Richard Wilson(II)

Richard Wilson OBE (born Iain Carmichael Wilson) is a Scottish actor, theatre director, and broadcaster. He is best known for his role as Victor Meldrew in the BBC sitcom *One Foot in the Grave* (1990). He also played Gaius, the court physician of Camelot, in the BBC drama *Merlin* (2008). Wilson was born in Greenock, Scotland, where he studied science before undertaking National Service with the Royal Army Medical Corps in Singapore. After working as a research scientist in a laboratory at Stobhill Hospital in Glasgow, he switched to acting at the age of 27. He trained at RADA and performed in repertory theatres in Edinburgh (Traverse Theatre), Glasgow, and Manchester (Stables Theatre). He initially turned down the role of Victor Meldrew, which was nearly offered to Les Dawson before Wilson changed his mind. Wilson received an OBE for services to drama as a director and actor in 1994. In April 1996, he was elected Rector of the University of Glasgow for a three-year term. His biography, *One Foot on the Stage: The Biography of Richard Wilson*, was written by James Roose-Evans. Wilson has worked with the gay rights campaign group Stonewall and is a patron of Scottish Youth Theatre. He has also supported the charity Sense, hosting their annual award ceremony in 2007, and is an honorary patron of the London children's charity Scene & Heard. He performed the narration for "The Man Who Called Himself Jesus" from Strawbs' eponymous first album. Wilson is a long-time supporter of the Labour Party and recorded the party's manifesto for the 2010 General Election. In March 2011, he presented an edition of the Channel 4 current affairs programme *Dispatches* (1987) titled *Train Journeys from Hell* (2011), with transport journalist Christian Wolmar examining the failings of the British rail network. A supporter of his local football club, Greenock Morton, he has since lent greater support to English club Manchester United and is a patron of the Manchester United Supporters Trust. Wilson has campaigned for gay rights for many years and came out as gay in a *Daily Mail* interview in March 2013. He is close friends with his *One Foot in the Grave* co-star Angus Deayton and is godfather to Deayton's son. It was reported on 12 August 2016 that Wilson had suffered a heart attack. He had been due to reprise the role of Victor Meldrew in a one-man show at the 2016 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.