ACTRESS JACQUELINE PEARCE DIES AGED 77

Extremely sad to hear of the passing of Jacqueline Pearce tonight . . Pearce always held a certain authority and glamour to any of the roles that she played in the fantasy genre. After her training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, alongside Anthony Hopkins and John Hurt, she appeared in episodes of tv's Danger Man and The Avengers, as well as children’s dramas 'Moondial and Dark Season', written by Russell T Davies.

Alongside her role in Blake’s 7, which was expanded from a single episode to a regular role over four series due to her popularity, Pearce was also known for her guest role as Chessene in The Two Doctors episodes of Doctor Who in 1985, opposite Colin Baker’s version of the Time Lord. 

After relocating to South Africa for several years, initially to care for orphaned monkeys, Pearce returned to the UK in 2015. Her autobiography, From Byfleet to the Bush, was published in 2012. Pearce also worked with Peter Cushing in an episode of ITC's THE ZOO GANG, as Brigitte Gautier in The Counterfeit Trap in 1974.

Her work in tv was certainly prolific. She will also be remembered for her roles with Hammer films in 'The Reptile' and 'Plague of the Zombies' both in 1966.

COMMENTS and tributes are being shared and posted by friends and followers at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE NOW . .

UNDEAD CASH 1984 AND THE DEVIL HOUND! REMEMBERING ACTOR ANDRE MORELL : BORN TODAY 1909!

TODAY WE REMEMBER ACTOR ANDRE MORELL, born on this day in 1909. A celebrated actor whose career had more than a few teamings with Peter Cushing and the fantasy genre.In 1938, Morell joined the Old Vic theatre company, and appeared in several of their high-profile productions both at their home theatre and on tour throughout Britain and across the rest of the world, appearing with both Alec Guinness and John Gielgud.' He kick-started his association with 'creepy cinema' with Cushing as Sherlock Holmes, and playing Arthur Conan Doyle's character Doctor John H. Watson, in Hammer Film Productions' version of The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959). In 1960. He played Captain Edward Manningham in 'Cone of Silence' in 1960 also starring Cushing, Michael Craig and Bernard Lee. His wonderful portrayal as the 'bounder' Colonel Gore-Hepburn in Hammer's 'Cash on Demand' in 1961 makes very entertaining viewing, as he piles the pressure on Cushing's tormented bank manger, Harry Fordyce and 65 as Haumeid in Hammer's 'She'..with rather odd dubbing.

THERE WERE OTHER VERY GOOD HORRORS and thrillers too, Hammer's 'Plague of the Zombies' in 66 and the rather limp 'THE MUMMY'S SHROUD' again for Hammer in 1967, along with Michael Ripper's Longbarrow, one of the few times where supporting actors are more interesting then the central 'monster'. But, his stand out performance with Cushing, for me has to be in the BBC live televised production of George Orwell's '1984', as the chillingly good O'Brien. It's interesting that Morell played a very good Prof Quatermass in the BBC Quatermass tv series (1958-59) but when offered the role of the Prof in Hammer's 'Quatermass and the Pit' in 1967, turned it down.

OUR FULL FEATURE REVIEW WITH GALLERY of 'CASH ON DEMAND' starring Peter Cushing and Andre Morell : HERE!

ABOVE: ANDRE MORELL IN PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES'

MORELL ALWAYS LOOKED very at home in Hammer's early horrors, but inside personally felt a little more than embarrassed by the subject matter of some of the films, and often forbid his family to actually see them at the local cinema. By all accounts, a rather private man, but very generous on screen and made an outstanding contribution to some of Hammer and Cushing's best work.

COME COMMENT DEBATE AND CELEBRATE at the FACEBOOK PCASUK FAN PAGE TODAY! 

ACTOR JOHN CARSON 1927 - 2016

Very sad to hear of the passing of actor John Carson today . . .for Hammer fans he will be remembered for his performances in The Plague of the Zombies, Taste the Blood of Dracula and Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter. His last professional role was for Donald Fearney, in his Amicus films documentary, 'The Amicus Vault of Horrors' last year . . .

CARSON AS SQUIRE HAMILTON IN HAMMER'S 'PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES'

John Carson with Peter in the BBC broadcast of 'CAVES OF STEEL' in 1964. All that remains of the production are just a few minutes, saved because they were included in another BBC programme a few years after the play's initial broadcast...after which the play was wiped. . .

John Carson and  Horst Janson in Hammer films, 'Captain Kronos, Vampire Hunter' 1974.