Anthony Ainley (20 August 1932 - 3 May 2004) was an English actor best known for his work on television and particularly for his role as the Master in Doctor Who, which he took over following the death of Roger Delgado.

He was born in London, England, the son of the actor Henry Ainley

Ainley's swarthy appearance tended to get him parts as villains. Other notable roles include Dietz in the 1975 film version of The Land That Time Forgot , Rev. Emilius in the BBC's adaptation of The Pallisers , Henry Sidney in Elizabeth R, and Clive Hawksworth in Spyder's Web .

Reportedly, it was his performance as Rev. Emilius that led to him being offered the role of the Master by John Nathan-Turner, who had worked on The Pallisers before becoming producer of Doctor Who.

External links

• Obituary in The Guardian
• Obituary in The Independent (requires payment)