Actor Roger Brierley dies aged 70

Published Monday 26 September 2005 at 13:00

Roger Brierley, the actor instantly recognisable for his character parts in television, film and theatre, has died at the age of 70 following a heart attack at his home on Friday.

With his towering height and air of authority Brierley was in regular demand for establishment roles as judge, doctor, vicar and headmaster.

Yet despite his public image he himself was a natural rebel and took part in the campaign to oppose Equity’s decision in the mid-nineties to adopt a royalties based scheme of television payment in place of its residuals system. As a trained accountant, Brierley provided union dissidents with their most effective spokesman.

A passionate supporter of Manchester United, both he and his son Oliver were active too in marshalling fans against the club’s increasing control by big business.

Brierley was a tireless worker for TACT - The Actors’ Charitable Trust - combining this with his work as a contributor to The Stage by compiling the newspaper’s first Charities supplement.

Stage editor Brian Attwood said: “Roger’s loss will be keenly felt by his many colleagues and friends in the industry, Equity and at this newspaper.”

A full obituary, together with details of Roger Brierley’s memorial service, will be published in a later edition of The Stage and online.