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Derek Newark
Derek Newark
Derek Newark
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Derek John Newark (8 June 1933 – 11 August 1998) was an English actor in television, film and theatre.

Key Information

Career

[edit]

Newark began his working life as a soldier in the Coldstream Guards before joining the Royal Artillery.[1] However, he wanted to become an actor, and left the Army to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.[2]

Newark appeared in a large number of film and television roles, including The Baron (1967), The Avengers (three episodes in the 1960s), Department S, Z-Cars (six episodes between 1969 and 1972), Barlow in the regular role of Det. Insp. Tucker (1974–1975) and various other minor roles. He appeared in episodes two to four of the first Doctor Who story An Unearthly Child in 1963. Later he appeared opposite Jon Pertwee in the 1970 story Inferno. Newark also played the role of Spooner, an ill-tempered former Red Devil turned professional wrestler in the series Rising Damp.

In the 1970s, Newark became more involved in the theatre, spending nearly a decade at the Royal National Theatre. While there he was part of the company that opened its current South Bank home and was a cornerstone of the residential company that worked in the smaller Cottesloe Theatre under Bill Bryden's direction. His most important roles there were Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream and the world premiere of David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross where he played Shelley Levene (a role later played on screen by Jack Lemmon). At the National he also appeared as Malcolm in Alan Ayckbourn's Bedroom Farce, which transferred to the West End and then Broadway. He also created the role of Roote in Harold Pinter's play The Hothouse which premiered in 1980 in a production directed by the playwright.

Amongst later work on television, he starred in the second series of Juliet Bravo as Councillor Jack Winterbottom. In 1982, Newark played Martin Bormann in the TV series Inside the Third Reich. He appeared as W. C. Fields with Caroline Quentin in the 1983 Channel 4 play Hollywood Hits Chiswick [3]

In the cinema Newark appeared as Jessard, Sgt. Johnson's (Sean Connery) sidekick in the police drama The Offence (Sidney Lumet 1972).

Death

[edit]

Newark died of a heart attack, brought on by liver failure after years of alcoholism, on 11 August 1998 in West London.[4]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1964 The System Alfred Uncredited
The Black Torment Coachman Tom
1965 City Under the Sea Dan
The Little Ones Det. Wilson
1966 The Blue Max Ziegel
1968 Where Eagles Dare German Major Uncredited
1969 Oh! What a Lovely War Shooting Gallery Proprietor
1970 Fragment of Fear Sergeant Matthews
The Breaking of Bumbo C.S.M Peters
1971 Dad's Army Regimental Sergeant Major
Venom Johann
1973 The Offence Jessard
1974 The Black Windmill Monitoring Policeman
1976 Escape from the Dark Unknown
1987 Bellman and True Guv'nor

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Episodes
1961 Deadline Midnight Mechanic Episode: "Striptease"
1962 Probation Officer Customers Officer Episode: #4.12
Out of This World Inspector Wright Episode: ''Vanishing Act''
The Caucasian Chalk Circle Trooper 3 episodes
Harpers West One Jerry Barker Episode: #2.15
1963 The Birth of a Private Man Jack Television film
The Plane Makers Alf Skinner Episode: "The Blunt Approach"
BBC Sunday-Night Play Fred/George 2 episodes
1964 No Hiding Place Sgt. Wallis Episode: ''Line of Fire''
The Villains D.S. Brough Episode: 'Victim''
Redcap Mess Sergeant Episode: ''It's What Comes After''
The Wednesday Play Private Postnikov Episode: ''A Crack in the Ice''
The Chimney Boy Sailor Television film
1961–1965 ITV Play of the Week Dragoon Sjt/Private Varley

Ward

3 episodes
1965 Front Page Story Joe Harwood 13 episodes
Knock on Any Door Flynn Episode: ''There's Always an Angle''
Sergeant Musgrave's Dance Private Hurst 3 episodes
1966 Softly, Softly Alec Bridges Episode: ''It Doesn't Grow on Trees''
The Likely Lads Duggie Episode: ''Love and Marriage''
Blackmail Arthur Clegg Episode : ''The Haunting of Aubrey Hopkiss''
Drama 61-67 Sgt. Dangerfield Episode: ''Conduct to the Prejudice''
1966–1967 The Baron Cavin Baggio/Lucas 3 episodes
1967 Emergency Ward 10 Captain Leo Baring Episode: "Mock Flight"
Theatre 625 Col. Karl Ernst Episode: ''Firebrand''
Callan Loder Episode: ''You Should Have Got Here Sooner''
The Gamblers Redgrave Episode ''Read 'em and Weep''
The White Rabbit Prison guard/The 2 episodes
ITV Playhouse Sgt. Huber Episode: ''The Stories of D.H. Lawrence: The Thorn in the Flesh''
Vanity Fair McMurdo Episode: ''Vanitas Vanitatum''
1967–1968 Man in a Suitcase Maurice/Rudy 2 episodes
1968 Half Hour Story Bill Bolton Episode: ''Out of the Playground''
The Caesars Agrippa Postumus Episode: ''Augustus''
1964–1968 The Avengers Johnson/Crawford

Vickers

3 episodes
1968 Mr. Rose Thomas Lundy Episode: ''Free and Easy''
The Champions Kruger Episode: ''The Final Countdown''
1967–1968 The Saint Carl/German 2 episodes
1969 Judge Dee Corporal Episode: ''The Curse of the Lacquer Screen''
1970 Department S Clark Episode: ''The Last Train to Redbridge''
Manhunt Henri Episode: ''Break-Up''
1963–1970 Doctor Who Za/Greg Sutton Serials: "An Unearthly Child"/"Inferno"
1970 Big Brother Miller Episode: ''There's Always a First Time''
1971 The Ten Commandments Bernard Williams Episode: ''Be Lucky''
1971 Paul Temple Det. Insp. Hilton Episode: ''The Quick and the Dead''
1971 ITV Saturday Night Theatre Pete Episode: ''The Wedding Gift''
1966–1971 Coronation Street Detective Inspector Sharp 6 episodes
1971 Dixon of Dock Green Eddie Brown Episode: ''The Fighter''
1971 Jason King Hartman Episode: ''A Red Red Rose Forever''
1971 The Persuaders! Lloyd Episode: ''That's Me Over There''
1968–1972 Thirty-Minute Theatre Bert Gregson

Dolan Wilf Hardiman (the manager)

3 episodes
1971–1972 Budgie Det. Insp. Bryant 3 episodes
1968–1972 Z-Cars Dunnock

Matt Colley/Harry Hayes

6 episodes
1972 The Edwardians Meadows Episode: ''Baden-Powell''
1973 The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club Bunter 3 episodes
Justice Tom Bradley Episode: ''After All, What Is a Lie?''
New Scotland Yard Harry Logan Episode: ''Where's Harry?''
General Hospital Ronnie Singer Episode: #1.87
Diamonds on Wheels Mercer Television film
Spy Trap Colonel Kretmar Episode: ''Anything Legal Considered''
The Adventures of Black Beauty Fletcher

Bellows

2 episodes
1974 The Protectors Reece Episode: ''The Tiger and the Goat''
1974 Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Colour Mercer 3 episodes
QB VII Mr. Graham Episode: ''Part Three''
My Name Is Harry Worth Mick Episode: ''Don't Bank on It''
A Little Bit of Wisdom Security guard Episode: ''And I Mean That Most Sincerely''
1975 The Two Ronnies Det. Insp. Tucker Episode: #4.1
1974–1975 Rising Damp Spooner 2 episodes
Barlow Det. Insp. Eddie Tucker 15 episodes
1975 Churchill's People Sir John Dudley Episode: '' The Whip of Heaven''
1978 Rumpole of the Bailey Basil Delgado Episode: ''Rumpole and the Heavy Brigade''
Born and Bred Dawson Episode: ''Ever So Goosey''
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em Mr. Hunt Episode: ''Motorbike''
1979 Return of the Saint Wright Episode: ''The Obono Affair''
Citizen Smith Car salesman Episode: ''The Big Job''
1980 Bedroom Farce Malcom Television film
1981 The Antagonists Engineering Officer 2 episodes
Private Schulz Publican Episode: #1.3
Only Fools and Horses Eric the Policeman Episode: ''The Russians are Coming''
Juliet Bravo Councillor Jack Winterbottom Episode: ''Gorgeous''
Seconds Out Joe Brindle Episode: ''Round 7''
1982 The Hothouse Roote Television film
Inside the Third Reich Martin Bormann
1973–1982 Crown Court Robert Scard

Leonard Hooper Sgt. Waxloe

6 episodes
1983 Reilly, Ace of Spies General Stoessel Episode: ''Prelude to War''
Dramarama Mr. Bateson Episode: ''Jack and the Computer''
1984 Travelling Man Det. Chief Supt. Sullivan 2 episodes
Just Good Friends Eddie Brown
1985 Hitler's SS: Portrait in Evil Theodor Eicke Television film
1985–1986 The Mysteries First Soldier

Abraham

3 episodes
1986 Chance in a Million Arthur Episode: ''The Lost Weekend''
The Holy City Stiles Television film
Four to One Len
Dempsey and Makepeace Corman Episode: ''The Guardian Angel''
The Deliberate Death of a Polish Priest Colonel Pietruska Television film
Lytton's Diary Charlie Rigby Episode ''Rule of Engagement''
1987 Smith & Jones Unknown Episode: #4.2
Harry's Kingdom Bob Roberts Television film
1988 Singles Mr. Broadbent Episode: ''Money, Money, Money''
Tickets for the Titanic Brock Episode: ''Pastoral Care'
ScreenPlay Mr. Vernon Episode: ''Starlings''
A Taste for Death Gordon Halliwell 4 episodes
War & Remembrance Untersturmfuhrer Klinge 2 episodes
1989 Shadow of the Noose Van der Hogh Episode ''Beside the Seaside''
The Nineteenth Hole Mr. Bennett 7 episodes
Saracen Metcalf Episode: ''Crossfire''
The Paradise Club Bobby Mulgrew Episode: "Short Story"
1991 Madness Reenactments 2 episodes
An Actor's Life For Me Bill Mortimer Episode: ''Night of the Living Dead''
1992 Screen One Jimmy Episode: ''Seconds Out''
1994 99-1 Hicks Episode: ''Where the Money Is''
1989–1996 The Bill Eric Taylor

Jim Whatley Mike Walker

3 episodes

Theatre work

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Derek Newark

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Derek John Newark (8 June 1933 – 11 August 1998) was an English actor renowned for his versatile portrayals in television, film, and theatre throughout the mid-to-late 20th century. Born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, Newark served in the British Army before training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), launching a career that spanned over four decades. He gained prominence on British television with recurring roles such as Detective Inspector Bill Sharp in the soap opera Coronation Street from 1966 to 1971, and appearances in landmark series including Z-Cars (1968–1972) and The Avengers (1967). His work in science fiction included playing the prehistoric tribe leader Za in the inaugural Doctor Who serial An Unearthly Child (1963) and engineer Greg Sutton in the parallel-universe story Inferno (1970), the latter opposite Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor. In film, Newark featured in notable productions like the World War I aviation drama (1966) alongside George Peppard and James Mason, the satirical anti-war musical (1969), and the crime thriller Bellman and True (1987) with Derek Jacobi. On stage, he performed in works by Harold Pinter and other contemporary playwrights, contributing to the National Theatre and repertory. Later television credits encompassed historical miniseries such as (1982), where he portrayed Martin Bormann, and (1988–1989). Newark's rugged screen presence often suited authoritative or tough characters, from military officers to criminals, making him a familiar face in British media. He died of a heart attack caused by on 11 August 1998 in , at the age of 65.

Early life

Birth and upbringing

Derek John Newark was born on 8 June 1933 in , , . He was the youngest of three brothers and attended in , where he demonstrated strong academic performance. Newark's family had roots in the area, though his parents, George and Ella Newark (née Finch), originally from in , returned to that region with the family during the mid-to-late 1930s, leading him to grow up primarily in , .

Military service and training

Newark undertook in the in the early 1950s, a mandatory two-year commitment for young men at the time. He initially served with the , one of the oldest and most prestigious infantry regiments in the , known for its ceremonial duties and combat roles. Later, he transferred to the Royal Artillery, where he likely received training in gunnery, field operations, and artillery tactics, though specific details of his roles or postings remain undocumented in available records. Following his discharge, Newark decided against extending his military career and instead channeled his discipline and physical presence—honed through army training—into the . This period of service provided him with a rugged demeanor that would later characterize many of his on-screen portrayals of authoritative or tough characters.

Acting career

Television roles

Newark began his television career in the early 1960s, appearing in several British anthology and drama series that showcased his ability to portray authoritative or rugged characters. One of his earliest notable roles was as , the tribal leader in the prehistoric segments of the first Who serial "" (1963), marking a significant debut in science fiction television. He reprised a similar commanding presence in the same series a decade later as Greg Sutton, a entangled in a parallel universe crisis, in the 1970 serial "Inferno." Throughout the 1960s, Newark frequently appeared in popular crime and adventure series, often cast as detectives or antagonists. In The Baron (1966–1967), he played supporting roles in episodes involving international intrigue, leveraging his imposing physicality. His guest spot as the villainous Crawford in The Avengers episode "From Venus with Love" (1967) highlighted his talent for menacing supporting parts. Similar appearances followed in Callan (1967) as Loder, a tough operative, and Softly, Softly (1966), where he portrayed police figures in procedural dramas. By the 1970s and 1980s, Newark transitioned into more varied roles across sitcoms and miniseries, demonstrating versatility beyond dramatic genres. In the comedy (1974–1978), he played the boisterous ex-paratrooper Spooner, known as "The Animal," in multiple episodes, bringing comic energy to the ensemble. He appeared as Eric the Policeman in the Only Fools and Horses episode "The Russians Are Coming" (1981), contributing to the show's early humor with his stern demeanor. In the legal drama (1978), Newark portrayed Basil Delgado, a key figure in the episode "Rumpole and the Heavy Brigade," adding depth to courtroom tensions. Newark's later television work included authoritative roles in ongoing series like , where he played characters such as Mike Walker, Jim Whatley, and Eric Taylor across various episodes from the 1980s to the 1990s, often as officers. In the crime drama Travelling Man (1984–1985), he was DCS Sullivan in two episodes, supporting the lead's quest for justice. Other credits encompassed the miniseries A Taste for Death (1988) as Gordon Halliwell, Sir Paul Berowne's , and guest spots in (1989) as Metcalf, Singles (1988) as Mr. Broadbent, and (1981) as Joe Brindle. These roles solidified his reputation as a reliable in British television, spanning genres from sci-fi to comedy and police procedurals.

Film roles

Derek Newark's film career, spanning from the mid-1960s to the late 1980s, featured him primarily in supporting roles as authoritative or working-class characters, often in British thrillers, war dramas, and comedies. His early screen appearances established him as a reliable capable of portraying stern military figures and personnel, contributing to ensemble casts in notable productions. Newark debuted in feature films with the fantasy adventure War-Gods of the Deep (1965), directed by , where he played the role of Dan, a rugged entangled in a tale of underwater intrigue alongside . The following year, he gained wider recognition for his portrayal of Ziegel, a no-nonsense German , in the aviation epic The Blue Max (1966), starring and , which highlighted his ability to convey disciplined intensity in high-stakes wartime settings. These initial roles showcased Newark's gravelly voice and imposing presence, traits that became staples in his film work. In the late 1960s and early , Newark appeared in several high-profile war and thriller films, often uncredited or in minor but memorable parts. He played a German Major in the espionage thriller (1968), contributing to the film's tense Nazi-occupied castle sequences with and . Similarly, in Richard Attenborough's anti-war musical satire (1969), he embodied the Shooting Gallery Proprietor, a barker figure underscoring the film's critique of absurdities amid a star-studded cast including . Transitioning to crime dramas, Newark portrayed Sergeant Matthews in the (1970), supporting in a story of paranoia and murder investigation. That same year, he took on the authoritative C.S.M. Peters in the satirical comedy The Breaking of Bumbo (1970), lampooning military life with co-stars and . Newark's roles in the 1970s frequently involved law enforcement or military disciplinarians, reflecting his typecasting in gritty British cinema. In Dad's Army (1971), the film adaptation of the popular TV series, he played the Regimental Sergeant Major, barking orders in a comedic Home Guard context. He followed with the part of Johann, a menacing figure, in the horror film Venom (also known as The Legend of Spider Forest, 1971). One of his more substantial supporting turns came as Frank Jessard, a detective, in Sidney Lumet's intense police drama The Offence (1973), starring Sean Connery and exploring themes of brutality and corruption. In The Black Windmill (1974), another Don Siegel-directed thriller with Michael Caine, Newark appeared as a Monitoring Policeman, aiding the espionage plot. After a period focused more on television, Newark returned to films with a prominent role as the Guv'nor, a crime boss, in the heist thriller Bellman and True (1987), written by Desmond Lowden and starring , where his performance added grit to the story of a computer expert drawn into London's underworld. Overall, Newark's film contributions emphasized ensemble dynamics over lead roles, with his portrayals of tough, no-frills characters enhancing the authenticity of period and genre pieces in British cinema.

Stage roles

Newark began his stage career in the early 1960s as a member of the Belgrade Theatre Company in Coventry, where he appeared in productions such as the revue Midnight Matinee in 1961 alongside emerging actors like Ian McKellen. His work during this period helped establish his reputation in regional theatre before transitioning to more prominent London stages. In the 1970s, Newark joined the Royal National Theatre, where he spent nearly a decade performing in a range of classical and contemporary plays under directors including Peter Hall and Bill Bryden. One of his notable early roles there was Malcolm, the explosive and affable husband in Alan Ayckbourn's comedy Bedroom Farce, which premiered at the Lyttelton Theatre in 1977 with co-stars Michael Gough and Joan Hickson; the production later transferred to the West End and Broadway in 1979, where Newark reprised the role to acclaim for his lumbering physicality and timing. Newark's tenure at the National Theatre showcased his versatility in Shakespearean and modern works. He portrayed the weaver in a 1982 Cottesloe Theatre production of , directed by Ron Daniels, bringing comic gusto to the character's transformation and mechanical antics opposite as . In 1983, under Harold Pinter's direction, he played the brutish warrior Ajax in Jean Giraudoux's The Trojan War Will Not Take Place at the Lyttelton Theatre, contributing to the play's ironic exploration of impending conflict. That same year, Newark originated the role of the desperate salesman Shelley Levene in the British premiere of David Mamet's at the Cottesloe, delivering a raw performance of moral compromise that anchored the play's tense ensemble; the production transferred to the in 1985–1986. Outside the National but in collaboration with Pinter, Newark created the lead role of the authoritarian Roote in the 1980 premiere of The Hothouse at , portraying the paranoid manager of a secretive institution with a mix of bluster and vulnerability; Pinter himself directed the production, which highlighted Newark's command of the playwright's rhythmic dialogue. Later, in 1985, he appeared in the revival of Tony Harrison's The Mysteries cycle at the Lyceum Theatre, taking on multiple parts including Abraham, First Soldier, and Wise Man across the biblical narrative segments. These roles underscored Newark's ability to blend physical comedy, dramatic intensity, and ensemble precision throughout his stage career.

Later years and death

Health struggles

In his later years, Derek Newark grappled with a long-standing affliction of , which progressively undermined his physical health and led to severe complications. This chronic condition resulted in , rendering him increasingly ill over several years before his death. The toll of alcoholism on his body ultimately precipitated a fatal heart attack, highlighting the profound impact of on his well-being.

Death and legacy

Newark died on 11 August 1998 in at the age of 65, succumbing to a heart attack triggered by resulting from years of . His legacy as a versatile persists in British entertainment, particularly through his distinctive portrayals of rugged, authoritative figures in television and film. Newark's early role as the tribal leader Za in the inaugural Doctor Who serial (1963) marked a foundational contribution to the series' history, while his appearance as Eric the Policeman in the Only Fools and Horses episode "The Russians Are Coming" (1981) exemplified his knack for injecting humor into tense scenarios. In film, his performance as a German officer in (1968) highlighted his ability to embody stern military archetypes with authenticity. On stage, Newark's long association with the Royal National Theatre underscored his theatrical prowess, including notable comic turns that earned acclaim from peers. Playwright , who directed him as Roote in The Hothouse (1982), described Newark's exasperation in rehearsals as "monumental," praising him as "a great comic actor" whose work provoked unrestrained laughter. These contributions, spanning over four decades, cement Newark's reputation as a reliable supporting player whose gravelly voice and physicality enriched ensemble casts in post-war British media.

References

  1. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0627610/
  2. https://whereeaglesdare.com/actors/derek-newark/
  3. https://guide.doctorwhonews.net/person.php?code=273
  4. https://risingdamp.org/derek-newark-hard-as-nails/
  5. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/83046133/derek_john-newark
  6. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0627610/bio/
  7. https://coronation-street-past-and-present.fandom.com/wiki/Derek_Newark
  8. https://coronationstreet.fandom.com/wiki/Derek_Newark
  9. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059966/
  10. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0535594/
  11. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071041/
  12. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0666580/
  13. https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/derek-newark/credits/3000716246/
  14. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0290990/
  15. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0156122/
  16. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094548/
  17. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/derek_newark
  18. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wargods_of_the_deep
  19. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/blue_max
  20. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060177/
  21. https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/11046-where-eagles-dare/cast
  22. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064754/
  23. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065737/
  24. https://www.derekwinnert.com/fragment-of-fear-1970-david-hemmings-gayle-hunnicutt-wilfrid-hyde-white-roland-culver-daniel-massey-flora-robson-classic-movie-review-8661/
  25. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066861/
  26. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/771438298
  27. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/spiders_venom
  28. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/offence
  29. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/black_windmill
  30. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092636/
  31. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/85535-derek-newark
  32. https://mckellen.com/stage/00223.htm
  33. https://www.nytimes.com/1979/03/30/archives/stage-ayckbourns-bedroom-farce.html
  34. https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/bedroom-farce-3931
  35. https://bbashakespeare.warwick.ac.uk/productions/midsummer-nights-dream-1982-national-theatre-cottesloe-theatre
  36. http://www.haroldpinter.org/directing/directing_trojan.shtml
  37. https://www.abouttheartists.com/productions/38849-glengarry-glen-ross-at-cottesloe-theatre-1983
  38. http://www.haroldpinter.org/plays/plays_hothouse.shtml
  39. https://theatricalia.com/person/34d/derek-newark
  40. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-derek-newark-harold-pinter/68834101/
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