Michael Keating (actor)

Last updated
Michael Keating
Michael Keating.jpg
Michael Keating at the Blake's 7 series 2 DVD launch, 2005
Born
Michael Frank Keating

(1947-02-10) 10 February 1947 (age 78)
Edmonton, Middlesex, England
Occupation Actor
Years active1966–present
Known for Vila Restal in Blake's 7
Reverend Stevens in EastEnders

Michael Keating (born 10 February 1947) is an English actor. He is best known for his role as Vila Restal in the science fiction television series Blake's 7 (1978-1981), and as Reverend George Stevens in EastEnders (2005-2017).

Contents

Career

Keating was born in Edmonton, London, and his acting career began in 1966. [1] One of his earlier notable roles was as Goudry in a 1977 Doctor Who story, entitled The Sun Makers . Just over a month later, Keating first appeared in the role of Vila Restal in the BBC TV series Blake's 7 , which aired from 1978 to 1981. [2] Vila Restal was the only character to appear in all fifty-two episodes of the series. In 1981, Keating appeared in an episode of the BBC sitcom Yes Minister titled The Death List , playing the role of Police Constable Ross. [3]

Some years later Michael Keating reunited with his Blake's 7 co-star Gareth Thomas, in an episode of the BBC drama series Casualty . [3] In 2004, Keating returned to the Doctor Who franchise, guest starring as Major Koth in the Big Finish Productions audio adventure The Twilight Kingdom . [2] In 2006, he starred in another Doctor Who audio adventure, this time as Inspector Chardalot in Year of the Pig . In 2009, he had a brief role in the BBC one-off drama Micro Men about the rise of the British home computer market in the late 1970s and early 1980s. [2]

Recent career

From 2005 to 2017, Keating played Reverend Stevens in the BBC soap opera EastEnders . [1] He appeared as a recurring character, usually for a single episode or a few episodes at a time, in connection with another character's christening, marriage, or funeral, or relating to regular churchgoer Dot Branning (June Brown). [2]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1970 Julius Caesar Plebeian #2
2009 Micro Men Derek HolleyTV movie

Television

[3] [2]

YearTitleRoleNotes
1969 Special Branch Det. Constable Pearce
1971Merry-Go-RoundSaxon PrisonerEpisode: "The Raven and the Cross 1", TV Documentary
1972 Doomwatch Stephen GriggEpisode: "Enquiry"
1972 Omnibus DanteEpisode: "Max Beerbohm Remembers", TV documentary
1973The Dragon's OpponentFirst mateEpisode: "The Drawn Sword", historical miniseries
1977 Doctor Who GoudrySerial: The Sun Makers
1978-1981 Blake's 7 Vila Restal52 episodes
1980The Dawson WatchTBA2 episodes: "The Future" & "Holidays", sci-fi comedy
1981 Yes Minister Constable RossEpisode: "The Death List"
1983Paul Squire, EsqTBAEpisode: "1.6", sketch and variety show
1986 Rainbow Detective Inspector FrostEpisode: "Detectives"
1988King & CastleInspector BellEpisode: "Floppy Discs", crime drama
1989 The Play on One Daniel / Charlie2 episodes: "Clowns" & "These Foolish Things"
1989 Capital City Estate agentEpisode: "Thanksgiving"
1990 The Two of Us Police sergeantEpisode: "Dangers in the Night"
1990 London's Burning A. C. O. HowardEpisode "3.7", role uncredited
1991 Kinsey MurrayEpisode: "The Authentic Voice... Little Miss Goosestep"
1993 Between the Lines Police Federation Rep.Episode: "Some Must Watch"
1994True CrimesReenactmentEpisode: "The Deepest Secret", TV documentary
1994 The Bill Geoff TilsonEpisode: "Menace"
1995, 2000 Casualty Graham Wingate / Pat Sadler2 episodes: "Bringing It All Back Home" & "States of Shock"
2005-2013, 2015-2017 EastEnders Reverend George Stevens54 episodes
2009 Midsomer Murders Derek PainterEpisode: "The Dogleg Murders"

Radio and CD audio dramas

YearTitleRoleNotes
1998-1999Blake's 7Vila Restal2 stories: "The Sevenfold Crown" & "The Syndeton Experiment"
1999-2000Soldiers of LoveMydas Mydasson5 episodes, sci-fi comedy
2004, 2006 Doctor Who: The Monthly Adventures Major Koth / Inspector Chardalot2 serials: The Twilight Kingdom & Year of the Pig
2010 Graceless Earl KreekpoltSeries 1
2010Blake's 7: A Rebellion RebornVila RestalEpisode: "When Vila Met Gan"
2012-2016Blake's 7: The Liberator ChroniclesVila Restal/Narrator14 episodes
2013-2020Blake's 7: The Classic AdventuresVila Restal34 episodes
2014 Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor Adventures CalvertSerial: The Evil One
2021-2022The Worlds of Blake's 7Vila Restal3 episodes

References

  1. 1 2 Feast Creative – The Narrow Road Company. "Michael Keating". narrowroad.co.uk.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Interview with Michael Keating". bbc.co.uk. 14 January 2004.
  3. 1 2 3 "Michael Keating: Credit Listings". tv.com. Retrieved 5 April 2009.