Warren Clarke

Warren Clarke (26 April 1947 - 12 November 2014) was an English actor.

Biography

Clarke was born in Oldham, Lancashire. His first television appearance was in the long running Granada soap opera Coronation Street, initially as Kenny Pickup in 1966 and then as Gary Bailey in 1968. His first major film appearance was in Stanley Kubrick's controversial Clockwork Orange (1971) where he played a 'droog' named 'Dim' opposite Malcolm McDowell. He appeared with McDowell again in the 1973 film O Lucky Man! and in the 1985 TV movie Gulag.

He has appeared in a wide range of roles in TV and movie productions both in the UK and abroad including The Breaking of Bumbo (1970), Charlton Heston'sAntony and Cleopatra (1972), S.O.S. Titanic (1979), Hawk the Slayer (1980), Masada (1981), Enigma (1983), Lassiter (1984), Top Secret! (1984), Ishtar (1987) and I.D. (1995). One of his most notable roles was playing a Russian dissident in Clint Eastwood's Firefox (1982).

In 1991 he played Larry Patterson in Gone to the Dogs, which was followed a year later by the series Gone to Seed, in which Clarke again starred. In 1984 he played the uncharacteristic role of the overtly homosexual 'Sophie' Dixon in the landmark Granada series The Jewel in the Crown. In 1988 he appeared as Colonel Krieger in the first series of LWT's Wish Me Luck. In 1989 he played the Captain Lee in the film Crusoe. The same year he played the role of Martin Fisher, the chairman of a football club, in The Manageress. He starred in an episode of Lovejoy entitled Bin Diving. In 1994 he played Bamber in the ITV comedy dramaMoving Story. His comedic talents can be seen in one off special Blackadder: The Cavalier Years, and in the episode "Amy and Amiability" of the series Blackadder the Third.

Since 1996 he has appeared regularly as Detective Superintendent Andy Dalziel in the TV series Dalziel and Pascoe.

Between 2000 and 2003 Clarke played Brian Addis, a father who moved his family from the bustle of London to a Devon farm, in the BBC TV series Down to Earth.

In 2005, he appeared as Mr Boythorn in the BBC One dramatisation of Bleak House. In 2008 he starred alongside Anthony Head in the BBC Drama The Invisiblesand in 2009 appeared in the Channel 4 trilogy Red Riding.

In 2009, he appeared as Commander Peters in the ITV production of Agatha Christie's Marple Why Didn't They Ask Evans?.

In 2010, he starred in Series 3, Episode 2 of the BBC series Inspector George Gently. The episode was entitled "Peace and Love". He also played Mr Bott in Just William.

In 2011, he played innkeeper Samuel Quested in Midsomer Murders, in "The Night of the Stag" and as John Lacey in Call the Midwife.

In 2014, he began filming in Poldark as Charles Poldark.

Personal life

Clarke was a keen golfer and had been a Manchester City supporter since he was 7 years old.