Paul Darrow has died (Avon from Blakes 7)

[TheHoodedClaw]

Age 78, according to his agent.

The finest anti-hero of TV science fiction.

 

[Pickman's model]

 

[TheHoodedClaw]

"We meet again..."

 

[Nine Bob Note]

Now, let's not go forgetting his greatest ever role:

 

[QueenOfGoths]

Nooooooooooo!

I loved "Blake's 7" and Avon was a fantastic character. He was also my first crush

 

[redsquirrel]

Ahh bugger. Vale

 

[Sprocket.]

RIP.

 

[ska invita]

The best eyebrow raise in the business, even Roger Moore has to pay his respects

Rip...outran Servelan to the last

 

[Red Cat]

Nooooooooooo!

I loved "Blake's 7" and Avon was a fantastic character. He was also my first crush

Mine too

 

[geminisnake]

Genuinely sad to see this Avon was the best character imo. Think Lee Van Cleef was my first ooooh bloke

 

[fishfinger]

Sad news.

 

[Ming]

He was the coolest in Blakes 7 by a long way.

 

[Epona]

I am very upset by this.

I knew him, I used to live just down the road from him and saw him regularly about the village, and I was on stage with him once in the village kiddies dance class show, I loved him in Blake's Seven (he was equally good as Hamlet and a variety of other more serious roles, which he played on stage in London and in our local town theatre), and he was just a lovely bloke who was always happy to say hello to the trying to hide it but probably obviously excited sci-fi fan who lived down the road.

 

[ska invita]

I am very upset by this.

I knew him, I used to live just down the road from him and saw him regularly about the village, and I was on stage with him once in the village kiddies dance class show, I loved him in Blake's Seven (he was equally good as Hamlet and a variety of other more serious roles, which he played on stage in London and in our local town theatre), and he was just a lovely bloke who was always happy to say hello to the trying to hide it but probably obviously excited sci-fi fan who lived down the road.

Iirc the guy who played Blake was quite embarrassed about how much attention he got and how he really hated being associated with the character.... I think he was Royal Shakespeare Company... By contrast Paul Darrow went along to all the conventions and seemed very happy to give the fans what they wanted.

He was basically a fan himself, wiki says he bought the rights in an attempt to make a prequel and even wrote some fan fiction!
Avon: A Terrible Aspect - Wikipedia

I think it's fair to say that Blake's 7 wouldn't have run to 4 series without his enthusiasm.

 

[ruffneck23]

RIP

 

[Mrs Miggins]

Very sad news. Loved Blake's 7 and loved Avon.

 

[Kaka Tim]

those clips are great. He made Avon into a complex, compelling character - and was the heart of the show. Go well Mr Darrow.
Shame they never re-made the show in his lifetime - definitely justifies a reboot.

 

[krtek a houby]

Sad news. I remember being traumatised by that final scene in Blake's 7.

 

[Epona]

Iirc the guy who played Blake was quite embarrassed about how much attention he got and how he really hated being associated with the character.... I think he was Royal Shakespeare Company... By contrast Paul Darrow went along to all the conventions and seemed very happy to give the fans what they wanted.

He was basically a fan himself, wiki says he bought the rights in an attempt to make a prequel and even wrote some fan fiction!
Avon: A Terrible Aspect - Wikipedia

I think it's fair to say that Blake's 7 wouldn't have run to 4 series without his enthusiasm.

Paul Darrow was just all round nice to his fans and definitely seemed to have enjoyed playing Avon, and his involvement in the series.

My mum earlier this morning, remembered him thus:

"I remember chatting to him at your dance classes the first time we went, thinking I must have known him from being another parent picking up children from school as I recognised him and he chatted to me as if we had met and talked before, little realising he was the ‘heart throb’ star in Emergency Ward 10, which was my favourite series when I was younger. I know Janet* died some years back, which was also sad as she was fairly young."

(*His wife Janet Lees Price, who was also an actor, was in "Within These Walls" amongst other things)

 

[ATOMIC SUPLEX]

I only ever met Callie.
Fast running out of other cast members to akwardly small talk with.

 

[krtek a houby]

I only ever met Callie.
Fast running out of other cast members to akwardly small talk with.

I met Brian Blessed (he appeared in series 1)

 

[Red Cat]

Lovely memories Epona

 

[blossie33]

oh no!
I so loved his Avon character much more interesting than Blake.

RIP

 

[blossie33]

RIP

Brilliant