Malcolm Tierney (25 February 1938 – 18 February 2014) was an English actor who appeared in many stage, film and television roles.
Early life Tierney's father, Ernest, was a boilermaker and trained draughtsman from Warrington, who worked at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. His mother, Agnes, née Kennedy, worked in the cotton mills.
Tierney attended St Mary's Roman Catholic School in Failsworth and studied design at the Manchester School of Art (now part of Manchester Metropolitan University). While working as a textile designer and printmaker, he became involved in amateur dramatics at the Little Theatre, in Bolton, which had been set up by John Wardle, father of the drama critic Irving Wardle, whose wife, Norma, became a mentor to Tierney. As a result, he began a scholarship with the Rose Bruford Training College of Speech and Drama, in Sidcup, Kent, in 1958 and landed his first acting job in 1962.
Career Tierney's roles included the part of Captain Monk Adderley in the original Poldark series, Tommy McArdle in Brookside between 1984 and 1987, Charlie Gimbert in Lovejoy (26 episodes, 1986 and 1993), Geoffrey Ellsworth-Smythe in A Bit of a Do, Patrick Woolton in House of Cards, Dennis Dudley in Bergerac in 1985 and Chief Const. Raymond in Dalziel and Pascoe. In science fiction, he appeared, uncredited, as the Imperial officer Shann Childsen who questions the disguised Luke Skywalker and Han Solo on what they are doing with Chewbacca in Star Wars in 1977, and guested in the Doctor Who serial The Trial of a Time Lord (Terror of the Vervoids) in 1986. He also appeared in Braveheart as the English sheriff who executes the wife of William Wallace and is then subsequently himself killed by Wallace.
Tierney appeared with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1974–75 and 2005. In 1974 he played Claudio in Measure for Measure. In 2007 he played Dr Hugo Eckener in the docudrama Hindenburg: The Untold Story, which was about the crash of the airship Hindenburg and the investigation after it. This was aired for the 70th anniversary of the disaster.
In 2008 Tierney played Captain Smith of the RMS Titanic in the docudrama Titanic: The Unsinkable Ship.
On radio, Tierney played Commander Brill-Oudener in the BBC Radio drama The Snow Goose by Paul Gallico, originally transmitted in May 2010.
Personal life
Tierney once shared a flat with Tom Baker, who is best known for his portrayal of the Fourth Doctor in the BBC TV series Doctor Who. In 1979, Tierney married Andrea Schinko, an Austrian artist who survives him with their two daughters: Elsa, an artist, and Anna, an actress. Tierney was a lifelong socialist, having been a member of the Workers Revolutionary Party in the 1970s.
Death
Tierney died on 18 February 2014, aged 75 of pulmonary fibrosis. Vanessa Redgrave wrote in his obituary of a "loving man" and a "brilliant actor". He is buried in Highgate Cemetery, London.
Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes 1968 Last of the Long-haired Boys Jason Trigg 1969 All Neat in Black Stockings Photographer 1971 Family Life Tim 1973 The 14 Mr Michael 1976 The Eagle Has Landed German Officer Uncredited 1977 Star Wars Lt. Shann Childsen (Imperial Prison Officer) Uncredited 1978 The Medusa Touch Deacon 1980 McVicar Frank 1987 Little Dorrit Bar 1993 In the Name of the Father Home Office Official 1995 Braveheart Magistrate 1997 The Saint Russian doctor 1998 L.A. Without a Map Joy's Dad 2000 Shiner Fleming 2002 The Final Curtain Estate Agent 2012 Great Expectations Judge 2014 The Smoke Professor Arlo Greene (final film role)
Television
Year Title Role Notes 1967 Love on the Dole Larry Meath 1977 Poldark Monk Adderley 1979 Crime and Punishment Zametov TV serial 1980–1981The Spoils of War Richard Warrington TV serial 1984–1986 Brookside Tommy McArdle 1986 Doctor Who Doland The Trial of a Time Lord, 4 episodes 1986–1993 Lovejoy Charlie Gimbert 28 episodes 1989 A Bit of a Do Geoffrey Ellsworth-Smythe / Spragg 5 episodes 1990 House of Cards Patrick Woolton 1998–1999 Dalziel and Pascoe Chief Constable Raymond 2001 The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby Mr Crummles 2001 Heartbeat Lawson Episode: Home to Roost 2002 Holby City Wally Sands Episode: All My Sins 2008 Doctors Howard Milnes Episode: Mummy Dearest
References
External links
Notice of death – BBC