Fulton Mackay

Scottish actor Fulton Mackay divided his prolific efforts between the stage and the screen, achieving fame in his portrayal of an aggressive prison guard in the 1970s British sitcom "Porridge." Mackay was most likey familiar with aggressive behavior--three decades before assuming this role, he served for the RAF during the Second World War. Following his military service, Mackay studied at the renowned Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and proceeded to perform with the Citizens' Theatre in Glasgow from 1949 to 1958, as well as the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh in the 1960s. It was BBC's "Porridge," which enjoyed a successful run from 1974 to 1977, that Mackay reached a large audience. The prison-set comedy starred comedian Ronnie Barker as a mischievous inmate who continually frustrates the draconian rule of Mackay's authoritarian guard, who is appropriately named Mr. Mackay. After "Porridge," Mackay continued to make numerous appearances on television. Although his feature film output was much smaller, he played alongside Burt Lancaster in Bill Forsyth's 1983 comedy/drama "Local Hero" and alongside Malcolm McDowell in Lindsay Anderson's 1982 comedy/drama "Brittania Hospital." Perhaps accurately reflecting the scope of his experience, Mackay served as director of the Scottish Actors' Company and created the Scottish Theatre Company in 1981.