Richard Shaw

Richard Shaw ( Maximilian Shalofsky; 19 November 1920 – 11 April 2010) was an English actor remembered for appearing in the science fiction franchises Quatermass and Doctor Who. He also had a recurring role as henchman Ryan in the children's series Freewheelers.

Early life Born in Brazil, Shaw was raised in the Jewish community of Whitechapel, East London, to a Latvian father and Polish mother (they met in the English capital after both fled early 20th-century Russian pogroms). Shaw changed his surname in his late teens (he was born Maximillian Shalofsky) and adopted the acting name Richard. He started his career as an adagio dancer, going on to become a weightlifter and ballroom dancer plus working as a motor mechanic and serving in the British military during World War II before beginning his acting career.

Career Shaw was a regular face on British TV networks BBC and ITV. He played many supporting roles, mostly in British crime films, throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s. His character locked the bunker, full of Nazis and their families, before it was filled with gasoline and grenades were dropped in during the last scenes of the Second World War movie The Dirty Dozen.

During the latter part of his career, in 1980, he played the love interest of both Bet Lynch and Elsie Tanner, Dan Johnson, in the UK soap opera Coronation Street. He appeared in the 1959 BBC TV serial of Quatermass and the Pit playing drill operator Sladden. The series was remastered and rereleased by the BBC in 2018. He was asked to reprise the role in the 1967 film adaptation but was unable to do so due to other commitments. Duncan Lamont (from The Quatermass Experiment) was therefore cast instead. Shaw made three appearances in Doctor Who: The Space Museum, Frontier in Space and Underworld.

He was a regular face on BBC and ITV series over four decades. Amongst the other television shows Shaw appeared in were Ghost Squad, Richard the Lionheart, Villains, Circle of Deception, The Wednesday Play, ITV Play of the Week, BBC Sunday-Night Play, Steptoe and Son, Sykes and a..., The Saint, Biggles, Sunday Night Theatre, The Flying Doctor, The Troubleshooters, Emergency Ward 10, Clochemerle, King of the River, Crossroads, Softly, Softly, Please Sir!, Man from Interpol, Alcoa Presents One Step Beyond, Pathfinders, The Capone Investment, Softly, Softly: Task Force, Barlow at Large, The Hanged Man, The Onedin Line, The Famous Five, The Sandbaggers, Robin's Nest, George and Mildred

Personal life On 12 September 1959, Shaw married beauty queen Marilyn Davies (then having recently won the title of Miss Blackpool 1959) in Surrey. They had two sons: Richard Ian ( 1960) and Darren ( 1962).

In 1966, Shaw had a daughter, Donna, with another beauty queen, Carol Crompton (winner of Miss England 1965). Early the following year, his wife filed for divorce because of his adultery, winning custody of their two children. Shaw and Crompton were subsequently married in 1971.

Filmography Selected film Year Title Role Notes 1952 The Hour of 13 The 'Terror' 1953 The Gambler and the Lady Louis 1957Hour of Decision Sgt. DaleDate with Disaster Ken Prescott Booby Trap RichardsMan from Tangier a.k.a. Thunder over Tangier Johnny 1958The Man Who Wouldn't Talk Inspector BarclayThe Safecracker Bailey 1959 First Man into Space WitneyThe House of the Seven Hawks Police Sgt. Straatman 1960 Bottoms Up 2nd Man The Challenge a.k.a. It Takes a Thief Lorry Driver Circle of Deception Liebert Compelled Jug 1961 Partners in Crime Bill Cross1962The Pot Carriers Prison Officer Willis 1963 The Cracksman Moke 1967 Don't Lose Your Head Captain of Soldiers The Dirty Dozen German Officer Who Seals the Bunker uncredited 1970 Groupie Girl a.k.a. I Am a Groupie Morrie 1978 Give Us Tomorrow 1st Bank Robber 1988 Young Toscanini Comparsa

Selected television