Neil McCarthy
Overview
- Occupation Actor
- Birthdate July 26, 1933
- Birthplace Lincoln, England, UK
- Education Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- Died February 6, 1985
- Character Jock MacPherson
Biography
During his early acting career, Neil appeared as Joe Gargery in Great Expectations and as Hugh in Barnaby Rudge, both critically acclaimed Dickens plays made by the BBC. He also featured in a number of much-loved films, including Zulu (Michael Caine and Stanley Baker), Where Eagles Dare (Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood), Clash of the Titans (Laurence Olivier) and Time Bandits (Sean Connery).
Educated at the Stamford School, Lincolnshire, Neil then went on to Trinity College, Dublin where he studied Modern Languages. After his studies, Neil spent a short period of time at the Oxford Playhouse.
Comedy was also close to Neil’s heart. He was great friends with the late Carry-on actress Hattie Jacques and appeared in the film versions of popular English comedies Steptoe and Son and George and Mildred.
Born in Lincoln in 1932, the late Neil McCarthy was commonly cast as the villain or as a mysterious character partly due to his stature and unusual looks, caused by an unfortunate medical condition. However in reality, Neil was actually a softly spoken man with a dry sense of humour and whose talent as accomplished musician, particularly on piano, was only ever seen in private.
His cult TV appearances included a co-starring role along side Michael Crawford in an episode of Some Mother’s Do Ave ‘Em. Other numerous appearances included Doctor Who (Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker), The Professionals (Martin Shaw and Lewis Collins), The Avengers (Patrick McNee and Honor Blackman) and The Saint (Roger Moore).
Neil lived alone in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, England and died peacefully on 6 February 1985, aged 53, from Motor Neurone Disease.
Selected films
- Sunset Pass - 1946
- Criminal, The - 1960
- Sands of the Desert - 1960
- Offbeat - 1961
- Pot Carriers, The - 1962
- Zulu - 1964
- Young Detective, The - 1964
- Confident Course, The - 1965
- Hill, The - 1965
- Two Left Feet - 1965
- Solo for Sparrow - 1965
- Boneyard, The (TV) - 1966
- Catweazle (TV-series) - 1969
- Where Eagles Dare - 1969
- When the Bough Breaks (TV) - 1971
- Public Eye, The - 1972
- Steptoe and Son Ride Again - 1973
- Operation Daybreak - 1976
- Measure for Measure - 1978
- Time Bandits - 1980
- Monster Club, The - 1980
- Shogun (TV-series) - 1980
- Clash of the Titans - 1981
- Ten Little Indians - 1989
- Mutator - 1991
- Sherlock Holmes and Incident at Victoria Falls - 1991
- Lost World, The - 1992
- Friends - 1993