Bernard Archard

Posted on by Tony CrawleyCategories:Actors

  1. Ray Barret, Doctor Who #02: The Daleks, 1964.    The story that really put The Doctor on the geeks’ map. Not that they were called geeks in those far off days. Terry Nation was invited to write a six-parter – and he invented… the Daleks. So no one really noticed if Bennett/Koquillion was played by Archard, William Lucas or the tough Aussie, Barrett? Archard made it into (the completely wiped) #30: The Power of the Daleks, 1966… and was never far from producer John Nathan Taylor’s casting-cum-dart-board in the ’80s.

  2. Ray Barrett, Doctor Who #011: The Rescue, TV, 1964.     The busy character player was unavailable when the call came and the Aussie took over as space crash survivor Bennett… who was really Koquillion, from planet Dido. Next time around, Archard proved available for #082: Pyramids of Mars: Part Four, 1975

  3. Charles Gray, The Legacy, 1977.  Failing to be Harry Liebnecht, immolated in Jimmy Sangster’s literal horror – with Hollywood leads, of course (Katharine Ross, Sam Elliott) in an English country house, of course – were the obviously much relieved Archard, Harry Andrews, Peter Cushing, Michael Gough (the future Batman’s man, Alfred),  Patrick Troughton (the second Doctor Who, 1966-1969), Peter Vaughan. Plus two Donalds: Houston and Pleasence.  Gray was totally mis-cast. Better German accents would have from the also listed Peter Arne, Anton Diffring, Christopher Lee and Herbert Lom. Elliott (who wed Ross in 1984) warned the Associated Press: “I wouldn’t rush out to see it. It’s about 15 years behind its time.”

  4. John Fraser, Doctor Who #115: Logopolis, TV, 1981.     Age apparently, didn’t matrter. The Monitor was 60 but producer John Nathan-Taylor’s usual suspects ranged from Harry Andrews at 77 to Hywel Bennett at…37! Plus Maurice Denham, 72; Marius Goring, 69; Peter Cushing, 68; Bernard Archard, Michael Gough, 65; Nigel  Stock, 62; Geoffrey Bayldon, 57; William Lucas, 56; Frank Finley, 55; Barry Foster, Frank Windsor, 54; John Fraser, 50; Peter Wyngarde, 48, This as the episode that Brian Epstein would not let The Beatles appear in. But he OKed Top of the Pops footage of Ticket To Ride.

  5. Nigel Stock, Doctor Who #122: Time-Flight, TV, 1982.    After several invites, Nigel Stock finally joined the Whoverse – when winning Professor Hayter from Archard, Geoffrey Bayldon, John Carson, Peter Cushing, Maurice Denham, Michael Gough and William Lucas.

  6. Leonard Sachs, Doctor Who #123: Act of Infinity: Part One, TV, 1983.      Sachs helped kick off the 20th season – as Borusa, President of the Council Time Lords. His first TV drama since 1975. And it showed. He had a memory lapses over his lines. Doc5, Peter Davison (and various suits) suggested substituting him with Archard. Producer John Nathan-Turner refused.

  7. Patrick Stewart, Lifeforce, 1984.

  8. Michael Gothard, Lifeforce, 1984.

  9. Aubrey Morris, Lifeforce, 1984.

  10. Frank Finlay, Lifeforce, 1984.

  11. Jerome Willis, Lifeforce, 1984.

  12. Terence Alexander, Doctor Who #139: The Mark of the Rani, 1984.      Archard, Joss Ackland, Harry Andrews, Robin Bailey, George Baker, Ian Bannen, Geoffrey Bayldon, John Carson, Peter Cushing, Allan Cuthbertson, Frank Finlay, Robert Fleyming, Michael Gough, Dinsdale Landen, TP McKenna, Donald Pickering, Peter Sallis, John Standing, Patrick Stewart, Peter Vaughan… and the Z Cars cops James Ellis and Jeremy Kemp – 23 contenders for Lord Ravenworth. Phew! Standing was the most suitable beingtthe fourth baronet in his family’s line. 

  13. Laurence Payne, Doctor Who #140: The Two Doctors, TV, 1985.     Director Peter Moffatt shuffled 16 candidates for the dastardly Dastari, genetically experimenting on the Androgum race. Archard, Joss Ackland, George Baker, James Bree, Michael Craig, Peter Cushing, Anton Diffring, Neil Hallett, Bernard Hepton, Peter Jeffrey, Freddie Jones, Jeremy Kemp, Clifford Rose, Nigel Stock, John Woodnutt. The semi-retired Payne won!

  14. Anton Diffring, Doctor Who #150: Silver Nemesis, TV, 1988.     Pinewood’s top Nazi was obvius favourite for the Nazi De Flores in the 25th anniversary episode. Also considered: Harry Andrews, Peter Cushing, Frank Finlay Robert Flemyng, Michael Gough, Charles Gray, Christopher Lee, Herbert Lom, Donald Pleasence and Peter Vaughan. Although baffled by the script, and in poor health, Diffring accepted what proved his final rôle in order to be in London and able to watch the Wimbledon tennis. He then returned to his French home and was dead within a year.

 Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls:  14