Tony Haygarth

Life and career

After leaving Liverpool College, Haygarth worked unsuccessfully in 1963 as a lifeguard in Torquay, and also tried escapology, equally unsuccessfully. Other jobs included psychiatric nursing and he was an amateur actor before turning professional and appearing in repertory theatre, followed by the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.

Haygarth made his film debut in the comedy film Percy (1971), and from then on played many roles in police and historical dramas, as well as situation comedies. He was normally cast as a solid, reliable character with a down-to-earth attitude. From 1977-1981 he played PC Wilmot in Roy Clarke's series Rosie. He played Milo Renfield in Dracula (1979) opposite Frank Langella, Donald Pleasence and Laurence Olivier.

Haygarth played the title role in Kinvig (1981), a science-fiction comedy series produced by London Weekend Television, the swindling but loveable Sanchez in Farrington of the F.O. (1986–87) and in 2005 appeared in the television adaptation of Under the Greenwood Tree. He also played leading character Vic Snow in the ITV series Where the Heart Is from 1997 to 2002.

Haygarth's work in theatre included The Tempest and Twelve Angry Men in 1996, for both of which he was nominated for Laurence Olivier Theatre Awards for Best Actor in a Supporting Role; he was also the author of several plays. He won the Clarence Derwent Award for Simpatico (1995). His first play, "The Lie", dealt with the death of Shakespeare's rival Christopher Marlowe.

His films included Chicken Run and Fakers. In 2008, he played Alfred Doolittle in the Old Vic's Production of Pygmalion. In November 2008 he joined the cast of Emmerdale as Mick Naylor. In 2010 he appeared in the London production of Little Voice, as "Mr Boo". He appeared in the role of Peter Cooper in an episode of 'New Tricks' (BBC1) (Series 8: 10 - Tiger Tiger) first shown 5 Sept 2011.

Other interests

Haygarth was also a scholar of Shakespeare's Dark Lady, an unidentified character in the Sonnets. He analysed a Nicholas Hilliard portrait, Mistress Holland, concluding that it is in fact of Emilia Lanier, a candidate for the identity of The Dark Lady. His play Dark Meaning Mouse features Emilia, Shakespeare and Simon Forman.

Death and family

Haygarth died from Alzheimer's disease on 10 March 2017 at his home in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. At the time of his death, he was separated from his marriage to Carol Haygarth with whom they had two daughters, Katie and Becky.