Robert Robertson
Born(1930-07-03)3 July 1930
St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland
Died17 January 2001(2001-01-17) (aged 70)
Perth, Scotland
Occupation(s)actor, artistic director

Robert Robertson (3 July 1930 – 17 January 2001) was a British actor and director, born in Scotland.[1] He was best known for playing Doctor Stephen Andrews in the television show Taggart.[1]

Biography

Robertson was born in St Andrews, Fife.[2] His acting career started with the Manchester Repertory Theatre shortly after World War II.[3][4] He moved to London appearing in a variety of roles most notably as Dr Grimwig in Oliver!, Lionel Bart's acclaimed Dicken's musical, at the New Theatre.[2] Robertson also wrote and performed his own one-man show, Your Humble Servant, at the Open Space Theatre, London.[2]

In 1973 Robertson returned to Scotland to perform in Dundee and stayed.[4] He acted and directed with the Dundee Repertory Theatre, serving as the company's artistic director from 1976 to 1992.[2][5] On stage he played Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman and Frank in Educating Rita.[2] He directed The Importance of Being Earnest, The Tempest and The Cherry Orchard.[2] Robertson also oversaw the move to a new purpose-built theatre in the centre of Dundee.[2]

In 1983 he was cast in the three-part pilot of Taggart as Dr Stephen Andrews.[4] The show became an international success and Robertson became famous for his role as the pathologist.[4] He appeared in 51 episodes of the show.[4]

Other notable television appearances include The Ambassadors of Death, a Doctor Who serial in 1970 and the role of Palanguez in the BBC's The Day of the Triffids.[2] On the big screen Robertson appeared in the 1996 film Breaking the Waves, directed by Lars von Trier.[2]

Robertson died on 17 January 2001, at the age of 70, after suffering a heart attack while reading a Robert Burns poem, Holy Willie's Prayer, on stage in Perth.[4] He was rushed to hospital, where he succumbed shortly afterwards to heart failure (cardiovascular disease).[2]

References

  1. 1 2 "Taggart star dies". BBC. 17 January 2001. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Obituaries, Robert Robertson". The Independent. 7 February 2001. Retrieved 14 June 2009.
  3. ↑ "Robert Robertson" (PDF). The Strathallian 1999-2000. Vol. 19, no. 4. p. 92. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Robert Robertson". The Guardian. 19 January 2001. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  5. ↑ "Taggart actor dies after collapsing at Burns night". The Herald. Glasgow. 18 January 2001. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
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