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With some prescience, Shaw appeared with future co-star [[Lewis Collins]], both playing terrorists, in an episode of ''[[The New Avengers]]'' with [[Joanna Lumley]]. <ref name="Martin Shaw"/>
With some prescience, Shaw appeared with future co-star [[Lewis Collins]], both playing terrorists, in an episode of ''[[The New Avengers]]'' with [[Joanna Lumley]]. <ref name="Martin Shaw"/>


Despite an extensive body of theatre and television work, Shaw is most famous for his role as Agent 45, Ray Doyle, in the British [[television series]] ''[[The Professionals (TV series)|The Professionals]]'' (1977-1982) alongside [[Lewis Collins]] and [[Gordon Jackson (actor)|Gordon Jackson]]. Ray Doyle brought instant fame but Shaw said he found this difficult and preferred anonymity. Well after the series, further difficulties, which were inflamed by the press, arose with the question of repeats. Newspaper reports suggested Shaw had blocked repeats of 'The Professionals' because he was a "serious actor" and did not wish to be associated with the program. In a 1996 documentary and in radio interviews, Shaw stated this was not the case; rather, negotiations concerning [[residuals]] had not been satisfactorily completed.
Despite an extensive body of theatre and television work, Shaw is most famous for his role as Agent 45, Ray Doyle, in the British [[television series]] ''[[The Professionals (TV series)|The Professionals]]'' (1977-1982) alongside [[Lewis Collins]] and [[Gordon Jackson (actor)|Gordon Jackson]]. Ray Doyle brought instant fame but Shaw said he found this difficult and preferred anonymity. Well after the series, further difficulties, which were inflamed by the press, arose with the question of repeats. Newspaper reports suggested Shaw had blocked repeats of 'The Professionals' because he was a "serious actor" and did not wish to be associated with the program. In a 1996 documentary and in radio interviews, Shaw stated this was not the case; rather, negotiations concerning [[Residual (entertainment industry)|residuals]] had not been satisfactorily completed.


The law enforcement roles continued for Shaw with the 1990s ITV production ''[[The Chief (UK television series)|The Chief]]''.
The law enforcement roles continued for Shaw with the 1990s ITV production ''[[The Chief (UK television series)|The Chief]]''.

Revision as of 23:00, 13 June 2009

You may be looking for Martin Shaw (composer), or Martin Shaw (professor)
Martin Shaw

Martin Shaw (born 21 January 1945 in Birmingham) is an English actor.

Theatrical Background

Martin Shaw relates the story of his first stage appearance at the age of three at an amateur show in which his parents were performing. At Great Barr School (where musician Steve Winwood was a classmate), he excelled in English literature and drama lessons. At sixteen, he was offered a scholarship to a Birmingham drama school. Declining the scholarship, he left school and on the advice of his parents, joined the workforce. One job was in the office of a brass foundry. At age eighteen, Shaw moved to London to attend the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He served his apprenticeship in repertory as assistant stage manager at the Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch and the Bristol Old Vic.

Stage

Shaw took key roles in the first revival of Look Back in Anger (Royal Court/Criterion, 1968); in the National Theatre's Saturday, Sunday, Monday opposite Laurence Olivier, 1973 and in A Streetcar Named Desire (Piccadilly Theatre, 1974). He later acknowledged the role of Stanley Kowslowski in Streetcar as being a point of breakthrough in moving forward in his career. Prior to his success in Streetcar, he had not imagined he had the build or range to carry such a role.

In the eighties, Shaw played Elvis Presley in the critically acclaimed Are You Lonesome Tonight? written by Alan Bleasdale. It told the story of Elvis in the last hours of his life. The play had a long run in London then toured to Sydney and Melbourne.

Shaw's portrayal of Lord Goring in An Ideal Husband on Broadway earned him a Tony Award nomination and a Drama Desk award.

After filming finished on Judge John Deed Shaw took the role of Thomas More in Robert Bolt's play, A Man for All Seasons. Shaw's daughter, Sophie, played opposite as More's daughter, Margaret. The production toured Britain's cities before settling in for a run in London at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. It was received to great critical and public acclaim.

Television

Shaw began television work in 1967. Parts in one off plays for Granada led to his playing hippy student Robert Croft, Lucile Hewitt's boyfriend in Coronation Street.[1] Another early role was booze and football loving Welsh medical student, Huw Evans, in the television comedy series Doctor in the House. Huw Evans later returned in a subsequent "Doctor" series as a very nervous expectant father for the Doctor at Large episode Mother and Father Doing Well.

With some prescience, Shaw appeared with future co-star Lewis Collins, both playing terrorists, in an episode of The New Avengers with Joanna Lumley. [1]

Despite an extensive body of theatre and television work, Shaw is most famous for his role as Agent 45, Ray Doyle, in the British television series The Professionals (1977-1982) alongside Lewis Collins and Gordon Jackson. Ray Doyle brought instant fame but Shaw said he found this difficult and preferred anonymity. Well after the series, further difficulties, which were inflamed by the press, arose with the question of repeats. Newspaper reports suggested Shaw had blocked repeats of 'The Professionals' because he was a "serious actor" and did not wish to be associated with the program. In a 1996 documentary and in radio interviews, Shaw stated this was not the case; rather, negotiations concerning residuals had not been satisfactorily completed.

The law enforcement roles continued for Shaw with the 1990s ITV production The Chief.

In 2001, he took the title role in the BBC drama Judge John Deed. The judge gave voice to the television writer and producer Gordon F. Newman, not only in issues of social justice but also in lifestyle choices such as vegetarianism and pet ownership. The series was criticized in some quarters for its alleged reliance on "bad science" but in many instances, Shaw's performance lent the series a sense of reason and pragmatism.

Between seasons of Judge John Deed, Shaw took the role of poetic bespectacled forensic detective Adam Dalgliesh, in P.D. James' Death in Holy Orders in 2003 and The Murder Room in 2005. Even though the role was secure, Shaw met with PD James and gained her approval.

Whilst the Judge John Deed cast and crew wrapped their sixth season, Shaw moved on to Apparitions (TV series) broadcast by the BBC in 2008. This was Shaw's first project as executive director.

Television Miniseries

1983 Martin Shaw filmed at Frobisher Bay on Baffin Island, playing Robert Falcon Scott in The Last Place on Earth. In interview at the time, Shaw commented that he generally responded well to testing physical conditions when working, particularly when the they enhanced the reality of the scene.

Rhodes was filmed on location in South Africa in the 1990s. Shaw's younger son, Jo, took early leave of his drama school course to play the part of the youthful Cecil Rhodes before Shaw completed Rhodes' story from the statesman's mature years to his death. The BBC production was billed as a major epic but viewer and critics' response was poor. Shaw said that when they cut him open and looked at his actor's heart they would see the word "Rhodes". Nevertheless, the miniseries was later released on VHS video and in 2008, on DVD. A book on the making to the Rhodes Miniseries was also released containing educational material about the life and times of Rhodes.

Film

Shaw's first film role was as an Irish communist in Love on the Dole (1966). His best known film role of the 1970s was as Banquo in Roman Polanski's 1971 film of Shakespeare's Macbeth. Although Shaw is not usually classified as a film actor, he has an eclectic ouvre of film roles including an undercover WWII operative in Operation Daybreak again working with friend Anthony Andrews;, Facelift playing in a singing role the futuristic magician "Zax"; Cassidy, filmed in Australia and South East Asia and Ladder of Swords playing a wanted convict leading a life on the run in a circus troop.

Narration and Documentary

He has narrated many audiobooks including Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Silmarillion, Gulliver's Travels and Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights.

In 2006 he narrated and appeared in a DVD chronicling the 'Merlins over Malta' project, which featured the return of a World War II Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane from Britain to Malta for the first time in 50 years.

In December 2006, he presented the six part Discovery Channel Real Time TV series Martin Shaw: Aviators, produced by Twofour, which followed the two-year restoration of his Boeing Stearman bi-plane after it was crashed by another pilot at Old Buckenham airfield in Norfolk. Shaw fulfilled a lifetime ambition to take the controls of a Spitfire owned by Maurice Bayliss, and screamed down the runway at Cranfield in an English Electric Lightning owned by Russell Carpenter. It was not allowed to take off, but did reach 150mph in three seconds. Martin Shaw also compared notes with Wing Cdr Ken Wallis, the nonagenarian builder and developer of the modern autogyro.

Amongst several voiceovers and appearances, Shaw starred in a 1987 TV advert for the Vauxhall Cavalier. [1]

Personal life

In his youth, Shaw was the victim of a street attack, suffering injuries to his face and a fractured skull. A mid face fracture involving the right zygoma required surgical rebuilding.

In 1971, the actor became a follower of Charan Singh, a master of the ancient Sikh spiritual sect, Sant Mat. [2] This involved a strict non-ovo vegetarian diet, meditation and yoga and the avoidance of alcohol and other mind altering drugs.

Martin Shaw is a celebrity activist for animal rights and welfare. He is the patron for Hillside Animal Sanctuary in Norfolk, a charity organisation that provides a safe home for neglected and abused animals.[3] and supports Viva!.

In interviews and in the documentary series for Discovery Channel, "Martin Shaw - Aviators" Shaw readily shares his passion for vintage aeroplanes. He has a private pilot's license and owns a 1943 Boeing Stearman PT-17 Kaydet, G BAVO and a Piper cub.

Shaw is also an avid supporter of Aston Villa Football Club.

Shaw has three children by his first wife, actress Jill Allen whom he married in 1968: Luke Shaw an actor, Joe Shaw an actor and director and Sophie Shaw, an actor and singer.

Shaw's second wife was former nurse turned alternative therapist and core process psychotherapist, Maggie Mansfield.

Later, Shaw married TV presenter, Vicky Kimm, who shared his love of flying.

Between January 2003 and July 2008, Shaw and his partner, Karen da Silva, were stalked by Sandra Price, a divorced pensioner with a purple rinse. Price sent the actor several letters, which Shaw said he found "offensive and intrusive", a 120 page dossier detailing his comings and goings, and a 45 minute cassette tape of Price's disturbed diatribe.

In the early hours of a morning in July 2008, Sandra Price poured petrol through the door of Da Silva's home. This action precipitated Price's arrest by police. In a two day trial at King's Lynn Magistrates' court (6/01/09 and 7/01/09), Price plead guilty to damage to property. She was also convicted of harassment. Price was sentenced on 28/01/09.[4]. Although Price avoided a custodial sentence, she was ordered to perform 240 hours of unpaid work in the community and pay a contribution towards the Crown's costs of £800. An electronically monitored (7pm-7am) curfew was imposed and the complainants received a restraining order against Price. When interviewed after the sentencing, Price was unrepentant.

Awards and nominations

In 1996, Martin Shaw won two awards, as well as receiving a nomination, for his performance as Lord Goring in An Ideal Husband on Broadway. The awards and nomination are:

  • Winner of the Drama Desk Critic's Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play.
  • Winner of the Theatre World Special Award for Ensemble Performance.
  • Nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play.

Television appearances

Theatre appearances

Film appearances

References

  1. ^ a b Martin Shaw BBC, accessed 13/11/07
  2. ^ BBC Interview - Real Media video
  3. ^ Hillside Animal Sanctuary accessed, 12/11/07
  4. ^ BBC report "Shaw's stalker could face jail Accessed 7/01/09
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