Colin David Daker (29 September 1935 – 30 April 2026) was an English actor. He had a regular role as Harry Crawford in 93 episodes of the series Boon from 1986 to 1995.
Other credits include Coronation Street (1968–1985), Z Cars (1967–1977), Dixon of Dock Green (1969–1972), Villains (1972), Doctor Who (1973, 1979), Stardust (1974), Play for Today (1975–1984), Time Bandits (1981), Dick Turpin (1979–1982), Minder (1980–1985), Moonfleet (1984), Hallelujah! (1984), I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle (1990), The Woman in Black (1989), and Crown Prosecutor (1995).
Early life and education Colin David Daker, the youngest of five children, was born in Bilston, then in Staffordshire, on 29 September 1935 to Elijah Daker, a shoe factory worker and his wife Olive (née Cutler). He attended the local Etheridge Secondary Modern School (now called Moseley Park School).
Career On leaving school, Daker initially trained as a draughtsman, but left after two years. Shortly afterwards, he joined the Oxford Playhouse Theatre School, before undertaking national service in the RAF. In 1957, he joined Oldham Rep as a stage manager, actor and director.
Between 1986 and 1995 Daker appeared in Boon as Harry Crawford, the entrepreneurial friend of the show's titular protagonist and fellow former firefighter Ken Boon (Michael Elphick); alongside his co-star, he appeared in all 93 episodes of the series.
Daker appeared in a number of television series, including All Creatures Great and Small, Minder, Heartbeat, When the Boat Comes In, Thriller, Juliet Bravo, Hazell, The Main Chance, Dangerfield, The Gentle Touch, Midsomer Murders, Sorry!, The Bill and Rising Damp. Daker made notable appearances as Tommy Mackay in Only Fools and Horses and Jarvis in Porridge. He appeared twice in Doctor Who, playing Irongron in The Time Warrior (1973–74) and Captain Rigg in Nightmare of Eden (1979).
In 2003, Daker returned to Doctor Who playing the part of Gilbrook in the Big Finish audio story Creatures of Beauty, replacing Clive Swift in the role after Swift pulled out due to an illness in his family. He played the recurring role of Captain Nathan Spiker in Dick Turpin, and appeared in the second series of Hallelujah! as Brother Benjamin. Daker appeared in two roles in Coronation Street: as Basil Griffin between 1968 and 1969, and Gordon Lewis, the unpopular relief manager of the Rovers Return on three stints between 1981 and 1985.
In film, Daker played young Kevin's father in Time Bandits (1981) and the desk sergeant in I Bought a Vampire Motorcycle (1990).
Personal life and death Daker married Stella Newton in 1957. They had one son and one daughter. Daker and Newton later divorced and he married Hilary Voisey in 1998; they had a daughter.https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/jun/21/david-daker-obituary He died on 30 April 2026, aged 90.
Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes1973O Lucky Man!VariousThe Optimists of Nine ElmsBob Ellis1974The Black WindmillMI5 ManStardustRalph Woods1976Aces HighBennettVoyage of the DammedFirst Officer1979That Summer!Pub Landlord1981Time BanditsKevin's Father1982Britannia HospitalGuest Workman1990I Bought a Vampire MotorcycleDesk Sergeant
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1964DetectiveThomas YaxleyEpisode: "The Loring Mystery"1966King of the RiverJack FlynnEpisode: "Keeping the Old Spirit Alive"1967–1977Z CarsPC Culshaw Reg Sgt. Milne84 episodes1968–1985Coronation StreetBasil Griffin Gordon Lewis 31 episodes1969ITV Sunday Night TheatreKenEpisode: "Travelling Where?"1969–1972Dixon of Dock GreenHeadmaster Jock2 episodes1970Parkin's PatchDet. Sgt. MilburnEpisode: "The Spider's Web"1971UFOSHADO Guard (uncredited)Episode: "Flight Path"TrialPriorEpisode: "On the Evidence You Will Hear"1972VillainsGeorge6 episodes1973Full HouseFedya in On the High RoadEpisode: #1.22General HospitalUnknownEpisode: #1.63HadleighTed PriorEpisode: "Gentleman and Players"Second City FirstsPeterEpisode: "If a Man Answers"1973–1974, 1979Doctor WhoIrongron RiggSerials: "The Time Warrior" and "Nightmare of Eden"1974 The Carnforth PracticeTanker DriverEpisode: "The Aristocrat"Hunter's WalkBarry DawesEpisode: "Villain"Armchair CinemaTusserEpisode: "Regan"Marked PersonalJack Williams2 episodesDial M for MurderTonyEpisode: "Recording Angel"ITV Sunday Night DramaSussexEpisode: "The Ceremony of Innocence"1974–1976Centre PlayJacky Maddison Max2 episodes1975 Churchill's PeopleJohn BradwaterEpisode: "Shouts and Murmurs"The Hanged ManPiet HollanderEpisode: "The Bridge Maker"The Main ChanceJacobsonEpisode: "Survival"The Rough with the SmoothRudolph CulpepperEpisode: "The Broom Cupboard"Daft As a BrushJack BakerTelevision filmBBC Play of the MonthCpl. HillEpisode: "Chips with Everything"ThrillerCharlie DraperEpisode: "Kill Two Birds"Softly Softly: Task ForceWaltersEpisode: "Dorothy's Birthday"1975–1984Play for TodayVarious8 episodes1976 Widowing of Mrs. HolroydMr. HolroydTelevision filmThree Days in SzczecinWorkers' spokesmanTelevision film1976–1981When the Boat Comes InChater Sid Meek2 episodes1977 Eleanor MarxWill Thorne2 episodesWarshipPO AsdaleEpisode: "Counter Charge"PorridgeJarvisEpisode: "Final Stretch"Rising DampMr. BrentEpisode: "That's My Boy"The Dick Emery ShowUnknownEpisode: #16.2TargetMike AnsellEpisode: "Vandraggers"BBC2 Play of the WeekMaxEpisode: "The Kitchen"1978HazellDave RymanEpisode: "Hazell and the Rubber-Heel Brigade"HolocaustRudolf HoessEpisode: "Part 4: 1944–1945"StrangersRoy StephensEpisode: "Right and Wrong"1979All Creatures Great and SmallMr. BarrattEpisode: "Puppy Love"Charlie MuffinBoltonTelevision filmTwo PeopleLen Fletcher5 episodesSaint JoanPoulengeyTelevision film1979–1982Dick TurpinCaptain Nathan Spiker13 episodes1980The Enigma FilesMajor Mike ClarkEpisode: "The Full Flying Carpet Treatment"1980–1985MinderAlex Brompton Sir Ronald Bates2 episodes1981The Gentle TouchSam TaylorEpisode: "Doubt"BBC2 PlayhouseAlfEpisode: "The Grudge Fight"1981–1985Juliet BravoCharlie Pendle Chris Oldham Colin Bright3 episodes1982 Legacy of MurderMechanicEpisode: "Who Do You Voodoo?"ITV Playhouse'Dogfood' Dan MiltonEpisode: "Dogfood Dan and the Camarthen Cowboy"Only Fools and HorsesTommy MackayEpisode: "No Greater Love"1983BBC Television ShakespeareVariousEpisodes: Henry VI and Richard IIITo the LighthouseMr. TrevorrowTelevision filmGive us a BreakRon Palmer7 episodes1984Crown CourtHarry BarberSerial: "There Was an Old Woman"MoonfleetElzevir Block6 episodesHallelujah!Brother Benjamin Bob Scratchitt8 episodes1985Summer SeasonLeo LyonEpisode: "Urban Jungle"1986Sorry!Byron HadleeEpisode: "The Primal Scene, So to Speak"Love and MarriageMaurice BannisterEpisode: "A Walk Under Ladders"1986–1995BoonHarry Crawford93 episodes1987Up LineLeon Targett4 episodesScreen TwoMr. PlantEpisode: "The Children of Dynmouth" 1988Blind JusticeDet. Insp. GeeEpisode: "A Death in the Family"1989The Woman in BlackJosiah FrestonTelevision film1995 Crown ProsecutorBen Campbell10 episodesResort to MurderSam Penny4 episodesPigeon SummerUncle Charley TV mini-series 1995–2000The BillLaurie Coleman Mick Davies2 episodes1996The VetGerry LeadbetterEpisode: "Out of the Past"Paul Merton in Galton and Simpson's...FarmerEpisode: "Twelve Angry Men"CasualtyJim PorteousEpisode: "Waterwings"1997DangerfieldKen MarkhamEpisode: "Perfect Witness"1998Midsomer MurdersHarry VellacottEpisode: "Faithful unto Death" 1999The Ruth Rendell MysteriesStanley ClaytonEpisode: "The Fallen Curtain"2000Dalziel and PascoeJack TurtonEpisode: "A Sweeter Lazarus"HeartbeatMatty LovellEpisode: "War Stories"2001Where the Heart IsPeter LampardEpisode: "Pound of Flesh"Hearts and BonesMr. Rose2 episodesBig Bad WorldErnest3 episodes2002–2007DoctorsEric Barbar Jim Young2 episodes2004The Last DetectiveJervis BeauchampEpisode: "Benefit to Mankind"PowersMike KnowlesEpisode: "The Future Is Yours"2004–2009Holby CityBill Gibbs Mr Frisby2 episodes
References
External links
David Daker at Theatricalia