Rex Robinson (1926–2015) — British character actor

Career and screen persona

Robinson typically played authoritative, professional or quietly eccentric characters. His screen presence suited the supporting parts that populate long-running dramas and comedies: policemen, officials, doctors and the like. He worked during a period when British television produced many serialized dramas, giving reliable character actors regular opportunities to appear in different shows.

Notable television and film appearances

His best-known association is with the BBC science-fiction programme Doctor Who, where he took roles in three separate serials in the 1970s directed by Australian director Lennie Mayne. That collaboration is often mentioned in accounts of his career and Mayne's credits. Beyond Doctor Who, Robinson's television credits include a range of British series:

• Z-Cars
• Terry and June
• Only Fools and Horses
• The Onedin Line, Within These Walls, The Professionals, Yes Minister

In cinema he made smaller appearances such as a part in the 1987 film Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, reflecting the occasional crossover of television actors into feature films.

Background and personal life

Robinson was born in Derby, in the county of Derbyshire. He married actress Patricia Prior and the couple remained together until his death in April 2015 at the age of 89. Public records and obituaries note his steady, workmanlike presence on British screens rather than celebrity status.

Legacy

As with many career character actors, Robinson's contribution is most visible in the texture he added to ensemble casts and episodic television. Fans of genre television, particularly of classic Doctor Who, continue to note his appearances when documenting serials from the 1970s. Those researching supporting players in British television of the era will find his credits a useful example of a durable acting career outside the traditions of stardom.