Actor. Best remembered as the prison officer, also named 'Mackay', in the BBC television comedy series "Porridge" and its spin-off film, and as the lighthouse keeper in Jim Henson's "Fraggle Rock." Born in Paisley, in Renfrewshire, he was ttrained as a quantity surveyor and, during World War II served with the Black Watch. When he was demobilised, he decided to become an actor and trained at RADA. Apart from the two roles mentioned above, he appeared in many films, such as 'Ben' in Bill Forsyth's "Local Hero", and on the stage, notably with the R.S.C. as 'Christofferson' in Eugene O'Neill's "Anna Christie." In 1974, he was considered for the role the fourth "Doctor Who", but the role went to Tom Baker instead. He was married to, and is buried with, the Irish actress Sheila Manahan. A hybrid tea rose (gold with salmon tints on the outer petals) is named after him.
Actor. Best remembered as the prison officer, also named 'Mackay', in the BBC television comedy series "Porridge" and its spin-off film, and as the lighthouse keeper in Jim Henson's "Fraggle Rock." Born in Paisley, in Renfrewshire, he was ttrained as a quantity surveyor and, during World War II served with the Black Watch. When he was demobilised, he decided to become an actor and trained at RADA. Apart from the two roles mentioned above, he appeared in many films, such as 'Ben' in Bill Forsyth's "Local Hero", and on the stage, notably with the R.S.C. as 'Christofferson' in Eugene O'Neill's "Anna Christie." In 1974, he was considered for the role the fourth "Doctor Who", but the role went to Tom Baker instead. He was married to, and is buried with, the Irish actress Sheila Manahan. A hybrid tea rose (gold with salmon tints on the outer petals) is named after him.
Bio by: Iain MacFarlaine
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