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Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

28

Gender

Male

Birthday

1943-11-24

Day of Death

2021-08-09 (78 years old)

Place of Birth

Leslie, Fife, Scotland, UK

Also Known As

Ken Hutchinson

Aitken Hutchison

Ken Hutchison

Biography

One of the most brilliant character actors of his generation, Hollywood's loss was British television's gain with Ken Hutchison. Born in Scotland, his handsome features and cheeky expression guaranteed him a career in character roles, but his dangerous streak led him early in his career into dark, villainous roles. He was cast by Sam Peckinpah as one of the sinister villagers of Straw Dogs (1971), raping Susan George and participating in the film's closing violent siege. Peckinpah took to the actor, and the pair indulged in their love of drinking throughout the shoot, often to the frustration of those around them. Hutchison was soon offered a role in the Robert Mitchum film The Wrath of God (1972) but this was his one and only shot at the big time. Quite what went wrong is open to debate. Some say he was wary of success and got cold feet. Whether that is true or not, what certainly didn't help was his unruly behaviour which made studio execs nervous of casting him again. He returned to Britain and continued his career as an anonymous but astounding character actor. He appeared in two of John Mackenzie's Play For Today films based on Peter McDougall scripts. In Play for Today: Just Another Saturday (1975) he played the head thug of the Orange Lodge, and in Play for Today: Just a Boys' Game (1979) he played Dancer Dunnichy, an irresponsible rogue who lived for drinking and dodging responsibility, a character that seemed to echo his offscreen persona. Hutchison was a stalwart of British TV crime series at this time, appearing in series such as Shoestring (1979), Target (1977) and Jemima Shore Investigates (1983) as well as The Sweeney (1974). In fact he also played the lead villain in the movie Sweeney 2 (1978), but the script allowed him precious little opportunity to shown off his skills as an actor. In 1978 the BBC cast him as Heathcliff in a serialisation of Wuthering Heights (1978) and he brilliantly captured the rough magic of the character. In the 80s he was seen less, although he had a regular role as the boss in children's series Murphy's Mob (1982). Since then he has appeared inevitably in shows like The Bill (1984). His great strength is an incredible ability with accents, and super comic timing, but he is also excellent at conveying menace. A riveting screen presence, Hutchison is long overdue for recognition as a treasure for British drama, a talent which his own country has rarely recognised.

Known For

Acting

Straw Dogs

1971

Straw Dogs

as

Norman Scutt

Ladyhawke

1985

Ladyhawke

as

Marquet

The Wrath of God

1972

The Wrath of God

as

Emmet Keogh

Deadly Strangers

1975

Deadly Strangers

as

Jim Nicholls

Blonde Fist

1991

Blonde Fist

as

John O'Dowd

Red Shift

1978

Red Shift

as

Logan

Just a Boys' Game

1979

Just a Boys' Game

as

Dancer Dunnichy

Gandhi

1982

Gandhi

as

Police Sergeant

Sweeney 2

1978

Sweeney 2

as

Hill

As an Eilean

1993

As an Eilean

as

MacAlasdair

Milner

1994

Milner

as

Ronald Jesson

Mantrap – Straw Dogs: The Final Cut

2003

Mantrap – Straw Dogs: The Final Cut

as

Self - Actor / Norman Scutt

The World Cup: A Captain's Tale

1982

The World Cup: A Captain's Tale

as

Jimmy Dickenson

A Gift from Nessus

1980

A Gift from Nessus

as

Eddie Cameron

I Am a Groupie

1970

I Am a Groupie

as

Colin

The Sweeney

The Sweeney

as

Vincent Vaughan

Minder

Minder

as

Brickett

Casualty

Casualty

as

Mr. Draper

Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights

as

Heathcliff

Masada

Masada

as

Fronto

Space: 1999

Space: 1999

as

Greg Sanderson

The Protectors

The Protectors

as

Mark Jenner

Hamish Macbeth

Hamish Macbeth

as

Harry Dobbs

Production

Crew

Directing