William Lucas

William Thomas Clucas (14 April 19258 July 2016), better known as William Lucas, was an English film, theatre, radio and television actor.

Early years William Lucas was born in Manchester, England.

Career Lucas earned a scholarship to the Northern Theatre School, and trained there. He then became an assistant stage manager at the Chesterfield Civic Theatre in the late 1940s. and was still active in the theatre in late 1990 in Run for Your Wife.

His first film acting role was in the film Portrait of Alison (1955), and he later appeared in many Hammer Film Productions such as The Shadow of the Cat (1961).

He starred in a string of British crime b-movies such as Payroll, The Break, Breakout and Calculated Risk. He usually played strong villain-types (lead villains), but he also played unhinged, weak characters.

Lucas is probably best known for his role in The Adventures of Black Beauty (1972–1974) as Dr James Gordon, and in the BBC series Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes as Inspector Lestrade in the episode "A Study in Scarlet" (1968). He also appeared in The Bill, Doctor Who, Last of the Summer Wine, Sir Francis Drake (TV series) and the ITV soap opera Coronation Street.

Personal life In 1954 Lucas married Doreen Moorehouse (whose stage name was Rowena Ingram). They had two children. After they divorced he married Camilla Idris-Jones.

Filmography

Film Timeslip (1955) – X-Ray Technician (uncredited) Portrait of Alison (1955) – Reg Dorking Lost (1956) – Press Photographer (uncredited) X the Unknown (1956) – Peter Elliott Up in the World (1956) – Mick Bellman High Flight (1957) – Controller (Cranwell) Breakout (1959) – Chandler Sons and Lovers (1960) – William Morel Crack in the Mirror (1960) – Kerstner The Professionals (1960) – Philip Bowman Payroll (1961) – Dennis Pearson The Shadow of the Cat (1961) – Jacob Venable The Devil's Daffodil (1961) – Jack Tarling (English Version) Touch of Death (1961) – Pete Mellor The Break (1962) – Jacko Thomas The Very Edge (1963) – Inspector Davis Bitter Harvest (1963) – Mr. Medwin The Marked One (1963) – Don Mason Calculated Risk (1963) – Steve Dateline Diamonds (1966) – Major Fairclough Night of the Big Heat (1967) – Ken Stanley The Sky Bike (1967) – Mr. Smith Scramble (1970) – (uncredited) Tower of Evil (1972) – Inspector Hawk Man at the Top (1973) – Marshall Operation Daybreak (1975) – Doctor (Sonja's Father) (uncredited) The Plague Dogs (1982) – Civil Servant #5 (voice)

Television Portrait of Alison (1955) – Reg Dorking Solo for Canary (1958) – Durea Champion Road (1958) – Jonathan Briggs The Adventures of Robin Hood (1958) – Sir Jack of Southwark The Infamous John Friend (1959, BBC) – John Friend The Adventures of William Tell (1959) – Kramer Danger Man (1960) as Colonel Vasco in the episode "The Prisoner" Sir Francis Drake (1962) – Count Julio Danger Man (1965) – Bernhard in the episode "A Room in the Basement" The Saint (1965, Episode: "Crime of the Century") as Crantor Z-Cars (1965–1967) – Det. Insp. Carter / Frank Jordan The Avengers (1967–1968) – Brett / Stapley The Prisoner (1967–1968) Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes (1968, Episode: "A Study in Scarlet") – Inspector Lestrade Dixon of Dock Green (1968–1971) – Sawyer / Philip Chapman Doctor at Large (1971) – QC Mortimer Turnbull Coronation Street (1971, 1996) – Dennis Maxwell/Judge Parrish The Adventures of Black Beauty (1972–1974) – Dr. James Gordon 'Justice' (1973) – Chief Constable The Protectors (1973) – Eastbrook The Spoils of War (1980–1981) – George Hayward Doctor Who (1984, Episode: "Frontios") – Mr Range The New Adventures of Black Beauty (1990–1992) – Dr. James Gordon On the Up (1992) – Sir Douglas Hoyle Eldorado (1992–1993) – Stanley Webb Last of the Summer Wine (2003) – Norris