How a Brooklyn-born actor became the quintessential face of British science fiction television

Art · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: George Victor Bishop, better known as Ed Bishop, was an American actor who became a fixture of British screen culture. From Kubrick films to Gerry Anderson’s iconic puppet series, he carved out a unique career in the UK, often teaming up with fellow expatriate Shane Rimmer as the self-styled Rent-a-Yank.

Born in Brooklyn in 1932, Bishop’s path to acting began in the US Army, where he worked as a disc jockey in Newfoundland. After studying drama at Boston University and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, he adopted the stage name Ed Bishop to avoid confusion with an established actor of the era. He quickly integrated into the British film industry, appearing in Stanley Kubrick’s Lolita in 1962 and 2001: A Space Odyssey in 1968, though his dialogue in the latter was famously cut.

Bishop is best remembered for his work with producer Gerry Anderson. He voiced Captain Blue in the puppet series Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons and starred as Commander Ed Straker in the live-action series UFO. His commitment to his craft was evident; he famously dyed his hair blond—and later wore a wig—to suit the aesthetic of the Straker character. Beyond science fiction, he was a prolific radio actor, notably voicing Philip Marlowe in a series of BBC adaptations of Raymond Chandler’s novels.

Off-screen, Bishop was a dedicated political activist. In 1993, he famously disrupted an arms-trade fair in Aldershot while dressed as Augusto Pinochet, an act of protest that led him to meet his third wife, photographer Jane Skinner. He remained active in the arts until his death in 2005 at age 72. His legacy is marked by a peace symbol on his tombstone in Warwickshire, reflecting a life that balanced a prolific career in entertainment with a deep commitment to social causes.

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