Michael McStay
Michael John McStay, sometimes credited as Mike McStay, was an English actor and writer with a career spanning six decades. He was known for his roles in No Hiding Place, ''Coronation Street and Doctor Who''.
Biography
Early life
He was born Michael John McStay in West Ham, London, on 31 January 1933.He studied drama, French, and philosophy at the University of Bristol where he also started acting on stage.
In the 1950s, he served for two years as an officer in Cyprus during the Cyprus Emergency.
Career
McStay began his acting career in the late 1950s, initially appearing in British film and television productions, often in uncredited or supporting roles. His early screen work included appearances in films such as The Day the Earth Caught Fire and Robbery, as well as guest roles in series including Dixon of Dock Green and Z-Cars.He gained wider recognition in the 1960s for his work in television drama, most notably portraying Detective Sergeant Perryman in 79 episodes of the ITV police series No Hiding Place between 1964 and 1966. During this period, he also appeared in programmes such as The Avengers, Crossroads and The Persuaders!.
He was reportedly considered for the role of James Bond after George Lazenby's departure from the franchise, though the part was ultimately returned to Sean Connery.
In 1976, McStay appeared in the BBC science fiction series Doctor Who, playing zoologist Derek Moberley in the serial The Seeds of Doom. He continued to work regularly in television throughout the 1970s and 1980s, with roles in productions including The Black Arrow, Fall of Eagles, A Perfect Spy and Juliet Bravo.
Alongside his acting career, McStay worked as a writer for television and radio, co-creating and writing the series Pull the Other One and contributing scripts to the radio series Coleman and Astor. In later years he also undertook narration and voice-over work for television and documentary projects.
McStay returned to screen acting intermittently in the 21st century, with appearances in series such as EastEnders and The Inspector Lynley Mysteries. In 2011, he replaced John Woodvine as Alan Hoyle in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. His final acting role was in the short film Georges et Audrey, which was in post-production at the time of his death and will be released posthumously.
In January 2023, he published a memoir, Inconsequential and Irrelevant: A Worm's Eye View of Acting, reflecting on his career in the entertainment industry. The following month he was interviewed by Toby Hadoke in his podcast ''Toby Hadoke's Time Travels.''
Personal life
He married actress Jennifer Clulow in 1967 and had two children with her, Darius and Paul. Darius is also an actor.He died of heart failure in London on 11 May 2025, aged 92.