William Patrick Gorman (10 May 1933 – 9 October 2018) was an English actor known in particular for his many small roles in the science fiction programme Doctor Who.
Early life Gorman was born in the East End of London on March 10, 1933. His parents died before he was five, and he was raised by his grandmother. He later served in the army and work in Canada as a miner and logger before returning to London to help look after his widowed grandmother. He got into acting after a chance meeting with an agent looking for extras and stuntmen while Gorman was working at a market.
Career Despite never appearing in a starring role, Gorman appeared in minor roles in a large number of films and television productions, including The Elephant Man, Z-Cars, Fawlty Towers, I, Claudius and Blake's 7. He also played the killer in the television series The Nightmare Man.
He appeared in minor roles in 83 episodes of the science fiction series Doctor Who between 1964 and 1985: only six other actors appeared in more in the show's original run. Toby Hadoke's obituary in Doctor Who Magazine called Gorman "the unknown soldier of Doctor Who" in tribute to the many small roles he played throughout the first decades of the show, many in full costume as aliens or monsters. These roles include: a Silurian in The Silurians (1970); a Primitive in Colony in Space (1971); a Sea Devil in The Sea Devils (1972). and a pilot in The Armageddon Factor (1979). Although he worked frequently and had a reputation as a reliable actor willing to take on any task, he did not seek the limelight and gave few interviews. One of these was with David Banks, author of the book Cyberman, in which he said that playing one of the giant robot monsters in 1968's The Invasion was very enjoyable: "There was a great feeling of power when we walked down the steps of St. Paul's."
Death Gorman died on 9 October 2018 in Ruislip, London, England after a short illness. He was survived by his wife, Vera, and daughter Jackie.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1962 Time to Remember Police Constable Uncredited1963 Siege of the Saxons Rebel Girl in the Headlines PC who is holding Man in Club The Fast Lady Fireman The Victors American Soldier Heavens Above! Townsman 1964 Carry On Jack Pirate Blind Corner Studio Engineer The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb London Reporter The Leather Boys Man in Pub A Hard Day's Night Pub Patron Playing Shove Ha'Penn 1967 The Mummy's Shroud Reporter I'll Never Forget What's'isname Old Edgcumbian The Mummy's Shroud Reporter 1970 Trog Army Officer 1971 Assault Police Constable 1977 Star Wars Stormtrooper 1978 The Big Sleep Pool Player in Pub The Playbirds Expert 3 The Thirty Nine Steps Cab Driver Uncredited1980 The Elephant Man Fairground Bobby 1981 Ragtime Thug No. 2 1981 Venom Policeman Uncredited1982 The Boys in Blue Radio Room PC 1985 Christmas Present ITN Crewman 1986 Tai-Pan British Merchant #2 1988A Fish Called WandaMan at AirportUncredited1989 Batman Cop at Axis Chemicals
Television Year Title Episode Role Notes1962The Edgar Wallace Mystery TheaterTime To RememberPolice Constable1963 Maigret The Log of the Cap Fagnet Extra Uncredited1963 The Saint The Benevolent Burglary Gendarme 1964-1985Doctor Who105 episodesVariousSee below for detailed filmography1964Story ParadeThe Man Who Won The PoolsReporterThe Four Seasons of Rosie CarrSpring at the Winged HorseSailorThe Count of Monte ChristoDishonourParty Guest1965Danger ManSuch Man Are DangerousAnnex Guard1965-1976BBC Play of the Month2 episodesVarious1966-1967Adam Adamant Lives !5 episodes1966-1969Softly, Softly3 episodes1967The Forsyte SagaN/AMan in crowdThe PrisonerHammer Into AnvilHospital Orderly1969Dad's ArmyRoom at the BottomSouthgate Platoon Soldier1970GerminalMutual AidMinerIvanhoeHuntedFirst Norman SoldierAs Good Cooks GoTummy TroublesEscorting PolicemanW. Somerset MaughamJaneWaiterDoomwatchHear No EvilManDixon of Dock GreenWaste LandPolicemanThe Roads to FreedomEpisode 1.9GuardThe Doctors2 episodesAssistant1970-1976Softly, Softly: Task Force7 episodesVarious1972The MoonstoneEpisode: #5 Baker, Plain Clothes Man
Doctor Who Year Title Role Notes1964The Dalek Invasion of EarthMale Freedom Fighteruncredited1965Mission to the UnknownPlanetarian1965The Myth MakersGreek Soldier1966The Massacre of St Bartholomew's EveGuard1966The War MachinesWorkerSoldier1966–67The HighlandersEnglish Sailor1967The Abominable SnowmenWarrior Monk1967–68The Enemy of the WorldGuard on Fire Escape1968The InvasionCyberman1969The Seeds of DeathTechnicianuncredited1969The War GamesMilitary Policeman1970Doctor Who and the SiluriansSilurianSilurian Scientist1970The Ambassadors of DeathTechnicianuncredited1970InfernoPrimord1971Terror of the AutonsAuton Leader1971Colony in SpacePrimitiveLongScientist1971The DæmonsCoven Memberuncredited1972Day of the DaleksGuardFilm Cameraman1972The Sea DevilsSea Devil1972–73The Three DoctorsUNIT Soldieruncredited1973Frontier in SpacePresidential GuardSea Devil1973The Green DeathSecurity GuardWholeweal Man1974Invasion of the DinosaursUNIT Corporal1974The Monster of PeladonGuarduncredited1974Planet of the SpidersSoldierVillager1974–75RobotThink Tank Guard1975Genesis of the DaleksThal Soldier1975Revenge of the CybermenCybermanDead Crew Memberuncredited1976The Seeds of DoomGuard1976The Masque of MandragoraSoldierBrethren Member1976The Deadly AssassinGuard1977The Invisible EnemyMedic1978The Ribos OperationKrouncredited1979The Armageddon FactorPilot1979City of DeathThuguncredited1981Warriors' GateGundan1981The Keeper of TrakenFoster1982Time-FlightPoliceman1983EnlightenmentGrogan1984The Caves of AndrozaniSoldier1985Attack of the CybermenWorkerCybermanRogue Cyberman
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