Community hub
0 subscribers7 pages, 0 posts
Recent from talks
All channels
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Contribute something
Welcome to the community hub built to collect knowledge and have discussions related to Alan Rowe (actor).
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Alan Rowe (actor)
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
Alan Rowe (14 December 1926 – 21 October 2000) was an English actor born in New Zealand.[1][2][3]
Key Information
Life and career
[edit]Rowe appeared in four Doctor Who serials between 1967 and 1980.[4] His first role was Dr Evans in The Moonbase.[5] His other roles in the show included Edward of Wessex in The Time Warrior,[6] Colonel Skinsale in Horror of Fang Rock and Garif in Full Circle, which was his final Doctor Who appearance.[7]
He took the major supporting role of William of Orange in the prizewinning 1969 BBC series The First Churchills, appearing in seven episodes.[1][8][9] His other work included roles in Wycliffe, Inspector Morse, Rumpole of the Bailey, Minder, Forever Green, Young Charlie Chaplin, Lovejoy and BBC2 Playhouse.[10]
Rowe died in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey on 21 October 2000, aged 73. He was survived by his long-term partner, fellow actor Geoffrey Bayldon.[11]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | The Adventures of Robin Hood | Sir William | Episode: "To Be a Student" |
| 1960 | An Age of Kings | Various Roles | |
| 1967-1980 | Doctor Who | Dr. Evans/Edward of Wessex/Skinsale/Garif | 4 episodes |
| 1967 | The Forsyte Saga | Settlewhite | TV serial |
| 1969 | The Saint | Lafitre | Episode: "The Ex-King of Diamonds" |
| The First Churchills | William of Orange | TV serial | |
| Taste of Excitement | Police Inspector | ||
| 1971 | Say Hello to Yesterday | Waiter | Uncredited |
| 1972 | Henry VIII and His Six Wives | French Ambassador | |
| 1978 | Lillie | Dr. Lewis | TV serial |
| 1980 | The Tempest | Sebastian | |
| 1980-1982 | Tales of the Unexpected | Mr. Clements/Duncan Larch | 2 episodes |
| 1983 | Number 10 | Lord Briley | TV serial |
| 1984 | The First Olympics: Athens 1896 | Edwin Edgerton | TV serial |
| 1985 | Emmerdale | Professor Smale | 2 episodes |
| 1986 | Lovejoy | Malleson | 2 episodes |
| 1992 | Inspector Morse | Alistair Haines | Episode: "The Death of the Self" |
| 1997 | Wycliffe | Minister | Episode: "Old Crimes, New Times" |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Alan Rowe bio". BFI. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017.
- ^ "Alan Rowe - Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
- ^ "Alan Rowe". www.aveleyman.com.
- ^ "Alan Rowe - Movies and Filmography - AllMovie". AllMovie.
- ^ "BBC - Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide - The Moonbase - Details". www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "BBC - Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide - The Time Warrior - Details". www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Full Circle". BBC. Archived from the original on 7 January 2010. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
- ^ "First Churchills". TVGuide.com.
- ^ "Television in 1970 - BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org.
- ^ TV.com. "Alan Rowe". TV.com. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
- ^ doctorwhonews.net. "Doctor Who Guide: Alan Rowe".
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
  | This article about an English television actor is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. |
 | This article about a British television actor born in the 1920s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. |
Alan Rowe (actor)
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life
Birth and upbringing
Alan Rowe was born on 14 December 1926 in Palmerston North, a regional city in the Manawatu region of New Zealand's North Island.[1][4][5] Rowe relocated to England, where he began his acting career.[1]Career
Early roles
Alan Rowe began his professional acting career in British television during the late 1950s, debuting in a guest role as Sir William in the episode "To Be a Student" of the adventure series The Adventures of Robin Hood.[6] In the same year, he took on minor parts in other anthology and period productions, including roles as Antonio and Merula in episodes of Sword of Freedom and as Dmitri Rikhjovic in ITV Television Playhouse. These early engagements were typically small, supporting characters in episodic dramas, reflecting the common path for emerging actors in post-war British broadcasting.[1] A significant step forward came in 1958 with his casting as William Hewer, the loyal clerk to the titular diarist, in the BBC mini-series The Diary of Samuel Pepys.[7] Rowe appeared in 14 of the 16 episodes, providing a recurring presence that showcased his ability to portray historical figures with understated reliability.[8] This role, based on the real-life associate of Samuel Pepys, highlighted his growing comfort in period pieces and contributed to his visibility in the competitive landscape of 1950s television drama.[9] Throughout the early 1960s, Rowe continued to build his resume with guest spots in adventure and historical series, transitioning from one-off minor roles to more substantial supporting parts.[10] Notable examples include his portrayal of Anton in an episode of William Tell in 1959 and various characters, such as the Duke of Somerset, in the Shakespearean adaptation An Age of Kings in 1960.[8] By mid-decade, he secured roles like Ivo Taillebois in the historical drama Hereward the Wake (1965) and Alain Vernoux in an episode of Maigret (1963), demonstrating a progression toward characters with greater narrative weight in ensemble casts. These appearances in repertory-style television productions underscored his versatility in classical and contemporary settings, laying the groundwork for later career advancements.[11]Television work
Rowe's television career gained prominence in the late 1960s with supporting roles in major BBC adaptations of classic literature. In the landmark serial The Forsyte Saga (1967), he portrayed the character Settlewhite across four episodes, contributing to the series' depiction of Edwardian family dynamics.[12] That same year, he appeared as Thénardier in the BBC's Les Misérables (1967), a role that highlighted his ability to embody complex, morally ambiguous figures in historical dramas.[13] His visibility expanded through guest appearances in popular crime series, such as Lafitre in the episode "The Ex-King of Diamonds" of The Saint (1969), where he supported Roger Moore's lead in a tale of international intrigue.[14] Rowe took on a more substantial recurring part as William, Prince of Orange (later William III), appearing in seven episodes of the award-winning historical mini-series The First Churchills (1969), which chronicled the lives of John Churchill and Sarah Jennings.[15] This role underscored his affinity for authoritative historical personas, a pattern evident in later work like Trebonius in the educational series Heil Caesar! (1973).[16] Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Rowe continued to feature in procedural dramas, including Alain Vernoux in the episode "The Fontenay Murders" of Maigret (1963, aired in syndication into later years) and a magistrate in Minder (1993). His career demonstrated longevity, with authoritative roles such as Alistair Haines in "The Death of the Self" episode of Inspector Morse (1992) and a minister in "Old Crimes, New Times" of Wycliffe (1997), often casting him as judges, officials, or dignitaries in British crime narratives.[17][18] These performances reflected a consistent typecasting in figures of power and tradition, sustaining his presence on screen into the late 1990s.[19]Doctor Who appearances
Alan Rowe made his first appearance in Doctor Who as Dr. Evans in the 1967 serial The Moonbase, a four-part story from the Second Doctor era starring Patrick Troughton as the Doctor, alongside companions Polly (Anneke Wills) and Ben (Michael Craze).[20] In this Cybermen invasion narrative set on a lunar base in 2070, Evans serves as the chief medical officer, succumbing early to a mysterious plague engineered by the Cybermen, which highlights the vulnerability of the base's personnel; Rowe also provided the voice of Space Control, adding to the story's atmospheric tension.[20] Rowe's second role came in The Time Warrior (1973–1974), a four-part serial introducing the Sontarans and companion Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen), with Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor.[2] He portrayed Edward of Wessex, a historical figure and son of King Henry II, whose brief but pivotal scenes in the 12th-century castle setting underscore the time-travel elements as the Doctor and Sarah infiltrate a plot involving kidnapped scientists and the warrior Sontaran Linx.[2] In 1977's Horror of Fang Rock, a four-part Gothic horror tale featuring Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor and Louise Jameson as Leela, Rowe played Colonel James Skinsale, a naval officer visiting the isolated lighthouse off the Cornish coast in 1902.[21] Skinsale's arrival complicates the mystery of the lighthouse keepers' deaths caused by a Rutan scout, positioning him as a skeptical authority figure whose demise advances the alien threat's escalation.[2] Rowe's final Doctor Who appearance was as Decider Garif in Full Circle (1980), another four-part story in the Fourth Doctor's run with Lalla Ward as Romana II and introducing Matthew Waterhouse as Adric.[22] Set on the planet Alzarius in E-Space, Garif is a senior member of the ruling Deciders, whose dogmatic control over society clashes with the Outler rebels and the emergence of the Marshmen, integrating Rowe's character into themes of evolution and societal stagnation during the TARDIS crew's exploration of the starliner system.[2] Spanning three Doctors and over a decade from 1967 to 1980, Rowe's roles exemplified his versatility in historical, scientific, and authoritative capacities, contributing to key serials of the show's classic era that bridged black-and-white and color production while engaging with iconic foes like the Cybermen and Sontarans.[2]Personal life
Partnership with Geoffrey Bayldon
Alan Rowe and Geoffrey Bayldon formed a personal partnership in 1951, during the early stages of their respective acting careers in post-war Britain. This relationship, which endured for nearly 50 years until Rowe's death in 2000, was characterized by deep mutual companionship and was later described in Bayldon's obituary as one of the great double acts and love stories of the British acting world.[23] The couple shared a private life together, residing in Barnes, London, where they cultivated a supportive home environment amid their professional pursuits.[23] Their partnership extended beyond the personal into professional spheres, with the two actors collaborating on various theatre and television projects between jobs, leveraging their complementary styles—Rowe's meticulous approach alongside Bayldon's mischievous energy.[23] Bayldon's iconic role as the eccentric wizard Catweazle in the 1970s children's series ran parallel to Rowe's steady television work, including multiple appearances in Doctor Who, fostering a sense of shared camaraderie within the acting community. They also bonded over common interests such as art and animals, hosting intimate dinner parties and caring for pets, including nursing a stray tortoise through pneumonia and adopting a toad named Touchwood.[23] In the context of mid-20th-century Britain, where same-sex relationships faced legal and social stigma until the partial decriminalization of homosexuality in 1967, Rowe and Bayldon maintained a discreet profile, shielding their partnership from public scrutiny while navigating the entertainment industry's evolving attitudes toward LGBTQ+ individuals. This privacy allowed them to provide unwavering support to one another, contributing to their enduring bond and quiet influence within the acting circles of London and Surrey.Death
Alan Rowe died on 21 October 2000 in Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, England, at the age of 73.[1] The cause of his death was not publicly disclosed.[1] In his final years, Rowe remained active in television, taking on supporting roles in series such as Minder (1993) and Wycliffe (1997), where he portrayed a minister in his last credited appearance.[4] He was survived by his long-term partner, the actor Geoffrey Bayldon.[1] Bayldon's obituary later described the profound effect of Rowe's passing, stating that although Bayldon remained energetic, hard-working, cheerful and flirtatious with his fans, his remaining 17 years were lived in the shadow of that loss.[23] Bayldon himself died in 2017 at age 93.Filmography
Television
Alan Rowe appeared in numerous television productions throughout his career, spanning from the late 1950s to the late 1990s. His roles ranged from supporting characters in historical mini-series to guest appearances in popular dramas and science fiction serials.[1]| Year | Title | Role | Episodes/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | The Diary of Samuel Pepys | William Hewer | TV mini-series (14 episodes)[7] |
| 1967 | The Forsyte Saga | Settlewhite | TV serial; 4 episodes including "A Silent Wooing," "Action for Libel," and "The Silver Spoon"[19][24] |
| 1967 | Les Misérables | Thénardier | TV mini-series (10 episodes)[13] |
| 1967 | Doctor Who: The Moonbase | Dr. Evans / Voice of Space Control | 4 episodes[2][25] |
| 1969 | The Saint | Lafitre | 1 episode: "The Ex-King of Diamonds"[14] |
| 1969 | The First Churchills | William, Prince of Orange | TV mini-series; 7 episodes[26] |
| 1973 | Doctor Who: The Time Warrior | Edward of Wessex | 4 episodes[2][27] |
| 1973 | Heil Caesar! | Trebonius | TV series (2 episodes)[16] |
| 1977 | Doctor Who: Horror of Fang Rock | Colonel James Skinsale | 4 episodes[2] |
| 1978 | Lillie | Dr. Lewis | TV mini-series; 1 episode: "Mrs. Langtry"[28] |
| 1978 | Rumpole of the Bailey | Dr. Malkin | TV series; 1 episode: "Rumpole and the Family Pride"[19][29] |
| 1980 | Doctor Who: Full Circle | Garif (the Decider) | 4 episodes[2][30] |
| 1980 | The Tempest | Sebastian | TV movie (1 production)[31] |
| 1980 | Tales of the Unexpected | Mr. Clements | TV series; 1 episode: "Mr. Botibol's First Love" |
| 1982 | Tales of the Unexpected | Duncan Larch | TV series; 1 episode: "Death in the Morning"[32] |
| 1983 | Number 10 | Lord Crewe | TV mini-series; 1 episode: "The Asquiths"[33] |
| 1984 | Morgan's Boy | Harry Gregory | TV series (7 episodes)[34] |
| 1985 | Emmerdale Farm | Professor Smale | TV series; 1 episode (#1.947) |
| 1986 | Lovejoy | Malleson | TV series; 2 episodes: "Death and Venice: Part One" and "Part Two"[35][36] |
| 1992 | Inspector Morse | Alistair Haines | TV series; 1 episode: "The Death of the Self"[37] |
| 1993 | Minder | Magistrate | TV series; 1 episode: "Looking for Mr. Goodtime"[19] |
| 1997 | Wycliffe | Minister | TV series; 1 episode: "Old Crimes, New Times" |
Film
Alan Rowe appeared in two feature films during his career.| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Henry VIII and His Six Wives | French Ambassador | Directed by Waris Hussein; adapted from the BBC television series The Six Wives of Henry VIII. Stars Keith Michell as King Henry VIII.[38][39] |
| 1982 | Next of Kin | Service Club Man | Australian horror film directed by Tony Williams.[40] |