Billy Murray (actor)

:"For the American actor, see Bill Murray."Infobox actor
name = Billy Murray

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birthdate = October 1941 (age 66)
location = London, England
occupation = Actor
yearsactive = 1963–present
awards = British Soap Award for Best Villain
2006 "EastEnders" (Johnny Allen)

Billy Murray (born October 1941) is an English actor.

Career

Murray was born in East London and knew the Krays from Bethnal Green, who paid £400 [cite news|last=Nathan|first=Sarah|title=Billy's a Kray-zy gangster|publisher=The Sun|date=2005-01-24|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article211801.ece|accessdate=2008-01-02] for him to go to the East 15 Acting School, London as a teenager, because they "liked his attitude". ["Daily Mirror", 23 January, 2005.]

Billy made his acting debut in the 1963 film "Two Left Feet" where he played a minor uncredited role. He then had small roles in the films "Poor Cow" (1967), "Corruption" (1967) and "Up the Junction" (1968).

In the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s he made appearances in many television series such as "Softly, Softly", "The Sweeney", "The Professionals", "Minder", "Bergerac" and "Casualty". He was among those considered for the role of Del Boy Trotter in the BBC TV series Only Fools and Horses [cite news
last=Clarke
first=Steve
title=ONLY FACTS and HORSES
date=1998-09-27
url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_19980927/ai_n14478453
work=Daily Mirror
publisher=CNET.com
accessdate=2008-01-02] before it finally went to David Jason.

In 1980, Murray played the part of "Joey" in the hit film McVicar. In the film, he was to help McVicar hide after escaping from prison.

Murray went on to play the corrupt DS Don Beech in the ITV police drama series "The Bill" from 1995 to 2000. In 2001 he returned as Don Beech in a one-off special episode titled "Beech on the Run" and later that year in a spin-off six-part mini-series entitled "Beech is Back". In 2004 he returned as Don Beech once again for a guest stint in five episodes, in which his character escaped from prison and is now back 'on the run'. Before playing Don Beech, Murray played a different character, DI Jackson, in an episode in 1989.

In late 2004, he joined the cast of popular BBC soap opera "EastEnders", playing gangster Johnny Allen. His first scenes were broadcast in January 2005. He was reported to be the nastiest gangster ever to appear in the soap,Fact|date=January 2008 but a new executive producer ordered a change in planned story lines, and Johnny "retired" from gangster life a few months after arriving. Murray's character terrorised numerous characters on the programme, including Peggy Mitchell, Phil Mitchell, Grant Mitchell Sharon Rickman and Pauline Fowler. He also murdered Andy Hunter by pushing him from a motorway flyover, and ordered the killing of Dennis Rickman (carried out by Danny Moon, played by Jake Maskall).

He departed from the show in March 2006 when his character was jailed after confessing to ordering the murder of Dennis Rickman and carrying out the murder of Andy Hunter. He won the 'Best Villain' award at the British Soap Awards in May 2006 for his role as Johnny Allen. He made a brief return to "EastEnders" in October that year when his character was seen in prison and later died of a heart attack. Before playing Johnny Allen in "EastEnders" he also appeared as Mr X in 1991.

Recently he appeared in the films "Rollin' with the Nines" and "Rise of the Footsoldier" and played the character (voice) of Captain Price in the video game Call of Duty 4.

In January 2008, he returned to screens across the UK, by appearing in an advert for InjuryLawyers4U.

Personal life

Murray has a daughter, Jaime Murray, who is also an actress. She is best known for starring in the series "Hustle". She also plays Lila in season two of the Showtime series "Dexter".

Murray currently lives in Brentwood, Essex.

He is a West Ham United football club fan.

Murray was inducted into the Grand Order of Water Rats show business fraternity and charitable organisation in 2007. He is currently their newest member, known affectionately as "baby rat".Fact|date=July 2008

elected filmography

*"" (2007) .... Captain Price (voice)
*"Rise of the Footsoldier" (2007) ..... Mickey Steele
*"Rollin' with the Nines" (2006) ..... David Brumby
*"EastEnders" (2005-2006) .... Johnny Allen
*"Doctors" (2004) .... Larry Baker
*"Beech is Back" (2001) .... DS Don Beech
*"Beech on the Run" (2001) ..... DS Don Beech
*"Essex Boys" (2000) .... Perry Elley
*"The Bill" (1995-2000, 2004) .... DS Don Beech
*" A Touch of Frost" (1995).... Bill Boxley
*" Casualty" (1992)..... Don Collins
*"EastEnders" (1991) ..... Mr X
*" Bergerac" (1991)..... John Kelp
*" Buddy's Song" (1990)..... Harry
*" The Bill" (1989) .... DI Jackson
*" Dempsey & Makepeace" (1985)..... Billy Kennaway
*" Minder" (1984)..... Charlie Pope
*" Private Schulz" (1981) .... Fred
*" McVicar" (1980)..... Joey Davis
*" The Professionals" (1979)..... Morgan in episode titled "Runner"
*" Rock Follies" (1976) ..... Spike
*" The Sweeney" (1975) ..... Brian Cooney in episode titled "stoppo driver"
*"Barlow at Large" (1973) ... Culver
*" Softly, Softly" (1971)..... George Benson
*" A Family At War" (1970) .... Corporal Dewey
*" Up the Junction" (1968) .... Ray
*" Poor Cow" (1967)..... Tom's mate
*" Corruption" (1967) .... Rik
*" Two Left Feet" (1963) .... Gang Member

References

External links

* [http://www.billyamurray.com/ Official Site]
* [http://www.hanoverfilms.com/ Billy Murray's Production Company Hanover Films]
*
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/eastenders/characters_cast/characters/character_johnny_a.shtml/ Billy Murray's EastEnders Profile]
* [http://www.injurylawyers4u.tv/ Micro site for the current IL4U TV campaign]
* [http://www.injurylawyers4u.tv/lie-detector/ Online lie detector game featuring Billy Murray]

Persondata
NAME= Murray, Billy
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Actor
DATE OF BIRTH= October, 1941
PLACE OF BIRTH= London, England
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=