Scottish actor Graham Crowden, known for his work on British radio, film and TV has died at the age of 87, his agent has confirmed.
Graham is perhaps best known for his roles in the Andrew Davies comedy-drama series “A Very Peculiar Practice”, in which he appeared as the often-inebriated head of a University medical practice alongside Peter Davison and David Troughton (a career high for all three actors in my opinion), and as a resident in an old people’s home, wisecracking with Stephanie Cole (currently Auntie Joan in “Doc Martin”), in BBC sitcom “Waiting for God”.
Crowden turned down the role of “Doctor Who” after the departure of Jon Pertwee, eventually playing a villain in the series opposite Tom Baker in “The Horns of Nimon”. In the picture, Graham is seen confronting Mrs Richard Dawkins, Lalla Ward, while in the background, feigning interest in-between them, is ex-“Blue Peter” presenter and sometime panellist on “The Wright Stuff” Janet Ellis.
Graham also appeared as a clergyman in Neil Jordan’s film “The Company of Wolves”, a dramatisation of Angela Carter’s take on “Little Red Riding Hood”. The actor’s agent, Sue Grantley, said he was “a lovely, lovely man”.
Graham is perhaps best known for his roles in the Andrew Davies comedy-drama series “A Very Peculiar Practice”, in which he appeared as the often-inebriated head of a University medical practice alongside Peter Davison and David Troughton (a career high for all three actors in my opinion), and as a resident in an old people’s home, wisecracking with Stephanie Cole (currently Auntie Joan in “Doc Martin”), in BBC sitcom “Waiting for God”.
Crowden turned down the role of “Doctor Who” after the departure of Jon Pertwee, eventually playing a villain in the series opposite Tom Baker in “The Horns of Nimon”. In the picture, Graham is seen confronting Mrs Richard Dawkins, Lalla Ward, while in the background, feigning interest in-between them, is ex-“Blue Peter” presenter and sometime panellist on “The Wright Stuff” Janet Ellis.
Graham also appeared as a clergyman in Neil Jordan’s film “The Company of Wolves”, a dramatisation of Angela Carter’s take on “Little Red Riding Hood”. The actor’s agent, Sue Grantley, said he was “a lovely, lovely man”.
6 comments:
Sad news indeed.
Yes, sad to hear of his passing but he obviously had a good innings!!
Graham C's performance as Soldeed in "The Horns of Nimon" has to go down as one of the campest, most OTT performances in the history of Dr Who! (I take it you've seen the story, Tim?!) Mind, the story itself isn't exactly "highbrow" Dr Who - it's a rather farcical affair that reflects this period of the Graham Willians era all too well! One needs to view "Horns" with one's tongue firmly in cheek and I can't help thinking that Graham C was all too aware of this when he played the part! Looked at in another way, "Horns" is a bit of a hoot and again Mr Crowden's portrayal is central to all of the fun - I love his "You fools! You're all going to die! You fools!! Ah ha ha ha!!!" when he gets zapped near the end.
I was also a big fan of "A Very Peculiar Practice", including Graham's performance as boozy old Jock McCannon, head of Lowlands University Medical Centre. A nicely dry performance from Mr Crowden. And I wish to hell they'd bring out the second series on DVD - they never have!
RIP.
I have indeed seen "The Horns of Nimon", Simon. I'm fortunate enough to have seen every "Doctor Who" story, even the ones I don't like! I'm really fortunate to have seen "The Evil of the Daleks" twice, considering it no longer exists in the BBC archive!!
I've never really believed "Doctor Who" should be in any way camp but I think that's because I grew up watching it in the '60s when it was, for the most part, and to my young eyes, played a little more seriously than it was in the late '70s!
Have you seen the BBC TV movie "A Very Polish Practice", which was the follow on from the second series of "A Very Peculiar Practice"?
You put me to shame seeing every single DW story...I should add I am perhaps slightly younger than you Tim, hence the reason...!(Not trying to rub it in!!) I would have loved have to seen "Evil of the Daleks".
Interesting point about the 60s DW being non-camp - do you consider 70s DW to be more so then?
I never saw the Polish sequel - might try to one day though!
As few as they are, have you seen all the Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy stories, Simon?
The Graham Williams-period of "Doctor Who" is definitely the point at which the series began to parody itself. When JN-T took over you could tell somebody new was at the helm without even knowing beforehand. Tom had to behave and curb his excesses!
I've seen all of the Colin Baker stories but not all of the Sylvester McCoy ear - that was when I went "off" the prog - also coinciding with me going to uni where I suddenly deemed it "not cool" to like the show...until several years later. I wasn't a big fan of the Sly McCoy period anyway although I am now conceed there were some quite good stories in there.
I know what you mean about Graham W and JNT. Although not everyone is a fan of the more serious "techno-scientific" style of the final Tom B season I actually liked it and thought it was a good thing that Mr Baker had to "reign in" his performance a lot more. Although you can see sometimes that the man himself wasn't very happy about it!
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