit us.

What a great tribute. I keep coming back to this documentary after watching Upstairs Downstairs. Gordon was a kind, gentle soul and a wonderful actor, husband, father and friend.

the man is a legend, makes me proud to be a Scot.

A pure gent in every way ....

In British /Scottish history of acting, Gordon Jackson is a Titanic that hasn't sunk.

Gordon Jackson is the best actor.

An actor has a choice to make early in the career path: do I want to eat regularly or do I want to be a star? He chose wisely. ☺

I just watched Blind Spot from 1958. He had a rather large supporting part. At the very last of the film, I was so surprise to see Michael Caine! I have noticed that once Micheal Caine deservedly became a huge star, Gordon Jackson was often a supporting role! My guess is that it is not a coincidence.

super actor,and a gentleman

Wonderful man. RIP.

Gordon IS The Man

A brilliant actor fantastic in the professionals RIP