Gordon Jackson, standing at an exact 5ft 8 (172.7 cm), embodied the quintessential everyman height that defined his versatile screen presence in Scottish and British cinema and television.
His average stature lent authenticity to roles like the resourceful RAF officer in The Great Escape (1963), where he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow escapers, and the steadfast butler Angus Hudson in the iconic series Upstairs, Downstairs (1971-1975), commanding respect without towering over the household.
- Starred in classic films including Whisky Galore! (1949), The Ipcress File (1965), The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969), and The Quatermass Experiment (1955).
- Led as tough detective George Cowley in The Professionals (1977-1983), his 5ft 8 frame enhancing the grounded, no-nonsense leader image.
Jackson's height perfectly mirrored his relatable, durable characters across decades of acclaimed performances.