Frank Windsor obit

Frank Windsor, star of Z-Cars and Softly, Softly, dies aged 92

This article is more than 4 years old

Actor who appeared regularly in Casualty and Peak Practice died peacefully at home in London earlier this week

 He was not on the list.

Frank Windsor has died at the age of 92, his agent has confirmed.

The actor best known for playing Detective Sergeant John Watt in the BBC series Z-Cars died peacefully at home on Wednesday (30 September).

Windsor was also known for his roles in Casualty, Peak Practice and EastEnders.

A statement from the late star’s agent said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our much-loved client Frank Windsor at the age of 92.

The actor, born Frank Higgins on 12 July 1928, enjoyed an acting career which spanned over five decades.

From 1962 to 1965, he starred in Z-Cars, in a role he would later reprise for the spin-offs, Softly, Softly and Softly Softly: Taskforce.

As well as his many TV roles, Windsor also worked as a stage actor, once appearing alongside Prunella Scales in a production of What the Butler Saw.

The statement continued: “Frank is survived by his daughter Amanda and his wife Mary, who was by his side until the end.

“As per Frank’s wishes and in keeping with Covid restrictions, there will be no funeral or memorial service, just a private cremation with his ashes being laid to rest with his beloved son David. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

 

Actor

Casualty (1986)

Casualty

6.1

TV Series

Kenneth Samuels

Leslie Smith

1991–2004

12 episodes

 

Martin Shaw in Judge John Deed (2001)

Judge John Deed

7.6

TV Series

Sir James Valentine

2002–2003

3 episodes

 

Between Two Women (2003)

Between Two Women

6.3

Walker

2003

 

Peak Practice (1993)

Peak Practice

6.4

TV Series

Peter Osborne, Alex Redman's Father

Ken Alton

1994–2001

4 episodes

 

Iain Glen and Andrew Lee Potts in Anchor Me (2000)

Anchor Me

7.4

TV Movie

William Carter

2000

 

João Costa Menezes in Sunburn (1999)

Sunburn

7.6

TV Series

Norman

2000

1 episode

 

Annette Badland, Neil Dudgeon, and Nick Hendrix in Midsomer Murders (1997)

Midsomer Murders

7.9

TV Series

George Meakham

1999

1 episode

 

Luís Moura in Touch and Go (1998)

Touch and Go

7.4

TV Movie

Frank

1998

 

The Detectives (1993)

The Detectives

7.4

TV Series

Chief Superintendent

Superintendent 2

1993–1996

9 episodes

 

Stella Gonet and Kevin Whately in Trip Trap (1996)

Trip Trap

6.9

TV Movie

Simon Armstrong

1996

 

The Famous Five (1995)

The Famous Five

7.2

TV Series

Mr. Luffy

1995

1 episode

 

Paul Merton's Life of Comedy

TV Series

Policeman

1995

1 episode

 

September Song (1993)

September Song

8.9

TV Series

Cyril Wendage

1995

5 episodes

 

Bomber (1995)

Bomber

7.8

Video

Air Marshal Sir Arthur Harris

1995

 

Capital Lives

TV Series

Eddie

1994

1 episode

 

Rwendo

Short

Mr. Widdows

1993

 

EastEnders (1985)

EastEnders

4.7

TV Series

Major Grace

1992

1 episode

 

Boon (1986)

Boon

6.4

TV Series

Ralph Cotterell

1991

1 episode

 

4 Play (1989)

4 Play

6.5

TV Series

Gerald

1991

1 episode

 

Ian McShane in Lovejoy (1986)

Lovejoy

7.8

TV Series

Ralph Peagram

1991

1 episode

 

Peter Davison, Carol Drinkwater, Robert Hardy, and Christopher Timothy in All Creatures Great & Small (1978)

All Creatures Great & Small

8.4

TV Series

Wireless Announcer

David Rayner

1989–1990

2 episodes

 

Chancer (1990)

Chancer

7.3

TV Series

Peter Fitchford

1990

5 episodes

 

Paul McGann, Colin Baker, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, William Hartnell, Sylvester McCoy, Jon Pertwee, and Patrick Troughton in Doctor Who (1963)

Doctor Who

8.4

TV Series

Inspector Mackenzie

Ranulf

1983–1989

4 episodes

 

The Fifteen Streets (1989)

The Fifteen Streets

6.9

TV Movie

James Llewellyn

1989

 

Frank Windsor in Flying Lady (1987)

Flying Lady

5.7

TV Series

Harry Bradley

1987–1989

13 episodes

 

Stephen Persaud in The Real Eddy English (1989)

The Real Eddy English

7.4

TV Mini Series

Big Eddy

1989

4 episodes

 

Business Matters

TV Series

Brian

1988

1 episode

 

Alphonsia Emmanuel, Ian Hogg, and Joe McGann in Rockliffe's Babies (1987)

Rockliffe's Babies

7.3

TV Series

Commander Wills

1988

1 episode

 

Out of Order (1987)

Out of Order

3.5

Traffic Warden

1987

 

Ralph Bates in Dear John.... (1986)

Dear John....

7.6

TV Series

David

1987

1 episode

 

Theatre Night (1985)

Theatre Night

7.0

TV Series

Ted Shaw

1987

1 episode

 

Jeremy Child, James Faulkner, David Robb, and Tom Wilkinson in First Among Equals (1986)

First Among Equals

8.4

TV Mini Series

Archie Millburn

1986

2 episodes

 

The Theban Plays by Sophocles (1986)

The Theban Plays by Sophocles

7.3

TV Series

Chorus

1986

1 episode

 

Revolution (1985)

Revolution

5.3

General Washington

1985

 

Masterpiece Theatre: Bleak House (1985)

Masterpiece Theatre: Bleak House

7.6

TV Series

Gridley

1985

4 episodes

 

James Mason, Edward Fox, Cheryl Campbell, and Rebecca Saire in The Shooting Party (1985)

The Shooting Party

6.8

Glass

1985

 

Let's Parlez Franglais

TV Series

1984

1 episode

 

David Warner in Charlie (1984)

Charlie

6.9

TV Mini Series

Harry Ainsworth

1984

4 episodes

 

Doll's Eye (1983)

Doll's Eye

3.9

Businessman in Restaurant

1983

 

Into the Labyrinth (1981)

Into the Labyrinth

7.2

TV Series

Lord Mayor

1982

1 episode

 

Coming Out of the Ice (1982)

Coming Out of the Ice

6.5

TV Movie

Sam Herman

1982

 

Play for Today (1970)

Play for Today

7.8

TV Series

Frank Haxell

Ex-W.O. Higham

Tom Fisher

1974–1981

3 episodes

 

Dangerous Davies: The Last Detective (1981)

Dangerous Davies: The Last Detective

7.0

TV Movie

Fred Fennell

1981

 

Janet Brown in Janet and Company (1980)

Janet and Company

TV Series

1980

1 episode

 

The Plank (1979)

The Plank

7.4

TV Movie

Car driver

1979

 

BBC2 Playhouse (1973)

BBC2 Playhouse

6.6

TV Series

Doctor

1979

1 episode

 

The London Connection (1979)

The London Connection

5.7

McGuffin

1979

 

Don Henderson, Diane Keen, Peter Sallis, and Don Warrington in Crown Court (1972)

Crown Court

7.3

TV Series

James Selsey

1979

3 episodes

 

Kidnapped (1978)

Kidnapped

7.5

TV Mini Series

Colin Roy 'Red Fox' Campbell

1978

5 episodes

 

James Ellis, John Slater, and Gary Watson in Z Cars (1962)

Z Cars

7.0

TV Series

Det. Chief Supt. John Watt

Det. Sgt. John Watt

Det. Sgt. Watt ...

1962–1978

129 episodes

 

Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? (1978)

Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?

6.4

Blodgett

1978

 

The Quality Connection (1977)

The Quality Connection

Short

Senior Police Officer

Narrator

1977

 

Tim Brooke-Taylor, Graeme Garden, and Bill Oddie in The Goodies (1970)

The Goodies

7.7

TV Series

Scoutfinder General

1977

1 episode

 

Francis Matthews and Frank Windsor in Middlemen (1977)

Middlemen

8.0

TV Series

George Livingstone

1977

6 episodes

 

Frank Windsor in Headmaster (1977)

Headmaster

8.4

TV Series

Tom Fisher

1977

6 episodes

 

Norman Bowler, Walter Gotell, Stratford Johns, and Frank Windsor in Softly Softly: Task Force (1969)

Softly Softly: Task Force

7.2

TV Series

Det. Chief Supt. John Watt

Det. Chief Supt. Watt

Det. Supt. Watt ...

1969–1976

123 episodes

 

Stratford Johns and Frank Windsor in Second Verdict (1976)

Second Verdict

7.1

TV Series

Det. Chief Supt. John Watt

Det. Chief Superintendent John Watt

1976

6 episodes

 

Barry McKenzie Holds His Own (1974)

Barry McKenzie Holds His Own

5.5

Police Sergeant

1974

 

Assassin (1973)

Assassin

6.1

Stacy

1973

 

Stratford Johns and Frank Windsor in Jack the Ripper (1973)

Jack the Ripper

8.5

TV Mini Series

Det. Chief Supt. John Watt

1973

6 episodes

 

Thirty-Minute Theatre (1965)

Thirty-Minute Theatre

7.4

TV Series

Victor

1971

1 episode

 

Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971)

Sunday Bloody Sunday

7.0

Bill Hodson

1971

 

Dropout (1970)

Dropout

6.2

1970

 

James Mason, Susan George, Rodney Bewes, Diana Coupland, Hannah Gordon, and Len Jones in Spring and Port Wine (1970)

Spring and Port Wine

7.0

Ned Duckworth

1970

 

Robin Stewart in Softly Softly (1966)

Softly Softly

7.0

TV Series

Det. Chief Insp. John Watt

Det. Insp. John Watt

1966–1969

84 episodes

 

Kenneth Cope in My Partner the Ghost (1969)

My Partner the Ghost

7.7

TV Series

John Sorrensen

1969

1 episode

 

The Avengers (1961)

The Avengers

8.3

TV Series

Tobin

1968

1 episode

 

ITV Playhouse (1967)

ITV Playhouse

7.0

TV Series

Trevelyan 'Bloody Delilah' Sinclair

Stephen Briggs

1968

2 episodes

 

The Gamblers

7.1

TV Series

Harry Reid

1967

1 episode

 

Half Hour Story (1967)

Half Hour Story

7.5

TV Series

Mr. Harkness

1967

1 episode

 

The Jokers (1967)

The Jokers

6.6

Policeman in Court (uncredited)

1967

 

This Sporting Life (1963)

This Sporting Life

7.5

Dentist

1963

 

The Train Set

TV Movie

Fred

1961

 

A for Andromeda (1961)

A for Andromeda

7.2

TV Series

Dennis Bridger

1961

3 episodes

 

Traitor in a Steel Helmet

TV Movie

Sergeant Pike

1961

 

On the Boundary

TV Movie

Tom Wrentham

1961

 

ITV Play of the Week (1955)

ITV Play of the Week

6.8

TV Series

Jack

1961

1 episode

 

An Age of Kings (1960)

An Age of Kings

8.4

TV Mini Series

Sir Robert Brackenbury

Brackenbury

Earl of Warwick ...

1960

14 episodes

 

The Dark Pits of War

TV Movie

The Cabinet Minister

1960

 

ITV Television Playhouse (1955)

ITV Television Playhouse

7.9

TV Series

Mr. Raven

1959

1 episode

 

Judi Dench in Hilda Lessways (1959)

Hilda Lessways

7.1

TV Series

Stifford

1959

2 episodes

 

A Man for All Seasons

TV Movie

Duke of Norfolk

1957

 

BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950)

BBC Sunday-Night Theatre

7.0

TV Series

The Crown Prince Rudolph of Austria

1955

1 episode

 

Soundtrack

ITV Playhouse (1967)

ITV Playhouse

7.0

TV Series

performer: "Abide with Me", "Try A Little Tenderness" (uncredited)

1968

1 episode