Bill Simpson (actor)

Infobox actor
name = Bill Simpson


imagesize =
caption =
birthname = William Nicholson Simpson
birthdate = birth date|1931|09|11|mf=y
location = Dunure, Ayrshire, Scotland
deathdate = death date and age|1986|12|21|1931|09|11
deathplace = Mauchline, East Ayrshire, Scotland (heart attack)
height =
othername =
films = "Dr. Finlay's Casebook"
homepage =
spouse = Mary Miller (1965 – 1969) Tracy Reed (1974 – his death)
children = Kelly Simpson (born 1973)
Katy Simpson (born 1975)

William Nicholson Simpson (September 11 1931, Dunure, Ayrshire – December 21 1986, [http://www.thepeerage.com/p18005.htm#i180045 Birth, death and family details] : "thePeerage.com" website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.] Mauchline, East Ayrshire [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/1182 Place of death] : BFI.org.uk website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.] ) was a Scottish film and television actor, most famous for his portrayal of the title role in the long-running BBC TV series, "Dr. Finlay's Casebook".

Career

Beginnings

Simpson began his career as an announcer for BBC Scotland. [ [http://www.zetaminor.com/cult/when_boat/when_boat_s1_v3.htm BBC Scotland announcer] , early career: "ZetaMinor.com" website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.] Although his name was missing from the film credits, his only appearance in a movie was playing a groom in the 1959 re-make of John Buchan's story "The 39 Steps", which starred Kenneth More as Richard Hannay. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053354/fullcredits#cast "The 39 Steps (1959 film)"] , as a groom: IMDB.com website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.] He devoted the rest of his career to television, radio and stage.

In 1962, the BBC filmed an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's novel "The Master of Ballantrae", and Simpson played the part of Hastie in six 30 minute episodes. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0224510/ "The Master of Ballantrae (1962 TV series)"] , playing Hastie: IMDB.com website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.] Later that year, he took the role of Mr. Ogilvie in "Appearance in Court", an episode of the popular BBC police drama, "Z Cars". [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0753033/maindetails "Z Cars (1962 TV series)"] , episode "Appearance in Court", playing Mr. Ogilvie: IMDB.com website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.]

Dr. Finlay's Casebook

On August 16 1962, the BBC began broadcasting its long-running Scottish medical drama, "Dr. Finlay's Casebook", with an episode called "It's All in the Mind". Simpson played the title role, Dr. Alan Finlay, and was well supported by Andrew Cruickshank as Dr. Cameron, his older partner at the Arden House surgery in Tannochbrae, and Barbara Mullen as their housekeeper, Janet. Made at Callander in Stirling, Scotland, the show ran for eight seasons, the final episode, "The Burgess Ticket", being shown on January 3 1971. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0159867/combined "Dr. Finlay's Casebook (TV series, 1962–71)"] , as Dr. Alan Finlay: IMDB.com website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.] Simpson also starred in 104 audio episodes of the A. J. Cronin story, made by BBC Radio 4, from 1970 to 1975. [ [http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/drama/drama_a-d.html "Dr. Finlay's Casebook (Radio series, 1970-75)"] , also as Dr. Alan Finlay: "TV Ark Online Museum" website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.]

Later work

After "Dr. Finlay" finished its television run, Simpson continued to work for the British Broadcasting Corporation, and in 1973 took a role as MacNair in the Scottish independence drama series "Scotch on the Rocks", which was broadcast over five 40 minute programmes. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421449/maindetails "Scotch on the Rocks (1973 TV series)"] , as MacNair: IMDB.com website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.]

In 1975, he appeared in one instalment of the TV series "Quiller", again for the BBC. He played Sir Andrew Kilbrane, alongside Michael Jayston as Quiller, in an episode called "Target North" which involved the death of a government minister. [ [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/655636 "Quiller (1975 TV series)"] , episode "Target North", as Sir Andrew Kilbrane: BFI.org.uk website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.] He also took the part of Rob Dow in the BBC "Play of the Month" for November 2 1975, an adaptation of J. M. Barrie's play "The Little Minister", and co-starring Helen Mirren and Ian Ogilvy. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073300/ "The Little Minister (1975 TV play)"] , from the BBC's "Play of the Month" series, as Rob Dow: IMDB.com website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.]

He had a feature part in "Happy New Year, Some Say", a 1976 episode of the North East England trawler fishing drama, "When the Boat Comes In", playing Sandy Lewis. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0747188/ "When the Boat Comes In (1976 TV series)"] , episode "Happy New Year, Some Say", as Sandy Lewis: IMDB.com website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.]

Simpson then made a complete series of "The Mackinnons", taking the starring role of Donald, head of the Mackinnon family, who live in the Western Islands of Scotland, and feel threatened by the influx of new people with new lifestyles into their community. "Whose Side Are You On?" was the first instalment of 13, though only one series was ever made. [ [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/270826 "The Mackinnons (TV series)"] , starring as Donald Mackinnon: BFI.org.uk website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.]

In 1977–78, Simpson appeared on stage at the Bradford Alhambra Theatre in the pantomime "Cinderella", alongside Charlie Drake and Dora Bryan. [ [http://www.its-behind-you.com/bradfordpantos.html "Cinderella (1977 pantomime)"] , Bradford Alhambra Theatre: "Its-Behind-You.com" website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.] And in 1978, Simpson played Professor Edmund Bartlett in "The Imprudent Professor", an episode of "Return of the Saint", which starred Ian Ogilvy as Simon Templar in a re-make of the original 1960s TV series written by Leslie Charteris. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0685644/ "Return of the Saint (1978 TV series)"] , episode "The Imprudent Professor", as Professor Edmund Bartlett: IMDB.com website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.]

He next travelled to France and West Germany to shoot the 1979 television mini-series "Die Abenteuer des David Balfour" [ [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/125904 "Die Abenteuer des David Balfour (1979 TV mini-series)"] , alternative title "Kidnapped": BFI.org.uk website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.] (otherwise known as Robert Louis Stevenson's "Kidnapped"), a co-production between HTV in England, Technisonor of France and Tele-München of Germany. [ [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/peter-graham-scott-462376.html HTV/Tele-München/Technisonor collaboration] , "Die Abenteuer des David Balfour" ("Kidnapped"): from Peter Graham Scott's obituary at The Independent website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.] Simpson played James of the Glens. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077037/fullcredits "Kidnapped (1979 TV mini-series)"] , alternative title "Die Abenteuer des David Balfour", as James of the Glen: IMDB.com website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.]

In 1980, he was one of the stars who took part in the ITV variety show performed in front of Princess Margaret, "Night of One Hundred Stars", hosted by Terry Wogan. [ [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/296198?view=cast "Night of One Hundred Stars (1980 TV variety show)"] , for Princess Margaret: BFI.org.uk website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.] Later that year, he appeared as Dr. Hugh McFarlane in the Yorkshire Television series "The Good Companions", a "very unusual musical comedy drama" based on the novel by J. B. Priestley, adapted by Alan Plater. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373870/combined "The Good Companions (1980 TV musical comedy drama series)"] , as Dr. Hugh McFarlane: IMDB.com website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.]

Given his history of heart problems, it is perhaps unsurprising that Simpson's career became less busy around this time. He contributed less to drama on television, and more to factual subjects, introducing the TV coverage of the British Open Golf Championship at Royal Troon in 1982, with Peter Alliss, [ [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/116348?view=synopsis British Open Golf Championship 1982] , introduced by Bill Simpson: BFI.org.uk website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.] and presenting "Leadership Matters", a middle management corporate video on behalf of The Industrial Society in 1984. [ [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/124644 "Leadership Matters"] , presenter, corporate video: BFI.org.uk website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.]

His final contributions to the performance side of television were 1983's Tyne Tees Television production, "Andy Robson: Lost and Found", as Dr. George McKenzie; [ [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/134077?view=cast "Andy Robson: Lost and Found (1983 TV drama)"] , as Dr. George McKenzie: BFI.org.uk website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.] then in 1984 the Scottish Television docu-drama "Scotland's Story: Mary and an End to the French Connection", playing John Knox; [ [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/340450 "Scotland's Story: Mary and an End to the French Connection (1984 docu-drama)"] , playing John Knox: BFI.org.uk website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.] and one more, made in 1986, which he would never live to watch.

On December 21 1986, at the age of 55, Bill Simpson died from a heart attack [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0800914/bio Cause of death] (heart attack): IMDB.com website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.] in Mauchline, East Ayrshire. However, his role as a driver's boss in the TV drama, "Shoot for the Sun", [ [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/346134?view=cast "Shoot for the Sun (1987 TV drama)"] , as a boss: BFI.org.uk website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.] was not shown on television until March 16 1987, thus post-dating his death. [ [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/346134?view=transmission One performance broadcast after his death] ("Shoot for the Sun"): BFI.org.uk website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.]

Personal life

On July 24 1965, Simpson had married the actress Mary Miller in Callander, near Menteith, Scotland, and they bought a house there, called "Tamavoid". [ [http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/finlay.htm Buying his house in Callander] ("Tamavoid"): "TelevisionHeaven.co.uk" website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.] However, they divorced just four years later, having no children. In the year leading up to his second marriage, to Tracy Reed on April 17 1974, she gave birth to their first daughter, Kelly. They went on to have a second girl called Katy, born in 1975. Reed's real name was Clare Pelissier.

Filmography

*"The 39 Steps" (1959) (uncredited)

References

External links

*imdb|0800914|Bill Simpson
* [http://www.transdiffusion.org/emc/tvheroes/haldaneduncan/on_the_case.php Memories of Bill Simpson] by Haldane Duncan, former "Emmerdale" director