Paul Darrow obit

Blake's 7 actor Paul Darrow dies at 78

 He was not on the list.

British actor Paul Darrow, best known for his role as Kerr Avon in sci-fi BBC TV series Blake's 7, has died at the age of 78 following a short illness.

Most recently, Darrow voiced soundbites for independent radio stations Jack FM and Union Jack, where he was known as the "Voice of Jack".

The character of Avon was second-in-command on Blake's 7, which ran for four series between 1978 and 1981.

Darrow shared a flat with John Hurt and Ian McShane while studying at Rada.

While best-known for his Blake's 7 role, he appeared in more than 200 television shows, including Doctor Who, The Saint, Z Cars, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks and Little Britain.

The Surrey-born actor also enjoyed a significant stage career, including four seasons at the Bristol Old Vic and roles in the West End.

In the mid-1960s, Paul Darrow married actress Janet Lees-Price, who he met when they co-starred in the popular ITV show Emergency Ward 10.

They were together for 48 years before she died in 2012.

Ian Walker, CEO of the Jack brand, said: "Paul Darrow has been Jack's shining star. Over the past 12 years I have had the pleasure of spending countless hours with Paul listening to his life stories and have shared many bottles of his favourite Bordeaux, whilst enjoying his quirky jokes and sense of humour.

"When we first launched Jack in the UK, we cast over 85 voices for the role and we could not have asked for anyone more unique. Paul's rich tones and flippant delivery style always brought a smile to everyone who knew him and of course heard him on Jack FM and Union Jack radio. I could not have asked for a better friend."

Tim Parker, programme director at Jack FM, added: "What an amazing, colourful character Paul was. He has mixed with the greats over the last 50 years and had a story to tell you for every occasion. His voice acting skills were like no other. We will remember and celebrate his character, personality and amazing skills for years to come."

Maureen Marrs, Darrow's friend and PA, said: "Over three decades I have been Paul's confidante and have had the immense privilege of being part of his life. A star has gone out today; the world will be a darker place without him."

Filmography

Film

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1964    Dr. Strangelove            Navigator Lt. Sweets            Uncredited

1970    Mister Jerico            Receptionist    

1971    The Raging Moon            Doctor

2002    Die Another Day            Doctor

2006            Battlespace            Horondo the Computer            Direct-to-video

Television

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1963    The Odd Man            Salesman            Episode: "A Pattern of Little Silver Devils"

1965–1966            Emergency Ward 10            Mr Verity   56 episodes

1967    The Saint     Omar            Episode: "The Gadic Collection"

1968    Virgin of the Secret Service Sayid            Episode: "The Pyramid Plot"

Frontier            Captain Hume            Episode: "His Lordship"

1968, 1978            ITV Playhouse            Anthony Eden / Julian            2 episodes

1969    The Newcomers            Cedric McDermott            2 episodes

Special Branch            Lawyer            Episode: "Smokescreen"

Coronation Street   Doctor            2 episodes

1969–1971            The Flaxton Boys            Captain Sterman / Wellington Moth / The Venerable            3 episodes

1969, 1973            Z-Cars            Trench/Jerry Shand            3 episodes

1970            Manhunt         Eddie            Episode: "The Losers"

1970, 1985            Doctor Who     Captain Hawkins / Tekker Doctor Who and the Silurians/Timelash

1971    The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes Doctor Hart            Episode: "A Message from the Deep Sea"

1973    Lord Peter Wimsey            Mr Tallboy Serial: "Murder Must Advertise"

1974            Churchill's People            Marcellus            Episode: "Pritan"

1974–1975            Within These Walls            Dr Green   2 episodes

1974, 1976            Dixon of Dock Green            Tony Kinsley/Pearce            2 episodes

1975    The Poisoning of Charles Bravo            Charles Bravo   3 episodes

Prometheus: The Life of Balzac  Cador            Episode: "The Human Comedy"

The Legend of Robin Hood            Sheriff of Nottingham            TV miniseries

1976            Couples           Ralph Hewitt  6 episodes

Killers  Edward Abinger            2 episodes

When the Boat Comes In            Barford            Episode: "A Pillowful of Buttercups"

1977    Rooms            Peter Wishart            3 episodes

Yes, Honestly            Bernard            Episode: "The Man Who Shot Bernard Vallance"

1978–1981            Blake's 7          Kerr Avon    51 episodes

1979            Penmarric        Robert Yorke  1 episode

1980            Hammer House of Horror            Andrews            Episode: "Guardian of the Abyss"

Drake's Venture            Thomas Doughty            TV movie

1983            Dombey & Son            James Carker TV miniseries

1985            Maelstrom       Oliver Bridewell

1989            Storyboard     George            Episode: "Making News"

1990    Cluedo            Mr. Jeremy Hope            Episode: "A Bridge Too Far"

Making News            George            6 episodes

1991    Dark Justice  Perth            Episode: "Nowhere to Hide"

Fiddlers Three            Reggie Parsons            Episode: "The Man Most Likely To"

1991–1992, 2009            Emmerdale      Eddy Fox/Patrick            12 episodes

1992            Haggard          Jack            Episode: "Mad Jack"

1992    Science Fiction  Sir Arthur Conan Doyle            Episode: "Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Missing Link"

1996    Pie in the Sky Colin Wilkes            Episode: "New Leaf"

2000    The Strangerers            C.D.            6 episodes

Rough Magik            Mr Moon   TV movie

2002            Hollyoaks         Judge            1 episode

2004    Little Britain            Conservative MP

2005    Twisted Tales    Mr De Vere            Episode: "Flat Four"

2009–2011, 2013–2014            Law & Order: UK            Prentice          7 episodes

2014    Toast of London            Duncan Clench            Episode: "Desperate Measures"

Video games

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1996    Gender Wars            Professor Jonathan Henry Smythe            Voice actor

1997    Queen: The eYe            Voices            Voice actor, also wrote the novelisation based on the game

1998            MediEvil           Zarok            Voice actor

2000            Imperium Galactica II: Alliances            English version, various voices

2001    Hostile Waters Walker

2003    Primal            Ferai Shaman/The Watcher

2005            MediEvil: Resurrection            Zarok

2006    Star Wars: Empire at War  Grand Moff Tarkin

2011    Star Wars: The Old Republic            Overseer Tremel/Additional voices

2014    Elite Dangerous            MinuS            Voice actor, DLC pack

2015            Contradiction: The Interactive Murder Mystery Movie            Paul Rand    FMV

2019            MediEvil           Zarok            Archive sound, dedicated to Paul Darrow

Radio and CD audio dramas

Year     Title            Role            Notes

1998–1999            Blake's 7          Kerr Avon    2 stories: "The Sevenfold Crown" and "The Syndeton Experiment"

2001–2004            Kaldor City      Kaston Iago     6 episodes

2005    Doctor Who - The Monthly Adventures            Guidance         Serial: "The Next Life"

The Adventures of Luther Arkwright            Cromwell        

2010            Rebecca's World - Journey to the Forbidden Planet            Narrator

2012–2016            Blake's 7: The Liberator Chronicles            Kerr Avon/Narrator            17 episodes

2013–2020            Blake's 7: The Classic Audio Adventures            Kerr Avon    33 episodes