Patrick Mower (born Patrick Archibald Shaw; 12 September 1938) is an English actor, best known for his portrayal of Rodney Blackstock in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale, which he first played in 2000. Mower has extensively appeared in a wide range of films and television series, including Swizzlewick, The Devil Rides Out, Monella, Callan, Special Branch and Target.

Patrick Mower
Born
Patrick Archibald Shaw

(1938-09-12) 12 September 1938 (age 86)[1]
OccupationActor
Years active1964–present
Spouse
Anya Pope
(m. 1996)
Children3

Early life and education

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Mower was born the youngest of three boys in Oxford, to a Welsh father and an English mother, Peggy. In his 2007 autobiography, Mower states that he believed for years that his year of birth was 1940, but later he discovered that his birth was not registered and he was born on 12 September 1938.[2] After first training as an engineering draughtsman at the Cowley plant of Pressed Steel Company, Mower graduated from RADA.[1]

Career

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Mower first came to prominence in the early 1970s, as the ruthless government assassin James Cross in the ITV spy series Callan. He then appeared as DCI Tom Haggerty in Special Branch, Det. Supt. Steve Hackett, the lead character in the police series Target, and featured in one of the last Carry On films, Carry On England.[1] In the late 1960s, at the age of 28, Mower auditioned and was considered for the role of James Bond in the James Bond franchise. However, he was told that he was too young.[1] Mower's television roles afterwards included guest appearances in Jason King, Space: 1999, UFO (episode "The Square Triangle"), Minder, The Sweeney and Bergerac.[1] In October 2000, he made his first appearance as Rodney Blackstock in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale, a role he has portrayed since.[3]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1968 The Devil Rides Out Simon Aron
1969 The Smashing Bird I Used to Know Harry Spenton
1970 Incense for the Damned Richard Fountain
Cry of the Banshee Roderick
1971 Percy James Vaile
Black Beauty Sam Greener
To Catch a Spy James Fenton
1976 Carry On England Sergeant Len Able
One Away Tam Bass
1977 The Devil's Advocate Il Lupo
1984 Escape from El Diablo
1998 Monella André
2000 The Asylum Dr. Adams

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1964 Swizzlewick Kenneth Wiley 26 episodes
1964 Mary Barton Harry Carson 2 episodes
1966 The Avengers Duboys Episode: "A Sense of History"
1967–1968 Haunted Michael West 8 episodes
1970 UFO Cass Fowler Episode: "The Square Triangle"
1970 Mystery and Imagination Malcolm Ross Episode: "Curse of the Mummy"
1970–1972 Callan Cross 14 episodes
1972 Jason King Achille Episode: "Nadine"
1973 The Protectors Santana 1 episode
1973–1974 Special Branch Detective Chief Inspector Tom Haggerty 16 episodes
1973-1978 Whodunnit? Self (panelist) 16 episodes
1975 State of Emergency Paul Frederick 3 episodes
1975 The Sweeney Colin McGruder 2 episodes
1976 Space: 1999 Dave Reilly Episode: "All That Glisters"
1977–1978 Target Det. Supt. Steve Hackett 17 episodes
1981 Bergerac Eddie St. Pierre Episode: "Last Chance For A Loser"
1982–1983 Marco Polo Brother Damian 6 episodes
1983 The Dark Side of the Sun Don Tierney 6 episodes
1984 Tales Of The Unexpected Walter Episode: "The Last of the Midnight Gardeners"
1984 Minder Clive Cosgrove Episode: "A Number of Old Wives Tales"
1984 Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense John Patrick Duncan Episode: "Czech Mate"
1997 Chucklevision Petrovich Liningrad Episode: "The Perils of Petrovich"
2000–present Emmerdale Rodney Blackstock Series regular
2001 Lily Savage's Blankety Blank [4]

Radio

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He also appeared in the lead role of Detective Constable 'Birdie' Partridge in Chris Boucher (writer)'s 1981 mystery radio serial A Walk in the Dark. [1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "10 Facts About... Patrick Mower (Emmerdale's Rodney)". Inside Soap. Retrieved 9 January 2022 – via Pressreader.
  2. ^ Patrick Mower, Patrick Mower: My Story (John Blake Publishing, 2007, ISBN 978-1-84454-447-9
  3. ^ "Rodney Blackstock". ITV. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  4. ^ Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. 4 March 2001. ITV.
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