Richard Franklin(1936-2023)
- Actor
Best known for his regular role as Captain Mike Yates during theJon Pertweeera of the BBC science fiction seriesDoctor Who (1963),Richard Franklin joined the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic
Art in 1963 and his first professional acting work was with the Century
Theatre. He was offered small roles on television and, in addition,
spent a year and a half with the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.
More work on television, radio and commercials followed and in 1971 he made his first appearance onDoctor Who (1963)as UNIT officer Yates inTerror of the Autons: Episode One (1971),a popular serial which also saw the introduction of the long-running villain the Master (played byRoger Delgado). Incidentally,Ian Marter,who later played companion Harry Sullivan in the series oppositeTom Baker,had also been a strong contender for the role of Yates. Franklin appeared regularly in the series until 1974, appropriately enough making his last appearance in Pertwee's last serialPlanet of the Spiders: Part One (1974),although he briefly returned for a scene inThe Five Doctors (1983).He still works as an actor.
More work on television, radio and commercials followed and in 1971 he made his first appearance onDoctor Who (1963)as UNIT officer Yates inTerror of the Autons: Episode One (1971),a popular serial which also saw the introduction of the long-running villain the Master (played byRoger Delgado). Incidentally,Ian Marter,who later played companion Harry Sullivan in the series oppositeTom Baker,had also been a strong contender for the role of Yates. Franklin appeared regularly in the series until 1974, appropriately enough making his last appearance in Pertwee's last serialPlanet of the Spiders: Part One (1974),although he briefly returned for a scene inThe Five Doctors (1983).He still works as an actor.
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