Anthony Finigan
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Anthony "Tony" Finigan was a British theatre, television, radio and film actor, and stage and TV director. He began his career in 1948 as an assistant stage manager.
Born circa 1926 in Islington, North London, he was educated at Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood. During World War II he worked as an electrical engineer while studying part time for a degree, and occasionally read the BBC radio news. Postwar, he went to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Finigan spent a decade acting and directing in provincial theatres. In 1958, he became an ABC television director in London. His work included Armchair Theatre and the Sunday Break. In 1960, he and his family moved to Belfast when he joined Ulster Television (UTV).
After 17 years at UTV, and a spell as the Ulster Orchestra's general manager, he went back to acting and presenting. His return to theatre began with Pinocchio at the Riverside theatre, Coleraine, County Londonderry. Then came productions at the Arts theatre and the Lyric, Belfast, including The Iceman Cometh, Moody in Manitoba, and The Wind in the Willows.
Film roles included Oliver Twist (1997) and Colin Bateman's Cycle of Violence and Divorcing Jack (both 1998). His final role was in Richard Attenborough's Closing the Ring (2008).
[edit] Family
His wife since 1952, Primrose "Prim" Finigan, died in 2004. Suffering from progressive dementia, he died on March 6, 2009, aged 83. He was survived by three daughters and six grandchildren.
