David Neal

David Neal (13 February 1932 – 27 June 2000) was a popular British television actor, active in the 1960s through the 1990s. He is chiefly remembered for a prolific range of supporting roles in major productions.

Multiple supporting roles in popular television

Although very rarely cast in a lead role, David Neal had significant supporting roles in episodes of a great range of highly popular British television series, including Softly, Softly, Z-Cars, Doctor Who, Inspector Morse, Poirot, The Bill, Wycliffe and Noah's Castle. He also did radio voice work.

Classical acting

David Neal worked in a broad range of roles during his career. In 1970 he took a major supporting role (Cinna) in the all-star feature film of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar (which starred Charlton Heston, Christopher Lee, Richard Chamberlain, Diana Rigg and Sir John Gielgud). A few years later (in 1979) he secured another significant supporting role as Richard le Scrope, Archbishop of York in both Henry IV, Part 1 and Henry IV, Part 2 in the BBC's major 'complete works of Shakespeare' series of television films.

The Flockton Flyer

Although not remembered for lead roles, an exception is the 1970s' children's television production The Flockton Flyer, written by Peter Whitbread, in which David Neal starred as the principal character, Bob Carter. The programme ran to two series, with an associated paperback novel.

Filmography

• The Cut-Throats (1969) - German Officer in Convoy
• Julius Caesar (1970) - Cinna the Conspirator
• Superman (1978) - 7th Elder (Krypton Council)
• Flash Gordon (1980) - Captain of Ming's Air Force
• M. Butterfly (1993) - Judge
• Feast of July (1995) - Mitchy Mitchell