David Ashton (actor)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
David Scott Ashton (born David Scott; 10 November 1941, Greenock, Scotland) is a Scottish actor and writer. Trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, 1964–67, he has acted in a wide variety of film, television, theatre and radio roles. He has also developed a parallel career as a writer of fiction, film and television screenplays and plays for theatre and radio. His radio play The Old Ladies at the Zoo, which starred Peggy Mount and Liz Smith, won the Radio Times Drama Award in 1985.
Theatre
Ashton started his professional career at Worcester Repertory theatre, playing roles such as Marco in A View from the Bridge, Jerry in Two for the Seesaw, Harold Gorringe in Black Comedy, and Charlie in Staircase. At Ipswich Rep, he played Bluntschli in Arms and the Man and Seamas Shields in The Shadow of a Gunman. Other roles included Grigory Smirnov in Chekhov's The Bear at the Orange Tree Theatre, London; The Tramp in Synge's In the Shadow of the Glen, Joxer in Juno and the Paycock, Torvald in Ibsen's A Doll's House at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, the lead in Jean-Claude Carrière’s The File at the Liverpool Playhouse; Gayev in The Cherry Orchard and then Kulyegin in The Three Sisters at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester.
At the Royal Court Theatre, London, he played John in Christopher Hampton's The Philanthropist with Alec McCowan, and also appeared in the West End musical Happy as a Sandbag at the Ambassadors Theatre and portrayed Mister Mulleady in Behan's The Hostage at Greenwich Theatre. Most recently, he appeared as Sandy Sheridan in Uncle Varick, John Byrne’s version of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh.
He has also taught, directed and lectured at the Central School of Speech and Drama, Rose Bruford College, the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts.
Film
- 1981: Eye of the Needle - Oban Radio Operator
- 1986: Just Us - Parramatta Warder
- 1992: Freddie as F.R.O.7 - Additional Voices
- 1996: Indian Summer - Paris Mourner
- 1997: Tomorrow Never Dies - First Sea Lord
- 1998: Stiff Upper Lips - Dr. Henry
- 2000: The House of Mirth - Lawyer
- 2003: Winter Solstice
- 2006: The Last King of Scotland - Dr. Garrigan - Senior
- 2009: The Silent Cormorant
Television
Ashton made his acting debut on television in Z-Cars (1969) and took the lead role as Aeneas MacMaster in The New Road (1973). Other main roles include Lieutenant Wickham in The Voyage of Charles Darwin (1978); Mr. Fraser in the BBC Scotland produced drama Maggie (1981–1982); Doctor MacDuff in Brass, a social comedy series, set in 1930s Northern England (1982–1984 & 1990); Major Lennox in Sharpe’s Eagle (1993); Major Roddy Maclean in Hamish Macbeth[1] (1995–97); Harold Xavier in Monarch of the Glen (2000); Alex Gemmell in Glasgow Kiss (2000) and Professor MacManus in Vital Signs (2006).
He has also had featured roles in New Tricks (2008); Waking the Dead (2002); Waterfront Beat (1991); All Creatures Great and Small (1990); The Bill (1989); Ever Decreasing Circles (1986); Doctor Who (as Kendron in the 1985 story Timelash); Coronation Street (1985); and Juliet Bravo (1980 - Series 1, ep.6 'The Runner').
