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{{short description|British actor}}
{{Short description|Gambian-born British actor (1938–2020)}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2020}}
{{more citations needed|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
Line 8: Line 8:
| birth_name = Louis Felix Danner Mahoney
| birth_name = Louis Felix Danner Mahoney
| birth_date = 8 September 1938
| birth_date = 8 September 1938
| birth_place = [[The Gambia]]
| birth_place = [[Banjul|Bathurst]], [[British Gambia]]
| death_date = 28 June 2020 (aged 81)
| death_date = 28 June 2020 (aged 81)
| death_place = London
| death_place = [[London]], England
| othername =
| othername =
| education = [[Central School of Speech and Drama]]
| occupation = [[Actor]]
| occupation = [[Actor]]
| spouse =
| spouse =
| yearsactive = 1962–2020
| yearsactive = 1962–2020
| children =
}}
}}


'''Louis Felix Danner Mahoney''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|u:|i:|m|ə|ˈ|h|oʊ|n|i}}; 8 September 1938 – 28 June 2020)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/jul/09/louis-mahoney-obituary|title=Louis Mahoney obituary|first=Toby|last= Hadoke|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=9 July 2020|access-date=10 July 2020}}</ref><ref>Michael Quinn, [https://www.thestage.co.uk/obituaries-archive/obituaries/louis-mahoney "Louis Mahoney"], ''[[The Stage]]'', 7 July 2020.</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-53233171 "Louis Mahoney: Trailblazing actor and activist dies at 81"], BBC News, 30 June 2020.</ref> was a Gambian-born [[United Kingdom|British]] actor, based in [[Hampstead]] in [[London]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/louis-mahoney-p44656|title=Louis Mahoney &#124; Movies and Filmography|website=AllMovie}}</ref> He was an anti-racist activist and long-time campaigner for racial equality within the acting profession.<ref name=Catalyst /> He represented African-Asian members on the council of the actors' union, [[Equity (trade union)|Equity]], becoming joint Vice-President between 1994 and 1996.<ref name=AAM>[https://www.aamarchives.org/archive/interviews/louis-mahoney.html "Louis Mahoney"], ''Forward to Freedom: A history of the British Anti-Apartheid Movement 1959–1994'', 2013.</ref>
'''Louis Felix Danner Mahoney''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|u:|i:|m|ə|ˈ|h|oʊ|n|i}}; 8 September 1938 – 28 June 2020)<ref name="tg jul 2020">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/jul/09/louis-mahoney-obituary|title=Louis Mahoney obituary|first=Toby|last= Hadoke|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=9 July 2020|access-date=10 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Michael Quinn|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/obituaries-archive/obituaries/louis-mahoney|title=Louis Mahoney|work=[[The Stage]]|date=7 July 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-53233171|title=Louis Mahoney: Trailblazing actor and activist dies at 81|work=BBC News|date=30 June 2020}}</ref> was a Gambian-born [[United Kingdom|British]] actor, based in [[Hampstead]] in [[London]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/louis-mahoney-p44656|title=Louis Mahoney &#124; Movies and Filmography|website=AllMovie}}</ref> He was an anti-racist activist and long-time campaigner for racial equality within the acting profession.<ref name=Catalyst /> He represented African-Asian members on the council of the actors' union, [[Equity (British trade union)|Equity]], and served as joint Vice-President between 1994 and 1996.<ref name=AAM>{{cite web|url=https://www.aamarchives.org/archive/interviews/louis-mahoney.html|title=Louis Mahoney|work=Forward to Freedom: A history of the British Anti-Apartheid Movement 1959–1994|year=2013}}</ref>

==Early life==
⚫
Mahoney was born in [[Banjul|Bathurst]] (now Banjul), [[the Gambia]], in 1938, the eldest of six children to James Mahoney and Princess (née Danner). Mahoney attended the [[Gambia Senior Secondary School|Methodist Boys' High School]].<ref name="tg jul 2020"/> In 1957, he moved to [[England]] to study medicine at [[University College London]]. He also joined the university's cricket team and played for [[Essex]] and [[Ilford]]. However, he left to pursue drama at the (now Royal) [[Royal Central School of Speech and Drama|Central School of Speech and Drama]] in the 1960s.<ref name=IMDBbio>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0537158/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bth_nm|title=Louis Mahoney Biography|work=IMDb}}</ref><ref name=AAM />


==Career==
==Career==
⚫
Mahoney was born in [[The Gambia]] in 1938. In the late 1950s he went to [[England]] originally to study to be a doctor but abandoned his ambitions for a medical career to become a drama school student at the (now Royal) [[Royal Central School of Speech and Drama|Central School of Speech and Drama]] in the 1960s.<ref name=IMDBbio>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0537158/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bth_nm Louis Mahoney Biography] at IMDb.</ref><ref name=AAM />

After graduating, Mahoney worked with Colchester Rep and the Mercury Theatre before joining the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]] in 1967 – he was one of the first black actors in the Company.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/louis-mahoney-fawlty-towers-and-doctor-who-actor-dies-aged-81-12018463|title=Louis Mahoney: Fawlty Towers and Doctor Who actor dies aged 81|publisher=Sky News|date=30 June 2020}}</ref> He worked regularly on the stage throughout his career including shows at the [[Royal National Theatre|National Theatre]], [[Young Vic]], [[Royal Court Theatre|Royal Court]], [[Almeida Theatre|Almeida]] and his final stage performances were in [[Alan Bennett]]'s ''Allelujah!'' at the [[Bridge Theatre]] in 2018.
After graduating, Mahoney worked with Colchester Rep and the Mercury Theatre before joining the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]] in 1967 – he was one of the first black actors in the Company.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/louis-mahoney-fawlty-towers-and-doctor-who-actor-dies-aged-81-12018463|title=Louis Mahoney: Fawlty Towers and Doctor Who actor dies aged 81|publisher=Sky News|date=30 June 2020}}</ref> He worked regularly on the stage throughout his career including shows at the [[Royal National Theatre|National Theatre]], [[Young Vic]], [[Royal Court Theatre|Royal Court]], [[Almeida Theatre|Almeida]] and his final stage performances were in [[Alan Bennett]]'s ''Allelujah!'' at the [[Bridge Theatre]] in 2018.
He helped found Performers Against Racism in the 1980s to campaign against [[apartheid]] in South Africa and was Joint Vice President of Equity between 1994 and 1996.
He helped found Performers Against Racism in the 1980s to campaign against [[apartheid]] in South Africa and was Joint Vice President of Equity between 1994 and 1996.


He had been seen most frequently on [[television]] in series such as: ''[[Danger Man]]'', ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]'', ''[[Z-Cars]]'', ''[[The Troubleshooters]]'', ''[[Menace (TV series)|Menace]]'', ''[[Special Branch (TV series)|Special Branch]]'', ''[[Doctor Who]]'' (in the stories ''[[Frontier in Space]]'', ''[[Planet of Evil]]'' and ''[[Blink (Doctor Who)|Blink]]''), ''[[Quiller (TV series)|Quiller]]'', ''[[Fawlty Towers]]'' (as Dr Finn in ''[[The Germans]]'', 1975), ''[[The Professionals (TV series)|The Professionals]]'' (as Dr Henry in the episode [[The Professionals (TV series)#Controversy|"Klansmen"]], never transmitted on terrestrial TV in the UK, and in "Black Out", again as a doctor), ''[[Miss Marple (TV series)|Miss Marple]]'', ''[[Yes, Prime Minister]]'', ''[[Bergerac (TV series)|Bergerac]]'', ''[[The Bill]]'', ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]'', ''[[Holby City]]'' and ''[[Sea of Souls]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=10916|title=Louis Mahoney|website=www.aveleyman.com}}</ref>
He was seen most frequently on [[television]] in series such as: ''[[Danger Man]]'', ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]'', ''[[Z-Cars]]'', ''[[Special Branch (TV series)|Special Branch]]'', ''[[The Troubleshooters (British TV series)|The Troubleshooters]]'', ''[[Menace (TV series)|Menace]]'', ''[[Doctor Who]]'' (in the stories ''[[Frontier in Space]]'', ''[[Planet of Evil]]'' and ''[[Blink (Doctor Who)|Blink]]''), ''[[Quiller (TV series)|Quiller]]'', ''[[Fawlty Towers]]'' (as Dr Finn in ''[[The Germans]]'', 1975), ''[[The Professionals (TV series)|The Professionals]]'' (as Dr Henry in the episode [[The Professionals (TV series)#Controversy|"Klansmen"]], never transmitted on terrestrial TV in the UK, and in "Black Out", again as a doctor), ''[[Miss Marple (TV series)|Miss Marple]]'', ''[[Yes, Prime Minister]]'', ''[[Bergerac (TV series)|Bergerac]]'', ''[[The Bill]]'', ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]'', ''[[Holby City]]'' and ''[[Sea of Souls]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=10916|title=Louis Mahoney|website=www.aveleyman.com}}</ref>

⚫
His films included ''[[The Plague of the Zombies]]'' (1966), ''[[Omen III: The Final Conflict]]'' (1981), ''[[Rise and Fall of Idi Amin]]'' (1981), ''[[White Mischief (film)|White Mischief]]'' (1987), ''[[Cry Freedom]]'' (1987), ''[[Shooting Fish]]'' (1997), ''[[Wondrous Oblivion]]'' (2003) and ''[[Shooting Dogs]]'' (2005).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba1873623|title=Louis Mahoney|website=BFI}}</ref>


⚫
His films included ''[[The Plague of the Zombies]]'' (1966), ''[[Omen III: The Final Conflict]]'' (1981), ''[[Rise and Fall of Idi Amin]]'' (1981), ''[[White Mischief (film)|White Mischief]]'' (1987), ''[[Cry Freedom]]'' (1987), ''[[Shooting Fish]]'' (1997), ''[[Wondrous Oblivion]]'' (2003) and ''[[Shooting Dogs]]'' (2005).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba1873623|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425020842/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba1873623|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 25, 2017|title=Louis Mahoney|website=BFI}}</ref>
⚫
He featured in the [[Channel 4]] documentary ''Random'' (2011), and in the [[BBC Three]] drama ''[[Being Human (UK TV series)|Being Human]]'' (2012) as [[List of Being Human (British TV series) characters|Leo]], an aged and dying werewolf.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scifinow.co.uk/blog/being-human-series-4-episode-1-the-eve-of-war-review/ |title=Being Human Series 4 Episode 1 ‘The Eve Of War’ review |website=[[SciFiNow]] |author=Jodie Tyley |date=6 February 2012 |accessdate=26 August 2014}}</ref>


⚫
He featured in the [[Channel 4]] documentary ''Random'' (2011), and in the [[BBC Three]] drama ''[[Being Human (UK TV series)|Being Human]]'' (2012) as [[List of Being Human (British TV series) characters|Leo]], an aged and dying werewolf.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scifinow.co.uk/blog/being-human-series-4-episode-1-the-eve-of-war-review/ |title=Being Human Series 4 Episode 1 'The Eve Of War' review |website=[[SciFiNow]] |author=Jodie Tyley |date=6 February 2012 |accessdate=26 August 2014}}</ref>
⚫
Mahoney's last TV appearance was in the [[Tracy Beaker]] [[CBBC (TV channel)|CBBC]] spin-off, ''[[The Dumping Ground]]'', as Henry Lawrence, the grandfather of [[Charlie Morris (The Dumping Ground character)|Charlie Morris]] ([[Emily Burnett]]).


⚫
Mahoney's last TV appearance was in the [[Tracy Beaker]] [[CBBC]] spin-off, ''[[The Dumping Ground]]'', as Henry Lawrence, the grandfather of [[Charlie Morris (The Dumping Ground character)|Charlie Morris]] ([[Emily Burnett]]).
⚫
For decades a resident in [[Hampstead]],<ref>Sam Volpe, [https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/louis-mahoney-pioneering-actor-and-hampstead-icon-dies-at-81-1-6724361 "Louis Mahoney: 'Real Hampstead character' and much-loved campaigning actor who starred in Doctor Who and Fawlty Towers dies at 81"], ''[[Ham & High]]'', 1 July 2020.</ref> Mahoney died on 28 June 2020, aged 81.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/louis-mahoney-obituary-hampstead-icon-s-death-marks-end-of-an-era-in-nw3-1-6728925|title=Louis Mahoney obituary: Death of Hampstead icon and passionate antiracist marks ‘end of an era’ in NW3|author=Sam Volpe|work=Ham & High|date=6 July 2020|access-date=7 July 2020}}</ref>


==Campaign work==
==Campaign work==
Mahoney was a long-standing campaigner for racial equality within the acting profession, as a member of the [[Equity (trade union)|Equity]] Afro-Asian Committee (previously called the Coloured Actors Committee until he renamed it), founding Performers Against Racism to defend Equity policy on South Africa,<ref name=AAM /> and as co-creator, with [[Mike Phillips (writer)|Mike Phillips]] and [[Taiwo Ajai]], of the UK's Black Theatre Workshop in 1976.<ref name=Catalyst>Abigail Dunn, [http://www.juliushonnor.com/catalyst/Default.aspx.LocID-0hgnew0r3.RefLocID-0hg01b001006009.Lang-EN.htm "Reflections of a firebrand"]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903142805/http://www.juliushonnor.com/catalyst/Default.aspx.LocID-0hgnew0r3.RefLocID-0hg01b001006009.Lang-EN.htm |date=3 September 2014 }}, ''Catalyst'', 2 March 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tradingfacesonline.com/narratives-of-slavery-text.asp|title=Historical Notes > 1958 - 1982|website=Trading Faces: Recollecting Slavery}}</ref>
Mahoney was a long-standing campaigner for racial equality within the acting profession, as a member of the [[Equity (trade union)|Equity]] Afro-Asian Committee (previously called the Coloured Actors Committee until he renamed it), founding Performers Against Racism to defend Equity policy on South Africa,<ref name=AAM /> and as co-creator, with [[Mike Phillips (writer)|Mike Phillips]] and [[Taiwo Ajai]], of the UK's Black Theatre Workshop in 1976.<ref name=Catalyst>{{cite web|author=Abigail Dunn|url=http://www.juliushonnor.com/catalyst/Default.aspx.LocID-0hgnew0r3.RefLocID-0hg01b001006009.Lang-EN.htm|title=Reflections of a firebrand|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903142805/http://www.juliushonnor.com/catalyst/Default.aspx.LocID-0hgnew0r3.RefLocID-0hg01b001006009.Lang-EN.htm|archive-date=3 September 2014|work=Catalyst|date=2 March 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tradingfacesonline.com/narratives-of-slavery-text.asp|title=Historical Notes > 1958 - 1982|website=Trading Faces: Recollecting Slavery}}</ref>

==Personal life==
⚫
Mahoney was married in 1971 and later divorced, and had daughters.<ref name="cssd 2021"/> For decades a resident in [[Hampstead]], London,<ref>{{cite web|author=Sam Volpe|url=https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/louis-mahoney-pioneering-actor-and-hampstead-icon-dies-at-81-1-6724361|title=Louis Mahoney: 'Real Hampstead character' and much-loved campaigning actor who starred in Doctor Who and Fawlty Towers dies at 81|work=[[Ham & High]]|date=1 July 2020}}</ref> Mahoney lived on the corner of Gayton Road and Willow Road, and was a regular in local pubs.<ref name="cnj dec 2020"/> He was athletic and played cricket as a [[fast bowler]], joining the Gentlemen of Hampstead club.<ref name="tg jul 2020"/>

==Death==
In 2016, Mahoney was diagnosed with cancer. He died on 28 June 2020, aged 81.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/louis-mahoney-obituary-hampstead-icon-s-death-marks-end-of-an-era-in-nw3-1-6728925|title=Louis Mahoney obituary: Death of Hampstead icon and passionate antiracist marks 'end of an era' in NW3|author=Sam Volpe|work=Ham & High|date=6 July 2020|access-date=7 July 2020}}</ref> His funeral took place at Hampstead Parish, attended by his friends and community.<ref name="cnj dec 2020">{{Cite journal|url=https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/stars-support-tribute-to-tv-pioneer-louis-mahoney|title=Stars support tribute to TV pioneer Louis Mahoney|journal=Camden New Journal|first=Tom|last=Foot|date=1 December 2020|accessdate=19 March 2023}}</ref>

==Legacy==
The Louis Mahoney Scholarships at the [[Royal Central School of Speech and Drama]] were initiated in his memory to encourage applications from Black and global majority students, beginning from the academic year 2021/22, supporting one undergraduate and one postgraduate candidate in each of the following three years.<ref name="cssd 2021">{{cite web|url=https://www.cssd.ac.uk/news/central-announces-louis-mahoney-scholarships-support-black-and-global-majority-students|title=Central Announces the Louis Mahoney Scholarships to support Black and Global Majority Students|date=9 February 2021|access-date=12 September 2022}}</ref>


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
Line 59: Line 69:
|rowspan="2"|1973|| ''[[Live and Let Die (film)|Live and Let Die]]'' || Fillet of Soul Patron (New York) || Uncredited
|rowspan="2"|1973|| ''[[Live and Let Die (film)|Live and Let Die]]'' || Fillet of Soul Patron (New York) || Uncredited
|-
|-
|''[[Doctor Who]]'' || Newscaster || 2 episodes, [[Frontier in Space]]
|''[[Doctor Who]]'' || Newscaster || Serial: ''[[Frontier in Space]]'', 2 episodes
|-
|-
|1974|| ''[[Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?]]'' || Frank || 1 episode, "In Harm's Way"
|1974|| ''[[Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?]]'' || Frank || Episode: "In Harm's Way"
|-
|-
|rowspan="2"|1975|| ''[[Doctor Who]]'' || Ponti || 2 episodes, "[[Planet of Evil]]"
|rowspan="3"|1975|| ''[[Doctor Who]]'' || Ponti || Serial: ''[[Planet of Evil]]'', 2 episodes
|-
|-
| ''[[Fawlty Towers]]'' || Doctor Finn || 1 episode; "[[The Germans]]"
| ''[[Fawlty Towers]]'' || Doctor Finn || Episode: "[[The Germans]]"
|-
| ''The Fight Against Slavery'' || [[Olaudah Equiano]] ||
|-
|-
|rowspan="2"|1981|| ''[[Omen III: The Final Conflict]]'' || Brother Paulo ||
|rowspan="2"|1981|| ''[[Omen III: The Final Conflict]]'' || Brother Paulo ||
Line 85: Line 97:
| ''[[Holby City]]'' || Raymond Opoku || 1 episode
| ''[[Holby City]]'' || Raymond Opoku || 1 episode
|-
|-
|2007|| ''[[Doctor Who]]'' || Old Billy || 1 episode; [[Blink (Doctor Who)|Blink]]
|2007|| ''[[Doctor Who]]'' || Old Billy || Episode: "[[Blink (Doctor Who)|Blink]]"
|-
|2012-13|| ''[[Being Human (British TV series)|Being Human]] || Leo || 2 episodes
|-
|-
|2013|| ''[[Captain Phillips (film)|Captain Phillips]]'' || Maersk Alabama Crew ||
|2013|| ''[[Captain Phillips (film)|Captain Phillips]]'' || Maersk Alabama Crew ||
Line 97: Line 111:


==Theatre==
==Theatre==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Show
! Role
! Theatre
|-
|?|| ''Talking To You'' || Various || Duke of York's Theatre
|-
|?|| ''Cato Street'' || Conspirator || Young Vic
|-
|?|| ''Jesus Christ Superstar'' || Caiaphas || Gaiety Theatre, Dublin
|-
|?|| ''Murderous Angels'' || Diallo Diop || Gaiety Theatre, Dublin
|-
|rowspan="2"|1967|| ''Coriolanus'' || Lieutenant to Aufidius || Royal Shakespeare Company
|-
|''Romeo and Juliet'' || Musician || Royal Shakespeare Company
|-
|rowspan="5"|1970|| ''Robinson Crusoe'' || Friday || Mercury Theatre
|-
|''Night and Day'' || President Mageeba || Watford Palace Theatre


|-
'''Year''/''Show'''/''Role''/Theatre : '''Talking To You''' / ''Various'' / Duke of York’s Theatre ; '''Cato Street''' / ''Conspirator'' / Young Vic ; '''Jesus Christ Superstar''' / ''Caiaphas'' / Gaiety Theatre, Dublin ; '''Murderous Angels'''/ ''Diallo Diop'' / Gaiety Theatre, Dublin ; '''1967''' / '''Coriolanus''' / ''Lieutenant to Aufidius'' / Royal Shakespeare Company ; '''1967''' / '''Romeo and Juliet''' / ''Musician 1'' / Royal Shakespeare Company ; '''1970 / Robinson Crusoe'''/''Friday'' / Mercury Theatre; '''Night And Day''' / ''President Mageeba'' /Watford Palace Theatre ; '''Hutch Builder to Her Majesty''' / ''Various'' / Theatre Royal, Drury Lane ; '''White Devil''' / ''Antonelli'' / Oxford Playhouse ; '''I am Tomarienka''' / ''Various'' / Watermill Theatre ; '''1990'' / ''Desire''' / ''Kindo'' / Almeida ; '''1997'' / ''Romeo & Juliet''' / ''Friar John and Monatague'' / Royal Shakespeare Company ; '''2007'' /'' Generations''' /''Grandfather'' / Young Vic ; '''2009'' / ''As You Like It''' / ''Adam and Sir Oliver Martext'' / Leicester Curve ; '''2009'' / ''The Observer''' / ''Muturi and Dr Durami''/ Royal National Theatre ; '''2010'' / ''Love The Sinner''' / ''Paul'' / Royal National Theatre ; '''2011'' / ''Truth & Reconciliation''' / ''Rwandan Grandfather'' / Royal Court ; '''2013'' / ''Feast''' / ''Papa Legba'' / Young Vic and Royal Court ; '''2018'' / ''Allelujah!''' / ''Neville'' / Bridge Theatre
|''Hutch Builder to Her Majesty'' || Various || Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

|-
|''White Devil'' || Antonelli || Oxford Playhouse

|-

|''I am Tomarienka'' || Various || Watermill Theatre

|-
|1990|| ''Desire'' || Kindo || Almeida
|-
|1997|| ''Romeo & Juliet'' || Friar John and Monatague || Royal Shakespeare Company
|-
|2007|| ''Generations'' || Grandfather || Young Vic
|-
|rowspan="2"|2009|| ''As You Like It'' || Adam and Sir Oliver Martext ||Leicester Curve
|-
| ''The Observer'' || Muturi and Dr Durami || Royal National Theatre
|-
|2010|| ''Love Thy Sinner'' || Paul || Royal National Theatre
|-
|2011||''Truth & Reconciliation'' || Rwandan Grandfather || Royal Court
|-
|2013|| ''Feast'' || Papa Legba || Young Vic and Royal Court
|-
|2018|| ''Allelujah'' || Neville || Bridge Theatre
|}


==References==
==References==
Line 104: Line 168:


==External links==
==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0537158|Louis Mahoney}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{Discogs artist|Louis Mahoney}}
* {{Discogs artist}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Anti-apartheid activists]]
[[Category:Black British activists]]
⚫
[[Category:Black British male actors]]
[[Category:British male film actors]]
[[Category:British male film actors]]
⚫
[[Category:Gambian emigrants to England]]
[[Category:British male television actors]]
[[Category:British male television actors]]
[[Category:Black British male actors]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in England]]
⚫
[[Category:Gambian actors]]
[[Category:Gambian activists]]
[[Category:Gambian activists]]
[[Category:Black British activists]]
[[Category:Gambian actors]]
[[Category:Gambian Creole people]]
⚫
[[Category:Gambian emigrants to England]]
[[Category:People from Banjul]]
[[Category:Actors from the London Borough of Camden]]
[[Category:Wesleyan Methodists]]
[[Category:People from Hampstead]]
[[Category:Male actors from London]]
[[Category:Gambian male actors]]

Latest revision as of 23:42, 28 November 2024

Louis Mahoney
Born
Louis Felix Danner Mahoney

8 September 1938
Bathurst, British Gambia
Died28 June 2020 (aged 81)
London, England
EducationCentral School of Speech and Drama
OccupationActor
Years active1962–2020

Louis Felix Danner Mahoney (/ˈluːiːməˈhoʊni/; 8 September 1938 – 28 June 2020)[1][2][3] was a Gambian-born British actor, based in Hampstead in London.[4] He was an anti-racist activist and long-time campaigner for racial equality within the acting profession.[5] He represented African-Asian members on the council of the actors' union, Equity, and served as joint Vice-President between 1994 and 1996.[6]

Early life

[edit]

Mahoney was born in Bathurst (now Banjul), the Gambia, in 1938, the eldest of six children to James Mahoney and Princess (née Danner). Mahoney attended the Methodist Boys' High School.[1] In 1957, he moved to England to study medicine at University College London. He also joined the university's cricket team and played for Essex and Ilford. However, he left to pursue drama at the (now Royal) Central School of Speech and Drama in the 1960s.[7][6]

Career

[edit]

After graduating, Mahoney worked with Colchester Rep and the Mercury Theatre before joining the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1967 – he was one of the first black actors in the Company.[8] He worked regularly on the stage throughout his career including shows at the National Theatre, Young Vic, Royal Court, Almeida and his final stage performances were in Alan Bennett's Allelujah! at the Bridge Theatre in 2018.

He helped found Performers Against Racism in the 1980s to campaign against apartheid in South Africa and was Joint Vice President of Equity between 1994 and 1996.

He was seen most frequently on television in series such as: Danger Man, Dixon of Dock Green, Z-Cars, Special Branch, The Troubleshooters, Menace, Doctor Who (in the stories Frontier in Space, Planet of Evil and Blink), Quiller, Fawlty Towers (as Dr Finn in The Germans, 1975), The Professionals (as Dr Henry in the episode "Klansmen", never transmitted on terrestrial TV in the UK, and in "Black Out", again as a doctor), Miss Marple, Yes, Prime Minister, Bergerac, The Bill, Casualty, Holby City and Sea of Souls.[9]

His films included The Plague of the Zombies (1966), Omen III: The Final Conflict (1981), Rise and Fall of Idi Amin (1981), White Mischief (1987), Cry Freedom (1987), Shooting Fish (1997), Wondrous Oblivion (2003) and Shooting Dogs (2005).[10]

He featured in the Channel 4 documentary Random (2011), and in the BBC Three drama Being Human (2012) as Leo, an aged and dying werewolf.[11]

Mahoney's last TV appearance was in the Tracy Beaker CBBC spin-off, The Dumping Ground, as Henry Lawrence, the grandfather of Charlie Morris (Emily Burnett).

Campaign work

[edit]

Mahoney was a long-standing campaigner for racial equality within the acting profession, as a member of the Equity Afro-Asian Committee (previously called the Coloured Actors Committee until he renamed it), founding Performers Against Racism to defend Equity policy on South Africa,[6] and as co-creator, with Mike Phillips and Taiwo Ajai, of the UK's Black Theatre Workshop in 1976.[5][12]

Personal life

[edit]

Mahoney was married in 1971 and later divorced, and had daughters.[13] For decades a resident in Hampstead, London,[14] Mahoney lived on the corner of Gayton Road and Willow Road, and was a regular in local pubs.[15] He was athletic and played cricket as a fast bowler, joining the Gentlemen of Hampstead club.[1]

Death

[edit]

In 2016, Mahoney was diagnosed with cancer. He died on 28 June 2020, aged 81.[16] His funeral took place at Hampstead Parish, attended by his friends and community.[15]

Legacy

[edit]

The Louis Mahoney Scholarships at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama were initiated in his memory to encourage applications from Black and global majority students, beginning from the academic year 2021/22, supporting one undergraduate and one postgraduate candidate in each of the following three years.[13]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1964 Guns at Batasi Soldier Uncredited
1965 Curse of Simba African expert
1966 The Plague of the Zombies Coloured Servant
1967 Prehistoric Women Head Boy
1970 Praise Marx and Pass the Ammunition Julius
1973 Live and Let Die Fillet of Soul Patron (New York) Uncredited
Doctor Who Newscaster Serial: Frontier in Space, 2 episodes
1974 Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? Frank Episode: "In Harm's Way"
1975 Doctor Who Ponti Serial: Planet of Evil, 2 episodes
Fawlty Towers Doctor Finn Episode: "The Germans"
The Fight Against Slavery Olaudah Equiano
1981 Omen III: The Final Conflict Brother Paulo
Rise and Fall of Idi Amin Freedom fighter Ofumbi
1984 Sheena Elder 1
1987 Cry Freedom Lesotho government official
White Mischief Abdullah
1997 Shooting Fish Magistrate
2003 Wondrous Oblivion Mr. Johnson
2005 Shooting Dogs Sibomana
Holby City Raymond Opoku 1 episode
2007 Doctor Who Old Billy Episode: "Blink"
2012-13 Being Human Leo 2 episodes
2013 Captain Phillips Maersk Alabama Crew
2016 Holby City Thomas Law 1 episode
2018 National Theatre Live: Allelujah! Neville
The Dumping Ground Henry Lawrence

Theatre

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Year Show Role Theatre
? Talking To You Various Duke of York's Theatre
? Cato Street Conspirator Young Vic
? Jesus Christ Superstar Caiaphas Gaiety Theatre, Dublin
? Murderous Angels Diallo Diop Gaiety Theatre, Dublin
1967 Coriolanus Lieutenant to Aufidius Royal Shakespeare Company
Romeo and Juliet Musician Royal Shakespeare Company
1970 Robinson Crusoe Friday Mercury Theatre
Night and Day President Mageeba Watford Palace Theatre
Hutch Builder to Her Majesty Various Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
White Devil Antonelli Oxford Playhouse
I am Tomarienka Various Watermill Theatre
1990 Desire Kindo Almeida
1997 Romeo & Juliet Friar John and Monatague Royal Shakespeare Company
2007 Generations Grandfather Young Vic
2009 As You Like It Adam and Sir Oliver Martext Leicester Curve
The Observer Muturi and Dr Durami Royal National Theatre
2010 Love Thy Sinner Paul Royal National Theatre
2011 Truth & Reconciliation Rwandan Grandfather Royal Court
2013 Feast Papa Legba Young Vic and Royal Court
2018 Allelujah Neville Bridge Theatre

References

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  1. ^ a b c Hadoke, Toby (9 July 2020). "Louis Mahoney obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  2. ^ Michael Quinn (7 July 2020). "Louis Mahoney". The Stage.
  3. ^ "Louis Mahoney: Trailblazing actor and activist dies at 81". BBC News. 30 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Louis Mahoney | Movies and Filmography". AllMovie.
  5. ^ a b Abigail Dunn (2 March 2007). "Reflections of a firebrand". Catalyst. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014.
  6. ^ a b c "Louis Mahoney". Forward to Freedom: A history of the British Anti-Apartheid Movement 1959–1994. 2013.
  7. ^ "Louis Mahoney Biography". IMDb.
  8. ^ "Louis Mahoney: Fawlty Towers and Doctor Who actor dies aged 81". Sky News. 30 June 2020.
  9. ^ "Louis Mahoney". www.aveleyman.com.
  10. ^ "Louis Mahoney". BFI. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017.
  11. ^ Jodie Tyley (6 February 2012). "Being Human Series 4 Episode 1 'The Eve Of War' review". SciFiNow. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  12. ^ "Historical Notes > 1958 - 1982". Trading Faces: Recollecting Slavery.
  13. ^ a b "Central Announces the Louis Mahoney Scholarships to support Black and Global Majority Students". 9 February 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  14. ^ Sam Volpe (1 July 2020). "Louis Mahoney: 'Real Hampstead character' and much-loved campaigning actor who starred in Doctor Who and Fawlty Towers dies at 81". Ham & High.
  15. ^ a b Foot, Tom (1 December 2020). "Stars support tribute to TV pioneer Louis Mahoney". Camden New Journal. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  16. ^ Sam Volpe (6 July 2020). "Louis Mahoney obituary: Death of Hampstead icon and passionate antiracist marks 'end of an era' in NW3". Ham & High. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
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