Alfred Lynch

Early life

Lynch was born in Whitechapel, London, the son of a plumber. After attending a Roman Catholic school, he worked in a drawing office as a draughtsman before entering national service. Then, whilst working in a factory, he attended theatre acting evening classes, at which he met his life partner, James Culliford.

Stage

In 1958 he joined the Royal Court Theatre and acted in a number of plays, including original productions of Chicken Soup with Barley and The Kitchen by Arnold Wesker. Lynch also starred in Joan Littlewood’s production of Brendan Behan’s The Hostage in London and New York; in which critic Kenneth Tynan praised his "beautiful playing".

Films

After 1960 his career moved more into film and television, for example appearing with Sean Connery in the 1961 film On the Fiddle and the 1965 film The Hill. He had a sizeable part in the 1963 film 55 Days at Peking sharing scenes with Charlton Heston. He also appeared in the 1968 adaptation of The Sea Gull, and the 1990 film The Krays. Some of his later television credits include reading children's stories on Jackanory, the title role in Hereward the Wake, Manhunt, Going Straight, Pie in the Sky and the Doctor Who serial The Curse of Fenric as Commander Millington.

Death

After Culliford's stroke in 1972, Lynch moved from London to Brighton until Culliford's death in 2002. Lynch died from cancer in 2003.