Anthony Royce Mills (12 May 1942 – 21 May 2019) was an English television, stage and film actor.
Life and career Born in Tetbury, Gloucestershire to Herbert Mills and concert pianist Winifred, Royce did not feel the need to look into the disappearance of his father. He and his mother moved to Eastbourne, and he made his television debut aged 13 on the BBC's Children's Hour in 1956. He attended Eastbourne College working in their kitchens to pay for his education. He then became an assistant to comedian Sandy Powell, getting him hungover when he filled pint glasses with beer instead of tinted water, and was fired. Sandy's wife Kay, however, let him announce her husband's stage entrance, for which he wore the long aprons Royce used in the kitchens in order to cover his damaged feet. He then began his longtime hobby of painting and was offered the Carleton Hobbs Bursary, but declined. In 1969 he made his acting debut in Oh, Brother!.
In later years he proved himself to be among the finest pantomime dames in the country, notably in his appearances at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford. He considered Morecambe and Wise to be the most generous people he had worked with, allowing him to perform Bring Me Sunshine on his own to give him a chance to shine. He also rehearsed Frankie Howerd’s lines for Up Pompeii, and improvised a sketch for The Les Dawson Show when time ran over during filming.
In 1984 Royce began voicing the Daleks in Doctor Who, after being asked by director of Resurrection of the Daleks, Matthew Robinson. He would hold his nose to perform the role, for which he maintained it was his best-known, and voiced them in Resurrection of the Daleks, 1985’s Revelation of the Daleks and 1988’s Remembrance of the Daleks, although he only had the one voice that he used. He died on 21 May 2019, aged 77.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1971 Up Pompeii Nausius Sunday Bloody Sunday Bob's Partner 1972 Up the Chastity Belt Knotweed 1979The KnowledgeTaxi Driver1981History of the World, Part I Duke D'Honnefleur (The French Revolution)1984 Real Life Andrew Bazzard 2012 Run for Your Wife Man in Church Hall (final film role) Television Year Title Role Notes 1969 Oh Brother! 1 episodePlay of the MonthPhillip DrummondEpisode “Charlie’s Aunt”1969–1970Fraud SquadVarious2 episodes 1970 Doctor in the House Dr. Dave Peters 1 epísodeHark at BarkerTrouserless ManEpisode “Rustless on Law”1970Comedy PlayhouseGrahame TomsEpisode “Weren’t You Marcia Honeywell?”1973 Armchair Theatre Usher 1 episode1974–1981The Dick Emery ShowVarious6 episodes 1975Look, Mike Yarwood!Various1975 Christmas Special 1977 The Tomorrow People Dr. Taylor 1 episodeRainbowCross ManEpisode “Cross”1977–1979Mike Yarwood in PersonsVarious3 episodes 1978–1980 Rings on Their Fingers Ken / Graham 2 episodes1978The Les Dawson ShowVariousEpisode 21979 Sykes Dr. Pinto 1 episode1981CrossroadsGilbert Latham25 episodes 1982Kelly MonteithVarious2 episodes 1982–1986The Kenny Everett Television ShowVarious4 episodes 1984–1988 Doctor Who Dalek Voice, 7 episodes1984–1989 Minder Andrew 4 episodes1985Alice in WonderlandDormouseVoice, 2 episodes1986The Bob Monkhouse ShowHooray Henry1 episode 1987Edward and FriendsVoices28 episodes1990Never the TwainFirst ManEpisode “X Marks the Spot”1991The BillMahonEpisode “Machines”1992 Keeping Up Appearances Dorian 1 episode1999PolterguestsMr. DiproseEpisode 2 “Hee Haw Hotel”2001Bernard's WatchMr. ArnoldEpisode “Running on Time”2002 Spooks Toby McInnes Uncredited, 1 episode Radio1969After All, We Have Got the Moneywith Michael DeaconRadio playA Day Among ManyUnknown1979My Sainted AuntEpisode 2 “Not Now, Voyager!”Tony’sGuest1 episode1981Give or TakeUnknown1 episode Out of My HeadResident of Chris Allen's mindRadio play1984The Demon Cakestand of Beestly ChaseUnknown1985Brogue MaleHubert Carstairs4 episodes1986–1987The Phenomenon SquadSigaloff6 episodes1987Tales from the Mausoleum ClubClarence Green6 episodes1987–1989BlandingsVarious14 episodes1987Starring Leslie WilleyDudley MillingtonEpisode 1 “The Play Music”1990Gorby: The Man and his MusicUnknown2 episodes1991A Glass of BlessingsGerald Beamish2 episodes 1992Robbing HoodPettigrewEpisode 2 “Norman Delivers the Goods”1993A Perfect SpyNigel6 episodes 1998Ben Sees it ThroughUnknownRadio play1999BristowUnknownEpisode 1 “When Melancholy Autumn Comes to Chester-Perry”2000Each Way YankeePeter and GeorgeRadio play2010The Diabolical GourmetChavetteRadio play
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