Roddy McMillan

Roddy McMillan OBE (23 March 1923 – 9 July 1979) was a Scottish actor and playwright, possibly most famous for his comedy role as Para Handy for BBC Scotland's television series, The Vital Spark. He also played the lead role in Edward Boyd's private eye series, The View from Daniel Pike.

Biography

The Glasgow-born McMillan worked for a time in a glassworks. His theatre work began in the mid-1940s with the Glasgow Unity Theatre. Later that decade, he began acting with the Glasgow Citizen's Company before moving on to Edinburgh's Gateway Theatre in the mid-1950s.

His first play, All in Good Faith, about a Glasgow family which unexpectedly comes into possession of £15,000, was first staged in 1954. He performed in his second play, The Bevellers, which premiered at the Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh and achieved success at the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow during 1973 and then as a televised Play for Today for the BBC. McMillan also played Detective Inspector "Choc" Minty in the late 1970s private eye series, Hazell, starring Nicholas Ball.

McMillan was awarded the OBE in the 1978 Queen's Birthday honours.

Death Roddy McMillan died following a heart attack, aged 56, not long after completing filming on the second series of Hazell.

Theatre Year Title Role Company Director Notes 1948 Ane Satyre of the Thrie Estate Poor Man The Glasgow Citizens Theatre Tyrone Guthrie, Moultrie Kelsall play by Sir David Lyndsay, adapted by Robert Kemp 1972 Willie Rough Jake Adams Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh Bill Bryden play by Bill Bryden

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1950 The Gorbals Story Hector 1950 Morning Departure Leading Seaman Andrews 1952 You're Only Young Twice Milligan 1953 Laxdale Hall Willie John Watt 1954 The Maggie Inverkerran Driver 1958 Cat & Mouse Mr. Pomeroy 1959 The Bridal Path Murdo 1960 The Battle of the Sexes Macleod 1960 The Big Day Bob 1960 Snowball Jack, 'bus conductor1962 A Prize of Arms Sgt. McVie 1962 The Amorous Prawn Pvt. McTavish 1963 The Mouse on the Moon Benter 1969 Ring of Bright Water Busdriver 1972 Chato's Land Gavin Malechie 1978 Sweeney 2 Collie

Reviews Findlay, Bill (1980), review of All in Good Faith in Bold, Christine (ed.), Cencrastus No. 3, Summer 1980, pp. 43 & 44.