The following memory is from a letter that I received from the great British actor Alan Bates. Bates appeared with Pleasence in both the original London and Broadway production of Harold Pinter's THE CARETAKER; he also appeared with Donald in the 1964 film version, which was re-titled THE GUEST in the United States. Very special thanks to Mr. Bates for taking time to pay tribute to the "Man with the Hypnotic Eye."
Although I knew Donald quite well, I find it rather difficult to say anything concise about him. I enjoyed working with him enormously, and I found him witty and flexible on stage and very easy to work with. I found that he was a much more extraordinary actor than he was somehow given credit for.
It is such a shame that he was planning to do LEAR with three of his own daughters, but died before this came about.
He was a real one-off actor, unlike any other. Known as a chilling and mysterious, sinister performer, although he played a clergyman in "Barchester Towers" as a completely benign and lovable figure. He had a huge range.
