Dursley McLinden

Dursley James McLinden (29 May 1965 – 7 August 1995) was a Manx actor whose career was mostly focused on the London stage in musicals such as The Phantom of the Opera, Gigi (Lyric Theatre, 1985) and Follies.

Dursley McLinden
Born
Dursley James McLinden

(1965-05-29)29 May 1965
Douglas, Isle of Man
Died7 August 1995(1995-08-07) (aged 30)
London, England
OccupationActor
Years active1988–1995

He appeared in the title role in the 1988 film Just Ask for Diamond. His television roles included a 1988 appearance in Doctor Who as Sgt Mike Smith in the story Remembrance of the Daleks.

Early life

At the age of eight, McLinden made his first stage appearance at Willaston School, playing the dame in Dick Whittington.[1] Aged 16, he left his home in Douglas and trained as an actor at the Mountview Theatre School in Peckham.[2]

Death

Falling ill in 1988, McLinden was diagnosed with HIV AIDS in 1990.[2] As a result, he raised money for West End Cares, the theatrical arm of Aids charity Crusaid.[3] The actor continued working up until a few weeks before his death at the age of 30.[4] His death was attributed to AIDS.[5]

The 2021 AIDS drama It's a Sin contains a tribute to McLinden, by way of series lead Ritchie Tozer (Olly Alexander) appearing in a fictional Doctor Who story called Regression of the Daleks where he plays the character Trooper Linden. It's A Sin writer Russell T Davies met McLinden through a mutual friend.[6]

Other appearances

References
  1. Dursley McLinden obituary - the Doctor Who Cuttings Archive
  2. Fordy, Tom (28 January 2021). "The real Ritchie: Dursley McLinden, the Doctor Who actor whose tragic end inspired It's a Sin". The Telegraph.
  3. It's a Sin: Remembering lost friends
  4. Granger, Derek (12 August 1995). "OBITUARY: Dursley McLinden, The Independent". London. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  5. Garner, Clare (26 November 1995). "Arts suffer most as Aids rages on". The Independent. London. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  6. "Russell T Davies filmed a surprise Doctor Who scene for new drama It's A Sin". Radio Times. Retrieved 25 January 2021.


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