Matthew Garber (Actor)

Reviews of Matthew Garber Movies

Looking for reviews of Matthew Garber movies? Cinafilm has a total of 792 reviews across 2 movies.

Movies starring Matthew Garber have generally received positive reviews and hold an average score of 76%.

Mary Poppins - released in 1964 - is Matthew Garber's highest rated movie, with a score of 81% based on 732 reviews.

The lowest rated film from Matthew Garber is The Three Lives of Thomasina - released in 1963 - with a score of 71% based on 60 reviews.

Actor Biography

Matthew Adam Garber was a British child actor born March 25, 1956 in Stepney, London, England, UK. Both of his parents were theatrical actors, but neither was particularly famous.

In 1963, Garbet came to the attention of actor Roy Dotrice (father of Karen Dotrice) who was seeking potential child actors. Roy recommended Garber to the casting department of the Disney company, where young Garber's "artful dodges, like squinting, screwing up his nose, and brushing his hair back with one hand" were thought likely to make him stand out. He was cast in the film "The Three Lives of Thomasina" (1963), as the character Geordie McNab, a playmate to the Scottish girl Mary MacDhui (played by Karen Dotrice).

Garber next received a bigger role as the character Michael Banks in "Mary Poppins" (1964), one of the two charges of the protagonist nanny. Jane Banks, Michael's sister, was played by Karen Dotrice. The film was the greatest hit of Garber's career, and is the role for which he is most remembered.

In 1967, Garber had his third and last film role, as the character Rodney Winthrop in "The Gnome-Mobile". In the film, Rodney and his sister Elizabeth Winthrop (played by Karen Dotrice) are trying to prolong the life of a 943-year-old gnome, who has lost the will to survive.

Following his brief film career, Garber returned to his school studies. He attended first St Paul's Primary School in Winchmore Hill, and then Highgate School in Highgate, North London. He graduated in 1972.

In 1976-1977, Garber was in India and contacted hepatitis. He returned to London in June, 1977, seeking better medical treatment. It was too late as the disease had infected his pancreas. He died soon after, June 13, 1977 in Hampstead, London, England, UK, the official cause being hemorrhagic necrotizing pancreatitis. He was only 21-years-old. He was single, and had no known children.

Garber's remains were cremated at St. Marylebone Crematorium, in East Finchley, London. Both of his parents died within a decade following his death. Fergus Garber, a surviving younger brother of Matthew, was never informed whether there was any memorial erected for his brother. Garber was posthumously named a Disney Legend in 2004.

Matthew Garber has acted in films with Karen Dotrice, Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke and Alan Napier.

Matthew Garber has worked with these film directors: Don Chaffey and Robert Stevenson.