John Scott Martin was born on the 1st of April 1926 in Toxteth, Liverpool, lived in Pecksniff Street and was a chorister at St Philemon's Church, Admiral Street, Toxteth. After service with the Gordon Highlanders in Holland and Germany, he joined the Liverpool Grand Opera Company but it was in panto at the Liverpool Empire that he began a solo career that would finish with the comedy drama, 'Mine All Mine' (2004), in which he played Rico Vivaldi, father of Max - Griff Rhys Jones - who has a document proving that his ancestors were the ancient rulers of Swansea. He had gone on to appear in West End musicals including 'Kismet', 'Oliver!'and 'The Streets of London' and played the rabbi opposite Topol in 'Fiddler on the Roof' at Manchester Opera House. He made his television debut in 1958 on 'BBC Sunday-Night Theatre' and appeared on the small screen many times, including 4 episodes of 'Maigret' (1960-62), and 2 episodes of 'No Hiding Place' (1961-63). While he was never more than a small-part actor he was in constant demand appearing as a barman in 3 episodes of 'The Likely Lads' (1962-63). He appeared in 10 episodes of the police series 'Z-Cars' (1964-78) and 'Softly Softly' (1966-75), playing different characters each time, and appeared in anything from contemporary plays to sitcoms and costume dramas such as 5 episodes of 'The Two Ronnies' (1973-76). However his main employment came as a Dalek in 'Doctor Who' (1965-88) as he crouched inside the robot for 110 episodes between 1964 and 1980, trying to exterminate five Doctors. It was so hot inside the Dalek model he would film scenes dressed in just a T-shirt and swimming trunks. He had also previously played a Zarbi in the show, a huge ant-like creature who captured the first Doctor, William Hartnell. Fans recall that he also auditioned for the role of Davros in 1974 but was unsuccessful, but he did play a living church gargoyle, a mining robot, a Welsh miner, a mutant and a nucleus. Martin led the invading Daleks, moving like mechanical pepperpots, over Westminster Bridge against William Hartnell's Doctor Who.
When Doctor Who was revived under Russell T. Davies, John had said that he would be happy to step into the Dalek costume once more, but he was not required.
Among his films were 'Pink Floyd-The Wall' (1982), 'Monty Python's The Meaning of Life' (1983), 'Little Shop of Horrors' (1986) and 'Ali G Indahouse' (2002). His puckish face and long white hair later featured in the '118 118' Directory Enquiries commercials in which he was the aged 192 marathon runner, panting in a vest and shorts. His final part was as Rico Vivaldi, in the dark BBC comedy series, 'Mine All Mine', in 2004, in which he played Griff Rhys Jones’s father.
Married with a daughter, he settled in Great Maplestead, Essex, where he was a church warden and school governor. The couple had moved to Church Street, Great Maplestead in 1976, from Maida Vale, West London. Away from acting he spent a considerable time as a governor of St Giles Primary School in the village, and about 20 years as church warden at St Giles Church, near his home.
Martin died on the 6th of January, 2009 with his funeral taking place at 12 noon on Saturday the 17th of January at St Giles Church, Great Maplestead, Nr Halstead, Essex. His daughter Catriona Martin wrote in his obituary, "He loved people, he enjoyed village life. As he bravely battled Parkinson's disease, cared for by his devoted wife Margaret, he took great pleasure in following and supporting my acting career. He passed away peacefully, aged 82, on January 6. A perfect gentleman, warm, kind and funny, he will be missed by so many." His widow, Margaret, said: "He had a very varied career and was very fortunate. He called himself a jobbing actor but it was an art in itself with all the different parts he performed."
see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2023/08/a-history-of-liverpool-thespians-robert.html
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