Charles Eglerton Hyatt
(14 February 1931 – 01 January 2007)
He was a Jamaican pioneer actor, playwright, director, author and broadcaster. Hyatt was best known as a character actor and comedian who appeared in numerous films and television shows, beginning in the 1960s.
Hyatt was born in Kingston, Jamaica, to Herbert Hyatt, a taxi driver, and Ruth Burke, a homemaker. He attended St Aloysious Boys’ School and St Simon’s College He later studied at Theatre Royal in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Hyatt has worked as a radio producer and presenter. He has written radio serials such as “Here Comes Charley” and “When Me Was a boy”. The latter was published by the Institute of Jamaica Publications.e has performed in various national pantomimes and many other productions both locally and overseas. Local productions include “Arawak Gold”, “Bedward”, “School’s Out”, “Two Can Play” and “Miss Unusual” among others. He has also appeared in movies with James Bond and Sammy Davis Jr., and in British productions such as Crown Court.
After making his movie debut in the 1965 film A High Wind in Jamaica, Hyatt had notable performances in the films The Bushbaby (1969), Crossplot (1969), Freelance (1971), Love Thy Neighbour (1973), Club Paradise (1986), Milk and Honey (1988), The Mighty Quinn (1989), Cool Runnings (1993) and Almost Heaven (2005).
Hyatt was the recipient of Jamaica’s national honour of Order of Distinction (OD), and was awarded the Institute of Jamaica Centenary Medal and the silver Musgrave Medal.
Hyatt was married to Vera Hyatt, an art historian, museologist, and former Deputy Director of the National Gallery of Jamaica. They had three children together, including Charlene Hyatt, now known as the actress Michael Hyatt. The marriage ended in divorce.
Hyatt then married Marjorie Hyatt. Hyatt died in Florida, United States, of lung cancer on 1 January 2007
Some films are the following :
A High Wind in Jamaica (1965) – Pirate
The Bushbaby (1969) – Gideon
Crossplot (1969) – President Maudula
Freelance (1971) – McNair
Love Thy Neighbour (1973) – Joe Reynolds
The Marijuana Affair (1975)
Club Paradise (1986) – Mr. Banks
Milk and Honey (1988) – Village Preacher
The Mighty Quinn (1989) – Security Guard
Cool Runnings (1993) – Whitby Bevil – Sr.
Almost Heaven (2005) – Doctor (final film role)