Actor Peter Halliday Passes On

Peter Halliday, who starred in the TV series A for Andromeda and made numerous guest appearances on other shows, passed  at the age of 87.

Peter Halliday was born in 1924 near Llangollen, Denbighshire, Wales. While he was still very young his family moved to Welshpool, Powys, Wales, which he called home. After his service in World War II, he joined the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1947. Three years later he joined the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon (what is now known as the Royal Shakespeare Company).

Peter Halliday made his film debut in 1954 in the short "Fatal Journey," but his career would be primarily in television. In the Fifties he appeared on such shows as The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Count of Monte Cristo, Hour of Mystery, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Ivanhoe, and Armchair Theatre. He also appeared in the mini-series The Citadel. He also appeared in the movies Pursuit of the Graf Spree (1956) and Dunkirk (1958).

It was in 1961 that he appeared as Dr. John Fleming in the science fiction, television serial A for Andromeda. The series also featured the first major role for Julie Christie, with whom Mr. Halliday would share an on screen kiss. Peter Halliday reprised his role as Dr. Fleming in the sequel to A for Andromeda, the television serial The Andromeda Breakthrough. Throughout the Sixties Mr Halliday made frequent guest appearances on such shows as Ghost Squad, ITV Play of the Week, Doctor Who, Danger Man, The Saint, Man in a Suitcase, The Avengers, and UFO. He also appeared in the films Dilemma (1962) and Captain Clegg (1962).

In the Seventies Peter Halliday appeared in such  films as Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971), Clinic Exclusive (1972), Virgin Witch (1972), The Fast Kill (1972), Madhouse (1974), and The Swordsman (1974). On television he was a regular on the series Chico The Rainmaker. He appeared on such shows as Take Three Girls, Doomwatch, Colditz, Z Cars, Doctor Who, The Sweeney, and Crown Court.

In the Eighties he appeared on such shows as A Kind of Loving, Doctor Who, Casualty, and Hannay. From the Nineties into the Naughts he appeared on such shows as Lovejoy, Men of the World, Holding On, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, The Bill, and Where the Heart Is. He appeared in the movies Remains of the Day (1993) and Lassie (2005).

Peter Halliday was an extremely versatile actor who could play a wide range of roles. He was best known as the heroic Dr. Fleming on A for Andromeda and its sequel, but he also played other sorts of roles. Among his roles on Doctor Who was Packer, the aggressive Security Chief of International Electromatics. In the movie Madhouse he played a psychiatrist. He played each role very well, even though they were often quite different. Although best known for his role in A for Andromeda, he will be remembered for much more.