Mark McManus

[stuart.scot]

I was reminded of Mark, reading the thread on David Jason. Not only did they play two of tvs top cops in Scot's detective Jim Taggart and Jack Frost, both suffered personal tragedies at around the same time. When Mark's wife died, it knocked the stuffing out of him and died not long after, whereas when David lost his long term partner, he was able to recover from it, have another long term relationship and become a dad for the first time in his early 60s.



It's tribute to Mark that Taggart is still continuing successfully, still using his characters surname in the title, unlike the equally popular Morse, which is now since the death of John Thaw, become Lewis. That said IMO as good as the show is now, it lacks the edge of the Taggart/Jardine/Reid era with co-stars James McPherson and Blyth Duff. Also one of the highlights of the original Taggart was the main characters relationship with his wheelchair bound wife Jean, who was brilliantly played by Harriet Buchan.



Mark was also outstanding as Sam, the hit tv series about a young boy born in a Yorkshire mining community in the 1930s and watching him grow into middle-age. The late Jennifer Hilary played his wife, the well known film actor Michael Goodlife his grandad and a young Jan Harvey as his niece.



Mark also played a cop in Don Henderson's Strangers and sequel Bulman



Mark was alleged to have claimed he was brother to The Sweets Brian Connelly, but as far as I can gather they were foster cousins



Glasgow born Mark spent much of his early life in Austraila, acting in Skippy and co-starring with Mick Jagger in Ned Kelly

[Marky B]

Years ago,he was appearing at the Billingham Forum in a play. He passed me in the town centre,aware that I recognised him,but continued furtively. A shy man maybe,but nonetheless held presence in whatever he appeared in. I didn't know he appeared with the tutting marsupial.

Ta Ta

Marky B

[dogstar]

Much as I liked him in Taggart my abiding memory of Mark MacManus is his performance as Jesus iin an early production of The Mysteries cycle at London's Cottesloe Theartre in the late 70s. These were groundbreaking 'promenade' performances, directed by Bill Bryden, which took place in and among the audience who often became involved in the action. During the crucifixion scene McManus was tied to a cross and hauled upright, delivering the heartbreaking line 'My God why have you forsaken me' in his trademark Glaswegian which nevertheless seemed totally appropriate to the nature of the production.