David Daker, the actor best known for playing Harry Crawford in the ITV drama series Boon, has died at the age of 90. He passed away on 30 April, but his family chose not to release the news until this weekend. No cause of death was provided.
Career Highlights
Daker appeared in numerous British television staples over his lengthy career. He played Gordon Lewis Basil Griffin in Coronation Street across 31 episodes from 1968 to 1985, often sharing scenes with Rovers Return landlady Bet Lynch (Julie Goodyear). In Doctor Who, he portrayed Irongron in The Time Warrior and Captain Rigg in Nightmare of Eden. He also appeared in the sitcoms Only Fools and Horses as Tommy Mackay, who gets into a fight with Del Boy (David Jason), and Porridge.
Early Life and Breakthrough
Born the youngest of five children in Bilston, Daker developed a passion for performing early on, but his parents encouraged him to pursue a steady profession. He trained as a draughtsman with a company making water softeners, but quickly quit to pursue acting. He began his career in 1964 with a single-episode appearance in Detective and got his big break through the police drama Z-Cars, playing Owen Culshaw.
Later Roles and Personal Life
His final appearance was a guest role in the hospital drama Holby City in 2009. He also appeared in Doctors, Heartbeat, and Midsomer Murders. In 1957, he married Stella Newton, and they had a son, Tim, and a daughter, Pippa, who had multiple sclerosis and died in 1997.
Tributes
Fans paid tribute on social media. One wrote on X: "Very sad to learn of the death of David Daker. I first knew him as Spiker in Dick Turpin... Sad news. A terrific, natural actor." Another said: "Genuinely gutted David Daker has passed away, superb actor and loved him in Boon... He appeared in Dr Who twice, & worked in such TV as Porridge, Rising Damp, Minder, Z Cars, Moonfleet, The Woman In Black, Boon & Hallelujah! He also played Kevin's Dad in Time Bandits." A third wrote: "Farewell, David Daker, who was a great Boon to any drama he appeared in, including Doctor Who. Who else could pull off the line 'Ooooooooh... MICE!' like that?"
