Hubbry Logo
Roger DelgadoRoger DelgadoMain
Open search
Roger Delgado
Community hub
Roger Delgado
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Roger Delgado
Roger Delgado
Roger Delgado
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Roger Caesar Marius Bernard de Delgado Torres Castillo Roberto (1 March 1918 – 18 June 1973) was an English actor. He played many roles on television, radio and in films, and had "a long history of playing minor villains"[1] before becoming best known as the first actor to play the Master in Doctor Who (1971–73).

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Delgado was born in Whitechapel, in the East End of London, to a French mother and a Spanish father;[2][3] he often remarked to Doctor Who co-star and close friend Jon Pertwee that this made him a true Cockney,[4] as he was born within the sound of Bow Bells. He did not live in the East End, but was brought up in Bedford Park in west London.[5]

His father was a bank clerk who encouraged Delgado to work the same job; he did try banking for a while but soon left to pursue acting.[3]

He attended Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, a Roman Catholic secondary school in Holland Park, and the London School of Economics for a brief period, but did not complete his degree.[6] He served in the Second World War with both the Leicestershire Regiment and the Royal Corps of Signals, attaining the rank of major.[7][8]

In the late 1930s, he worked in a repertory in Leicester until 1940 when he was called to fight in the war.[2] After the war ended in 1945, he joined the York repertory company and eventually moved to the BBC drama repertory, where he stayed from 1950 to 1962.[9]

Career

[edit]

Delgado worked extensively on the British stage, and on television, film and radio. His theatre debut was in 1939 and his first television appearance was 1948.[10] He appeared in the BBC Television serial Quatermass II (1955), the Powell and Pressburger wartime drama Battle of the River Plate (1956), and came to wide popular attention in Britain when he played the duplicitous Spanish envoy Mendoza in the ITC Entertainment series, Sir Francis Drake, from 1961 to 1962, after which he was in much demand. Delgado was frequently cast as a villain, appearing in many British action-adventure TV series by ITC, including Danger Man (1961), The Saint (1962 and 1966), The Champions (1969), and Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) (1969).

Delgado made a total of 16 guest appearances in ITC shows, the most of any actor, with his last completed role being ITC's The Zoo Gang (1974). He also appeared in The Avengers (1961 and 1969), The Power Game (1966), and an ITV Play of the Week (The Crossfire, 1967). His films included The Terror of the Tongs, The Road to Hong Kong, The Mummy's Shroud and Antony and Cleopatra.[11]

He began work as The Master on Doctor Who in late 1970, his first broadcast appearance being in the January 1971 adventure Terror of the Autons. He subsequently reprised the role of the Master in the Third Doctor serials The Mind of Evil, The Claws of Axos, Colony in Space, The Dæmons, The Sea Devils, The Time Monster and Frontier in Space.[12] An in-joke in the 1971 Doctor Who story Colony in Space refers to his role as Mendoza in Sir Francis Drake, when the Brigadier tells the Doctor not to worry as the suspected sighting of the Master "was only the Spanish Ambassador". The Master's story arc was to have ended in The Final Game, which was planned as the final story to feature Pertwee's Third Doctor, but the story was scrapped following Delgado's sudden death and replaced with Planet of the Spiders.[13]

Personal life

[edit]

Delgado's first marriage was to Olga Anthonisz, which ended in divorce.[14] He married Kismet Shahani in 1957 and they remained together until his death in 1973. Kismet died in 2017.[15]

Death

[edit]

"To say that Roger Delgado was merely a friend of mine would be an insult. Roger was one of my greatest friends ever - a modest, lovable man with a ready wit and a fine sense of humour. As Actors, we discovered we shared an uncanny telephatic communication with each other, as he played 'Moriarty' to my 'Holmes'. It was a 'phone call from Kismet, Roger's wife, that gave me the news of his tragic death. I was stunned with disbelief, then, and even now, have to force myself to accept the fact that Roger is no longer with us. As my adversary "The Master" he was evil personnified. As a friend, he was the opposite, warm, feeling and understanding. I shall forever miss him."

—Jon Pertwee talking about Roger Delgado in a September 1985 letter to a fan.[citation needed]

Delgado died on location on 18 June 1973 in Nevşehir, Turkey, whilst shooting La Cloche tibétaine (Tibetan Bell), a Franco/German television mini-series about the Yellow Expedition.[16][17] During this expedition, Citroën tracked vehicles traversed Asia in 1931–32 from Peking and Beirut. Delgado appeared in one episode of this production. He was killed, along with two Turkish film technicians, when the car in which he was travelling went off the road into a ravine. He was 55 years old.

For years, there was mystery surrounding the fate of Delgado's remains. It was revealed in 2017 that his body had been returned to the United Kingdom and cremated at Mortlake before the ashes were scattered on 27 June 1973, in area RB3 (Plot 43) of the Garden of Remembrance at Mortlake Cemetery in Southwest London.[18]

The serial he was filming in Turkey continued production and was completed after his death. The series was broadcast on French and German television in 1974–1975; Delgado can be seen in episode 4 as the minor character Paco.[19]

Jon Pertwee often remarked that Delgado's death was one of the reasons he decided to leave Doctor Who the following year.[20]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1952 Murder at Scotland Yard George Grayson
1953 The Broken Horseshoe Felix Galegos
The Captain's Paradise Kalikan Policeman
Blood Orange Marlowe
Scotland Yard: The Missing Man Paris Police Inspector
1954 The Belles of St. Trinian's Sultan's Aide Uncredited
Third Party Risk Detective Gonzales
1955 Storm Over the Nile Native Spy
1956 The Battle of the River Plate Captain Varela, Uruguayan Navy
Scotland Yard: Destination Death Lisbon Police Officer
1957 Manuela Stranger
Man in the Shadow Alberto Uncredited
Scotland Yard: The Case of The Smiling Widow Commissario
1958 Sea Fury Salgado
Mark of the Phoenix Devron
1959 First Man into Space Consul Ramon de Guerrera
The Stranglers of Bombay Bundar Uncredited
Third Man on the Mountain Italian Climber
1960 Sands of the Desert Abu Nial
1961 The Singer Not the Song Pedro de Cortinez
The Terror of the Tongs Tang Hao
1962 Village of Daughters Francisco Predati
The Road to Hong Kong Jhinnah
Guns of Darkness Hernandez (voice) Dubbed Derek Godfrey
In Search of the Castaways Patagonian Prisoner
1963 The Mind Benders Dr. Jean Bonvoulois Uncredited
The Running Man Spanish Doctor
1964 Hot Enough for June Josef
1965 Masquerade Ahmed Ben Faïd Uncredited
1966 Khartoum Sheikh Abdul Rahim
The Sandwich Man Abdul
1967 The Mummy's Shroud Hasmid
1968 Star! French Ambassador Uncredited
1969 The Assassination Bureau Bureau Member
You Can't Win 'Em All Capt. Enver (voice) Dubbed Salih Güney
1970 Underground Xavier
1972 Horror Express Inspector Mirov (voice) Dubbed Julio Peña
Antony and Cleopatra Soothsayer

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1948 Distinguished Gathering Eliot Richard Vines television film
1954 The Three Musketeers Athos 6 episodes
1955 St. Ives Gautier 2 episodes
Quatermass II Hugh Conrad Episode 4: "The Coming"
1956 The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel Andre Episode 17: "The Farmer's Boy"
1957 Assignment Foreign Legion Lt. Lachaise Episode 23: "The Coward"
The Buccaneers Capt. Mendoza/Don Ferdinand Esteban 3 episodes
Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School Monsieur Charpentier Episode: "Bunter the Ventriloquist"
O.S.S. Luigi Episode: "Operation Big House"
The Silver Sword The Nazi Episode 6: "Escape from Bavaria"
Sword of Freedom Virelli Episode: "Angelica's Past"
White Hunter Gomez Episode: "Killer Leopard"
1958 The Adventures of Robin Hood Ambassador Episode: "The Minstrel"
Queen's Champion Don Jose 8 episodes
1959-65 The Third Man Luis Mendoza / Henri Banear 4 episodes
1959 William Tell Luigi Episode: "The Black Brothers"
Hancock's Half Hour Night Club Manager Episode: "Spanish Interlude" (uncredited)
1959-60 The Four Just Men Inspector Rossi 2 episodes
1960 The Splendid Spur Sir Basil Grenville Episode: "Joan of the Tor"
Biggles Dr. Ahmed Zakar 3 episodes: "Biggles on the Nile"
The Odd Man Bernard Berridge 3 episodes
1960-61 Knight Errant Limited Branco/Oscar Lederer 2 episodes
1961 One Step Beyond Capt. Santoro Episode: "The Face"
Plateau of Fear General Perera 1 episode
Triton The Man with the Patch 2 episodes
Danger Man Von Golling Episode: "Under the Lake"
1961-64 Ghost Squad Holgar/Major Sayid/Ben Ali/De Souza 4 episodes
1961-62 Sir Francis Drake Count Bernardino de Mendoza / The Governor 7 episodes
1962-66 The Saint Hotel Manager/Captain Rodriguez 2 episodes
1962 Saki Laposhka Episode 5
Richard the Lionheart Laki Episode: "The Norman King"
Z-Cars Gregori Katsybalis Episode: "Business Trip"
1962-63 Maigret Pepito/Fouché 2 episodes
1963 The Human Jungle Wirral Episode: "The Two Edged Sword"
Espionage Gebal Episode: "A Camel to Ride"
1964 Crane Barman Episode: "Murder Is Waiting"
The Protectors Slankin Episode: "Freedom!"
Sergeant Cork Inspector Puichard Episode: "The Case of the Great Pearl Robbery"
1965 Sherlock Holmes Moser Episode: "The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax"
1966 Orlando King Halara 2 episodes
Court Martial Salvatore Fratuzzi Episode: "The Liberators"
The Saint Captain Rodriguez Episode: "Locate and Destroy"
1968 Man in a Suitcase Ambassador Episode: "Burder of Proof"
Harry Worth Ambassador Episode: "James Bond Where Are You?"
1969 The Avengers Kreer Episode: "Stay Tuned"
Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) Tapiro Episode: "The Ghost who Saved the Bank at Monte Carlo"
1971 The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes Silva Episode: "Madame Sara"
1971–73 Doctor Who The Master 37 episodes, in 8 serials
1972 The Persuaders! Estoban Episode: "To The Death, Baby"
1973 Play of the Month Officer of the Holy Brotherhood Episode: "The Adventures of Don Quixote"
1974 The Zoo Gang Pedro Ortega Episode: "The Lion Hunt"
La Cloche tibétaine (Tibetan Bell) (fr) Paco Episode 4. (Final appearance. Died during filming.)

References

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

Roger Delgado

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Roger Delgado (1 March 1918 – 18 June 1973) was an English actor best known for his portrayal of the Master, the archenemy of the Doctor, in the series from 1971 to 1973. Born Roger Caesar Marius Bernard de Delgado Torres Castillo Roberto in , , to a Spanish father and French mother, he was a versatile performer who frequently played suave villains in film and television due to his distinctive dark looks and commanding presence. His tenure as the Master, cast by producer Barry Letts, made the character a memorable rival to Jon Pertwee's , appearing in serials such as , , and . Delgado's career spanned radio, over 30 films, and numerous TV roles, but his life was tragically cut short at age 55 in a car accident in while filming the French TV mini-series La cloche tibétaine (The Tibetan Bell). Delgado began his professional career in the 1930s on stage and transitioned to radio in 1950, joining the BBC where he provided voice work for various productions with his cultured tones. His film debut came in 1952 with Murder at Scotland Yard, followed by The Captain's Paradise (1953), and notable appearances in adventure and thriller genres, including Terror of the Tongs (1961), In Search of the Castaways (1962), and The Road to Hong Kong (1962) alongside Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. On television, he gained prominence in the early 1960s playing the scheming Mendoza in the swashbuckling series Sir Francis Drake (1961–1962) and featured in popular ITC adventure shows like The Saint and The Champions. Despite his shy, home-loving personality—preferring quiet evenings with brandy and slippers—Delgado's on-screen charisma often typecast him as antagonists, a role he embraced with sophisticated menace. In , Delgado's Master debuted in 1971's as a renegade using gadgets like the tissue compression eliminator and a disguised resembling a horsebox. The character became one of the show's most iconic villains, matching the Doctor's intellect in a series of Earth-bound and cosmic confrontations, and Delgado's performance rivaled Pertwee's in fan popularity. He requested to be written out of the series prior to his death, but his final appearance in (1973) cemented his legacy as the original Master. On 18 June 1973, Delgado died in a chauffeur-driven car crash near , , when the vehicle veered off the road and plunged into a , killing him and two technicians. His contributions to British , particularly in genre television, continue to influence portrayals of sophisticated adversaries in science fiction.

Early life

Family background and childhood

Roger Caesar Marius Bernard de Delgado Torres Castillo Roberto was born on 1 March 1918 in , in the . His father was Spanish, originally from the [Canary Islands](/page/Canary Islands), and worked as a bank clerk, while his mother was French. This mixed heritage created a multilingual household where English, French, and Spanish were spoken, fostering Delgado's early fluency in multiple languages that later aided his versatile acting career. Although born in the working-class East End—within earshot of the Bow Bells, which he later cited as qualifying him as a true —Delgado was raised in the more affluent Bedford Park neighborhood in . This middle-class environment, known for its artistic community and Queen Anne-style architecture, provided exposure to and from a young age, influencing his developing sense of identity amid his immigrant parents' European roots. Delgado's early childhood was shaped by his parents' stories of their European backgrounds, which contributed to his multicultural outlook and budding interest in performance. He later transitioned to formal education at in .

Education and military service

Delgado attended , a Roman Catholic secondary school in , , completing his education there around the age of 18. This institution, aligned with his Catholic upbringing... After secondary school, Delgado enrolled at the London School of Economics in the late 1930s to study economics, but he departed before completing his degree. He subsequently took a position in banking, which he held for about 18 months, before the onset of war shifted his path. With the outbreak of in 1939, Delgado volunteered for military service. His initial attempts to enlist were delayed due to his parents' nationalities, but he enlisted in the , initially joining the Leicestershire Regiment during the war. He was commissioned from the ranks and later transferred to the Royal Corps of Signals, where he advanced to the rank of Major. His service included active duty in campaigns across and the , notably in . Delgado was demobilized following the conclusion of hostilities in 1945, returning to civilian life in the immediate postwar period.

Career

Early acting roles and stage work

Delgado entered the acting profession in 1938 after leaving his banking job, joining the Edward Nelson Players repertory company at the Theatre Royal in . His stage debut occurred the following year, portraying Ernest Steele in Frederick Lonsdale's from 1 to 6 May 1939. He quickly followed with appearances in productions such as You Can't Take It With You and earned critical acclaim for his role in Young Woodley later that summer, as noted by newspaper. Additionally, in 1939, he took on a French character in Terence Rattigan's French Without Tears, showcasing his early aptitude for accented roles. The outbreak of soon interrupted his burgeoning theatre career, leading him to enlist in the military. After demobilization in 1945, Delgado resumed stage work with the York repertory company before securing a prominent role in Terence Rattigan's . He starred as Sir Robert Morton in this production, which enjoyed a successful year-long run at the in starting in 1946, followed by a tour including stops at the Empire Theatre in in March 1948 and the Prince of Wales Theatre in in 1948. This performance marked an early breakthrough, establishing him as a capable lead in West End drama. By 1950, he transitioned to the Drama Repertory Company, where he continued to hone his craft through a variety of stage and radio parts, though theatre remained his primary training ground. Throughout the late and , Delgado built a reputation as a versatile , often cast in supporting roles as exotic foreigners or villains due to his distinctive dark features and ability to adopt multiple accents. His multilingual heritage—stemming from a Spanish father and French mother—enabled fluency in English, French, and Spanish, which he leveraged for authentic portrayals in diverse productions. This versatility proved essential in , where he played a wide range of characters, from comedic to sinister, solidifying his foundation before expanding into broadcast media. His first television appearance came in 1948 with the BBC's of Distinguished Gathering from the Intimate Theatre in , signaling the start of his screen transition while continued to shape his skills.

Television and film appearances

Delgado began his screen career in the 1950s with appearances in British television and film, often portraying authoritative or antagonistic figures in ensemble casts. One of his early notable television roles was in the BBC serial Quatermass II (1955), a science fiction thriller directed by Rudolph Cartier. He gained wider recognition in the early 1960s through his recurring portrayal of the scheming Spanish Ambassador Mendoza in the adventure series The Adventures of Sir Francis Drake (1961–1962), appearing in multiple episodes including "Doctor Dee" and "Drake on Trial," where his character served as the primary antagonist to the titular hero. Throughout the 1960s, Delgado became a staple in ITC Entertainment's action-adventure series, making a total of 16 guest appearances across various productions, the highest number for any actor in those shows. In The Saint (1962–1969), he played roles such as the hotel manager in "The Golden Journey" (1962) and Colonel Ruiz in "Locate and Destroy" (1966), often embodying suave villains with international intrigue. Similarly, he appeared in The Champions (1969), contributing to the espionage thriller's ensemble of shadowy operatives and adversaries. His film work during this period included the role of Captain Varela, a Uruguayan naval officer, in the war epic The Battle of the River Plate (1956), directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. In horror, he portrayed the villainous Hasmid, a prophetic Arab doomsayer, in Hammer Films' The Mummy's Shroud (1967). Delgado's screen persona frequently led to typecasting as suave antagonists or characters of Latin, Middle Eastern, or other ethnic backgrounds, leveraging his dark features and commanding presence in over 70 credited roles across television and by the early 1970s. This reliability in supporting parts highlighted his versatility within British productions, from historical dramas to genre thrillers. His final completed television role was as in the ITC series The Zoo Gang episode "The Lion Hunt" ( 1973, aired 1974 posthumously), marking the end of his prolific output in ensemble-driven narratives.

Portrayal of the Master in Doctor Who

In 1970, during a production break for , producer Barry Letts cast Roger Delgado as the Master, the Doctor's new recurring arch-nemesis and fellow renegade , drawing on Delgado's extensive experience portraying villains in British television. Delgado's close friendship with , who played the Third Doctor, further shaped the character's suave and intellectually duplicitous demeanor, emphasizing a dynamic of rival camaraderie rather than outright monstrosity. Delgado appeared as the Master in 37 episodes spanning eight serials, from his debut in (1971) to his final on-screen outing in (1973). The character was introduced as the Doctor's equal in Time Lord ingenuity, wielding hypnotic powers to manipulate allies and foes alike, while his —disguised as innocuous objects like a hearse or fireplace—facilitated schemes involving alien threats such as the Nestene Consciousness and the Axons. Delgado infused the Master with an air of refined theatricality, portraying him as a charismatic schemer whose polished menace contrasted sharply with Pertwee's velvet-clad, action-driven Doctor. This elegance shone in pivotal moments, such as the Master's insidious mind control of the Doctor during (1972), where his velvet voice and subtle gestures amplified the psychological tension. Behind the scenes, Delgado's tenure involved logistical hurdles, including his aversion to water during location filming for (1972), where he avoided submersion scenes amid chilly coastal shoots at and the Isle of Wight. He occasionally offered input on the Master's dialogue to enhance its wit and menace, aligning with the production's aim for a Moriarty-like foil to the Doctor. Following Delgado's sudden death in a 1973 car accident, the team opted to temporarily retire the character out of respect, culminating in his on-screen demise in (1974), played in decayed form by Peter Pratt to provide narrative closure.

Personal life

Marriages and family

Delgado's first marriage was to Olga Anthonisz during the , though the union ended in divorce some years later. In 1957, he married actress Kismet Shahani, with whom he remained until his in 1973. Kismet Delgado later provided the voice for one of the Eight Legs spiders in the 1974 Doctor Who serial .

Religious beliefs and interests

Delgado was raised in the Roman Catholic tradition, which shaped his early worldview. His faith provided a foundation during challenging periods, including his service in . As a polyglot, Delgado spoke English, French, and Spanish fluently, owing to his mixed heritage—his father was Spanish and his mother French.

Death

Circumstances of the accident

In June 1973, Roger Delgado traveled to Turkey to film his first comedy role as Paco in the Franco-German television mini-series La cloche tibétaine (The Tibetan Bell), a production that explored cultural themes and was partially shot on location in the Cappadocia region. On 18 June 1973, while en route from Ankara to a filming site near Nevşehir, Delgado was a passenger in a chauffeur-driven rental car navigating a steep, winding mountain road. The vehicle lost control at a sharp bend, veered off the road, and plunged approximately 50 feet into a ravine, killing Delgado, aged 55, and the Turkish driver instantly; a crew technician was also fatally injured. Investigations found no evidence of alcohol involvement or mechanical failure, attributing the crash primarily to the hazardous road conditions and the driver's loss of control. Delgado had no reported health problems leading up to the trip and had recently completed his final appearance as the Master in the serial , with studio recording wrapping in January 1973.

Funeral and immediate aftermath

Following his fatal car accident in , , Roger Delgado's body was repatriated to the . He was cremated at in on 27 June 1973, with his ashes scattered in the Garden of Remembrance there. The ceremony was a private Catholic service attended by family members and close professional colleagues, including his co-star and producer Barry Letts. Delgado's widow, Kismet Delgado, was profoundly affected by his sudden death and later voiced a role in the 1974 Doctor Who serial Planet of the Spiders as a personal tribute. There were no public statements from his ex-wife, Olga Anthonisz, with whom he had divorced years earlier. The death prompted short-term adjustments in Doctor Who production, as planned storylines featuring the Master—originally intended for the Third Doctor's regeneration serial—were abandoned due to Delgado's absence. later described the loss of his close friend as a significant emotional factor contributing to his own departure from the series in 1974, marking the end of an era alongside the exits of producer Barry Letts and script editor . The Franco-German television mini-series La cloche tibétaine, on which Delgado had been working in , continued production after the and was completed using his pre-recorded footage; it aired in and starting in December 1974, with Delgado appearing in episode 4 as the character Paco. Media coverage in the immediate wake focused on the tragedy, with an obituary in The Times on 20 June 1973 highlighting Delgado's versatility across stage, film, radio, and television roles. Similar tributes appeared in television listings magazines, emphasizing his charismatic performances. The news elicited an outpouring of shock from the and enthusiast community, where his portrayal of the Master had garnered a dedicated following.

Legacy

Influence on Doctor Who

Roger Delgado's portrayal of the Master from 1971 to 1973 established the character as a sophisticated and recurring villain, characterized by charm, wit, and hypnotic manipulation, which served as a direct inversion of Jon Pertwee's . This foundation emphasized the Master's elegance and poise, making even outlandish schemes appear credible, and influenced subsequent actors by setting a benchmark for a debonair rather than a purely chaotic one; for instance, Anthony Ainley's later incarnation adopted elements of this suave demeanor while introducing more manic traits. Delgado appeared in eight serials during this period, including and , which solidified the Master's role as the Doctor's intellectual equal and moral opposite. The narrative legacy of Delgado's Master introduced key elements such as elaborate survival tactics, disguises, and a deep-seated rivalry with the Doctor rooted in shared Time Lord history, providing a template for over 50 years of the character's appearances across the series. These serials depicted the Master as a tempter and schemer who often escaped defeat, fostering ongoing tension and allowing for his repeated returns in various forms. This dynamic of grudging respect between foes, enhanced by the on-set friendship between Delgado and Pertwee, contributed to compelling chemistry that deepened the Doctor-Master relationship. Delgado's untimely death in 1973 prompted a temporary retirement of the character, with the Master absent from the series until his reintroduction in 1976's as a decayed, emaciated figure seeking , marking a shift toward more desperate and decayed arcs in later storylines. This production change reflected the challenge of recasting without Delgado, influencing the character's evolution into forms emphasizing physical deterioration and unrelenting hatred. Fan reception has consistently praised Delgado's for its elegance and the electric with Pertwee, often it as the definitive and fan-favorite version of the Master due to its confident sophistication and narrative depth.

Tributes and cultural recognition

Following Roger Delgado's death in 1973, his legacy as the original portrayer of the Master in has been honored through dedicated and documentaries that explore his career and . In 2017, Marcus K. Harmes published Roger Delgado: I Am Usually Referred to as The Master, the first comprehensive of the , which draws on previously unpublished photographs from Delgado's widow, Kismet Delgado, and new interviews with her and co-stars such as , providing intimate insights into his professional challenges and warmth off-screen. Earlier, the 2009 documentary Roger Delgado: The Master, released as a special feature on the DVD of , featured archival footage, rare interviews, and tributes from colleagues, emphasizing his suave villainy and contributions to British theatre and television. Additionally, a 1997 fan-produced tribute video, Myth Makers: Roger Delgado, compiled excerpts from his work and reflections from fans and actors, underscoring his enduring appeal. Anniversaries of Delgado's life and death have prompted fan-led commemorations and media retrospectives. In 2023, marking the 50th anniversary of his passing, online communities hosted discussions and video tributes, including a Facebook retrospective highlighting his final Doctor Who appearances, while Big Finish Productions released Terror of the Master, an audio drama featuring a new story with the character he originated, praised as a fitting homage to his performance. For his 107th birthday in March 2025, social media posts from fan groups recalled his charismatic presence, and podcasts such as Please Attend Carefully devoted episodes to analyzing his Master incarnation across Doctor Who stories like The Time Monster, blending archival audio with contemporary commentary on his influence. Although Delgado received no formal awards during his lifetime, posthumous recognition has come through journalistic acclaim and fan accolades. A 2020 Daily Telegraph article, "The Master of evil: Roger Delgado and the twisted history of 's greatest foe," lauded his sophisticated menace as foundational to the character's longevity, crediting him with elevating the role beyond mere antagonism. At conventions like Gallifrey One, attendees have honored him through panels and , though no official hall of fame induction has occurred; fan sites and forums frequently cite his work in "halls of fame" polls for iconic Doctor Who villains. Delgado's widow's 2017 interview contributions to Harmes's revealed how Delgado navigated .

Filmography

Film roles

Roger Delgado appeared in over 30 feature films over the course of his career, spanning from the early 1950s to the early , with the majority consisting of supporting roles. His portrayals often involved ethnic villains, authority figures, or officers, a pattern influenced by the he encountered in television appearances. Although he never landed a leading role, Delgado's contributions were particularly noteworthy in Horror productions and British war films. Delgado's film debut was as Teo in the comedy (1953). His early film work included a minor role in the epic war drama (1956), where he played Captain Varela of the Uruguayan Navy. He followed this with the part of Ramon de Guerrera, a Mexican consul, in the science fiction thriller (1959). That same year, he featured as Bundar, one of the stranglers, in Hammer's colonial adventure . In the , Delgado continued to build his film credits with villainous supporting characters. He portrayed Tang Hao, a tong leader, in the Hammer horror (1961). This was followed by the role of a Patagonian prisoner in the Disney adventure (1962) and as Jhinnah in (1962). In 1963, he appeared as a Spanish doctor in the crime drama The Running Man. In 1964, he appeared as Josef in the spy comedy Agent 8 3/4 (also known as Hot Enough for June). Other mid-decade roles included Ahmed Ben Faïd in the adventure film Masquerade (1965) and Sheikh Abdul Rahim in the historical epic (1966). Delgado's involvement with Hammer Horror extended into the late 1960s, highlighted by his performance as the vengeful Hasmid in (1967). Subsequent films featured him as Xavier in the crime thriller Underground (1970). His final feature film appearances were in (1972), where he played Inspector Mirov (voice), and (1972), as the Soothsayer. Delgado had no posthumous film releases.

Television roles

Delgado's early television work in the included supporting roles in science fiction and adventure serials. He portrayed Hugh Conrad, a government official involved in a secretive alien plot, in two episodes of the acclaimed serial (1955). He also appeared as a pirate in the historical adventure series (1956–1957). During the 1960s, Delgado frequently guest-starred in ITC Entertainment's popular action-adventure and spy series, often typecast as suave antagonists with foreign accents. He played the recurring role of Mendoza, the scheming Spanish Ambassador, across four episodes of Sir Francis Drake (1961–1962). In Danger Man, he appeared as the enigmatic Von Golling in the episode "Under the Lake" (1961). His ITC credits continued with roles such as the Hotel Manager in The Saint episode "The Golden Journey" (1962) and Captain Rodriguez in "Locate and Destroy" (1966). These appearances highlighted his versatility in espionage-themed narratives, where he often embodied sophisticated villains. In the , prior to his death, Delgado's television output shifted toward ensemble dramas, though limited by his commitments elsewhere. His final British television role was in the ITC series (1974), where he played the revolutionary leader El Leon in the episode "The Lion Hunt," filmed before his passing and aired posthumously. Overall, Delgado amassed numerous guest spots in adventure and spy genres, with minimal voice work, contributing to over 16 appearances in ITC productions alone.

References

  1. http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/471418/index.html
  2. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2DwVXpjVHCp24KfCfgS8RLR/the-fourth-dimension
  3. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5CxMkbsMPZq2XCjtgmKrgNP/the-fourth-dimension
  4. https://televisionheaven.co.uk/biographies/roger-delgado
  5. https://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/bio/roger-delgado.html
  6. https://new.chiswickw4.com/page/shared/common/bedfordparksociety001.htm
  7. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20748/roger-delgado
  8. http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/bio/roger-delgado.html
  9. http://theavengers.tv/forever/pnote-delgado.htm
  10. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325617080_Roger_Delgado_I_am_usually_referred_to_as_the_master
  11. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0217069/bio/
  12. http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/441212/index.html
  13. http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/509425/index.html
  14. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0701482/
  15. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0701483/
  16. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0693535/
  17. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0693491/
  18. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062006/characters/nm0217069
  19. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0217069/
  20. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0755075/
  21. https://drwhointerviews.wordpress.com/2009/08/15/roger-delgado-1972/
  22. https://www.newsweek.com/doctor-who-spyfall-master-actor-actors-sacha-dhawan-michelle-gomez-john-simm-1479831
  23. https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/season8.shtml
  24. https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/doctor-who-what-each-actor-brings-to-the-role-of-the-master/
  25. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2013/apr/17/the-sea-devils-doctor-who-classic-episode
  26. http://www.pagefillers.com/dwrg/master.htm
  27. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0787510/
  28. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0217922/
  29. https://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Roger_Delgado_killed_in_car_crash
  30. https://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Dr._Who_star_killed_in_crash
  31. https://alchetron.com/Roger-Delgado
  32. https://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Roger_Delgado_obituary_%28The_Times%29
  33. https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-guide/planet-of-the-spiders/
  34. https://drwhointerviews.wordpress.com/2009/07/30/jon-pertwee-1996/
  35. https://www.pagefillers.com/dwrg/master.htm
  36. https://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/a-love-letter-to-the-third-doctor-era-53259.htm
  37. https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/doctor-who-ranking-the-master-stories-which-is-the-best/
  38. https://www.amazon.com/Usually-Referred-Master-Biography-Delgado/dp/178196355X
  39. https://cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-who-new-roger-delgado-book-incoming
  40. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7257022/
  41. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1522757/
  42. https://www.facebook.com/classicyears/videos/remembering-the-original-master-roger-delgado-taken-from-us-on-the-18th-june-197/1249139685740392/
  43. https://www.bigfinish.com/news/v/the-terror-of-the-master-returns
  44. https://www.facebook.com/killercosmonaut/posts/remembering-british-actor-roger-delgado-on-his-birthday-march-1-1918-june-18-197/1254165226508608/
  45. https://open.spotify.com/show/6Y3qJtZPYnsl8migLW6Y8I
  46. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/master-evil-roger-delgado-twisted-history-doctor-greatest-foe/
  47. https://www.reddit.com/r/gallifrey/comments/16b4zpr/the_original_the_best_the_delgado_master/
  48. https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q4868/roger-delgado-i-am-usually-referred-to-as-the-master
  49. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/21607-roger-delgado
  50. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/roger_delgado
  51. https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/17591-the-battle-of-the-river-plate/cast
  52. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054346/fullcredits
  53. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10001548-masquerade
  54. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/underground_1970
  55. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0784486/
  56. http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1131436/index.html
  57. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0553811/
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.