Richard Wilson (Scottish actor)
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| Richard Wilson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ian Colquhoun Wilson 9 July 1936 (age 75) Greenock, Renfrewshire, United Kingdom |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Actor, theatre director, broadcaster |
| Years active | 1964–present |
| Notable works | See below |
| Television | One Foot in the Grave (1990–2000) |
Ian Colquhoun Wilson OBE (born 9 July 1936) better known as Richard Wilson, is a Scottish actor, theatre director and broadcaster, best known for playing Victor Meldrew in the popularBBC sitcom One Foot in the Grave. He currently appears in the BBC drama Merlin as Gaius, the court physician of Camelot.
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[edit]Life and career
Wilson was born in Greenock, Scotland. He studied science in Greenock, and did National Service with the Royal Army Medical Corps, serving inSingapore. He worked in a laboratory[1] at Stobhill Hospital in Glasgow as a research scientist before switching to acting at age 27. He trained atRADA and then appeared in repertory theatres in Edinburgh (Traverse Theatre), Glasgow and Manchester (Stables Theatre).
Wilson was awarded the OBE for services to drama as a director and actor in 1994. In April 1996, he was elected Rector of the University of Glasgow for a term of three years.[1]
Wilson has worked for the gay rights campaign group Stonewall[2] and the Labour Party.[3] He is one of the Patrons for Scottish Youth Theatre, Scotland's National Theatre "for and by" young people.[4] Wilson is also a long-time supporter of the Sense charity and in 2007 hosted the Annual Sense Awards, honouring excellence in both deafblind people and those who work with them.[5] He is also one of the Honorary Patrons of the London children's charity, Scene & Heard.[6]
The narration of "The Man Who Called Himself Jesus", from Strawbs' eponymous first album, was performed by Wilson.[7] Owing to the popularity of One Foot In The Grave, Wilson is still hounded by members of the public to say the classic 'I don't believe it' catchphrase of the character Victor Meldrew.[8]
At the height of his One Foot in the Grave fame, he appeared in an advertisement for I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! in character, as Victor Meldrew. In it, he's confronted by a supermarket taste-test. In a break from tradition, he simply chose to believe that the product was indeed butter. His famous catchphrase, "I don't believe it!", was a response to one of the staff conducting the test, played by James Corden, eating all the crumpets on offer.
Wilson's biography, One Foot on the Stage: The Biography of Richard Wilson (ISBN 0752811150), was written by James Roose-Evans.[9]
In 2010, Wilson recorded the Labour Party's manifesto for the 2010 General Election.[10]
In March 2011 Wilson presented an edition of the Channel 4 current affairs programme Dispatches entitled Train Journeys From Hell, with transport journalist Christian Wolmar highlighting the failings of the British rail network.[11]
Wilson was a supporter of his local football club, Greenock Morton, but he has come to lend greater support to English club Manchester United.[12] He is a patron of the Manchester United Supporters Trust.[13]
[edit]Television
- The Sweeney episode "The bigger they are" as DCI Anderson (1978)
- Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em episode "Wendy House" as The Insurance Man (1978)
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes episode The Red Headed League as Duncan Ross (1985)
- Andy Robson (1982–83)
- Born and Bred
- Have I Got News for You
- The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends as the voice of Mr McGregor (1992)
- Doctor Who – episodes "The Empty Child" and "The Doctor Dances" (2005) – Doctor Constantine
- Duck Patrol
- Emmerdale
- Hot Metal (1988)
- Selling Hitler (1991)
- Under The Hammer (1994) (as Ben Glazier)
- King of Fridges (2004) (as Frank)
- Father Ted – episode "The Mainland" as himself
- Inspector Morse – episode "Absolute Conviction"
- Mr. Bean – episode "The Trouble With Mr Bean" as The Dentist
- Gulliver's Travels
- My Good Woman
- Life As We Know It
- Rentaghost
- Normal Service
- One Foot in the Grave (1990–2000) as Victor Meldrew
- High Stakes
- Only When I Laugh
- A Sharp Intake of Breath
- Tutti Frutti
- Cluedo
- Star Portraits with Rolf Harris – celebrity "sitter" in one episode of the portraiture contest.
- Jeffrey Archer: The Truth as Duke of Edinburgh
- Crown Court (1970s) – as a barrister.
- Thank God You're Here
- Merlin – as Gaius
- Demons – as Father Simeon
- Britain's Best Drives
- The F Word – Appeared as himself in the middle of the first season.
- Would I Lie To You?
- New Tricks (2009) – as Father Bernárd in episode "The War Against Drugs"
- A Harlot's Progress (2006)
[edit]Films
- A Dry White Season
- A Passage to India
- Carry On Columbus
- Fellow Traveller
- How to Get Ahead in Advertising
- Prick Up Your Ears
- Soft Top Hard Shoulder
- The Man Who Knew Too Little
- Women Talking Dirty
- Whoops Apocalypse
- Gnomeo & Juliet
[edit]Stage acting
- Twelfth Night, as Malvolio – Royal Shakespeare Company
- Whipping it Up by Steve Thompson – Bush Theatre, Ambassadors Theatre
- What the Butler Saw, as Dr Rance – Royal National Theatre
- Peter Pan, as Mr Darling/Captain Hook – Royal Festival Hall
- Waiting for Godot, as Vladimir – Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh and Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester
- Uncle Vanya, as Vanya – Traverse Theatre
[edit]Theatre direction
Wilson won the TMA Best Director Award in 2000 for Mr Kolpert.[1]
- The Woman Before by Roland Schimmelpfennig – Royal Court, May 2005
- East Coast Chicken Supper by Martin J Taylor – The Traverse, 2005
- Rainbow Kiss by Simon Farquhar – Royal Court, April 2006
- A Wholly Healthy Glasgow by Ian Heggie – The Royal Exchange Theatre, Edinburgh International Festival, The Royal Court, 1988/89
- Primo
[edit]Further reading
- J. Roose-Evans, One Foot on the Stage: The Biography of Richard Wilson
[edit]References
- ^ a b c "Richard Wilson – Drama Faces". BBC. Retrieved 28 December 2008.
- ^ Ahad, Nick (3 July 2011). "The big interview: Richard Wilson". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
- ^ Young, Kevin (20 April 2010). "Election 2010: Political celebrities – then and now". BBC News. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
- ^ "Scottish Youth Theatre website". Scottishyouththeatre.org. 26 March 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
- ^ "Celebrity supporters of Sense". Listal.com. 24 June 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
- ^ "Scene & Heard – Who We Are". sceneandheard.org. 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
- ^ "Strawbs website". Strawbsweb.co.uk. 22 November 1968. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
- ^ "TVTropes". TVTropes. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
- ^ "One Foot on the Stage on Vialibri". Vialibri.net. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
- ^ "Delay in Labour braille and audio manifesto criticised". BBC News (BBC). 15 April 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
- ^ "Train Journeys From Hell". Dispatches (Channel 4). 21 March 2011. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
- ^ Dugan, Emily (21 November 2010). "Richard Wilson: Retire? He doesn't believe in it". The Independent (UK: Independent Print). Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- ^ "Richard Wilson". joinmust.org. Manchester United Supporters Trust. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
