Tony Selby

Anthony Samuel Selby (26 February 1938 – 5 September 2021) was an English actor. With a career that spanned 71 years, he was known for his roles as Corporal Percy Marsh in the ITV sitcom Get Some In! (1975–1978), Sabalom Glitz in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who (1986–1987) and Clive Mitchell in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders.

Early life Anthony Samuel Selby was born in Chelsea, London, England on 26 February 1938, as the younger child to Samuel Joseph Selby, a taxi driver, and his wife, Annie Elizabeth (née Weaver), a seamstress and waitress. (née Selby).

Selby was brought up on the Peabody estate. He came from a family of taxi drivers and musical theatre performers. His father drove a black cab and was known as "taxi Sam". He performed in public for the first time at the age of seven, as Al Jolson, to sing for wounded wartime soldiers in London hospitals. Helen "Nellie" Bone (née Weaver).

Selby trained in acting and dramatics at the Italia Conti Stage School for six years from the age of 10. He attended Buckingham Gate School in Victoria, a section of the City of Westminster, where he gained his School Certificate.

Career Selby made his professional debut in 1949, on stage, playing Curly in the annual production of Peter Pan at the Scala Theatre in Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia. including Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop. He was billed as Anthony Selby until 1964. Selby appeared in various uncredited film roles, including in John and Julie (1955), Alfie (1966) and Carry On Loving (1970); he made his credited debut in 1961, with the role of Kishu in the military drama, The Queen's Guards. Villain (1971), If You Go Down in the Woods Today (1981), Selby frequently worked with Ken Loach. His first television role for Loach came as a singer in Catherine (1964), an episode of Telecast. He was cast in Loach's kitchen sink drama film Poor Cow (1967). and portrayed Sam Maxstead for the first two runs of the ITV fantasy children's television series Ace of Wands from 1970 to 1971. Selby appeared as Peter Triman in the comedy drama film, Nobody Ordered Love, directed by Robert Hartford-Davis. The film was released on 5 November 1972 and focused on the events after film director Paul Medbury (John Ronane) attempts to replace Alice Allison (Ingrid Pitt), the alcoholic star of his new First World War movie entitled The Somme, with up-and-coming starlet Caroline Johnson (Judy Huxtable), a series of tragic events begins to unfold.

From 1975 to 1978, Selby portrayed Corporal Percy Marsh in the ITV sitcom Get Some In!. The series focused on National Service life in the Royal Air Force. The series was written by [John] Esmonde and [Bob] Larbey, with Selby in mind. Get Some In! regularly attracted 15 million viewers and was one of a number of shows from that decade to have never been repeated. with Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy. He appeared in The Mysterious Planet, The Ultimate Foe and Dragonfire. He appeared as Max Taplow in the BBC One comedy-drama series Love Hurts. The series was created by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, and ran from 1992 to 1994.

Selby was a lyricist, and wrote songs with the jazz pianist Tony Lee. In 1995, Lee said "We've written one for Tony Bennett, but have yet to persuade him to record it,". He played Ben Rumson in the 1996 revival of the Broadway musical comedy, Paint Your Wagon, at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. His role earned him a 1997 Laurence Olivier Award nomination for best supporting performance in a musical.

Selby portrayed Clive Mitchell, a member of the Mitchell family, in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders. He appeared in two episodes during early October 2002, and was credited as Uncle Clive. His character was mentioned a handful of times during the 1990s, and was briefly mentioned in 2003. He appeared as Danny Paye, an East End loan shark, in the BBC One police procedural comedy drama, New Tricks. The episode, "Meat Is Murder", was broadcast in 2009.

Selby portrayed Arthur Harper, Susan Harper's long-lost father, in the BBC One sitcom My Family. The episode, "A Decent Proposal", was broadcast in 2011. an actress and dancer, having been together since 1958. They had two children together; Samantha Selby (born 2 August 1966, at Westminster Hospital) and Matthew James "Matt" Selby (born October 1968). (née Bright), a public relations consultant, The couple spent their honeymoon in Kenya. He had a stepson, from his wife's first marriage.

Selby was an avid football fan. He supported Queens Park Rangers and was close friends with the team's full-back, Terry Fenwick. He played for the showbiz charity football team, Television Entertainers' XI.

Death Selby died in Bayswater on 5 September 2021, after contracting COVID-19. He was 83. His death was announced by Lizanne Crowther Management (LCM) Limited, his management, on 6 September 2021, in a statement on Twitter, reading: "With great sadness we announce that actor Tony Selby passed away peacefully in London yesterday. In a career spanning 70 years in theatre, film and TV, Tony was highly respected and loved by family, friends and colleagues. His renowned sense of humour will be missed by us all."

Tributes poured in from fans across the world, with Sylvester McCoy, his Doctor Who co-star, leading tributes on social media, writing: "Just heard the sad sad news that Tony Shelby has died. A popular member of the Doctor Who family. He was a warm, merry, generous person. And it was always a joy to meet him socially."

Filmography Theatre

Film

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