Sad news that this actor passed away at the weekend.
I particularly remember him as the sinister magus, Hendrick in the cult serial from the 1970's Children Of The Stones

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He was a fine stage actor whose portrayal of the eponymous Musgrave in 'Sergeant Musgrave's Dance' at the Royal Court, created the first successful production of that fine play. Hobson's review said it all. He will be missed

Hi janet,

Serious question, are you related to Iain??

Sad news. No one did genial ruthlessness better - I'd love to have seen him do Big Ger Cafferty in the Rebus books (assuming they ever managed to find the right actor for Rebus, which they haven't yet). I
t's hard to believe that it's not far short of 40 years (aargh!) since he and Adam Faith made such a great couple in Budgie (whose co-writer, Keith Waterhouse, has sadly also just died).
It would have been fascinating to have seen his Othello, too.
Marcia

His wife Adam ...and he was the best ....on and off the screen ...but of course I'm prejudiced .....

My condolancies to you Janet. Iain will certainly be sadly missed. I seem to remember him as one of the main characters in the early BBC series `Doctor Finlays Casebook`. Les.

heart felt sympathy in your loss Janet...I know he was acting but I think Charlie Endell may have been Iains favourite part?..tailormade for him...it's a cliche I know, but they don't make em like that anymore...this is not nostalgia it's a simple fact..the quality of acting/writing has largely disappeared...I gave up my T.V license for that very reason.
god bless
Peter

Victor and I hate to use your 1st name...this is totally uncalled for...you ought to be ashamed of yourself

Our cat's called victor ....call sign in fact ...the name I use is Mary ...not Janet. Thanks for the kind remarks. Iain was proud of his Musgrave and his Wallace..and he reportedly did a magnificent Othello. He was also in a rather recherche 'Spirit of Man' by Peter Barnes ...Alan Rickman was in it too. I can't quite remember ..about 18 years ago and I've never seen a repeat (BBC I think) ..it was very good. He really enjoyed doing Garron with Tom Baker in Doctor Who ...in fact he REALLY enjoyed his work ...and his play ...... I'll miss him lots and lots.

Heartfelt sympathy, he was a tremendous actor. 'Budgie' was part of my early teen years, unforgettable series, Iain was an unforgettable actor too. I watched my copy of the Railway Children yesterday, it still makes me weep uncontrollably at the end - and I'm now in my 50s !
God bless X
Wayne

What I shall remember most about his performances is that peculiarly Scottish sense of relish in his voice. If memory serves, he recorded Mack the Knife to great effect around the time of his popularity as Charlie Endell, and I also remember the way he enunciated some particularly bad pun on some long-forgotten Radio 4 play: the line (as in pharoahs) was "Cheops with everything." I have recently seen again the episode of Michael Palin's Ripping Yarns where he had to play some ridiculous role with absolute conviction - and it works brilliantly.

Hi Pismotality ...we have the record of 'Mac' ...it's absolutely great ....very funny .....great sense of humour ..he had to have. The stroke would have destroyed most men and he came back to act .. the courage that took is indescribable. Did you ever hear the Flashman play ....?

Reading through I'm surprised nobody has mentioned supergran yet, he was a great comic villain in that cult show, maybe you had to grow up watching it to enjoy it! I really did love his performance in the Ribos Operation though, it was so full of humor and the interplay between Iain and Tom Baker was effortless, his performance is noted by Doctor Who fans as one of the best by a guest star. I'm really sorry that he has gone now

I recollect Ians performance in M R James Casting of the runes to which he brought his sense of fun .To my mind there was a kind of benevolence that he radiated rather like his countryman Allistair Sim.

I remember Budgie from when I was a kid. Later I always thought he would have made a great boss for Edward Woodward's Callan, but there was obviously much more to the man than playing heavy, sinister roles.

Janet C, please accept my belated condolensces to you and your family.

He was one of the great British character actors that I grew up watching on tv and at the cinema. I remember reading some years ago that he had a stroke, but I assume he recovered because he appeared in " Gorillas In The Mist " a few years later ( unless my ageing memory is playing tricks.....?)

He was great in " Budgie " and " Casting The Runes " and of course will always be remembered as the object of Jenny Agutters cry of " My Daddy! Oh my Daddy !" at the end of Lionel Jeffries classic " The Railway Children " - a film which our seven-year old granddaughter was recently captivated by when she watched it for the first time.

So sorry to hear of his passing. We recently lost John Bentley and Harry Towb too. None of these great characters can be replaced by todays bland soap-trained ' actors '.

To me: always the Scunner Campbell..respect xx

I am so very sorry to hear of Iain's passing. We have much to thank him for, we his audience.....for the gifts he gave us and for the pleasure we took in them. Always generous and magical, full of wonder and suprise, never stinting in his creativity and genius. A tremendous actor. I am unlikely to be contradicted. My deepest sympathy.
Daniel Kane.

For me, it will always be Children Of The Stones - A MASSIVE part of my childhood!!

I still enjoy catching up with it on DVD today and would recommend it to any one who enjoyed mid 70's British Sci Fi TV.
Really pleased Janet that you took part in this thread - You have added a degree of warmth and a personal touch all too often absent on Amazon's forums - my sincerest condolences.

Thanks to everyone .....I am called Mary (my first name is Janet) and it so good to read that many people remember him. I would also like to add that Iain had a stroke which would have destroyed lesser men and the fact that he learned how to speak and act again ( albeit he was left with dysphasia for the remainder of his life) should be an inspiration to those many people who have suffered such a dreadful event. He was a very shy man with enormous strength of will and most of all, he was a man of total integrity ....I shall miss him ...Again, thank you to all who have posted here XX

Hello Mary, My heart felt condolences to you on your loss. Iain came across as a lovely modest man, such a loss. I first saw him in Sutherlands Law and have followed his career since then. I love listening to his readings of Robbie Burns poems. Living in New Zealand, I unfortunately never saw him on Stage. Would have loved to have seen him as Wallace.
I wish you well in the future. Annette

Charlie Endell in Budgie.Tailor made for it.

I'm sorry for your loss Janet

I am so sorry to hear of your sad loss Mary, not just to you personally but to the acting world. I loved Charlie Endell, he was magnificently villainous and the Scottish lilt to his voice added to the menace! I just loved him, anything he was in was worth watching. My thoughts are with you at this sad time for you.