Jump to content

Michael Keating (actor)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Michael Keating
Michael Keating at the Blake's 7 series 2 DVD launch, 2005
Born
Michael Frank Keating

(1947-02-10) 10 February 1947 (age 77)
OccupationActor
Years active1966–present
Known forVila Restal in Blake's 7
Reverend Stevens in EastEnders

Michael Keating (born 10 February 1947) is an English actor. He is best known for his role as Vila Restal in the science fiction television series Blake's 7.

Career

[edit]

Keating was born in Edmonton, London, and his acting career began in 1966.[1] One of his earlier notable roles was as Goudry in a 1977 Doctor Who story, entitled The Sun Makers. Just over a month later, Keating first appeared in the role of Vila Restal in the BBC TV series Blake's 7, which aired from 1978 to 1981. Vila Restal was the only character to appear in all fifty-two episodes of the series. In 1981, Keating appeared in an episode of the BBC sitcom Yes Minister titled The Death List, playing the role of Police Constable Ross.

Some years later Michael Keating reunited with his Blake's 7 co-star Gareth Thomas, in an episode of the BBC drama series Casualty. In 2004, Keating returned to the Doctor Who franchise, guest starring as Major Koth in the Big Finish Productions audio adventure The Twilight Kingdom. In 2006, he starred in another Doctor Who audio adventure, this time as Inspector Chardalot in Year of the Pig. In 2009, he had a brief role in the BBC one-off drama Micro Men about the rise of the British home computer market in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Recent career

[edit]

From 2005 to 2017, Keating played Reverend Stevens in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.[1] He appeared as a recurring character, usually for a single episode or a few episodes at a time, in connection with another character's christening, marriage, or funeral, or relating to regular churchgoer Dot Branning (June Brown).

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1970 Julius Caesar Plebeian #2
2009 Micro Men Derek Holley TV movie

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1969 Special Branch Det. Constable Pearce
1971 Merry-Go-Round Saxon Prisoner Episode: "The Raven and the Cross 1", TV Documentary
1972 Doomwatch Stephen Grigg Episode: "Enquiry"
1972 Omnibus Dante Episode: "Max Beerbohm Remembers", TV documentary
1973 The Dragon's Opponent First mate Episode: "The Drawn Sword", historical miniseries
1977 Doctor Who Goudry Serial: The Sun Makers
1978-1981 Blake's 7 Vila Restal 52 episodes
1980 The Dawson Watch TBA 2 episodes: "The Future" & "Holidays", sci-fi comedy
1981 Yes Minister Constable Ross Episode: "The Death List"
1983 Paul Squire, Esq TBA Episode: "1.6", sketch and variety show
1986 Rainbow Detective Inspector Frost Episode: "Detectives"
1988 King & Castle Inspector Bell Episode: "Floppy Discs", crime drama
1989 The Play on One Daniel / Charlie 2 episodes: "Clowns" & "These Foolish Things"
1989 Capital City Estate agent Episode: "Thanksgiving"
1990 The Two of Us Police sergeant Episode: "Dangers in the Night"
1990 London's Burning A. C. O. Howard Episode "3.7", role uncredited
1991 Kinsey Murray Episode: "The Authentic Voice... Little Miss Goosestep"
1993 Between the Lines Police Federation Rep. Episode: "Some Must Watch"
1994 True Crimes Reenactment Episode: "The Deepest Secret", TV documentary
1994 The Bill Geoff Tilson Episode: "Menace"
1995, 2000 Casualty Graham Wingate / Pat Sadler 2 episodes: "Bringing It All Back Home" & "States of Shock"
2005-2013, 2015-2017 EastEnders Reverend George Stevens 54 episodes
2009 Midsomer Murders Derek Painter Episode: "The Dogleg Murders"

Radio and CD audio dramas

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1998-1999 Blake's 7 Vila Restal 2 stories: "The Sevenfold Crown" & "The Syndeton Experiment"
1999-2000 Soldiers of Love Mydas Mydasson 5 episodes, sci-fi comedy
2004, 2006 Doctor Who: The Monthly Adventures Major Koth / Inspector Chardalot 2 serials: The Twilight Kingdom & Year of the Pig
2010 Graceless Earl Kreekpolt Series 1
2010 Blake's 7: A Rebellion Reborn Vila Restal Episode: "When Vila Met Gan"
2012-2016 Blake's 7: The Liberator Chronicles Vila Restal/Narrator 14 episodes
2013-2020 Blake's 7: The Classic Adventures Vila Restal 34 episodes
2014 Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor Adventures Calvert Serial: The Evil One
2021-2022 The Worlds of Blake's 7 Vila Restal 3 episodes

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Feast Creative – The Narrow Road Company. "Michael Keating". narrowroad.co.uk.
[edit]