Why was the Original Series a career killer for so many?

[Rich Watson]

It's easy to look at the cast and see how many, or rather how few, had successful long term acting careers but the same is true for people behind the camera as well.

Eric Saward never worked in TV again. Nor Chris Bidmead. Malcolm Hulke's only post-Who credit was a couple of epidodes of 'Crossroads'. And they're just a few examples off the top of my head.

Was the series so looked down on in the industry that it was an active discouragement to getting hired?

 

[DonIago]

It's easy to look at the cast and see how many, or rather how few, had successful long term acting careers but the same is true for people behind the camera as well.

Eric Saward never worked in TV again. Nor Chris Bidmead. Malcolm Hulke's only post-Who credit was a couple of epidodes of 'Crossroads'. And they're just a few examples off the top of my head.

Was the series so looked down on in the industry that it was an active discouragement to getting hired?

Is there anything to indicate that that's an exception rather than the norm? I have no idea personally, but I'm sure there's plenty of people who work in TV a handful of times and then rarely or never again.

 

[VDCNI]

Yes do we know that it was or is it just that we know the people working in Who more than the many many other series out there.

Hulke died in 1979 so didn't have a huge amount of time to do more. Neither Saward or Bidmead had much TV experience pre-Who did they so maybe they were just lucky to get the Who job at all.

 

[jaime]

Bidmead became an IT journalist, and did just fine.

 

[wayoung]

I mean, you can pick any tv series and pull out a ton of people who appeared on it and didn't have much of a film/tv acting career before or after.

 

[StalwartUK]

Was the series so looked down on in the industry that it was an active discouragement to getting hired?

I wouldn't be surprised if it was at the time. I mean even now you'll often see Doctor Who referred to (at least here in the UK) as a kiddie show. Being Sci-fi probably did it no real favors either as that sort of stuff was looked down on by the BBC for years.

A lot of the people working on it were either up and coming types getting their first break in the industry or older ones who weren't as bothered by the stigma of a kids sci-fi show.

 

[arch101]

You mean a career killer for appearances on shows you see in the US like DR Who? If you look on Britbox, there are literally thousands of appearances by Dr Who actors in numerous episodes and series over the decades. Many of which just never got much play here. Most actors to appear on Dr Who have enjoyed whole careers as paid actors.

 

[jaime]

They always dig out snake dance for poor old Martin Clunes.

 

[Starkers]

You mean a career killer for appearances on shows you see in the US like DR Who? If you look on Britbox, there are literally thousands of appearances by Dr Who actors in numerous episodes and series over the decades. Many of which just never got much play here. Most actors to appear on Dr Who have enjoyed whole careers as paid actors.

Yeah Frazer Hines (20+ years on Emmerdale), Louise Jameson (Tenko, Bergerac, Eastenders, Emmerdale), Bonnie Langford (even setting aside all the TV stuff she's done over the years there's her stage career).

Even looking at someone like Sophie Aldred, while her career hasn't emulated those above she's always worked, even if a lot of it was voice over work, and then you have those like Wendy Padbury and Janet Fielding who stepped back from acting roles and became agents, or Mark Strickson who moved into producing/directing.

And whilst trying not to be unkind, rather than a career killer, for many jobbing actors the show was a career pinnacle. I know a lot of people think he was being unduly harsh, but let's be honest, Moffat kinda had a point when he said there was a reason why Peter Davison continued to work at such a consistently high level when a lot of other actors didn't.

 

[Captaindemotion]

They always dig out snake dance for poor old Martin Clunes.

Men Dancing Badly

 

[diankra]

Yeah Frazer Hines (20+ years on Emmerdale), Louise Jameson (Tenko, Bergerac, Eastenders, Emmerdale), Bonnie Langford (even setting aside all the TV stuff she's done over the years there's her stage career).

Even looking at someone like Sophie Aldred, while her career hasn't emulated those above she's always worked, even if a lot of it was voice over work, and then you have those like Wendy Padbury and Janet Fielding who stepped back from acting roles and became agents, or Mark Strickson who moved into producing/directing.

And whilst trying not to be unkind, rather than a career killer, for many jobbing actors the show was a career pinnacle. I know a lot of people think he was being unduly harsh, but let's be honest, Moffat kinda had a point when he said there was a reason why Peter Davison continued to work at such a consistently high level when a lot of other actors didn't.

90% of actors are unemployed. From people I knew via a corridor mate studying drama at uni, one has been in Tron 2, Tudors, Gotham and Discovery, a friend of Molly's starred in Doc Martin, and I've never seen a credit for anyone else... even though some then seemed more talented.

 

[Starkers]

90% of actors are unemployed. From people I knew via a corridor mate studying drama at uni, one has been in Tron 2, Tudors, Gotham and Discovery, a friend of Molly's starred in Doc Martin, and I've never seen a credit for anyone else... even though some then seemed more taalented.

As with any artistic endeavour while talent and dedication are necessary, a dose of luck is sadly also usually required. I'm always amazed at some people with clear talent make it and some don't (and how some without talent somehow make it!) I was listening to a podcast that was talking about Pamela Salem and I agree with what they were saying, given everything it's irritating she didn't become a bigger star than she did. But maybe if Never Say Never Again had done better, or she'd snagged a role in something like Tenko.

 

[Marc]

As with any artistic endeavour while talent and dedication are necessary, a dose of luck is sadly also usually required. I'm always amazed at some people with clear talent make it and some don't (and how some without talent somehow make it!) I was listening to a podcast that was talking about Pamela Salem and I agree with what they were saying, given everything it's irritating she didn't become a bigger star than she did. But maybe if Never Say Never Again had done better, or she'd snagged a role in something like Tenko.

Not sure that that Never Say Never Again being bigger might have helped given her fairly minor role but I guess it would have been something people remembered her for like Lois Maxwell who had many other roles but is only really known for Moneypenny.

Toos in Robots of Death might have been the role that probably brought her the most exposure with speculation in the UK media at the time she would become one of the Doctor's companions.

Janet Fielding auditioned for Tenko but didn't make it as they felt her body shape was wrong for a show about women in a Japanese prison camp.

Jacqueline Pearce is another one who could have been so much bigger but by her own admission was brought down by substance issues and some bad relationship choices.

 

[Starkers]

I hadn't heard that about Janet and Tenko but have just looked it up and FFS!

I think Jacqui suffered from depression a lot as well which didn't help.

 

[diankra]

As the comment goes about nepotism in acting, parentage doesn't get you the part but it does help with getting the audition.

 

[jaime]

Friend of mines drama teacher was in Tenko. As they reminded me. As the teacher reminded them. So it was hardly a guarantee of fame and fortune.
On the other hand, it means Janet could have ended up as Martin Clunes aunt, after a stint in an old people’s home, had her career gone differently — she would have seen him in practice rather than a skirt and lippy.

 

[diankra]

Not sure that that Never Say Never Again being bigger might have helped given her fairly minor role but I guess it would have been something people remembered her for like Lois Maxwell who had many other roles but is only really known for Moneypenny.

Toos in Robots of Death might have been the role that probably brought her the most exposure with speculation in the UK media at the time she would become one of the Doctor's companions.

Janet Fielding auditioned for Tenko but didn't make it as they felt her body shape was wrong for a show about women in a Japanese prison camp.

Jacqueline Pearce is another one who could have been so much bigger but by her own admission was brought down by substance issues and some bad relationship choices.

Similar thing happened on Survivors. Wanda Ventham looked too well fed for Abby.

 

[diankra]

As with any artistic endeavour while talent and dedication are necessary, a dose of luck is sadly also usually required. I'm always amazed at some people with clear talent make it and some don't (and how some without talent somehow make it!) I was listening to a podcast that was talking about Pamela Salem and I agree with what they were saying, given everything it's irritating she didn't become a bigger star than she did. But maybe if Never Say Never Again had done better, or she'd snagged a role in something like Tenko.

Yep. My writing career basically was Who YOU Know. A friend said too busy, but I know someone who can. Once done a good job you keep getting asked. But the initial intro is difficult without friends.

 

[diankra]

Not sure that that Never Say Never Again being bigger might have helped given her fairly minor role but I guess it would have been something people remembered her for like Lois Maxwell who had many other roles but is only really known for Moneypenny.

Toos in Robots of Death might have been the role that probably brought her the most exposure with speculation in the UK media at the time she would become one of the Doctor's companions.

Janet Fielding auditioned for Tenko but didn't make it as they felt her body shape was wrong for a show about women in a Japanese prison camp.

Jacqueline Pearce is another one who could have been so much bigger but by her own admission was brought down by substance issues and some bad relationship choices.

Ages back, so probablyno longer holds, but she asked me to have dinner next time I was in LA.
This was when Into the Labyrinth came out, and she'd just played the UK PM on West Wing.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Sad to se that Pamela Salem has died at the age of 80
https://amp.theguardian.com/film/20...tor-pamela-salem-miss-moneypenny-dies-aged-80