Robert James (28 March 1924 – 31 July 2004) was a Scottish actor, who was best known for his television work.[1][2][3]

Robert James
Born
Robert James McAllister

(1924-03-28)28 March 1924
Died31 July 2004(2004-07-31) (aged 80)
Middlesex, England,
NationalityScottish
OccupationActor
SpouseMona Bruce

Career

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Born in Paisley, Scotland, Robert James trained to be a lawyer, before being spotted by a professional director while performing in amateur dramatics.[4]

A handful of James's television performances have survived, but many of were amongst those discarded by UK broadcasters throughout the 1960s and 70s. One of his most remembered roles was in Doctor Who, playing the character Lesterson in the 1966 serial The Power of the Daleks. These six missing episodes now only exist as still photographs and audio recordings, although the serial was recreated as an animation in 2016.[5] He would later return to the show in the serial The Masque of Mandragora.

Marriage

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He was married to actress Mona Bruce (1924-2008) until his death; they had one child. Clair Mcallister [citation needed][6]

Theatre

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Year Title Role Theatre Company Director Notes
1971 Confessions of a Justified Sinner Wringhim Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh Richard Eyre Edinburgh International Festival

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1956 Around the World in 80 Days Extra Uncredited
1958 A Night to Remember Engineer Uncredited
1959 The Bridal Path Inspector
1960 Two-Way Stretch Police Superintendent
1961 A Chance of Thunder Hilton 3 episodes
1961 Pathfinders to Venus Colonel Korolyov Serial, third sequel to Target Luna
1961 Triton Lord Nelson 2 episodes
1961-1968 The Avengers Merlin / Jenkins / Mellor / Ronnie Vance / Ronnie Vance 5 episodes
1962 Masters of Venus Stewart
1962-1969 Dr. Finlay's Casebook James Gibson 11 episodes
1963 Z-Cars Maison Episode: "Enquiry"
1963 Bitter Harvest Police Sergeant Uncredited
1964 Smuggler's Bay Mr. Glennie 5 episodes
1965 Scales of Justice Mr. Durrant Episode: "The Hidden Face"
1965-1969 Out of the Unknown Kelvin Brooke / Dr. Kersh 2 episodes
1965-1971 The Troubleshooters Alastair McFee / Barry / Eldridge 3 episodes
1966, 1976 Doctor Who Lesterson / High Priest / Man 2 serials: The Power of the Daleks; The Masque of Mandragora
1968 The Love Bug Driver #31
1969 Counterstrike Pythian Episode: "The Lemming Syndrome"
1970 The Six Wives of Henry VIII Robert Barnes Episode: "Anne of Cleves"
1970-1972 Doomwatch Halliday (GLC Man) / Barker 2 episodes
1970 The Borderers Maitland of Lethington 2 episodes
1971 Mary, Queen of Scots John Knox
1972 The Shadow of the Tower Earl of Derby / Lord Stanley 5 episodes
1972 The Befrienders Shaky Man Episode: "Nobody Understands Miranda"
1973 Orson Welles Great Mysteries Mr. Granger Episode: "The Monkey's Paw"
1973-1974 Sutherland's Law Hamish McNab 2 episodes
1973-1979 The Onedin Line Rowland Biddulph / Major Nesbitt 6 episodes
1974 Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter Pointer
1974 Steptoe and Son Doctor Episode: "Upstairs, Downstairs, Upstairs, Downstairs"
1975 The Five Red Herrings Sir Maxwell Jamieson 3 episodes, (the 1975 BBC adaptation of the Lord Peter Wimsey story)
1977 Nicholas Nickleby Newman Noggs 6 episodes
1978 The Four Feathers John (the butler) TV movie
1978 Blake's 7 Ven Glynd Episode: "The Way Back "
1978 The Professionals David Merlin / Cusak 2 episodes
1978 Robin's Nest Doctor Episode: “As long as he needs me”
1983 Shackleton Sir John Scott-Keltie 3 episodes
1984 The Jewel in the Crown Col. Beames Episode: "Daughters of the Regiment"
1984 John Wycliffe: The Morning Star Bishop Courtenay
1988 Rumpole of the Bailey Dr. McAndrew Episode: "Rumpole and the Quality of Life"
1992 Casualty Gerry Mitchell Episode: "Cascade"
1992 Soft Top Hard Shoulder Campbell
1993 Century Falls Dr. Josiah Naismith 4 episodes
1993 The Satan Killer Radio DJ Voice
1995 Taggart Robert Menzies Episode: "Black Orchid"
1996 The Innocent Sleep Hopkin
1998 Looking After Jo Jo High Court judge TV series
1999 Existo Bar Tender

Death

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Robert James died in 2004, aged 80, from Alzheimer's disease in Middlesex, England.

References

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  1. ^ "Robert James". BFI. Archived from the original on 24 February 2019.
  2. ^ "Robert James". www.aveleyman.com.
  3. ^ "BBC - Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide - The Power of the Daleks - Details". www.bbc.co.uk.
  4. ^ Cano, Marina (22 January 2017). Jane Austen and Performance. Springer. ISBN 9783319439884 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "Lost Doctor Who adventure to return in animated form". BBC News. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  6. ^ Hogg, James (27 September 2018). More Than Just A Good Life: The Authorised Biography of Richard Briers. Little, Brown Book Group. ISBN 9781472129215 – via Google Books.
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