Michael Craig

Michael Francis Gregson (born 27 January 1928), known professionally as Michael Craig, is a British-Australian actor and scriptwriter, known for his work in theatre, film and television both in the United Kingdom and in Australia.

Biography

Craig was born Michael Francis Gregson in Poona, British India, the son of Donald Gregson, a captain in the 3rd Indian Cavalry.

Acting career

Craig began his career in the theatre. His first job was as an assistant stage manager at the Castle Theatre, Farnham, in 1950. His stage credits include A Whistle in the Dark (Apollo Theatre, 1961), Wars of the Roses (RSC at Stratford 1963–64), Funny Girl (with Barbra Streisand at the Prince of Wales Theatre 1966), Pinter's The Homecoming (Music Box Theatre, Broadway 1966–67) and the lead role in Trying at the Finborough Theatre in 2008.

Craig began working in films in 1949, as an extra. He was then talent-spotted at the Oxford Playhouse and gained his first speaking part in 1953 in Malta Story. Groomed as a star by the Rank Organisation, he appeared in a number of films, including Campbell's Kingdom (1957), Sea of Sand (1958), The Silent Enemy (1958), Sapphire (1959), Doctor in Love (1960), Cone of Silence (1960), Mysterious Island (1961), The Iron Maiden (1962), Modesty Blaise (1966), Turkey Shoot (1982), Ride a Wild Pony (1975) and Appointment with Death (1988). He received a BAFTA Best actor nomination for his performance in Sea of Sand (1958).

His television credits include Arthur of the Britons (1973), The Emigrants (1976), Rush (1976), The Professionals (1980), Shoestring (1980), The Timeless Land (1980), Triangle (1981–83), Tales of the Unexpected (1982), Robin of Sherwood (1986), Doctor Who (in the serial Terror of the Vervoids 1986), the Australian series G.P. (1989–95), Brides of Christ (1991), Grass Roots (2000) and Always Greener (2003).

Scriptwriting credits

Craig's scriptwriting credits include the ABC-TV trilogy The Fourth Wish (1974), which starred John Meillon in an award-winning performance as the father of a dying boy. Craig also wrote the screenplay for the feature film The Fourth Wish (1976), which was produced following the success of the television series. Alongside his co-writers, Richard Gregson (who is his brother) and Bryan Forbes, Craig was nominated for an Academy Award for the screenplay of The Angry Silence (1960).

Personal life

Craig's first wife was Babette Collier. His second is the Australian actress Susan Walker. He is the father of Jessica Gregson; his brother is the film producer Richard Gregson, and because of Richard's marriage to Natalie Wood, Craig is an uncle of the actress Natasha Gregson Wagner. In 2005 he released his autobiography The Smallest Giant: An Actor's Life.

Selected filmography