Roddy McMillan

Roddy McMillan (23 March 1923 – 9 July 1979) was a Scottish actor and playwright, possibly most famous for his comedy role as Para Handy for BBC Scotland's television series, The Vital Spark.[1][2] He also played the lead role in Edward Boyd's private eye series, The View from Daniel Pike.[3]

Roddy McMillan
Born(1923-03-23)23 March 1923
Glasgow, Scotland
Died9 July 1979(1979-07-09) (aged 56)
Glasgow, Scotland
NationalityScottish
OccupationActor

Biography

The Glasgow-born McMillan's earliest theatre work began in the mid-1940s with the Glasgow Unity Theatre.[4] Later that decade, he began acting with the Glasgow Citizen's Company before moving on to Edinburgh's Gateway Theatre in the mid-1950s.[5]

He also performed in his own play, The Bevellers, which achieved success in performance at the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow during 1973 and then as a televised Play for Today for BBC.[2][6] McMillan also played Detective Inspector "Choc" Minty in the late 1970s private eye series, Hazell, starring Nicholas Ball.[7]

Death

Roddy McMillan died following a heart attack, aged 56, not long after completing filming on the second series of Hazell.[8]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1950The Gorbals StoryHector
1950Morning DepartureLeading Seaman Andrews
1952You're Only Young TwiceMilligan
1953Laxdale HallWillie John Watt
1954The MaggieInverkerran Driver
1958Cat & MouseMr. Pomeroy
1959The Bridal PathMurdo
1960The Battle of the SexesMacleod
1960The Big DayBob
1962A Prize of ArmsSgt. McVie
1962The Amorous PrawnPvt. McTavish
1963The Mouse on the MoonBenter
1969Ring of Bright WaterBusdriver
1972Chato's LandGavin Malechie
1978Sweeney 2Collie

References
  1. "Roddy McMillan". BFI.
  2. "The show may not go on as theatre fails to track down writer's daughters". www.scotsman.com.
  3. "The View from Daniel Pike". 18 November 1971. p. 65 – via BBC Genome.
  4. Craig, Cairns; Stevens, Randall (1 July 2010). "Twentieth Century Scottish Drama". Canongate Books – via Google Books.
  5. "STA Catalogue: Roddy McMillan". University of Glasgow Special Collections. Retrieved 14 June 2009.
  6. "The Bevellers (1974)". BFI.
  7. "BFI Screenonline: Hazell (1978-80)". www.screenonline.org.uk.
  8. "'Tough guy' TV actor dies at 56". The Guardian. 10 July 1979.


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