Peter Vaughan

Posted on by Tony CrawleyCategories:Actors

  1. 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 Vaughan, Harry Andrews, Bernard Archard, Peter Cushing, Michael Gough (the future Batman’s man, Alfred), Patrick Troughton (the second Doctor Who, 1966-1969). 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.” 

  2. Bill Fraser, Doctor Who #110: Meglos, TV, 1980.      Co-writer John Flanagan created General Grugger for Lee Marvin (!) – and was staggered when new producer John Nathan-Taylor chose Fraser, a sitcom clown. Akin to subbing Marvin with Phil Silvers. Some thought was also given to four Z Cars cops – Brian Blessed, James Ellis, Stratford Johns, Frank Windsor – and the Houston brothers, Donald and Glyn. Plus Vaughan, Harry Andrews, Bernard Archard, Peter Cushing, Ronald Fraser, Peter Gilmore, TP McKenna, Donald Pleasence, Leonard Sachs, George Sewell, Nigel Stock, John Stratton and Richard Todd … very familiar names on Nathan-Taylor’s casting (dart) board throughout his eclectic and scandalous 80s reign.

  3. Emrys James, Doctor Who #112: State of Decay, TV, 1980.      There were 21 potential Aukons and all – except James – had been this way before, standing at the Whoverse portal, awaiting a callback. Vaughan, Peter Arne, Colin Baker, Steven Berkoff, John Carson, David Collings, Peter Gilmore, Michael Gothard, John Hallam, Donald Houston, Martin Jarvis, Michael Jayston, Ronald Lacey, William Lucas, Ian McKellen, John Normington, Patrick Stewart, Anthony Valentine, David Warner, Peter Wyngarde.
  4. Moray Watson, Doctor Who #120: Black Orchid, TV, 1982.      Not a rehash of Sophia Loren’s 1958 Hollywood melo, but an adventure (with cricket!) in 1925 England for for Doc5 Peter Davison. Also in the frame for Sir Robert Muir were Vaughan, Robin Bailey, Geoffrey Bayldon, John Carson, William Lucas, and Nigel Stock.
  5. Frank Windsor, Doctor Who #128 : The King’s Demons, 1983.    The usual suspects  of infamous producer John Nathan-Taylor were flagpoled for Sir Ranulf Fitzwilliam at the court of King John, circa 1215… Vaughan, Joss Ackland, George Baker, Ian Bannen, Julian Glover, Michael Jayston, Peter Jeffrey, Dinsdale Landen, Alfred Lynch, TP McKenna, Clifford Rose, Edward Woodward. Plus three Z Cars cop stars: booming Brian Blessed, Irish James Ellis… and the quiet Windsor.
  6. Patrick Stewart, Lifeforce, 1984.
  7. Michael Gothard, Lifeforce, 1984.
  8. Frank Finlay, Lifeforce, 1984.
  9. Peter Firth, Lifeforce, 1984.
  10. Glyn Houston, Doctor Who #131: The Awakening, TV, 1984.        A dozen of producer John Nathan-Taylor’s usual suspects were up for Colonel Wolsey opposite Doc5 Peter Davison… Vaughan, Houston, Joss Ackland, Terence Alexander, Michael Craig, James Ellis, Peter Gilmore, John Hallam, Jeremy Kemp, Conrad Phillips, Patrick Stewart, John Stratton.

  11. Terence Alexander, Doctor Who #139: The Mark of the Rani, 1984.   Vaughan, Joss Ackland, Harry Andrews, Bernard Archard, Robin Bailey, George Baker, Ian Bannen, Geoffrey Bayldon, Joh  n Carson, Peter Cushing, Alan Cuthbertson, Frank Finlay, Robert Flemyng, Michael Gough, Dinsdale Landen, TP McKenna, Donald Pickering, Peter Sallis, John Standing, Patrick Stewart… and the Z Cars cops James Ellis and Jeremy Kemp – 23 contenders for Lord Ravenworth. Phew! Standing was the most suitable as he was the the fourth baronet in his family’s line.
  12. John Stratton, Doctor Who #140: The Two Doctors, TV, 1985.      The two Time Lords were Doc2 Patrick Troughton and Doc 6, the short lived Colin Baker. Shockeyes were more plentiful – 22 – Vaughan, Stratton, Joss Ackland, George Baker, Ian Bannen, Brian Blessed, Denholm Elliott, James Ellis, Frank Finlay, Ronald Fraser, Michael Gothard, Don Henderson, Donald Houston, Freddie Jones, Jeremy Kemp, Roy Kinnear, Ronald Lacey, TP McKenna, Aubrey Morris, Donald Pleasence, Peter Sallis, George Sewell.
  13. William Gaunt, Doctor Who #142: Revelation of the Daleks, 1985.     For the second time, 25 actors were insanely up for a single rôle… in a Doctor flaming Who!! An unlikely choice for a mercenary, Gaunt was selected late in the game after an exhausting Orcini search through Vaughan, Joss Ackland, Ray Brooks, James Ellis, John Fraser, Peter Gilmore, Denis Lill, Philip Madoc… Plus survivors of the astonishing army of 203 candidates for just 18 roles in that year’s Lifeforce movie… Tom Adams, George Baker, John Carson, Frank Finlay, Julian Glover, Michael Gothard, Del Henney, Peter Jeffrey, TP McKenna, Patrick Mower, Clifford Rose, Patrick Stewart, Nigel Stock, Anthony Valentine, David Warner and Frank Windsor. The difference being Who was science fiction and Lifeforce was science fart.
  14. Tom Chadbon, Doctor Who #143: The Trial of a Time Lord, TV, 1986.      As the franchise was as much on trial as Doc6 Colin Baker in the season-long investigation, 16 actors were flagpoled for Merdeen… Valentine, Tom Adams, Keith Barron, Brian Blessed, Hywel Bennett, Andrew Burt, Kenneth Colley, Peter Gilmore, Michael Gothard, Gareth Hunt, Paul Jerricho, Clive Merrison, Paul Shelley, David Warner, James Warwick.
  15. Don Henderson, Doctor Who #146: Delta and The Bannermen, TV, 1987.       Chimeron Queen Delta escapes the baddies and heads to Disneyland ( !) buit arriving instead at … a Welsh holiday camp! Director Chris Clough chose Henderson for Bannerman boss Gavrok from producer John Nathan-Taylor’s familiar dartboard list: Vaughan, Nicholas Ball, Kenneth Colley, Michael Elphick, Michael Gothard, Bernard Hill, Jeremy Kemp, Ronald Lacey, TP McKenna, Clifford Rose, Simon Ward, David Warner.
  16. Anton Diffring, Doctor Who #150: Silver Nemesis, TV, 1988.      Pinewod’s top Nazi was obviously favourite for the Nazi De Flores in the 25th anniversary episode. Along considered: Harry Andrews, Bernard Archard, Peter Cushing, Frank Finlay Robert Flemyng, Michael Gough, Charles Gray, Christopher Lee, Herbert Lom and Donald Pleasence. Although baffled by the script, and in poor health, Diffring accepted what was 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. Despite 222 screen roles, Vaughan never entered the Whoverse. His 1954-2015 career cpvered the waterftont from Hancock to Game of Thrones! “Luckily I’m not beautiful – otherwise I might have starved.”

 Birth year: 1923Death year: 2016Other name: Casting Calls:  16