‘Blake’s 7’ Star Dead at 78
The star of the classic British sci-fi show “Blake’s 7” has passed away.
Paul Darrow, who passed away on June 3, became a sci-fi legend playing Kerr Avon, the cynical computer expert on the starship Liberator, in a group of revolutionaries fighting the evil Terran Federation.
“Blake’s 7” aired from from 1978 to 1981 on the BBC. It was created by Terry Nation, who also created the Daleks for “Doctor Who.”
Darrow’s character of Kerr Avon became the series’ lead character after actor Gareth Thomas, who played Roj Blake, left after the second season. He made such an impression as the character, he often played sci-fi roles the rest of his career. “It opened a lot of doors for me – closed a lot as well,” he once said. “But I went through the ones that were open.”
Born Paul Valentine Birkby in Surrey on May 2, 1941 in Surrey, England, his family later moved to London and grew up there. He shared an apartment with John Hurt and Ian McShane in the 1960s while he worked as a stage actor. He married actress Janet Lees-Price in 1966, and they stayed married until her death in 2012.
In the 1970s, he played a variety of TV roles, including the Sheriff of Nottingham in the 1975 serial “The Legend of Robin Hood.” He also appeared in “The Poisoning of Charles Bravo” in 1975 and “Hess” in 1978.
In 1978, however, “Blake’s 7” came calling.
In 2002, Darrow was part of a group that bought the rights to “Blake’s 7” after the death of Terry Nation. There were plans for a mini-series sequel, however, he dropped out of the plans later, citing “artistic differences.” In 2014, an aortic aneurysm caused Darrow’s legs to be amputated.
Darrow is survived by his partner, Maureen Marrs.
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Source: The Independent
