Murray Melvin, actor known for his roles in Phantom of the Opera and Torchwood, has died. He was 90.

Who was Murray Melvin?

Murray Melvin was an English actor who was born on August 10, 1932.

The actor was recognized for his work with Joan Littlewood, Ken Russell, and Stanley Kubrick, as well as his role in Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood.

Murray was born in St. Pancras, London, on August 10, 1932, to Hugh Victor Melvin and Maisie Winifred, née Driscoll.

Murray graduated from his north London secondary school at fourteen, unable to comprehend fractions but as head prefect, a title he claims he earned by always having clean fingernails and well-combed hair. He began his career as an office boy for a travel agency on Oxford Street.

Murray studied drama, mime, and classical ballet in the evenings at the adjacent City Literary Institute.

He started working with set designer John Bury in October 1957 as an assistant stage manager, theater painter, and general dogsbody before being chosen for his first professional part as the Queen’s Messenger in the Macbeth production that was then in rehearsal.

He performed the title role in the groundbreaking production of Brendan Behan’s The Hostage following the summer vacation in 1958. Both texts were changed throughout rehearsals by Joan Littlewood’s laborious and creative approaches to uncovering the text’s essence and creating a dynamic, perilous theatrical event.

Murray had an appearance in Russell’s Diary of a Nobody for the BBC, which was shot at the Ealing Studios on a set designed for “silent movies.” Other players from Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop, such as Bryan Pringle and Brian Murphy, who later became Russell regulars, appeared alongside Murray, who portrayed Lupin, the rebellious son.

Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World (1966), directed by Ken Russell and starring Vivian Pickles as the titular role, featured a cameo appearance by Murray.

Murray also worked extensively in television, making his 1960 appearance in The Avengers’ premiere episode.

In Shaw’s St. Joan, which Waris Hussein directed in 1966, he played the Dauphin. He performed the roles of Bertold in Michael Hayes’ 1967 Theatre 625 production of Pirandello’s Henry IV, Don Pietro in Peter Hammond’s TV adaptation of The Little World of Don Camillo, and The Hermit in Mai Zetterling’s William Tell. He also acted as the Barber in the 1973 BBC television movie The Adventures of Don Quixote, which was directed by Alvin Rakoff and starred Rex Harrison.