Johnny Beattie

Johnny Beattie MBE (born November 9, 1927, Govan, Glasgow) is a Scottish actor and comedian.

He began his career in the music hall and variety show tradition, similar to Scottish figures such as Rikki Fulton, Jack Milroy and Stanley Baxter, all of whom knew each other and were of a similar age to each other. He has appeared in television shows such as "Taggart", and acted alongside Liam Neeson and Billy Connolly in the 1990 film adaptation of the William McIlvanney novel, "The Big Man" (called "Crossing the Line" when released in the United States). He was also the host of the Scottish Television quiz show "Now You See It" for many years.

Beattie was one of the best-known summer season performers at the Rothesay Winter Gardens in the 1940s and 1950s. His waxwork likeness 'narrates' a Scottish music hall history at the Winter Gardens exhibition.

In recent years he has become known to a younger generation as playing the character, Malcolm Hamilton in the soap opera "River City".

A well liked and respected character, Beattie received the Lord Provost's Performing Arts Award in 1993. Presently the Honorary President of the "Scottish Music Hall Society", he is the father of actresses Maureen Beattie and Louise Beattie.

He was appointed MBE in the Queen's 2007 Birthday Honours list.

Personal life

Married to Kitty Lamont, until they separated. She died in 1994, leaving behind two sons and two daughters, Maureen, Paul, Mark and Louise.