Francis Matthews (2 September 1927 – 14 June 2014) was an English actor, best known for playing Paul Temple in the BBC television series of the same name and for voicing Captain Scarlet in Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons."Francis Matthews: Still on the case ", Mature Times, 17 July 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2013

Early life Matthews was born in York on 2 September 1927, to Henry and Kathleen Matthews. His father was a shop steward at the Rowntree's chocolate factory near York. His parents often took him to the theatre, where he gained a love of acting. He attended St George's RC Primary School, then St Michael's Jesuit College in Leeds.

He found work as a stagehand at the Theatre Royal in Leeds, and made his theatrical debut in 1945 in the play The Corn Is Green before performing his national service in the Royal Navy. After leaving the military he returned to the stage, appearing in a 1954 touring production of the play No Escape, which starred Flora Robson. He made his West End debut in 1956.

Career

In the 1950s and 1960s, Matthews's film roles for Hammer Studios included the Baron's assistant in The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958) and the heroes of Dracula: Prince of Darkness and Rasputin the Mad Monk (both 1966). On television, from 1969 to 1971, he played Francis Durbridge's amateur private detective Paul Temple in the BBC series of the same name.Wilkie, Agnes (1986) "Smoothie and the Brat", Evening Times, 15 February 1986, p. 11. Retrieved 19 November 2013

Matthews starred opposite Morecambe and Wise in the films The Intelligence Men (1965) and That Riviera Touch (1966), which led to a close friendship with Eric Morecambe. He also appeared throughout the 1960s and 1970s in a variety of television comedy roles, including Eric & Ernie's Christmas Show, 1977. He appeared alongside George Cole in Charles Woods' sitcom Don't Forget To Write! (1977) as a successful writer.

In 1967, Matthews provided the character voice of Captain Scarlet, in imitation of Cary Grant, for Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's Supermarionation television series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons. (He divided his time, during the recording sessions, between his work there and his stage appearances in Noël Coward's play Private Lives.) Also in 1967 he appeared in The Avengers episode entitled "Mission ... Highly Improbable".

In the late 1970s, he served as narrator and host for Follow Me!, a BBC educational programme that offered a "crash course" in the English language to foreign viewers. In 1986, Matthews and his wife, Angela Browne, appeared together in the BBC adaptation of the Josephine Tey novel Brat Farrar. In 2000, they starred in two Ray Cooney plays on the cruise ship MS Marco Polo, while she was sailing to the Antarctic: Run For Your Wife and Funny Money.

Personal life Francis Matthews' younger brother, Paul Shelley, is also an actor; they had a sister, Maura..

Matthews was married to actress Angela Browne from 1963 until her death in 2001; the couple had three sons. Two, Damien Matthews and Paul Rattigan, are actors; the other, Dominic, is an artist and musician.

Death Matthews died at the age of 86 on 14 June 2014, following a short illness. He was survived by his three sons, seven grandchildren, and his two siblings.

Filmography +YearTitleRoleNotes1951At Your Service, Ltd.Roger Buckett1955Truant in Park LaneRobert1956My Friend Charles Ken PalmerBhowani JunctionRanjit KaselThe Talking CatLancelot1957Esmé DividedEsmé VignolesSmall Hotel Alan PryorThe Mark of the Hawk Overholt1958The Killing StonesDesaiThe Revenge of FrankensteinDoctor Hans KleveA Woman Possessed JohnI Only Arsked!MahmoudCorridors of Blood Jonathan Bolton1960Sentenced for LifeJim Richards1961The Hellfire Club Sir Hugh ManningThe Treasure of Monte Cristo Louis AuclairThe Pursuers David1962The Battleaxe Tony EversThe Lamp in Assassin Mews Jack1963Nine Hours to RamaRampureA Stitch in Time Benson1964The Beauty JungleTaylorMurder Ahoy Lieutenant Compton1965The Intelligence MenThomas1966Dracula: Prince of Darkness Charles KentRasputin the Mad MonkIvanThat Riviera TouchHotel Manager1967Just Like a Woman Lewis McKenzie1969Crossplot RuddockTaste of ExcitementMr. Breese1974Five Women for the Killer Giorgio Pisani1999Do Not Disturb Manager2012Run For Your Wife

Television +YearTitle RoleNotes1954-1957BBC Sunday-Night TheatreKen Wilson/Ensign Trefusis2 episodes1955St. Ives Ronald Gilchrist4 episodes1956My Friend CharlesKen PalmerDrama series written by Francis Durbridge, appearing in 5 episodes1956-1963ITV Television PlayhouseVarious5 episodes1957The New Adventures of Charlie Chan Derek RobinsonEpisode: "The Death of a Don"O.S.S. Peter FoxEpisode: "Operation Powder Puff"1957-1958The Adventures of Robin HoodRoland/Ali ben Azra2 episodes1959Theatre Night Guy StevensEpisode: "How Say You?"1960Interpol CallingFawleyEpisode: "White Blackmail"Man from Interpol Richard Martin/Maharajah of Den2 episodes The World of Tim Frazer Lewis Richards 7 episodesBigglesCaptain Haziri3 episodes1961The Cheaters Jack FisherEpisode: "The Legacy"Triton Lieutenant LambMiniseries1961-1967ITV Play of the WeekVarious3 episodes1962The Dark IslandGrantMissing BBC2 drama series but was made into a radio series in 19691963HancockElmo DentEpisode: "The Writer"1963-1966Comedy PlayhouseCaptain Hawkins/Mr. Dillington2 episodes1964-1965A Little Big Business Simon Lieberman5 episodes1964-1967The SaintPaul Farley/Andre2 episodes1964Dixon of Dock GreenPhillip LangtonEpisode: "Fish on the Hook"1965Z-CarsRev. CorbettEpisode: "Brotherly Love"1966-1967The AvengersJerry Collns/Dr. Matthew Andrew Chivers2 episodes1967Further Adventures of Lucky JimSequal to Lucky Jim1967ITV PlayhousePeter MorganEpisode: "The Confession"1967-1968Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons Captain Scarlet1969-1970ITV Saturday Night TheatreDoctor St. Andre/Maxwell Burden2 episodes1969-1971Paul Temple Paul Temple1975Trinity TalesEric the Prologue6 episodes1983Crown CourtEdward Sandys QCSerial: "Seconds Away"1984Tears Before BedtimeGeoffrey Dickens7 episodes in a sitcom written by Richard Waring 1986Screen TwoSilver-Haired GentEpisode: "The McGuffin"1993Taggart Dr. Gerald NapierEpisode: "Fatal Inheritance"1995The Detectives Duke of ConnemaraEpisode: "Flash"1998Jonathan CreekJerry BellinitusEpisode: "Black Canary" 1999-2000Brookside Lord Robin Cuddington4 episodes2002-2003HeartbeatDr. James Alway2003The Royal2 episodes2005All About GeorgeTed4 episodes2009Beautiful People Mr. BunionsEpisode: "How I Got My Groom"

Theatre Help Stamp Out Marriage! (1966) – Stuart Wheeler Middle Age Spread (1980-1981) - Reg

Radio Radio version of the mostly erased tv series Not in Front of the Children - Henry Corner (BBC Radio 2, 1968-1969) Saturday-Night Theatre: Bonecrack by Dick Francis - Neil Griffon (BBC Radio 4FM, 1976) Cast, In Order of Disappearance – Charles Paris (BBC Radio 2, June 1984) So Much Blood – Charles Paris (BBC Radio 2, August 1985) The Case of the Cool Canary - Dick George (BBC Radio 4, 1986) More Work for the Undertaker - Albert Campion (BBC Radio 4, 1986) The Case of the Substitute Spouse - Dick George (BBC Radio 4, 1989) The Case of the Vanishing Vamp - Dick (BBC Radio 4, 1992) Murder at the Vicarage - Rev Leonard Clement (BBC Radio 4, 1993)

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