Michael Keating (actor)


Michael Keating is an English actor. He is best known for his role as Vila Restal in the science fiction television series Blake's 7, and as Reverend George Stevens in EastEnders.

Career

Keating was born in Edmonton, London, and his acting career began in 1966. One of his earlier notable roles was as Goudry in a 1977 Doctor Who story, entitled The Sun Makers. Just over a month later, Keating first appeared in the role of Vila Restal in the BBC TV series Blake's 7, which aired from 1978 to 1981. Vila Restal was the only character to appear in all fifty-two episodes of the series. In 1981, Keating appeared in an episode of the BBC sitcom Yes Minister titled The Death List, playing the role of Police Constable Ross.
Some years later Michael Keating reunited with his Blake's 7 co-star Gareth Thomas, in an episode of the BBC drama series Casualty. In 2004, Keating returned to the Doctor Who franchise, guest starring as Major Koth in the Big Finish Productions audio adventure The Twilight Kingdom. In 2006, he starred in another Doctor Who audio adventure, this time as Inspector Chardalot in Year of the Pig. In 2009, he had a brief role in the BBC one-off drama Micro Men about the rise of the British home computer market in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Recent career

From 2005 to 2017, Keating played Reverend Stevens in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. He appeared as a recurring character, usually for a single episode or a few episodes at a time, in connection with another character's christening, marriage, or funeral, or relating to regular churchgoer Dot Branning.

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1969Special BranchDet. Constable Pearce
1971Merry-Go-RoundSaxon PrisonerEpisode: "The Raven and the Cross 1", TV Documentary
1972DoomwatchStephen GriggEpisode: "Enquiry"
1972OmnibusDanteEpisode: "Max Beerbohm Remembers", TV documentary
1973The Dragon's OpponentFirst mateEpisode: "The Drawn Sword", historical miniseries
1977Doctor WhoGoudrySerial: The Sun Makers
1978-1981Blake's 7Vila Restal52 episodes
1980The Dawson WatchTBA2 episodes: "The Future" & "Holidays", sci-fi comedy
1981Yes MinisterConstable RossEpisode: "The Death List"
1983Paul Squire, EsqTBAEpisode: "1.6", sketch and variety show
1986RainbowDetective Inspector FrostEpisode: "Detectives"
1988King & CastleInspector BellEpisode: "Floppy Discs", crime drama
1989The Play on OneDaniel / Charlie2 episodes: "Clowns" & "These Foolish Things"
1989Capital CityEstate agentEpisode: "Thanksgiving"
1990The Two of UsPolice sergeantEpisode: "Dangers in the Night"
1990London's BurningA. C. O. HowardEpisode "3.7", role uncredited
1991KinseyMurrayEpisode: "The Authentic Voice... Little Miss Goosestep"
1993Between the LinesPolice Federation Rep.Episode: "Some Must Watch"
1994True CrimesReenactmentEpisode: "The Deepest Secret", TV documentary
1994The BillGeoff TilsonEpisode: "Menace"
1995, 2000CasualtyGraham Wingate / Pat Sadler2 episodes: "Bringing It All Back Home" & "States of Shock"
2005-2013, 2015-2017EastEndersReverend George Stevens54 episodes
2009Midsomer MurdersDerek PainterEpisode: "The Dogleg Murders"