Andrew Keir

Andrew Keir (né Buggy, 3 April 19265 October 1997) was a Scottish actor who appeared in a number of films made by Hammer Film Productions in the 1960s. He was also active in television, and especially in the theatre, in a professional career that lasted from the 1940s to the 1990s. His obituary in The Times described him as possessing "considerable range and undeniable distinction."

Keir starred as Professor Bernard Quatermass in Hammer's film version of Quatermass and the Pit (1967). He also appeared in the big screen version of the Doctor Who story The Dalek Invasion of Earth, Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. (1966). He originated the role of Thomas Cromwell in Robert Bolt's play A Man for All Seasons (1960). He played Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa in the 1963 Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor vehicle Cleopatra. He was the son of a coal miner, and had five brothers and one sister.

Keir made his film debut in 1950 in The Lady Craved Excitement, and performed in his first major screen role in The Brave Don't Cry (1952). The film concerned the rescue of a group of miners trapped underground after an accident in the pit, with Keir playing a miner who places a bet on a horse race via the mine's telephone system while trapped; he was given the final line of dialogue, as he emerges from the pit following his rescue and asks who won the race. He played Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa in the 1963 Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor vehicle Cleopatra. In 1964, he was a member of the original West End cast of Lionel Bart's musical Maggie May, playing the trade union leader. ) By far his most prominent role for Hammer came in 1967's Quatermass and the Pit; this remained one of Keir's personal favourite roles of his career, and his obituary in The Independent claimed that "Keir's mixture of gruff determination, intelligence and quirkiness made him the definitive professor." This final performance was praised by The Independent: "This series has so far been hugely enjoyable - thanks in large part to Andrew Keir, who recreates the role of Quatermass in dramatic interludes; lesser actors would treat Kneale's downbeat script with a certain detachment, but Keir is prepared to charge even the most banal lines with a terror that's both a treat and a lesson."

Keir died in hospital in London, aged 71, on 5 October 1997. From 1948 until 1977, he was married to Julia Wallace, with whom he had two sons and three daughters. In 1977, he married Joyce Parker Scott, who survived him, along with his five children from his previous marriage. One of his daughters is the actress Julie T. Wallace.

Theatre Year Title Role Company Director Notes 1948 Ane Satyre of the Thrie Estaites John the Common-Weal The Glasgow Citizens Theatre Tyrone Guthrie, Moultrie Kelsall play by Sir David Lyndsay, adapted by Robert Kemp

Selected filmography

The Gorbals Story (1950) – Pub chucker-outer (uncredited) The Lady Craved Excitement (1950) – Peterson The Brave Don't Cry (1952) – Charlie Ross Laxdale Hall Scotch on the Rocks (1953) – McKellaig The Maggie a.k.a. High and Dry (1954) – The Reporter Suspended Alibi (1957) – Sandy Thorpe High Flight (1957) – Valetta Instructor Heart of a Child (1958) – Constable A Night to Remember (1958) – 2nd Engineer Officer John Henry Hesketh Tread Softly Stranger (1958) – Inspector Harris The Day They Robbed the Bank of England (1960) – Sergeant of the Guard Tunes of Glory (1960) – L / Cpl. Campbell Greyfriars Bobby: The True Story of a Dog (1961) – Constable (uncredited) The Devil's Hands (1961, short) Pirates of Blood River (1962) – Jason Standing Cleopatra (1963) – Agrippa Torpedo Bay (1963) – O'Brien The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964) – Polybius The Devil-Ship Pirates (1964) – Tom, Harry's father Lord Jim (1965) – Brierly Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966) – Father Sandor Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. (1966) – Wyler The Fighting Prince of Donegal (1966) – Lord McSweeney The Viking Queen (1967) – Octavian The Long Duel (1967) – Gungaram Quatermass and the Pit (a.k.a. Five Million Years to Earth) (1967) – Prof. Bernard Quatermass Attack on the Iron Coast (1968) – Captain Franklin The Royal Hunt of the Sun (1969) – Valverde The Last Grenade (1970) – Gordon Mackenzie Adam's Woman (1970) – O'Shea The Night Visitor (1971) – Dr. Kemp Zeppelin (1971) – Von Gorian Blood from the Mummy's Tomb (1971) – Professor Julian Fuchs Mary, Queen of Scots (1971) – Ruthven Conflict (1973) – Father Matthew The Thirty Nine Steps (1978) – Lord Rohan Absolution (1978) – Headmaster Meetings with Remarkable Men (1979) – Head of Sarmoung Monastery Lion of the Desert (1981) – Salem Marco Polo (1982) – Old Shepherd Haunters of the Deep (1984) – Captain Tregellis Dragonworld (1994) – Angus McGowan Rob Roy (1995) – John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll Dragonworld: The Legend Continues (filmed in 1996, but released in 1999) – Angus McGowan The Princess Stallion (1997, TV Movie) – Fergus