Actor Anthony Bate, best known for his role in the BBC's Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and a familiar face of TV drama during his five decade career, has died at the age of 84.
Bate – who played Oliver Lacon in the John Le Carre cold war thriller, and in the dramatisation of Smiley's People – died on Tuesday morning.
His agent Roger Charteris said the actor had been taken ill on Thursday and would be "greatly missed".
The actor – known to his friends as Tony – had roles in countless TV programmes including 60s TV hits such as The Avengers, The Saint and The Champions.
Bate's roles also included a memorable performance as Kim Philby in the BBC's 1977 drama about the Cambridge spy ring, Philby, Burgess and Maclean – alongside names such as Derek Jacobi and Arthur Lowe.
Other programmes in which he appeared included A Touch Of Frost, Prime Suspect, Midsomer Murders and Poirot, and he often specialised in "bad guy" roles.
He was born the son of Hubert George Cookson Bate (died 1986) and Cecile Marjorie Canadine (died 1973). Bate was educated at King Edward VI School, Stourbridge, and trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama (Gold medal). During his National Service he served with the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve 1945-47.
On 22 May 1954, he married Diana Fay, the daughter of Kenneth Alfred Charles Cawes Watson (d 1939), of Seaview, Isle of Wight. His 2 sons are Gavin Watson (born 1961) and Mark Hewitt (born 1963).
Bate died in the early hours of June 19, 2012 at the age of 84 from a brief illness at a St.Mary's Hospital, Isle of Wight. He was rushed into the hospital on June 17, 2012 from the illness. He was survived by his wife Diana and his two children.∼Anthony Bate began working life behind the bar of a hotel owned by his family on the Isle of Wight. After completing his national service with the Royal Navy Volunteers in 1947, he started dabbling in amateur dramatics and then took the next step to formal training at London's Central School of Speech and Drama, graduating a gold medal winner. After the obligatory sojourn in repertory theatre, he made his West End debut in a 1960 dramatisation of the famous 1925 Scopes Trial, "Inherit the Wind", at St. Martin's Theatre. Over the next three decades, he drew many excellent notices for such classical roles as Don Pedro in "Much Ado About Nothing", for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
In occasional films from 1957, Bate popped up as straight man in minor comedies, like Dentist in the Chair (1960). However, in due course, he found his niche to be on the small screen, where he was increasingly sought-after by producers for a wide variety of characters of, either, furtive, stern, starchy, supercilious or sinister disposition. Besides crime and espionage, Bate was a ubiquitous protagonist in screen adaptations from the classics: the obsessive Inspector Javert on the trail of Frank Finlay's Jean Valjeon, in a 1967 version of Victor Hugo's oft-filmed masterpiece; as the intrepid Dr. Livesey of Treasure Island (1977); and as the Knight's Templar, Sir Brian de Bois Guilbert, chief nemesis of Ivanhoe (1970). Another of his outright villains was treacherous London gangster Eddie Edwards, taking advantage of his boss's (Ray McAnally) incarceration to usurp his criminal empire. In Intimate Strangers (1974), Bate was given a rare starring role, as a middle-aged family man, re-evaluating his life after a heart attack. This introspective and nuanced performance was, arguably, one of his best. The cool, unflappable Mr. Bate also portrayed such historical personae as Joseph Stalin, Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt and Eduard Shevardnadze -- all with equal vigour and conviction.
Anthony Bate played the part of of L.C. Jim Matthews in the Children's Film Foundation Film Davy Jone's Locker in 1966
One of the unsung heroes of British television, Anthony Bate passed away in June 2012 at the age of 84.
Bate – who played Oliver Lacon in the John Le Carre cold war thriller, and in the dramatisation of Smiley's People – died on Tuesday morning.
His agent Roger Charteris said the actor had been taken ill on Thursday and would be "greatly missed".
The actor – known to his friends as Tony – had roles in countless TV programmes including 60s TV hits such as The Avengers, The Saint and The Champions.
Bate's roles also included a memorable performance as Kim Philby in the BBC's 1977 drama about the Cambridge spy ring, Philby, Burgess and Maclean – alongside names such as Derek Jacobi and Arthur Lowe.
Other programmes in which he appeared included A Touch Of Frost, Prime Suspect, Midsomer Murders and Poirot, and he often specialised in "bad guy" roles.
He was born the son of Hubert George Cookson Bate (died 1986) and Cecile Marjorie Canadine (died 1973). Bate was educated at King Edward VI School, Stourbridge, and trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama (Gold medal). During his National Service he served with the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve 1945-47.
On 22 May 1954, he married Diana Fay, the daughter of Kenneth Alfred Charles Cawes Watson (d 1939), of Seaview, Isle of Wight. His 2 sons are Gavin Watson (born 1961) and Mark Hewitt (born 1963).
Bate died in the early hours of June 19, 2012 at the age of 84 from a brief illness at a St.Mary's Hospital, Isle of Wight. He was rushed into the hospital on June 17, 2012 from the illness. He was survived by his wife Diana and his two children.∼Anthony Bate began working life behind the bar of a hotel owned by his family on the Isle of Wight. After completing his national service with the Royal Navy Volunteers in 1947, he started dabbling in amateur dramatics and then took the next step to formal training at London's Central School of Speech and Drama, graduating a gold medal winner. After the obligatory sojourn in repertory theatre, he made his West End debut in a 1960 dramatisation of the famous 1925 Scopes Trial, "Inherit the Wind", at St. Martin's Theatre. Over the next three decades, he drew many excellent notices for such classical roles as Don Pedro in "Much Ado About Nothing", for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
In occasional films from 1957, Bate popped up as straight man in minor comedies, like Dentist in the Chair (1960). However, in due course, he found his niche to be on the small screen, where he was increasingly sought-after by producers for a wide variety of characters of, either, furtive, stern, starchy, supercilious or sinister disposition. Besides crime and espionage, Bate was a ubiquitous protagonist in screen adaptations from the classics: the obsessive Inspector Javert on the trail of Frank Finlay's Jean Valjeon, in a 1967 version of Victor Hugo's oft-filmed masterpiece; as the intrepid Dr. Livesey of Treasure Island (1977); and as the Knight's Templar, Sir Brian de Bois Guilbert, chief nemesis of Ivanhoe (1970). Another of his outright villains was treacherous London gangster Eddie Edwards, taking advantage of his boss's (Ray McAnally) incarceration to usurp his criminal empire. In Intimate Strangers (1974), Bate was given a rare starring role, as a middle-aged family man, re-evaluating his life after a heart attack. This introspective and nuanced performance was, arguably, one of his best. The cool, unflappable Mr. Bate also portrayed such historical personae as Joseph Stalin, Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt and Eduard Shevardnadze -- all with equal vigour and conviction.
Anthony Bate played the part of of L.C. Jim Matthews in the Children's Film Foundation Film Davy Jone's Locker in 1966
One of the unsung heroes of British television, Anthony Bate passed away in June 2012 at the age of 84.
Actor Anthony Bate, best known for his role in the BBC's Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and a familiar face of TV drama during his five decade career, has died at the age of 84.
Bate – who played Oliver Lacon in the John Le Carre cold war thriller, and in the dramatisation of Smiley's People – died on Tuesday morning.
His agent Roger Charteris said the actor had been taken ill on Thursday and would be "greatly missed".
The actor – known to his friends as Tony – had roles in countless TV programmes including 60s TV hits such as The Avengers, The Saint and The Champions.
Bate's roles also included a memorable performance as Kim Philby in the BBC's 1977 drama about the Cambridge spy ring, Philby, Burgess and Maclean – alongside names such as Derek Jacobi and Arthur Lowe.
Other programmes in which he appeared included A Touch Of Frost, Prime Suspect, Midsomer Murders and Poirot, and he often specialised in "bad guy" roles.
He was born the son of Hubert George Cookson Bate (died 1986) and Cecile Marjorie Canadine (died 1973). Bate was educated at King Edward VI School, Stourbridge, and trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama (Gold medal). During his National Service he served with the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve 1945-47.
On 22 May 1954, he married Diana Fay, the daughter of Kenneth Alfred Charles Cawes Watson (d 1939), of Seaview, Isle of Wight. His 2 sons are Gavin Watson (born 1961) and Mark Hewitt (born 1963).
Bate died in the early hours of June 19, 2012 at the age of 84 from a brief illness at a St.Mary's Hospital, Isle of Wight. He was rushed into the hospital on June 17, 2012 from the illness. He was survived by his wife Diana and his two children.∼Anthony Bate began working life behind the bar of a hotel owned by his family on the Isle of Wight. After completing his national service with the Royal Navy Volunteers in 1947, he started dabbling in amateur dramatics and then took the next step to formal training at London's Central School of Speech and Drama, graduating a gold medal winner. After the obligatory sojourn in repertory theatre, he made his West End debut in a 1960 dramatisation of the famous 1925 Scopes Trial, "Inherit the Wind", at St. Martin's Theatre. Over the next three decades, he drew many excellent notices for such classical roles as Don Pedro in "Much Ado About Nothing", for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
In occasional films from 1957, Bate popped up as straight man in minor comedies, like Dentist in the Chair (1960). However, in due course, he found his niche to be on the small screen, where he was increasingly sought-after by producers for a wide variety of characters of, either, furtive, stern, starchy, supercilious or sinister disposition. Besides crime and espionage, Bate was a ubiquitous protagonist in screen adaptations from the classics: the obsessive Inspector Javert on the trail of Frank Finlay's Jean Valjeon, in a 1967 version of Victor Hugo's oft-filmed masterpiece; as the intrepid Dr. Livesey of Treasure Island (1977); and as the Knight's Templar, Sir Brian de Bois Guilbert, chief nemesis of Ivanhoe (1970). Another of his outright villains was treacherous London gangster Eddie Edwards, taking advantage of his boss's (Ray McAnally) incarceration to usurp his criminal empire. In Intimate Strangers (1974), Bate was given a rare starring role, as a middle-aged family man, re-evaluating his life after a heart attack. This introspective and nuanced performance was, arguably, one of his best. The cool, unflappable Mr. Bate also portrayed such historical personae as Joseph Stalin, Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt and Eduard Shevardnadze -- all with equal vigour and conviction.
Anthony Bate played the part of of L.C. Jim Matthews in the Children's Film Foundation Film Davy Jone's Locker in 1966
One of the unsung heroes of British television, Anthony Bate passed away in June 2012 at the age of 84.
Bate – who played Oliver Lacon in the John Le Carre cold war thriller, and in the dramatisation of Smiley's People – died on Tuesday morning.
His agent Roger Charteris said the actor had been taken ill on Thursday and would be "greatly missed".
The actor – known to his friends as Tony – had roles in countless TV programmes including 60s TV hits such as The Avengers, The Saint and The Champions.
Bate's roles also included a memorable performance as Kim Philby in the BBC's 1977 drama about the Cambridge spy ring, Philby, Burgess and Maclean – alongside names such as Derek Jacobi and Arthur Lowe.
Other programmes in which he appeared included A Touch Of Frost, Prime Suspect, Midsomer Murders and Poirot, and he often specialised in "bad guy" roles.
He was born the son of Hubert George Cookson Bate (died 1986) and Cecile Marjorie Canadine (died 1973). Bate was educated at King Edward VI School, Stourbridge, and trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama (Gold medal). During his National Service he served with the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve 1945-47.
On 22 May 1954, he married Diana Fay, the daughter of Kenneth Alfred Charles Cawes Watson (d 1939), of Seaview, Isle of Wight. His 2 sons are Gavin Watson (born 1961) and Mark Hewitt (born 1963).
Bate died in the early hours of June 19, 2012 at the age of 84 from a brief illness at a St.Mary's Hospital, Isle of Wight. He was rushed into the hospital on June 17, 2012 from the illness. He was survived by his wife Diana and his two children.∼Anthony Bate began working life behind the bar of a hotel owned by his family on the Isle of Wight. After completing his national service with the Royal Navy Volunteers in 1947, he started dabbling in amateur dramatics and then took the next step to formal training at London's Central School of Speech and Drama, graduating a gold medal winner. After the obligatory sojourn in repertory theatre, he made his West End debut in a 1960 dramatisation of the famous 1925 Scopes Trial, "Inherit the Wind", at St. Martin's Theatre. Over the next three decades, he drew many excellent notices for such classical roles as Don Pedro in "Much Ado About Nothing", for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
In occasional films from 1957, Bate popped up as straight man in minor comedies, like Dentist in the Chair (1960). However, in due course, he found his niche to be on the small screen, where he was increasingly sought-after by producers for a wide variety of characters of, either, furtive, stern, starchy, supercilious or sinister disposition. Besides crime and espionage, Bate was a ubiquitous protagonist in screen adaptations from the classics: the obsessive Inspector Javert on the trail of Frank Finlay's Jean Valjeon, in a 1967 version of Victor Hugo's oft-filmed masterpiece; as the intrepid Dr. Livesey of Treasure Island (1977); and as the Knight's Templar, Sir Brian de Bois Guilbert, chief nemesis of Ivanhoe (1970). Another of his outright villains was treacherous London gangster Eddie Edwards, taking advantage of his boss's (Ray McAnally) incarceration to usurp his criminal empire. In Intimate Strangers (1974), Bate was given a rare starring role, as a middle-aged family man, re-evaluating his life after a heart attack. This introspective and nuanced performance was, arguably, one of his best. The cool, unflappable Mr. Bate also portrayed such historical personae as Joseph Stalin, Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt and Eduard Shevardnadze -- all with equal vigour and conviction.
Anthony Bate played the part of of L.C. Jim Matthews in the Children's Film Foundation Film Davy Jone's Locker in 1966
One of the unsung heroes of British television, Anthony Bate passed away in June 2012 at the age of 84.
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