Roddy McMillan OBE (23 March 1923 – 9 July 1979) was a Scottish actor and playwright, possibly most famous for his comedy role as Para Handy for BBC Scotland's television series, The Vital Spark.[1][2] He also played the lead role in Edward Boyd's private eye series, The View from Daniel Pike.[3]
Roddy McMillan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 March 1923 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Died | 9 July 1979 (aged 56) Glasgow, Scotland |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, Playwright |
Biography
The Glasgow-born McMillan worked for a time in a glassworks. His theatre work began in the mid-1940s with the Glasgow Unity Theatre.[4] Later that decade, he began acting with the Glasgow Citizen's Company before moving on to Edinburgh's Gateway Theatre in the mid-1950s.[5]
His first play, All in Good Faith, about a Glasgow family which unexpectedly comes into possession of £15,000, was first staged in 1954.[6] He performed in his second play, The Bevellers, which premiered at the Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh and achieved success at the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow during 1973 and then as a televised Play for Today for the BBC.[2][7] McMillan also played Detective Inspector "Choc" Minty in the late 1970s private eye series, Hazell, starring Nicholas Ball.[8]
McMillan was awarded the OBE in the 1978 Queen's Birthday honours.
Death
Roddy McMillan died following a heart attack, aged 56, not long after completing filming on the second series of Hazell.[9]
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Company | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | Ane Satyre of the Thrie Estate | Poor Man | The Glasgow Citizens Theatre | Tyrone Guthrie, Moultrie Kelsall | play by Sir David Lyndsay, adapted by Robert Kemp |
| 1972 | Willie Rough | Jake Adams | Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh | Bill Bryden | play by Bill Bryden |
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | The Gorbals Story | Hector | |
| 1950 | Morning Departure | Leading Seaman Andrews | |
| 1952 | You're Only Young Twice | Milligan | |
| 1953 | Laxdale Hall | Willie John Watt | |
| 1954 | The Maggie | Inverkerran Driver | |
| 1958 | Cat & Mouse | Mr. Pomeroy | |
| 1959 | The Bridal Path | Murdo | |
| 1960 | The Battle of the Sexes | Macleod | |
| 1960 | The Big Day | Bob | |
| 1960 | Snowball | Jack, 'bus conductor | |
| 1962 | A Prize of Arms | Sgt. McVie | |
| 1962 | The Amorous Prawn | Pvt. McTavish | |
| 1963 | The Mouse on the Moon | Benter | |
| 1969 | Ring of Bright Water | Busdriver | |
| 1972 | Chato's Land | Gavin Malechie | |
| 1978 | Sweeney 2 | Collie |
Reviews
- Findlay, Bill (1980), review of All in Good Faith in Bold, Christine (ed.), Cencrastus No. 3, Summer 1980, pp. 43 & 44, ISSN 0264-0856.
