Russell T Davies and John Barrowman are among those paying tribute to “wonderful” Torchwood actor Murray Melvin.
Melvin’s death on Friday was announced by a friend, who said the actor had “never fully recovered” from a fall in December, before he died aged 90.
The actor was best known for the 1960s drama film A Taste Of Honey in which he played gay textile design student Geoffrey Ingham, who befriends a pregnant teenage girl.
He also starred in the original play by Shelagh Delaney before being cast in the subsequent movie adaption which was directed by Tony Richardson and also starred Last Night In Soho’s Rita Tushingham.
Creative director Kerry Kyriacos Michael, who told the PA news agency he is the late actor’s next of kin, confirmed that Melvin died at St Thomas’ Hospital in London on Friday.
Mr Michael also wrote on Twitter that it was with “great sadness” he was announcing the actor’s death, who he also described as a “director and theatre archivist”.
He added: “He had a fall in December, from which he never fully recovered… He was one of my closest friends and will be missed by so many of us who had the privilege to know him.”
Born on August 10 1932 in London, Melvin also had film roles in the 2004 musical film The Phantom Of The Opera which starred Gerard Butler and the comedies A Day In The Death Of Joe Egg in the 1970s and Smashing Time in 1960s.
Following the announcement, Davies wrote on Instagram that Melvin was a “wonderful villain” in the Doctor Who spin-off series Torchwood that he created.
The Doctor Who showrunner added: “He lived through a century that saw the understanding of his identity change so profoundly, and he did so with dignity, class and wit.
“His last email to me ended, ‘Take care, we still cannot afford to take chances.’ Oh he was wise. Night, Murray.”
Barrowman, who played the lead as immortal captain Jack Harkness in the BBC science fiction series, wrote: “Murray Melvin, he always brought a cheeky warm smile to the Torchwood set and had the power to make us all laugh.
“What a glorious career and life but he will always be my ‘Bilis Manger servant of Abaddon’ RIP Murray.”
Melvin was also on the board of London’s Theatre Royal Stratford East along with acting in Joan Littlewood’s company Theatre Workshop in numerous roles including the musical Oh! What A Lovely War as well as A Taste Of Honey.
On Twitter, Stratford East wrote that it was “deeply saddened” by the death of the “passionate advocate of our theatre”.
The theatre added: “He was on the board for 20 years, and dedicated much of his time in the last 30 years to the development and organisation of a rich theatre archive, which he painstakingly completed in early 2020.
“He will be greatly missed, although never forgotten.”
Melvin also starred in several 1970s Ken Russell films including musical comedy The Boy Friend and historical drama The Devils along with Stanley Kubrick’s 1975 period drama Barry Lyndon.
Mr Michael also said that funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.
