Mark McManus facts for kids

Mark McManus (born 21 February 1935 – died 6 June 1994) was a Scottish actor. He was famous for playing tough characters on TV. His most well-known role was Detective Chief Inspector Jim Taggart in the long-running Scottish TV show Taggart. He played this role from 1983 until he passed away in 1994.

McManus also appeared in other British TV series like Sam, Bulman, The Brothers, Strangers, and Dramarama. He also acted in the movie 2000 Weeks.

Becoming an Actor

Mark McManus was born in Hamilton, Scotland. When he was three years old, his family moved to Hillingdon in London, England. At 16, he moved again, this time to Australia.

In Australia, Mark started acting in local theatre groups. This helped him become a professional actor. He appeared in the children's TV show Skippy the Bush Kangaroo. He also had a guest role in the Australian police drama Homicide.

Mark also starred in the movie 2000 Weeks (1969). This film was important because it was the first full-length movie made in Australia since 1954. He also acted in the American drama Adam's Woman. In 1970, he co-starred with Mick Jagger in the film Ned Kelly.

In 1971, Mark McManus returned to the UK. He became well-known for his roles there. He played Harry Carter in The Brothers. He also played Sam Wilson, a coal miner, in the 1973 TV series Sam.

Mark appeared with famous actor Peter O'Toole in the 1976 TV movie Rogue Male. He also played a serious Scottish police officer named Jack Lambie in Strangers. He played this character again in the spin-off show Bulman. Mark also performed in plays at the National Theatre and the Royal Court Theatre.

Before he became an actor, Mark McManus was a boxer. It's important not to confuse him with another boxer who has the same name, born in 1974.

Starring in Taggart

Mark McManus started playing the main character in the crime drama Taggart in September 1983. He worked alongside actors like Neil Duncan, Tom Watson, and Robert Robertson. The first episode of Taggart was very popular, with about 7.6 million viewers.

Over the years, the cast of Taggart changed. When Neil Duncan left in 1987, James MacPherson joined the show. He played Michael Jardine, who became a detective sergeant. Later, in 1990, a new female detective, Jackie Reid (played by Blythe Duff), joined the team. In 1994, Taggart promoted her to detective sergeant.

Later Life and Legacy

Mark McManus became ill in May 1994 and passed away in Glasgow on 6 June 1994. He was 59 years old. His death was caused by pneumonia, which was related to liver problems. This happened about eight months after his second wife, Marion, passed away. In the last two years of his life, Mark also lost his mother, his brother, and his two sisters.

After he passed away, Mark McManus was given a special award. It was the Lord Provost of Glasgow's Award for Performing Arts. He was the first person to receive this award after their death.

Mark McManus's last episode of Taggart was called "Prayer for the Dead" (1995). He was the first main actor from Taggart to pass away. Later, Iain Anders, who played Jack McVitie, also passed away in 1997.

After Mark McManus's death in 1994, his character, Jim Taggart, had an on-screen funeral in the show. This happened in the final episode of the 11th series, called "Black Orchid". In the same episode, Michael Jardine was promoted to take Taggart's rank as detective chief inspector.

Family Connections

The McManus family adopted Brian Connolly, who later became famous in the 1970s glam rock band The Sweet. Both Mark McManus and Brian Connolly thought they looked alike. They believed that Mark's father might also have been Brian's father.

Filmography

Film

Television