Mark Burns (30 March 1936 – 8 May 2007) was an English film and television actor.
Biography
Burns was born in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire and educated at Ampleforth College, North Yorkshire. He originally planned to enter the priesthood, but after a short-service commission with the 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars (1955–57), in which he served in Malaya and Northern Ireland, he became an actor. His career began in 1960 with the film Tunes of Glory followed by the TV series Lorna Doone (1963) and Rupert of Hentzau (1964). One of his most prominent roles was as the male lead in the cult 1966 mystery film Death Is a Woman. Burns also appeared in The Saint episode "The Scales of Justice", and The Prisoner episode "It's Your Funeral" as Number Two's assistant.
He played William Morris in The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968), Bernie in A Day at the Beach (1970), the pianist Alfred in Death in Venice (1971) and Hans von Bülow in Ludwig (1972). Mark Burns obtained a lead role in House of the Living Dead by Ray Austin in 1974 and won the prize for best actor in 1974 at the Sitges Film Festival. In 1975, together with Lynne Frederick he did A Long Return by Pedro Lazaga. He also appeared in Count Dracula (1977) and The Bitch (1979). His career stagnated in the 1980s and 1990s, his last film being Stardust (2007). He died from lung cancer.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1960 Sink the Bismarck! Naval Rating in Phone Montage Uncredited Tunes of Glory One of the Other Officers Exodus Lt. O'Hara 1962 A Prize of Arms Lt. Ellison 1963 The Day and the Hour Un aviateur anglais Take Me Over Bill Light 1964 The System Michael Uncredited 1966 Death Is a Woman Dennis Parbury 1967 The Jokers Capt. Browning It! First Officer I'll Never Forget What's'isname Michael Cornwall 1968 The Charge of the Light Brigade Capt. William Morris 1970 The Virgin and the Gypsy Major Eastwood The Adventures of Gerard Col. Russell Coldstream Guards 1971 Death in Venice Alfred 1972 A Time for Loving Geoff Rolling A Day at the Beach Bernie 1973 Ludwig Hans Von Bülow Giordano Bruno Bellarmino 1974 House of the Living Dead Sir Michael Brattling / Dr. Breckinridge Brattling Juggernaut Hollingsworth 1975 Rosebud Shute The Maids Monsieur A Long Return David Ortega 1977 Count Dracula Dr. John Seward 1978 The Stud Leonard 1979 The Bitch Leonard Grant Home Before Midnight Harry Wilshire 1981 Eyewitness Man on TV La chanson du mal aimé 1983 The Wicked Lady King Charles II 1984 Champions Thorne The Surrogate Larry 1986 Keeping Track Reporter at Bank 1990 Destroying Angel Reynold Turot Bullseye! Nigel Holden 1993 Dirty Weekend Mr. Brown 1995 Savage Hearts Doctor 1999 The Clandestine Marriage Capstick 2007 Stardust New Bishop Final film role (posthumous release)
Television Year Title Role Notes 1960 ITV Sunday Night Drama Lieutenant Barnaby Episode: "The Devil Makes Sunday" 1961 Storyboard Spy in Bowler Hat Episode: "Tickets to Trieste" 1961 Probation Officer Dominic Woodruff 1 episode 1962 Studio 4 Marston Episode: "The Grass Is Singing" 1962 Z-Cars Mike Jevons Episode: "Further Enquiries" 1962 Saki Clovis Sangrail 8 episodes 1962 Harpers West One Dennis Scott 1 episode 1963 The Third Man Robert Fletcher Episode: "A King's Ransom" 1963 Richard the Lionheart Alan Episode: "The Caveman" 1963 Lorna Doone Charlesworth Doone 7 episodes 1964 Rupert of Hentzau Lieutenant Bernenstein 5 episodes 1964 The Human Jungle Businessman (uncredited) Episode: "Struggle for a Mind" 1964 The Sullavan Brothers Lieutenant Stacey Episode: "One for the Day of Judgement" 1964 Compact George Harvest Episode: "Moving On" 1964 Redcap Captain The Honorable Ian Loder Episode: "The Orderly Officer" 1965 The Flying Swan Eric Stanton Episode: "The Streets" 1965 Undermind Captain Morrell Episode: "Death in England" 1965 Armchair Mystery Theatre Dr. Gregg Episode: "Wake a Stranger" 1966 The Baron Peter Langley Episode: "Portrait of Louisa" 1966 Sergeant Cork Lord Fotherwell Episode: "The Case of the Unpopular Judge" 1966 Mystery and Imagination Tom Whistlewick Episode: "The Flying Dragon" 1967 No Hiding Place Ronnie Westlake Episode: "A Letter from Helga" 1967 Theatre 625 Tony Box-Bender / William 2 episodes 1967 The Prisoner Number Two's Assistant Episode: "It's Your Funeral" 1968 The Saint Elliott Stratton Episode: "The Scales of Justice" 1972 Spy Trap Peter Royce 2 episodes 1972 The Main Chance Warren Iveson Episode: "One for the House" 1976 The New Avengers Spence Episode: "House of Cards" 1977 Secret Army Dieter Gundell Episode: "Lisa - Codename Yvette" 1979 Play for Today Ramage Episode: "Degree of Uncertainty" 1980 Cribb John Fernandez Episode: "Swing, Swing Together" 1983 Bergerac Patrick Lister Episode: "A Perfect Recapture" 1983 Goodnight and God Bless Nigel Episode: "Ronnie's Wonderful Day" 1983 Wagner Baron von Hulsen 1 episode 1983 By the Sword Divided Captain Charles Pike 6 episodes
References
External links