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Ken Hutchison

Ken Hutchison

Actor · 1943 – 2021 · Leslie, Fife, Scotland, UK

One of the most brilliant character actors of his generation, Hollywood's loss was British television's gain with Ken Hutchison. Born in Scotland, his handsome features and cheeky expression guaranteed him a career in character roles, but his dangerous streak led him early in his career into dark, villainous roles. He was cast by Sam Peckinpah as one of the sinister villagers of Straw Dogs (1971), raping Susan George and participating in the film's closing violent siege. Peckinpah took to the actor, and the pair indulged in their love of drinking throughout the shoot, often to the frustration of those around them. Hutchison was soon offered a role in the Robert Mitchum film The Wrath of God (1972) but this was his one and only shot at the big time. Quite what went wrong is open to debate. Some say he was wary of success and got cold feet. Whether that is true or not, what certainly didn't help was his unruly behaviour which made studio execs nervous of casting him again. He returned to Britain and continued his career as an anonymous but astounding character actor. He appeared in two of John Mackenzie's Play For Today films based on Peter McDougall scripts. In Play for Today: Just Another Saturday (1975) he played the head thug of the Orange Lodge, and in Play for Today: Just a Boys' Game (1979) he played Dancer Dunnichy, an irresponsible rogue who lived for drinking and dodging responsibility, a character that seemed to echo his offscreen persona. Hutchison was a stalwart of British TV crime series at this time, appearing in series such as Shoestring (1979), Target (1977) and Jemima Shore Investigates (1983) as well as The Sweeney (1974). In fact he also played the lead villain in the movie Sweeney 2 (1978), but the script allowed him precious little opportunity to shown off his skills as an actor. In 1978 the BBC cast him as Heathcliff in a serialisation of Wuthering Heights (1978) and he brilliantly captured the rough magic of the character. In the 80s he was seen less, although he had a regular role as the boss in children's series Murphy's Mob (1982). Since then he has appeared inevitably in shows like The Bill (1984). His great strength is an incredible ability with accents, and super comic timing, but he is also excellent at conveying menace. A riveting screen presence, Hutchison is long overdue for recognition as a treasure for British drama, a talent which his own country has rarely recognised.

Series19

  • TV6.2

    Casualty

    1986 · 88 votes

  • TV6.6

    Play for Today

    1970 · 10 votes

  • TV7.1

    Minder

    1979 · 30 votes

  • TV8.1

    The Sweeney

    1975 · 28 votes

  • TV7.0

    ITV Playhouse

    1967 · 3 votes

  • TV7.1

    Space: 1999

    1975 · 166 votes

  • TV6.1

    The Protectors

    1972 · 14 votes

  • TV7.0

    The Chief

    1990 · 2 votes

  • TV7.0

    Target

    1977 · 4 votes

  • TV7.7

    Hamish Macbeth

    1995 · 17 votes

  • TV7.7

    Shoestring

    1979 · 6 votes

  • TV7.3

    Strangers

    1978 · 4 votes

  • TV6.3

    Wuthering Heights

    1978 · 4 votes

  • TV7.1

    Masada

    1981 · 65 votes

  • TV

    99-1

    1994

  • TV7.0

    4 Play

    1989 · 1 votes

  • TV
  • TV7.0

    The Wild West Show

    1975 · 1 votes

  • TV7.0

    Murphy's Mob

    1982 · 2 votes

Movies18

  • Movie7.6

    Gandhi

    1982 · 2.6K votes

  • Movie7.0

    Ladyhawke

    1985 · 1.3K votes

  • Movie7.2

    Straw Dogs

    1971 · 1.1K votes

  • Movie6.7
  • Movie5.5

    The Wrath of God

    1972 · 30 votes

  • Movie4.6

    Blonde Fist

    1991 · 10 votes

  • Movie7.5
  • Movie8.0

    Milner

    1994 · 2 votes

  • Movie7.0
  • Movie9.0

    Just a Boys' Game

    1979 · 2 votes

  • Movie6.2

    Sweeney 2

    1978 · 13 votes

  • Movie3.4

    I Am a Groupie

    1970 · 12 votes

  • Movie7.0
  • Movie7.7

    Red Shift

    1978 · 5 votes

  • Movie8.4

    Just Another Saturday

    1975 · 5 votes

  • Movie5.7

    Deadly Strangers

    1975 · 16 votes

  • Movie10.0

    As an Eilean

    1993 · 1 votes

  • Movie