OVERLAY REPORT

In the 1973 film *The Wicker Man*, the oldest credited cast member at the time of filming was the English character actor **Ian Wilson**. ### Details of the Actor and Role * **Actor:** Ian Wilson (born Ian Macrae Hamish Wilson) * **Birth Date:** July 2, 1901 * **Age at Time of Filming:** Wilson was **71 years old** during the production, which took place in the autumn (specifically October and November) of 1972. * **Role:** He played a **Communicant** (one of the elderly islanders/villagers seen during the various pagan processions and rituals). ### Specific Context Ian Wilson was a veteran character actor who appeared in over 150 films throughout a career that began in the silent era (his first screen appearance was as a child in 1914). He was famously regarded as a "good luck charm" by the prominent British filmmaking duo the **Boulting brothers**, appearing in many of their films. *The Wicker Man* was his **final film role** before his retirement from acting; he passed away in 1987 at the age of 86. ### Other Older Cast Members While Wilson was the oldest overall, the film’s supporting cast featured several other notable veteran actors who were considerably older than the leads (Edward Woodward was 42 and Christopher Lee was 50): * **Donald Eccles** (who played **T.H. Lennox**, the island's photographer and chemist) was born on April 26, 1908, making him **64 years old** at the time of filming. * **Russell Waters** (who played the **Harbour Master**) was born on June 10, 1908, also making him **64 years old** during the shoot. * **John Young** (who played the **Fishmonger**) was born on June 16, 1916, making him **56 years old**. Ian Wilson remains the oldest verifiable professional actor in the production, representing the film's practice of utilizing established British character actors to fill the roles of the uncanny and secretive residents of Summerisle.