Colin Douglas

Colin Martin Douglas (28 July 1912 – 21 December 1991) was an English actor. Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, Douglas was educated at the Farm School in Cumberland. Following his elder brother Jock, he emigrated to New Zealand when he was sixteen, working in sheep farming and lumberjacking, but only stayed for five years before auditioning to study at RADA, after begging his father to let him return to try to become an actor. He did some time in repertory, but the Second World War halted his career. In the armed forces he went to Catterick and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, became Captain and Adjutant in the Border Regiment, and served in the 1st Airborne Division. During the Allied invasion of Sicily his glider, like many others, was released too early, and the crew were in the sea for two days (many members of other crews perished). He was also dropped by glider at Arnhem, during the ill-fated Operation Market Garden but in later years was reluctant to talk about it. He was appearing on stage in Alan Plater's play Close the Coalhouse Door when he heard he had been chosen for a leading part in A Family at War. This popular series ran for 52 episodes from 1970.

His film credits include The Trollenberg Terror (1958), Captain Clegg (1962) and Mister Ten Per Cent (1967).

His theatre credits include One For the Pot, one of Brian Rix's Whitehall farces in the '60s, a spell with the Royal Shakespeare Company which included a production of Toad of Toad Hall with David Suchet, and Exchange in the late '80s, with his good friend Martin Jarvis.

His television credits include Dr. Finlay's Casebook, Doctor Who (in the serials The Enemy of the World and Horror of Fang Rock). Also the 1955 version of The Children of the New Forest. He also had roles in Fire Crackers, The Buccaneers, Danger Man, Love Story, Rooms, Angel Pavement, Follyfoot, Telford's Change, When The Boat Comes In, The Sweeney, Dick Barton: Special Agent, The Seventh Juror, The Flockton Flyer, Headmaster, Thicker than Water (an instalment of the anthology series Play for Today), The Night People, The Omega Factor, The Greenhill Pals and The Pickwick Papers. It was about three hopeless crooks, Paul Whitsun-Jones as Boss, Douglas Blackwell as Happy and Colin Douglas as Bonehead. Boss would devise a criminal scheme and along with the eternally miserable Happy and the idiot Bonehead (whose catchphrase was "Shall I bash 'im, Boss?"), they would try to carry the scheme out. But things always went wrong, often thanks to Bonehead and the watchful eye of PC Pilchard. To try to rescue something from the mess, Boss would suggest an alternative scheme with the phrase "plan B Bonehead".

Colin Douglas's last role was as troubled Labour Party veteran Frank Twist in Alan Bleasdale's TV series GBH.

He was married to actress Gina Cachia for 40 years, until her death in 1989. Their children were Timothy, Amanda (killed, aged 20, in a traffic accident whilst at the University of Kent, Canterbury), Angus, Blaise and Piers. He and his young family lived in the Oakleigh Park area of North London, before moving to a large mansion block flat overlooking the park, in Battersea, London, and his hobbies were sea fishing, golf and cooking. He also served on the actors' Equity Council for several years.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1948 Dick Barton: Special Agent Stark Uncredited 1950 Seven Days to Noon Soldier In House Search Uncredited 1952 Ghost Ship 1st Engineer 1954 River Beat Superintendent 1955 The Hornet's Nest Martin 1956 Doublecross Police Sergeant 1957 Miracle in Soho Supervisor 1958 The Trollenberg Terror Hans 1960–1965 Danger Man Mego/The Stranger Two episodes1962 The Valiant Chief Gunner's Mate Captain Clegg Pirate Bosun 1964 Fire Crackers George Five episodes 1965 Game for Three Losers Supt. Manton 1967 Mister Ten Per Cent Policeman The Forsyte Saga Policeman Miniseries 1967 & 1977 Doctor Who Donald Bruce/Reuben/Rutan (voice role; uncredited ) Two serials: The Enemy of the World; Horror of Fang Rock 1968 Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River Barman 1978 All Creatures Great and Small Mr. Horner Episode: "Pups, Pigs and Pickle" 1983 The Winds of War John Dill Miniseries