Maurice Colbourne
Encyclopedia
Maurice Colbourne was a British
stage and television actor.
He was born Roger Middleton in Sheffield at the outbreak of World War II
, and studied acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama
. He took his stage name
from that of an earlier film actor called Maurice Colbourne, (24 September 1894–22 September 1965), who shared the same date of birth (in a different year) as his. He first became well known when he played the lead in a BBC
drama series, Gangsters, from 1975–78, and afterwards appeared regularly on screen.
He twice appeared in the science fiction
series Doctor Who
as the character Lytton in Resurrection of the Daleks
(1984) and Attack of the Cybermen
(1985). He also appeared in the television miniseries adaptation of John Wyndham
's The Day of the Triffids (1981), as the character Jack Coker. He also palyed Charles Marston, the love interest of Lady Fogarty in Series 7th series of the "Onedin Line" screened between 22 July - 23 September 1979.
In 1972 he co-founded, together with Mike Irving and Guy Sprung, the Half Moon Theatre
near Aldgate
, east London. This was a successful, radical theatre company, performing initially in an 80-seat disused synagogue in Half Moon Passage, E1. In 1985 the company moved to a converted chapel in Mile End Road, near Stepney Green.
He is probably best remembered as Tom Howard, in the BBC Television
serial, Howards' Way
, which he played from 1985–89, until he died suddenly aged 49 of a heart attack
while renovating a holiday home in Dinan
, Brittany
, France
.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
stage and television actor.
He was born Roger Middleton in Sheffield at the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and studied acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama
Central School of Speech and Drama
The Central School of Speech and Drama was founded in London in 1906 by Elsie Fogerty to offer a new form of training in speech and drama for young actors and other students...
. He took his stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
from that of an earlier film actor called Maurice Colbourne, (24 September 1894–22 September 1965), who shared the same date of birth (in a different year) as his. He first became well known when he played the lead in a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
drama series, Gangsters, from 1975–78, and afterwards appeared regularly on screen.
He twice appeared in the science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
series Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
as the character Lytton in Resurrection of the Daleks
Resurrection of the Daleks
Resurrection of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in two weekly parts between 8 February and 15 February 1984...
(1984) and Attack of the Cybermen
Attack of the Cybermen
Attack of the Cybermen is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in two weekly parts from 5 January to 12 January 1985. It opened Season 22 of the series...
(1985). He also appeared in the television miniseries adaptation of John Wyndham
John Wyndham
John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris was an English science fiction writer who usually used the pen name John Wyndham, although he also used other combinations of his names, such as John Beynon and Lucas Parkes...
's The Day of the Triffids (1981), as the character Jack Coker. He also palyed Charles Marston, the love interest of Lady Fogarty in Series 7th series of the "Onedin Line" screened between 22 July - 23 September 1979.
In 1972 he co-founded, together with Mike Irving and Guy Sprung, the Half Moon Theatre
Half Moon Theatre
The Half Moon Theatre Company was formed in 1972 in a rented synagogue in Alie Street, Aldgate, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Half Moon Passage was the name of a nearby alley...
near Aldgate
Aldgate
Aldgate was the eastern most gateway through London Wall leading from the City of London to Whitechapel and the east end of London. Aldgate gives its name to a ward of the City...
, east London. This was a successful, radical theatre company, performing initially in an 80-seat disused synagogue in Half Moon Passage, E1. In 1985 the company moved to a converted chapel in Mile End Road, near Stepney Green.
He is probably best remembered as Tom Howard, in the BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
serial, Howards' Way
Howards' Way
Howards' Way is a television drama series produced by BBC Birmingham and transmitted on BBC One between 1 September 1985 and 25 November 1990. The series deals with the personal and professional lives of the yachting and business communities in the fictional town of Tarrant on the South Coast of...
, which he played from 1985–89, until he died suddenly aged 49 of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
while renovating a holiday home in Dinan
Dinan
Dinan is a walled Breton town and a commune in the Côtes-d'Armor department in northwestern France.-Geography:Its geographical setting is exceptional. Instead of nestling on the valley floor like Morlaix, most urban development has been on the hillside, overlooking the river Rance...
, Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.