Robin Nedwell

Robin Courteney Nedwell (27 September 1946 – 1 February 1999) was an English actor, formally trained at Central School of Speech and Drama. He is best remembered for his role as Doctor Duncan Waring in the television comedy series Doctor in the House and its sequels including Doctor Down Under; although he was critically acclaimed for his performance in television series such as The Lovers, The Upchat Connection, The Climber and the ATV comedy-drama Shillingbury Tales. He also featured in several British films.

Early life and education He was born in Bournville, Birmingham, England to Quaker parents

Career While at drama school, he was spotted by Graham Chapman of Monty Python, which eventually landed Nedwell the role of Doctor Duncan Waring in the hugely popular British television comedy series Doctor in the House (1969–70), which Chapman was a co-writer on. Although most of his roles were designed for television, apart from the "Doctor" series, his appearances included Vault of Horror (1973) – along with his "Doctor" co-star Geoffrey Davies – Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers (1977), The Shillingbury Blowers (1980), The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood (1984) and Cluedo (1990). In 1982, Nedwell was in a BFI health and safety film, produced at Abbey National Building Society in Lewisham, called Get Well Soon.

Nedwell's last television role was in Doctor at the Top, which was also the last of the Doctor series'; he became known later in his career for his performances on stage. He appeared in the West End in Brigadoon in 1989, and in 1992, played Max Detweiler in a British tour of The Sound of Music, a production that was also staged at Sadler's Wells.

Personal life Nedwell had a romance with co-star Diane Keen. In 1982, Nedwell married PR agent Heather Inglis, with whom he had a daughter, Amie, Nedwell lived in Hedge End, Hampshire, England,

Death

Nedwell died of a heart attack while waiting for a checkup at his local doctor's surgery, St Luke's in Hedge End, on Monday, 1 February 1999, aged 52. According to his brother Jeremy, who is a doctor, Robin's death was likely linked to a head injury he suffered when he fell off a ladder on Friday, 29 January 1999, while at his parents' house: "He was repairing a roof and dropped five feet onto concrete, he may have suffered a mild stroke. We took him to casualty and he had a few stitches in a head wound, but the hospital were not totally happy with him, over the weekend he was in some discomfort and on Monday he went to his local doctor's surgery. While there he suffered a heart attack, and despite the efforts of the staff they could not revive him."

Filmography

Film

Television YearTitleRoleNote1969—1991 Doctor in the House (1969—1970) Doctor in Charge (1972—1973) Doctor at Sea (1974) Doctor on the Go (1975—1977) Doctor Down Under (1979)