David Henderson-Tate (1937 – 1996) was a British actor of television and film and a voice actorFilmography of David Tate, Behind the Voice Actors database who performed as David Tate. He is probably best known for his work in the original radio series of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1978) and the television series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981).David Tate, The British Comedy Guide
Early life and education Born in 1937, Tate attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), graduating with the academy's acting diploma program in 1958.David Henderson-Tate, The RADA website
Career He made his television début as Marcel in the 'Toddler on the Run' episode of The Wednesday Play (1966), and played Basil Biggleswade in 'The Portsmouth Defence' episode of the same series later in the same year. He voiced Scrooge's nephew Fred and Charity Man in the Oscar-winning animated television special A Christmas Carol (1971)Guida Fred A Christmas Carol and Its Adaptations: A Critical Examination of Dickens's Story on Screen and Television, McFarland and Company, Inc., Publishers (2000), Google Books p. 197Michael Pointer and Anthony Slide Charles Dickens on the Screen: The Film, Television, and Video Adaptations, The Scarecrow Press, Inc., (1996) Google Books p. 174 before playing Sgt. Tapling in 'The Secret of the Foxhunter' episode of the series The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (1971). In 1975, he appeared in The Basil Brush Show and was Mr. Hawke in the television series Romance (1977). In 1978 he was the Commentator in the film International Velvet and voiced various roles in the original radio series of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1978), including Eddie the Computer, Benjy Mouse, the Allitnils, and the Happy Vertical People Transporter, with Douglas Adams later saying of him that "He was one of the backbones of the series. We had him there every week." In 1981 Tate voiced Eddie and Benjy Mouse in the television series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, while 1982 saw him as Radio Voice in the series Solo. He was the TV Commentator in Never Say Die (1987). He provided various voices for the animated television series Dragonslayer Quark, Quark and the Long Winter and Quark and the Vikings (1987). Tate provided various additional voices for An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991)Cast of An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991), British Film Institute Database and The Ticker Talks (1995).Filmography of David Tate, British Film Institute Database
He narrated on Story Teller and was on the satirical radio current affairs sketch show Week Ending (1977).Week Ending, Radio Times Listing, BBC Radio 4, April 1977
Death Tate died in 1996 at the age of 58 or 59.
Filmography
Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1978International VelvetCommentator1991An American Tail: Fievel Goes WestAdditional voices
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1966The Wednesday PlayMarcel / Basil Biggleswade2 episodes1971A Christmas CarolScrooge's Nephew / Charity ManTelevision short1971The Rivals of Sherlock HolmesSgt. TaplingEpisode: "The Secret of the Foxhunter"1977RomanceMr. HawkeEpisode: "Emily"1981The Hitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyEddie / Benjy Mouse3 episodes1982SoloVoice / Radio Voice2 episodes1987Never Say DieTV commentatorEpisode #1.5
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