Robert Robertson (actor)
{{Short description|Scottish actor}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Robert Robertson
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1930|7|3}}
| birth_place = St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2001|1|17|1930|7|3}}
| death_place = Perth, Scotland
|nationality = Scottish
| othername =
| occupation = actor, artistic director
| yearsactive =
| spouse =
| domesticpartner =
| website =
}}
Robert Robertson (3 July 1930 – 17 January 2001) was a Scottish actor and theatre director. He was best known for playing Doctor Stephen Andrews in the television show Taggart.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1122542.stm |title=Taggart star dies |publisher=BBC |date=17 January 2001 |accessdate=27 June 2015}}
Biography
Robertson was born in St Andrews, Fife. His acting career started with the Manchester Repertory Theatre shortly after World War II.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.strathallan.co.uk/media/archives/Vol-19-4-1999-2000.pdf |title=Robert Robertson |magazine=The Strathallian 1999-2000 |volume=19 |number=4 |page=92 |accessdate=28 June 2015}} He moved to London appearing in a variety of roles most notably as Dr Grimwig in Oliver!, Lionel Bart's acclaimed Dicken's musical, at the New Theatre. Robertson also wrote and performed his own one-man show, Your Humble Servant, at the Open Space Theatre, London.
In 1973 Robertson returned to Scotland to perform in Dundee and stayed. He acted and directed with the Dundee Repertory Theatre, serving as the company's artistic director from 1976 to 1992.{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12155649.taggart-actor-dies-after-collapsing-at-burns-night/ |title=Taggart actor dies after collapsing at Burns night |work=The Herald|location=Glasgow |date=18 January 2001 |access-date=16 January 2022}} On stage he played Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman and Frank in Educating Rita. He directed The Importance of Being Earnest, The Tempest and The Cherry Orchard. Robertson also oversaw the move to a new purpose-built theatre in the centre of Dundee.
In 1983 he was cast in the three-part pilot of Taggart as Dr Stephen Andrews. The show became an international success and Robertson became famous for his role as the pathologist. He appeared in 51 episodes of the show.
Other notable television appearances include The Ambassadors of Death, a Doctor Who serial in 1970 and the role of Palanguez in the BBC's The Day of the Triffids. On the big screen Robertson appeared in the 1996 film Breaking the Waves, directed by Lars von Trier.
Robertson died on 17 January 2001, at the age of 70, after suffering a heart attack while reading a Robert Burns poem, Holy Willie's Prayer, on stage in Perth.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2001/jan/19/guardianobituaries.filmnews |title=Robert Robertson |newspaper=The Guardian |date=19 January 2001 |accessdate=27 June 2015}} He was rushed to hospital, where he succumbed shortly afterwards to heart failure (cardiovascular disease).{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/robert-robertson-728828.html |title=Obituaries, Robert Robertson |newspaper=The Independent |date=7 February 2001 |accessdate=14 June 2009 }}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
References
External links
- {{IMDb name|name=Robert Robertson|id=0732006}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Robertson, Robert}}
Category:People educated at Strathallan School
Category:Scottish male stage actors
Category:Scottish male television actors
Category:People from St Andrews
Category:Scottish male film actors