William Fulton Beith Mackay (12 August 1922 – 6 June 1987) was a Scottish actor and playwright, best known for his role as prison officer Mr Mackay in the 1970s television sitcom Porridge.
Early life Mackay was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland. He was brought up in Clydebank by a widowed aunt after the death of his mother from diabetes. His father was employed by the NAAFI.
On leaving school, Mackay trained as a quantity surveyor and later volunteered for the Royal Air Force in 1941, but was not accepted because of a perforated eardrum. He then enlisted with the Black Watch and he served for five years during the Second World War, which included three years spent in India.
Career
Theatre work After being demobbed, Mackay began training as an actor at RADA. His first work was with the Citizens' Theatre, Glasgow, where he performed in nine seasons between 1949 and 1958. He also worked at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh before gaining notice at the Arts Theatre Club, London, where in 1960, he played the part of Oscar in The Naked Island, a play about POWs in Singapore.
In 1962, Mackay appeared at the same theatre, in Russian playwright Maxim Gorki's play The Lower Depths for the Royal Shakespeare Company. He then acted with the Old Vic company and the National Theatre, performing in such productions as Peer Gynt and The Alchemist. Other roles for the RSC included Mr Squeers in Nicholas Nickleby and the drunken gaoler in Die Fledermaus. In 1972, he played the part of Hughie in the Royal Lyceum Theatre Company's production of Bill Bryden's play, Willie Rough.
Mackay was a director of the Scottish Actors' Company and, in 1981, a founder of the Scottish Theatre Company, playing Willie Souden in the company's production of Bill Bryden's play, Civilians, set in wartime Greenock.Stevenson, Randall (1981), Scottish Theatre Company: First days, First Nights, in Murray, Glen (ed.), Cencrastus No. 7, Winter 1981 - 82, pp. 10 - 13.
Television work Mackay was acknowledged as a strong character actor in various television series. He is best remembered for his namesake role from 1973 to 1977 as the comically ferocious prison officer, Mr Mackay, in the British sitcom Porridge, alongside Ronnie Barker. He also appeared in the film version of the series. The ensemble playing of Mackay, Barker, Richard Beckinsale and Brian Wilde, and the writing by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, made Porridge one of the most successful comedy series of the 1970s.Fulton Mackay's role in the TV comedy series "Porridge", porridge.org.uk; Retrieved 22 August 2014. He returned to the role of Mr Mackay, now nearing retirement from HM Prison Service, in the first episode of Going Straight (1978), the sequel series to Porridge.
Before coming to prominence in Porridge, Mackay made several appearances in The Avengers, one particular episode being Return of the Cybernauts in which he played Professor Chadwick; he also played Det. Supt., later Det. Chief Supt. Inman in Special Branch (1969–71). His other work included Coronation Street and Z-Cars. He appeared as RAF psychiatrist Fowler in an episode of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and as a doctor in Doctor at Large in 1971.
Mackay played John Everett in The Saint (1968) "The Best Laid Schemes" and Willie, a poacher in The Saint (1966) - Episode (S5, E6) "The Convenient Monster". He was cast as misguided scientist Doctor John Quinn in the 1970 Doctor Who story Doctor Who and the Silurians and was later seriously considered by producer Barry Letts to play the Fourth Doctor when Jon Pertwee announced he was leaving the role in 1974.
Mackay played a regular officer running a training course in the Dad's Army episode "We Know Our Onions" (1973), a doctor in "The Miser's Hoard" (1977), and a detective in a Wodehouse Playhouse episode (1978).
Mackay often stayed true to his Scottish roots, acting in productions such as Play for Today'''s Three Tales of Orkney, in 1971, and The Master of Ballantrae, and as former Prime Minister Bonar Law in the 1981 TV series The Life and Times of David Lloyd George. He played the Captain in the British version of the Jim Henson children's series, Fraggle Rock (1984–1987). In one of his last performances, Mackay portrayed an art forger in the Lovejoy episode "Death and Venice".
Film work Despite his status, he appeared in few films. After his screen debut in the film I'm a Stranger (1952), his most notable roles were those in Gumshoe (1971), Porridge (1979), Britannia Hospital (1982), Local Hero (1983), and Defence of the Realm (1985). He also appeared in Laxdale Hall 1952.
Playwriting Under the pseudonym of Aeneas MacBride, Mackay wrote plays for the BBC. His Dalhousie's Luck'', a drama set at the time of the siege of Aberdeen by the Marquess of Montrose in 1644, produced by Pharic Maclaren and with Brian Cox in the title role, was broadcast as part of the BBC2 Playhouse series on 3rd August 1980.Dalhousie's Luck, Scotland On-Air
Personal life and death
Mackay was married to Irish actress Sheila Manahan. "They were an incredible welcoming, inclusive couple", recalled actor Brian Cox in 2022. "They were like my real family, my surrogate parents in many ways."
In 1984, Mackay was awarded an OBE. He greatly enjoyed oil painting.
Mackay died from stomach cancer on 6 June 1987, at the age of 64. He was buried at East Sheen Cemetery in southwest London. His widow, Sheila, died in 1988 and was buried with her husband.
Theatre Year Title Role Company Director Notes 1948 Ane Satyre of the Thrie Estaites King Humanitie The Glasgow Citizens' Theatre Tyrone Guthrie, Moultrie Kelsall play by Sir David Lyndsay, adapted by Robert Kemp1972 Willie Rough Hughie Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh Bill Bryden play by Bill Bryden1981 Civilians Willie Souden Scottish Theatre Company Bill Bryden play by Bill Bryden
Partial filmography
Film FilmYearCharacterI'm a Stranger1952Alastair CampbellThe Brave Don't CryDan WishartLaxdale Hall1953Andrew FlettPrivate Potter1962SoldierA Prize of ArmsCorporal HendersonMystery Submarine1963McKerrowVendetta for the Saint1969EustonGumshoe1971John StrakerNothing But The Night1973CameronPorridge1979Mr MackayIf You Go Down in the Woods Today1981Colonel NorrisGoing GentlyAustin MillerBritannia Hospital1982Chief Superintendent JohnsLocal Hero1983Ben KnoxNight Train to Murder1984MackaySleepwalkerRestaurant ProprietorWater1985Reverend EricDefence of the RealmVictor KingsbrookDreamchildGryphon (voice)
TV PlayYear(s)CharacterNoteDr. Finlay's Casebook1963-1969Various6 episodesZ-Cars1964-19725 episodes The Saint1966-1969 3 episodes The Avengers1967-1969 Frontier1968Captain Moncrieff2 episodesSpecial Branch1969-1970Det. Chief. Supt. Inman18 episodes Doctor Who1970 Dr. John Quinn Serial: "Doctor Who and The Silurians"Paul Temple 1971LindforsEpisode: "Sea Burial"Doctor at Large Dr. McKendrickEpisode: "Congratulations - It's a Toad"Play for Today 1971-1976Various4 episodesSeven of One1973Mr. MackayEpisode: "Prisoner and Escort"Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'EmFowlerEpisode: "The RAF Reunion"Dad's Army1973-1977Dr. McCeavedy/Captain Ramsey2 episodesPorridge1974-1977Mr. Mackay19 episodesChurchill's People1975Bishop WishartEpisode: "The Wallace"The Vital Spark1974Mr McCubbin - MinisterEpisode: "The Wedding"Crown Court 1975-1982Various9 episodesGoing Straight1978Mr. Mackay Episode: "Going Home"Tales of the Unexpected1982 EdwardEpisode: "The Moles"Shelley1983 The TrampEpisode: "Of Cabbages and Kings"Fraggle Rock1983-1984The CaptainMann's Best Friends1985Hamish James OrdwayLovejoy1986LucianoEpisode: "Death and Venice: Part Two"Slip-UpMcCollTV film
References
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