One of Britain's finest products of the stage, film and TV, actor Frank Finlay, he with the dark and handsomely serious-to-mordant looks, was born on August 6, 1926, in Farnworth, England, the son of Josiah, a butcher, and Margaret Finlay. Of English, Irish and Scottish descent, Frank attended St. Gregory the Great School and then was actually training to follow in his father's footsteps as a butcher himself when his side interest in acting eventually won out. He became a member of the Farnworth Little Theatre and met his future wife, Doreen Shepherd, a fellow member at the same time. They married in 1954, had three children , "Beyond Reasonable Doubt" and as the rigid father in the 1992 period production of "The Heiress".
He was awarded the CBE in the 1984 New Years Honours List for his services to drama and was presented with his award by Queen Elizabeth II in February 1984 investiture ceremony.
Did not serve in World War II.
The 9th edition of Halliwells Filmgoers Companion erroneously credits him as having died in 1986.
He played Inspector Lestrade in two unrelated films which featured Sherlock Holmes attempting to solve the Jack the Ripper murders: A Study in Terror and Murder by Decree . Both films featured Anthony Quayle in a supporting role.
He graduated from RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts) in London, England.
An Associate Member of RADA.
A devout Catholic, he belongs to the British Catholic Stage Guild.
Member of Garrick club for many years.
Father of Stephen Finlay , Cathy Finlay and Daniel Finlay.
He has two roles in common with Grard Depardieu : (1) Finlay played Jean Valjean in "Les Misrables" while Depardieu played him in "Les misrables" and Finlay played Porthos in The Three Musketeers , The Four Musketeers and The Return of the Musketeers while Depardieu played him in The Man in the Iron Mask .
Before being cast as Hans Fallanda in Lifeforce , Finlay was considered for the roles of Dr. Armstrong, Dr. Bukovsky and Sir Percy Heseltine.
He was a front runner for the role of Ernst Stavro Blofeld in Diamonds Are Forever before Charles Gray was cast.
He played Inspector Lestrade in A Study in Terror and Murder by Decree and his creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in The Other Side .
He has two roles in common with Peter Cushing , Nigel Davenport and David Warner : (1) Cushing played Professor Van Helsing in Dracula , The Brides of Dracula , Dracula A.D. 1972 , The Satanic Rites of Dracula and The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires , Davenport played him in Dracula , Finlay played him in Count Dracula and Warner played him in "Penny Dreadful" and Davenport played Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in "The Edwardians" {Conan Doyle (#1.4)} , Cushing played him in The Great Houdini , Finlay played him in The Other Side and Warner played him in Houdini .
Inteviewed for Khan in Octopussy.
Considered for De Flores in Doctor Who: Silver Nemsis.
Omitted from 2016 In Memoriam section of clips and stills in the 2016 Oscars was a Oscar Nom for Othello..
He is buried next to his wife, Doreen at Weybridge Cemetery.
