Desmond McNamara (1938–2022) was an English actor on the stage, radio, television and film.

McNamara was born in 1938 in Hackney, London, to Arthur and Winifred McNamara. He took on National Service in the RAF before becoming a printer. In 1961 he married Pam Bentley, and they had two sons.[1]

From 1966 he trained at RADA before joining Birmingham Repertory Company, then the Young Vic in 1970, then the Royal National Theatre,[1] followed by an extensive theatre career ranging from the lead in Oliver Goldsmith's The Good Natured Man at the Old Vic in 1971 [2] to the part of Merlin in Camelot in 1996.[3]

Films included The Great Paper Chase (1986), Staggered (1994), Shakespeare in Love (1998) and Lucky Break (2001).[1]

Television appearances included Hazell, The Bill, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Fortunes of War, Roll Over Beethoven, and All at No 20.[1]

McNamara died in 2022, at the age of 84.[1]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1976 Adventures of a Taxi Driver First Robber
1994 Staggered Traffic Policeman
1994 A Pin for the Butterfly Crazy Old Man Credited as Des McNamara
1998 Shakespeare in Love Crier
2001 Lucky Break Arthur
2006 The Spotter Mr. Jackson Short film

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1970 Nearest and Dearest Waiter Episode: "When Love Walks In"
1970 ITV Sunday Night Theatre Guildenstern Episode: "Hamlet"
1975 Carry on Laughing Minstrel 2 episodes
1978 BBC Play of the Month Eric Swash Episode: "Flint"
1976–1978 Crown Court George Mitchell

Sgt. Beale

 4 episodes
1978–1979 Hazell Cousin Tel 15 episodes
1979 Charles Endell Esquire Sleeper Attendant Episode: "Glasgow Belongs to Me"
1979 Saint Joan English soldier Television film
1980 ITV Playhouse Frank Episode: "Visitors for Anderson"
1981 Play for Today Donald Morgan Episode: "The Sin Bin"
1981 Kinvig Charley Episode: "The Big Benders"
1981 Only Fools and Horses Earl Episode: "Christmas Crackers"
1982 The Gentle Touch Micky Scott Episode: "Vigill"
1983 Jury John Bannister 13 episodes
1984 The Kit Curran Radio Show Mr. Bickley Episode: "Election Fever"
1984 The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes John Horner Episode: "The Blue Carbuncle"
1984 Travelling Man Jimmy Nolan Episode: "Grasser"
1985 Dempsey and Makepeace Charlie Wilson Episode: "Blind Eye"
1985 C.A.T.S. Eyes Binks Episode: "Cross My Palm with Silver"
1985 Roll Over Beethoven Lem 13 episodes
1985 Tucker's Luck Mr. Wilson 2 episodes
1986 Running Scared Mick Prescott 6 episodes
1986 Starting Out Mr. Barnes 2 episodes
1986 Big Deal Des Parsons Episode: "Tuppence Coloured"
1986 The Great Paper Chase Lovelace Television film
1987 Bergerac Reporter Episode: "The Deadly Virus"
1987 A Dorothy L. Sayers Mystery Padgett 3 episodes
1987 Fortunes of War Galpin 3 episodes
1987 All at No 20 Frankie 2 episodes
1987 Vanity Fair Capt. MacMurdo Episode: "After the Battle"
1988 Hard Cases Fast Eddie Finnegan 2 episodes
1988 King and Castle Tony Bates Episode: "Dim Sums"
1988 Les Girls Jimmy Episode: "Old Fruit"
1988 South of the Border Airport security guard Episode: #1.2
1989 Close to Home Puppy owner Episode: "The Contract"
1988–1989 Streets Apart Cliff 12 episodes
1990 The Chief Terry Salter Episode: #1.4
1990 This Is David Harper Colin Foley Episode: "Partners in Crime?"
1991 Five Children and It Mr. Peasmarsh Episode: "Episode Two"
1991 Birds of a Feather Desmond Episode: "Favour of the Month"
1982–1994 Minder Gossip

Les Reggie

 3 episodes
1994 Pie in the Sky Mr Lowe Episode: "Endangered Species"
1995 The Plant Paul Television film
1995 Wycliffe Bill Marrack (as Des McNamara) Episode: "Wild Oats"
1997 Animal Ark Ernie Bell Episode: "Goat in the Garden"
1999 Miami 7 Caretaker (as Des McNamara) Episode: "Take Off"
1999 Maisie Raine Tom Baker Episode: "European Forty Five"
1998–2000 Casualty Bert

Tom Logan

 2 episodes
2003 The Last Detective Block Episode: "Pilot"
2004 Doctors and Nurses Harry Episode: "Seeing Stars"
2004 EastEnders Bob 3 episodes
1988–2005 The Bill Various 9 episodes
2005 Doctors Reg Johnson Episode: "The Hand That Feeds You"

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Price, Emlyn (11 July 2022). "Desmond McNamara obituary". The Guardian. London..
  2. ↑ Wardle, Irving (10 December 1971). "Unconquering Goldsmith". The Times. London.
  3. ↑ Gore-Langton, Robert (7 June 1996). "Carry on Camelot". Daily Telegraph. London.
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