Michael Napier Brown

Michael Patrick Napier Brown (17 March 1937 – 18 August 2016) was a British actor, theatre director, and playwright who was the chief executive and artistic director of the Royal Theatre in Northampton for over 20 years.

Born in Bournemouth, Napier Brown was the fifth and youngest child of Bessie and Arthur Napier Brown. His siblings are Betty, David, Margaret and Vera. He was educated at Bournemouth Grammar School for Boys where he developed a love for theatre and took part in various school productions. In 1953 he began a career in journalism with the Bournemouth Daily Echo while continuing to take part in amateur dramatics. From 1955 to 1957 he served his National Service with the Royal Air Force and on leaving the RAF he won a place at The Hampshire School of Drama, washing up in a Forte's restaurant in the mornings to pay for his drama lessons. In 1958 Napier Brown won 'Most Promising Actor', the prize for which was a small silver cup, an agent and a summer season at Guernsey.

He joined The Penguin Players in 1959, meeting his wife Vilma Hollingbery in the same year, and marrying her in 1961 at Eastbourne. From 1959 to 1964 the couple acted together in over 200 plays. It was during this period that he began directing for the first time

Napier Brown's television appearances include Julius Caesar for the BBC (1963), Les Misérables (1967), The Golden Shot (1968), the Doctor Who story The War Games (1969), The Borderers (1970), Ivanhoe (1970), Doctor in the House (1970), The Troubleshooters (1970), Casanova '73 (1973), Doctor on the Go (1975), The Dick Emery Show (1976–79), Secret Army (1977), 1990 (1977), Happy Ever After (1978) and Terry and June (1980).

...
Wikipedia