Matthew Garber

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 Garbers 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 Michaels sister was played by Karen Dotrice The film was the greatest hit of Garbers 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 GnomeMobile In the film Rodney and his sister Elizabeth Winthrop played by Karen Dotrice are trying to prolong the life of a 943yearold gnome who has lost the will to survive Following his brief film career Garber returned to his school studies He attended first St Pauls Primary School in Winchmore Hill and then Highgate School in Highgate North London He graduated in 1972 In 19761977 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 21yearsold He was single and had no known children Garbers 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