Frank Middlemass

Frank Middlemass was an English actor who often played older characters. Born in Eaglescliffe and raised in Newcastle upon Tyne, he began in repertory in Penzance, then joined the Old Vic Company and toured widely, appearing in Twelfth Night opposite Vivien Leigh. His first television part came in 1958 on Dixon of Dock Green, and early television work followed on Z-Cars, Softly, Softly, The Avengers and Jackanory. He was best known for Rocky Hardcastle in As Time Goes By, Algy Herries in the drama To Serve Them All My Days and Dr. Alex Ferrenby in Heartbeat. His screen credits included Otley (1969), Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969), Say Hello to Yesterday (1971), Madame Sin (1972), Barry Lyndon (1975), The Island (1980), Miss Marple: A Caribbean Mystery (1989) and Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady (1991). He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1984 and was the last of four actors to play Dan Archer in the radio serial The Archers.