Patrick Newell

Patrick Newell (born 27th March 1932 in Hadleigh, Suffolk, died 22nd July 1988) appeared in Coronation Street in April 1978 as prosecuting counsel Mr Mullins when Len Fairclough was tried on a charge of being drunk and disorderly.

He was educated at Taunton School and studied acting at RADA after which he unhappily completed national service alongside Michael Caine. His rotund size was, as far as he was concerned, his passport to many roles and he had a long list of appearances in television including Probation Officer, Skyport, Knight Errant Limited (alongside Betty Alberge), Maigret, The Odd Man, Emergency-Ward 10, Here's Harry, No Hiding Place , Z Cars, Dr. Finlay's Casebook, Dixon of Dock Green, The Wednesday Play, The Persuaders!, Crown Court, Bootsie and Snudge, The Benny Hill Show, Doctor Who, When the Boat Comes In, The Duchess of Duke Street, Worzel Gummidge, The Young Ones, The Gentle Touch, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Casualty although his most famous role was undoubtedly as John Steed's boss (codenamed "Mother") in the final series of The Avengers.

Film roles included Night Without Pity, Unearthly Stranger, Becket, A Study in Terror, The Alphabet Murders, The Long Duel, The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins, The Canterbury Tales, Man About the House, Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers, ...And the Band Played On and Young Sherlock Holmes.

On radio, he was heard in productions for Midweek Theatre, Saturday-Night Theatre and The Sunday Play as well as The Voysey Inheritance and Lord Peter Wimsey dramatisations.

External pages

 * Internet Movie Database entry for Patrick Newell
 * Wikipedia page for Patrick Newell