David Collings
David Collings | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 4 June 1940 Brighton,Sussex, England |
| Died | 23 March 2020(aged 79) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1961–2019 |
| Children | 3, includingSamuel Collings |
David Collings(4 June 1940 – 23 March 2020)[1]was an English actor. In an extensive career he appeared in many roles on stage, television, film and radio, as well as various audio books, voiceovers, concert readings and other work. He garnered a following through his numerous appearances in cult sci-fi series such asDoctor Who,Sapphire & SteelandBlake's 7,as well as dubbing the titular character in the seriesMonkeyand Legolas in the classicBBC Radio 4 adaptationof Tolkien'sThe Lord of the Rings.
Biography[edit]
Collings was born inBrightonon 4 June 1940.
Film and television[edit]
Collings's screen breakthrough came playing the protagonist Raskolnikov inFyodor Dostoyevsky'sCrime & Punishment(1964 withAssociated-Rediffusion Television).[2]The production was broadcast live. He has played historical characters such asPercy GraingerinKen Russell'sSong of Summer(1968), Richard Simmons in The Shadow of the Tower (1972),John RuskininThe Love School(1975), a BBC series about thePre-Raphaelites,and SirAnthony BabingtoninElizabeth R.In 1975, he portrayedWilliam WilberforceinThe Fight Against Slavery,and he starred asWilliam PittinPrince Regentin 1979.
Collings also appeared as Deva in the final episode ofBlake's 7and as the character of 'Silver' in several episodes ofSapphire & SteelTV adventures.[3]He appeared in the TV seriesDanger Man,Mystery and Imagination,UFO(episode "The Psychobombs") andGideon's Way;in the last, he played an emotionally disturbed man attacking young women in the episode "The Prowler".
Collings played the character ofBob Cratchitin the classic 1970 film musical,Scrooge,starring alongside Albert Finney, Dame Edith Evans, Sir Alec Guinness, Kenneth More, Anton Rodgers and others. In 1981 he played the dual roles of Lord Dark and The Friendly Ghost in the perennial school-children's favouriteDark Towers,part of the Look and Read series. He voiced the eponymous lead for the long-running hit Japanese television seriesJourney to the West,released in English-speaking countries asMonkey.The show was a hit and had a mass following, particularly with young people. He is also noted for his children's television appearances including the role of Julian Oakapple inMidnight is a Place(1977). In 1989 he played Charn (the villain) inThrough the Dragon's Eye,and had a recurring role as the headmaster inPress Gangfrom 1989 to 1993.
Doctor Who[edit]
He has appeared a number of times in the long-running British science fiction television seriesDoctor Who,including Vorus inRevenge of the Cybermen,Poul inThe Robots of Deathand Mawdryn in the serialMawdryn Undead.[4]He has also played an alternate Doctor in theaudio playsbyBig Finish Productionsin theDoctor Who Unboundseries,Full Fathom Five,alongside other Doctor Who audio credits. Collings returned to the role of Poul- now named Paulus- in the episodeHidden Persuadersof the audio drama seriesKaldor City.
Radio[edit]
On radio, he portrayedLegolasin the classicBBC Radio 4 adaptationofThe Lord of the Rings.[5]
He was Mr Carlyle in Radio 4's seven-episode serial dramatisation ofEast Lynneby Mrs Henry Wood, first broadcast in June 1987.[6]
Theatre[edit]
Collings was described byThe Stageas a "stalwart of theNationalandRSC".[7]His career on stage began with seasons at theLiverpool Repand subsequently took him all over the world with leading companies includingCheek by Jowl,as well asBAMand theLincoln Centerin New York.
He has had a long theatre career appearing in various productions in the UK, US and globally, ranging from Shakespeare and his contemporaries, classical works,Restorationdramas and farce, through to contemporary classics and new plays. He played the parts of Mortimer the Elder and Matrevis in a production ofEdward IIat theRoyal Exchange, Manchester,which also featured his son, the actor Samuel Collings. He also appeared as the King of France inHenry V,and finally Giles Corey inThe Crucibleat the same venue.
Personal life[edit]
He died aged 79, on 23 March 2020.[8][9]
Filmography[edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | A Man for All Seasons | Kings Messenger | Uncredited |
| 1968 | Joanna | Critic | Uncredited |
| 1968 | Song of Summer | Percy Grainger | 1 episode, documentary |
| 1970 | Scrooge | Bob Cratchit | |
| 1972 | For the Love of Ada | Mr. Johnson | |
| 1974 | Mahler | Hugo Wolfe | |
| 1975 | Hennessy | Covey | |
| 1978 | The Thirty Nine Steps | Tillotson | |
| 1978 | The Professionals | 'Stake Out' – Frank Turner | |
| 1979 | Julius Caesar | Cassius | TV movie |
| 1979 | The Outsider | Maj. Nigel Percival | |
| 1980 | A Tale of Two Cities | John Barsad | TV series |
| 1982 | Tangiers | Major Greville | |
| 1995 | Screen Two | Mr. Shepherd | Episode: "Persuasion" |
| 2010 | Mission London | Dean Carver | |
| 2013 | The Invisible Woman | Governor |
References[edit]
- ^Coveney, Michael (26 March 2020)."David Collings obituary".The Guardian.Retrieved18 April2021.
- ^"Silver Jubilee Interview with David Collings".Magic Bullet Productions.30 April 2003.Retrieved2 December2012.
- ^"David Collings Interviews: David_collings – LiveJournal".david-collings.livejournal.com.Archived fromthe originalon 19 October 2020.Retrieved6 June2022.
- ^"Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide – Mawdryn Undead".BBC.Retrieved2 December2012.
- ^"Concerning The Lord of the Rings BBC 1981".SF-Worlds.Com. Archived fromthe originalon 13 May 2008.Retrieved17 October2010.
- ^"BBC Radio 4 Extra – Mrs Henry Wood – East Lynne, 1. The Broken Cross".
- ^Quinn, Michael (8 April 2020)."Obituary: David Collings – Doctor Who actor and stalwart of the National and RSC".The Stage.Retrieved18 April2021.
- ^"RIP David Collings".23 March 2020.
- ^"Doctor Who News – David Collings 1940-2020".
External links[edit]
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| Artists | |
| Other | |
