Paul Darrow

Paul Darrow
Photo by Tim Drury
Born	Paul Valentine Birkby (1941-05-02) 2 May 1941 (age 75) Chessington, Surrey, England, UK
Spouse(s)	Janet Lees Price 19 April 1943 - 22 May 2012 (her death, aged 69)
Website	http://www.avon-paul-darrow.co.uk

Paul Darrow (born Paul Valentine Birkby on 2 May 1941) is an English actor best known for his portrayal of Kerr Avon in the BBC science fiction television series Blake's 7. He also guest starred twice on Doctor Who, playing Captain Hawkins in the serial Doctor Who and the Silurians which was transmitted in 1970 and Maylin Tekker in the serial Timelash which was transmitted in 1985.

Darrow was born in Surrey, England, and was educated at The Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School, before studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

The popularity of his role as Avon has tended to overshadow his extensive work in theatre and television. He also plays the character of Kaston Iago in the Kaldor City audios. He appeared in all but the first episode of Blake's 7.

Darrow's other TV appearances include: Emergency – Ward 10, The Saint, Z-Cars, Dixon of Dock Green, Within These Walls, as the Sheriff of Nottingham in the 1975 BBC series The Legend of Robin Hood, as Mr. Tallboy in the 1973 TV adaptation of Dorothy L. Sayers' Murder Must Advertise, as Thomas Doughty in the TV film Drake's Venture, Dombey and Son, Maelstrom, Making News, Pie in the Sky, Hollyoaks and Little Britain. He provided the voiceover for Biblical quotations in Richard Dawkins's The Root of All Evil?. He was also the presenter of the 2004 BBC3 reality TV series Hercules. His film credits are few but include roles as doctors in The Raging Moon (1971) and the Bond movie Die Another Day (2002).