The Lieutenant-Colonel who became a beloved fixture of British television and radio drama
In short: Before he was the face of iconic sitcoms and radio soaps, Frank Middlemass served as a lieutenant colonel, surviving the retreat from Dunkirk. He transitioned from a military career to the stage and screen, eventually becoming a prolific character actor known for playing older roles even in his youth.
Born in 1919 in Eaglescliffe, County Durham, Frank Middlemass entered the army at nineteen. His military service was marked by his experience during the Dunkirk retreat, where he was wounded. He remained in the military until age thirty, by which time he had attained the rank of lieutenant colonel. Following his departure from the army, he pivoted to acting, beginning his career in repertory theatre in Penzance before joining the Old Vic Company. This period saw him tour extensively across the globe, performing in diverse locations from Australia to Russia and appearing alongside notable figures like Vivien Leigh and Peter O'Toole.
Middlemass built a reputation as a versatile character actor, appearing in a vast array of British television staples throughout the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, including Dixon of Dock Green, The Avengers, and Upstairs, Downstairs. His film work included a role in Stanley Kubrick's 1975 production Barry Lyndon. It was not until 1980, however, that he secured his first leading role in a series, To Serve Them All My Days. He later became a household name through his portrayal of Dr. Alex Ferrenby in Heartbeat and as the charming Rocky Hardcastle in the long-running sitcom As Time Goes By, a role he held from 1993 until his final television appearances in 2005.
Beyond the screen, Middlemass was a significant presence in radio, most notably as the fourth actor to play the patriarch Dan Archer in the long-running soap The Archers from 1982 to 1986. His dedication to his craft persisted into his eighties, when he toured with a one-man show titled Frankly Speaking. Middlemass never married, maintaining a forty-year friendship with fellow actor Geoffrey Toone. He passed away in 2006 at the age of 87 in Northwood, London, leaving behind a legacy as a quintessential character actor who brought depth to both minor and major roles for over five decades.
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