Bernard Gallagher

Bernard Gallagher (26 September 1929 – 27 November 2016[1][2]) was an English actor known for his stage work, including with the National Theatre and the Royal Court; and his many appearances in television soap operas and dramas.[3] He was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire.[2]

Bernard Gallagher
Born	(1929-09-26)26 September 1929 Bradford, West Yorkshire, England
Died	27 November 2016(2016-11-27) (aged 87) England
Occupation	Actor
Spouse(s)	Sylvia Vickers ​ ​ (m. 1971; his death 2016)​
Children	Matthew & Zoe

Galagher studied English at Sheffield University, and following National service in the RAF Educational Service (1952–54), made his stage debut in Lyme Regis in 1956.[2] Working in regional rep for the next decade, in 1965 he joined London’s Royal Court for Bill Gaskill’s first season, with roles in (amongst others) the original stage productions of Edward Bond’s Saved, and Joe Orton's The Ruffian on the Stair and The Erpingham Camp (both 1967). [4][3]

Later in 1967, Gallagher began a long association with the National Theatre (1967-1976), when he appeared in Clifford Williams’ all-male As You Like It.[5] Other roles included in Howard Brenton’s Weapons of Happiness and Tom Stoppard’s Jumpers.[2]

He also spent two seasons with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and worked for many other theatre companies, such as Paines Plough and Max Stafford-Clark's Out of Joint.[2][3]  

West End appearances included Michael Frayn’s Alphabetical Order (May Fair Theatre, 1975), Willy Russell’s Breezeblock Park (Whitehall Theatre, 1977) and Caryl Churchill’s Heart’s Desire (Duke of York's Theatre, 1997).[3]

Gallagher played the lead role of compassionate consultant Ewart Plimmer in the first three years of BBC TV's long-running medical drama series Casualty.[6] In ITV's daytime legal drama series Crown Court, he played Barrister Jonathan Fry.[7]

Gallagher's numerous other TV credits include that of a Desk Sergeant in the second episode of the hard-hitting 1970s British police drama The Sweeney (episode entitled: Jackpot), Heartbeat and its sister programme The Royal (although he played different characters), Bergerac, Bad Girls, Wycliffe, Midsomer Murders and London's Burning.[8]

In rare comedic roles he played Arthur, the Holiday Camp manager in Oh No, It's Selwyn Froggitt!, DS Lang in the "Photographs" episode of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and Mr. Glockenspiel in the "Alternative Culture" episode of The Thin Blue Line.[9][10][11]

Gallagher also portrayed keen gardener Bill Molesley in ITV's Downton Abbey (2010-2013); and Enfield in The Duchess of Duke Street (series 2, episode 12).[4][12]