Francis Matthews obit

Francis Matthews, Voice of 'Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons,' Dies at 86

He was not on the list.

He also starred opposite British horror legends Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee in "The Revenge of Frankenstein" and "Dracula: Prince of Darkness."

Francis Matthews, who starred in such British horror films as The Revenge of Frankenstein and provided the voice of the indestructible Captain Scarlet in a memorable 1960s science-fiction puppet series, has died. He was 86.

Matthews died Saturday after a short illness, according to several British media reports.

A native of York, England, Matthews also starred as the title character in the 1969–71 BBC series Paul Temple, in which he played the famed gentleman novelist who solves crimes with the aid of his wife, Steve (Ros Drinkwater).

In the Hammer Films sequel Revenge of Frankenstein (1958), Matthews portrayed Peter Cushing's blackmailing assistant and was Boris Karloff's son in Corridors of Blood (1958), also starring Christopher Lee.

Other horror films on his résumé included The Hellfire Club (1961) with Cushing and two more Lee starrers that were released in 1966 — Dracula: Prince of Darkness and Rasputin the Mad Monk.

For Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, Matthews used a playful impression of Cary Grant to voice the title character who leads Spectrum, an international intelligence agency on Earth, in its fight against extraterrestrial terrorists.

As was said in the opening credits: "This man will be our hero, for fate will make him indestructible — Captain Scarlet."

The ITC series was Gerry Anderson's follow-up puppet series to his more famous Thunderbirds.

Matthews also had regular roles on the British TV series Don't Forget to Write!, A Roof Over My Head, Middlemen and Trinity Tales.

Matthews made his film debut opposite Ava Gardner in George Cukor's Bhowani Junction (1956). He also appeared with Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise in The Intelligence Men (1965) and That Riviera Touch (1966).

In 1962, he met actress Angela Browne on the set of the BBC's Dark Island, and they married a year later. She died in 2001.

Filmography

    At Your Service, Ltd. (1951) - Roger Buckett

    BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1954–1957, TV Series) - Ken Wilson, Ensign Trefusis

    Truant in Park Lane (1955) - Robert

    St. Ives (1957, TV Series) - Ronald Glichrist

    My Friend Charles (1956) - Ken Palmer

    Bhowani Junction (1956) - Ranjit Kasel

    The Talking Cat (1956) - Lancelot

    ITV Television Playhouse (1956, TV Series) - Richard Hinton, Paul

    Esmé Divided (1957) - Esmé Vignoles

    The New Adventures of Charlie Chan (1957) - Derek Robinson

    Small Hotel (1957) - Alan Pryor

    O.S.S. (1957, TV Series) - Peter Fox

    The Mark of the Hawk (1957) - Overholt

    The Killing Stones (1958) - Desai

    The Adventures of Robin Hood (1957–1958, TV Series) - Roland, Ali ben Azra

    The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958) - Doctor Hans Kleve

    A Woman Possessed (1958) - John

    I Only Arsked! (1958) - Mahmoud

    Corridors of Blood (1958) - Jonathan Bolton

    The Vise (1958–1959, TV Series) - Miles, Rex Varney, Jayo

    Theatre Night (1959, TV Series) - Guy Stevens

    Interpol Calling (1960) - Fawley

    Man from Interpol (1960) - Richard Martin, Maharajah Of Den

    Biggles (1960, TV Series)

    Sentenced for Life (1960) - Jim Richards

    The Cheaters (1961, TV Series) - Jack

    The Hellfire Club (1961) - Sir Hugh Manning

    The Treasure of Monte Cristo (1961) - Louis Auclair

    The Pursuers (1961) - David

    The Lamp in Assassin Mews (1962) - Jack

    Nine Hours to Rama (1963) - Rampure

    A Stitch in Time (1963) - Benson

    The Beauty Jungle (1964) - Taylor

    Murder Ahoy (1964) - Lieutenant Compton

    The Intelligence Men (1965) - Thomas

    Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966) - Charles Kent

    Rasputin, the Mad Monk (1966) - Ivan

    That Riviera Touch (1966) - Hotel manager

    Just Like a Woman (1967) - Lewis McKenzie

    Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (1967–1968, TV Series) - Captain Scarlet (voice)

    Crossplot (1969) - Ruddock

    Paul Temple (1969–1971, TV Series) - Paul Temple

    Taste of Excitement (1970) - Mr. Breese

    Five Women for the Killer (1974) - Giorgio Pisani

    Brat Farrar (1986) - Alec Loding

    Bunch of Five (1992) - Mr. Strathclyde

    Taggart (1993) - Dr. Gerald Napier

    The Detectives (1995, TV Series) - Duke of Connemara

    Do Not Disturb (1999) - Manager

    Heartbeat (2002–2003, TV Series) - Dr. James Alway

    The Royal (2003) - Dr. James Alway

    Cary Comes Home (2004) - Cary Grant

    All About George (2005) - Ted

    Beautiful People (2009, TV Series) - Mr. Bunions

    Run For Your Wife (2012) - (final film role)

Survivors include his brother, actor Paul Shelley; sister Maura; and sons Paul, Dominic and Damien.