Tom Georgeson obit

Tom Georgeson dies aged 88 as family pay tribute to Boys From The Blackstuff legend

Tom Georgeson was renowned for his roles in Boys From The Blackstuff and A Fish Called Wanda

 

He was not on the list.

Tom Georgeson's family have paid tribute to his legacy after the legendary actor died aged 88. The star enjoyed an incredible career in film and television, which included memorable roles in Boys From The Blackstuff and A Fish Called Wanda.

The actor died in the early hours of the morning (March 18) and his nephew, Danny Conway, told the ECHO his death comes as a shock. He said: "[I'm] gutted because we weren't expecting it. Last time I spoke to him he was in good health. I woke up to that news today and it's just sad. I was really proud of him and felt lucky to have a famous uncle."

Tom was living in London at the time of his death and is survived by his wife, Prim, and children, Richard and Roslyn. Danny, along with brothers, Elliot and Andrew, and their mum, Ruth, are the only surviving members of Tom's family to still live in Liverpool.

The actor was one of 11 children to have grown up in Clubmoor and Danny said this generation of his family were all imbued with the same creative spark that helped Tom become such a success in the arts. He added: "The whole family has got an artistic streak through them.

"They're either artists or performers. It started with my grandad, who was into amateur dramatics. He got Tom into it as well. One of his other brothers, Greg, used to read audio books. He passed away last year."

It was at Greg's funeral when Danny last saw Tom, which is now a bittersweet memory. He added: "He was getting older obviously, but he was still on his feet and looking well.

"You didn't get to see each other very often because he lived in London and was busy all the time. [Before he retired] Whenever he had a play in the Playhouse or the Everyman, he'd come and see us."

Tom may have moved to London, but his heart remained in Liverpool as he constantly put the spotlight on his home city during his long career. Danny joked: "He thickened his Scouse accent every time he came back home."

The actor appeared in Z Cars early on in his career and also had a standout role in Liverpool 1. However, it is his celebrated partnership with Alan Bleasdale that he will perhaps be best remembered for, as he teamed up with the iconic writer on numerous occasions in Scully, G.B.H and Boys from the Blackstuff.

His devastating performance as foreman turned security guard Dixie Dean in the unemployment drama will forever be remembered, as it became symbol for the impact Margaret Thatcher's policies were having in the city.

Danny is proud of how his uncle championed working class values throughout his career and never forgot his roots. He told the ECHO: "There's a strong socialist streak in the family. It's a bit like Bill Shankly's mantra."

Although his onscreen counterpart in Blackstuff was named after the Blues highest ever goalscorer, Tom was a massive Liverpudlian away from the screen and Danny said he will be thinking of him tonight when the Reds take to the pitch at Anfield.

He said: "We've got a saying in our family when one of the uncles passes that they're going to be sitting on the crossbar at the Kop End trying to guide the ball in the back of the net. He was a proud Liverpool fan. Loved the football club and we had a WhatsApp group where we used to communicate with all the cousins [about the match]."

Tom leaves behind an incredible legacy as he rose from humble beginnings in North Liverpool to star in a Hollywood film when he appeared in John Cleese's acclaimed comedy A Fish Called Wanda. Tom's character was a play on his name as he played the gangster George Thomason in the 1989 film.

Danny will treasure the memories he had with him as he will always be proud of his famous uncle. He said: "It was very rare that you'd get to see him in person so when you did it was a big deal for us.

"I remember when I was about 7, I took him to one of my mate's houses and knocked on the door and said, 'see I told you he was real.' I knocked on my mate's house and my uncle Tom was standing there all embarrassed."

In a tribute to Tom, a spokesperson for the Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse Theatres said: "We’re deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Tom Georgeson – a much‑loved Liverpool actor whose talent, generosity and unmistakable presence shaped so many moments on our stages since he first performed with us in the 1970s.

"In more recent times, Tom appeared in The Kindness of Strangers, Tony Green’s play created for the Everyman’s 40th birthday season in 2004. He returned memorably to the Playhouse in the comedy When We Are Married, sharing the stage with Les Dennis and Jodie McNee.

"In each of these roles, he brought the same depth, wit and humanity that defined his work across film, television and theatre. Tom was one of our city’s great actors, and we’re grateful and proud to have been an artistic home he returned to throughout his career.

"Our thoughts are with his family and friends."

Filmography

Year     Title     Role     Notes

1985    No Surrender   Mr. Ross         

1988    A Fish Called Wanda  George

1997    Fierce Creatures          Sealion Spectator       

FairyTale: A True Story          First Reporter 

1998    The Land Girls            Mr. John Lawrence    

1999    Swing  Uncle Matty   

2003    Man Dancin'    Father Gabriel Flynn  

2006    Irish Jam          Father Duffy  

Notes on a Scandal      Ted Mawson  

2007    Angel  Marvell           

Television

Year     Title     Role     Notes

1969–1973      Armchair Theatre        Barman/Chauffeur       2 episodes

1974–1976      Coronation Street        Eddie Royle    4 episodes

1975–1977      Crown Court   George Scott/DS Rice 2 serials

1975–1981      Doctor Who    Kavell/Detective Inspector     Serials: "Genesis of the Daleks" and "Logopolis"

1974–1978      Z-Cars Joe Smales/Jim            2 episodes

1977–1978      Play for Today Adler/Journalist

1977–1979      ITV Playhouse            Malcolm Armstrong/Stuart

1978–1980      The Professionals        Reed/Pymar

1980–1982      Boys from the Blackstuff        Dixie Dean      4 episodes, including "The Black Stuff"

1981    When the Boat Comes In        Captain Moore            Episode: "Back to Dear Old Blighty"

1983    Juliet Bravo     John Holden    10 episodes

1984    Scully  Isiah     5 episodes

1985    Dempsey and Makepeace       Jack Cade        Episode: "Wheelman"

1988–1991      The Manageress          Eddie Johnson

1989    Screen One     Goodis Episode: "Home Run"

1990    Screen Two     DS Moore        Episode: "The Man from the Pru"

1991    G.B.H. Lou Barnes      Miniseries

1991–2015      Casualty          Various            3 episodes

1992–1994      Between the Lines      DI Harry Naylor         

1996    The Treasure Seekers  Bates   TV film

1997    Peak Practice   Bill Jackson     Episode: "The Price"

1998    Cadfael            Lord Giffard    Episode: "The Raven in the Foregate"

Hetty Wainthropp Investigates            Harry Carter    Episode: "Family Values"

1998–1999      Liverpool 1     DI Howard Jones       

1998–2000      The Bill           Various            3 episodes

1999    Silent Witness  Brian McNally            Episode: "A Kind of Justice"

A Touch of Frost         Jim Scott         Episode: "One Man's Meat"

2002    Ultimate Force            Brian Duggan Episode: "The Killing House"

2002–2010      Holby City      Len Wilton/Ernie Bostridge    2 episodes

2003    Clocking Off   Dave Eastwood           Episode: "Grace and Faz's Story"

Foyle's War     Richard Hunter           Episode: "Fifty Ships"

2004    Agatha Christie's Poirot          Inspector Grange        Episode: "The Hollow"

Waking the Dead        Major Timothy Cooper           Episode: "False Flag"

2005    Bleak House    Clamb  14 episodes

Heartbeat         Mr. Daniels     Episode: "Auld Acquaintances"

2006    Midsomer Murders     Ron Chalk       Episode: "Dead Letters"

The Inspector Lynley Mysteries          Michael Shand            Episode: "One Guilty Deed"

2008    Hancock and Joan       Fred     TV film

2009    The Royal       Duncan Crosby           Episode: "Busman's Holiday"

Ashes to Ashes            Stanley Mitchell          Final episode

2010    Shameless        Jock     Episode: "Boxer"

2011    Justice  Father Jim       Miniseries

The Crimson Petal and the White       Henry Rackham Senior

The Suspicions of Mr Whicher           Superintendant Foley  Episode: "The Murder at Road Hill House"

2012    The Hollow Crown     Bardolph         3 episodes

2013    Frankie            Clive Harvey   1 episode

2014    New Tricks      Jason Harvey  Episode: "In Vino Vertias"