Murray Melvin, who played Bilis Manger in Torchwood, dies aged 90 with Russell T Davies paying tribute-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro

Murray Melvin has died aged 90 (Picture: BBC/Getty)

Actor Murray Melvin has died aged 90, it has been confirmed.

The actor starred in Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood, and was also known for his work with Joan Littlewood, Ken Russell, and Stanley Kubrick.

Paying tribute to the performer, Russell T Davies reflected on his work.

‘Murray Melvin (1932-2023), bless him, he played the wonderful villain in Torchwood, Bilis Manger, and he loved it! But what a career!’, he praised on Instagram.

‘He created the great, gay Geoffrey in A Taste of Honey, on stage and on film. Tons of work with Joan Littlewood and Ken Russell. Amazing. Such a gent.’

Davies continued: ‘He lived through a century that saw the understanding of his identity change so profoundly, and he did so with dignity, class and wit.’

The Doctor Who writer also revealed his last communication with Melvin.

‘His last email to me ended, “Take care, we still cannot afford to take chances.” Oh he was wise’, he penned sweetly, signing off: ‘Night, Murray ♥️’

Tributes poured in for the late TV star, with Gabby Roslin commenting: ‘What a great actor he was 💔’

‘R.I.P a legend to British acting and culture ❤️’, a fan wrote.

‘I had the pleasure of being a co worker of his when I did my work placement at theatre Royal Stratford East, he was a wonderful soul’, another wrote.

Melvin pictured with Dame Barbara Windsor and Sir Robin Andrew Wales, Mayor of Newham for a campaign for a Joan Littlewood sculpture in 2013 (Picture: London News Pictures/REX/Shutterstock)

He first appeared in Torchwood in 2007 (Picture: Alan Davidson/REX/Shutterstock)

‘Awww, sad. I just rediscovered him through the Big Finish audiobooks. He’s so wonderfully sinister. An old school legend like there probably will never be again. ❤️‍🔥 Xx’, one penned sweetly.

Melvin first appeared in Torchwoood in 2007 as the sinister Bilis Manger.

He continued to reprise the role up until 2017.

Melvin worked on hundreds of projects throughout his lengthy career, whether it be film, TV, or theatre.

He appeared in the first episode of the television series The Avengers in 1960.

His other roles included The Tyrant King (1968), the six-part children’s television series directed by Mike Hodges. He played a crucial role in the last two episodes of The Flaxton Boys (1973) as the upper-class twit character Gerald Meder.

Appearing alongside Sir Michael Caine in 1996’s Alfie, Melvin’s career spanned decades and included hundreds of projects (Picture: Paramount/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock)

He starred as Monsieur Reyer in 2004’s adaptation of The Phantom of the opera (Picture: Warner Bros.)

On the silver screen, Peter Medak cast Melvin in five films: A Day in the Death of Joe Egg (1972), Ghost in the Noonday Sun (1973), The Krays (1990), Let Him Have It (1991), and as Dr. Chilip in David Copperfield (2000).

He has featured in two films by Christine Edzard: Little Dorrit (1988) and As You Like It (1992). A

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Playing Monsieur Reyer, the musical director and conductor of the Opera Populaire, he was cast in Joel Schumacher’s film adaptation of the musical The Phantom of the Opera (in 2004).

He was also the director of several theatre and opera performances, including Aladdin (1980), Cinderella (1979), and Brotherly Love (1988).

What’s more, Melvin was the author of two books: The Art of Theatre Workshop (2006) and The Theatre Royal, A History of the Building (2009).

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