Geoffrey Bayldon

Albert Geoffrey Bayldon (7 January 1924 – 10 May 2017) was an English actor. After playing roles in many stage productions, including the works of William Shakespeare, he became known for portraying the title role of the children's series '' Catweazle'' (1969–70). Bayldon's other long-running parts include the Crowman in '' Worzel Gummidge'' (1979–81) and Magic Grandad in the BBC television series ''Watch'' (1995).

Early life

Bayldon was born 7 January 1924 in Leeds and attended Bridlington School and Hull College of Architecture. Following service in the Royal Air Force during World War II, he appeared in amateur theatricals and then trained at the Old Vic Theatre School.

Career

Bayldon enjoyed a substantial stage career, including work in the West End and for the RSC. He made several film appearances in the 1960s and 1970s, including '' King Rat'' (1965), '' To Sir, with Love'' (1967), '' Casino Royale'' (as Q) (1967), the Envy segment of '' The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins'' (1971), the Marc Bolan/ T. Rex film '' Born to Boogie'' (1972), '' The Pink Panther Strikes Again'' (1976), as well as the film versions of '' Steptoe and Son'', '' Steptoe and Son Ride Again'' (1973) as the vicar, and ''Porridge'' (1979) as the Prison Governor.

Bayldon also appeared in several horror films; ''Dracula'' and '' Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed'' for Hammer Films and '' The House That Dripped Blood'', '' ''Asylum'''' and '' Tales from the Crypt'' for Amicus. In 2004, after many years of successful television work he appeared in the film '' Ladies in Lavender''.

He appeared in ''Doctor Who'' with a guest appearance as Organon in '' The Creature from the Pit'' (1979) opposite Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor. Subsequently, he played an alternative First Doctor in two audio plays based on the ''Doctor Who'' television series by Big Finish Productions in the '' Doctor Who Unbound'' series: '' Auld Mortality'' (2003) and '' A Storm of Angels'' (2005). In 1963, Bayldon had been one of the first actors offered the role of the Doctor.

Bayldon's other television roles include, '' ITV Play of the Week'' (1957, 1959, 1964, 1967), '' The Avengers'' (1961 and 1967), '' Z-Cars'' (1963, 1968), '' Theatre 625'' (1964–1968), ''The Wednesday Play'' (1968, 1969), ''ITV Sunday Night Theatre'' (1970, 1972), '' Space: 1999'' (1976), ''The Tomorrow People'' (1976), '' Tales of the Unexpected'' (1980, 1983), '' Blott on the Landscape'' (1985), '' Star Cops'' (1987), ''Rumpole of the Bailey'' (1987), ''The Chronicles of Narnia'' (1989). He later took part in a number of BBC Schools programmes, where he displayed a number of otherwise unexploited talents (such as singing). In 1993, he played Simplicio in the Open University video '' Newton's Revolution''.

In 1986, Bayldon provided the vocals on Paul Hardcastle's "The Wizard" which was also used (without the vocal) as the theme for BBC1's ''Top of the Pops''.

Among his later television appearances were the Five game show '' Fort Boyard'' (1998–2001), '' Waking the Dead'' (2004), '' Heartbeat'' (2004) and '' Casualty'' (2006, after previous appearances in 1991, 1997 and 2004). His final television appearances, before his retirement, were '' New Tricks'' (2007) and '' My Family'' (2010).

Death

Bayldon died on 10 May 2017, aged 93, from undisclosed causes. He was predeceased by his partner, actor Alan Rowe, who died in 2000.

Filmography

Television

Theatre

References

External links

Obituary in the Guardian newspaper

The Official Catweazle Fan Club

Geoffrey Bayldon
at the British Film Institute
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bayldon, Geoffrey
1924 births
2017 deaths
20th-century English LGBTQ people
21st-century English LGBTQ people
Alumni of Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
English male stage actors
English male film actors
English male television actors
English gay actors
English LGBTQ actors
LGBTQ people from Yorkshire
Male actors from Leeds
People educated at Bridlington School
Royal Air Force personnel of World War II