Dursley McLinden obituary

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• Publication: The Stage
• Date: 1995-11-02
• Author: Nickolas Grace
• Page: 30
• Language: English

Dursley McLinden was one of those blessed human beings who brightened everyone's life. An actor, singer, magician and natural-born juvenile lead which makes it all the more sad that he should have died on August 7 at the early age of 30.

Born in Douglas, Isle of Man. he made his first stage appearance at Willaston School when he was eight, and was "quite outstanding" as the dame in Dick Whittington!

In 1981, at 16, he was the youngest student to win a place at the Mountview Theatre School. His subsequent appearances included the premiere of Arnold Wesker's One More Ride on the Merry-Go-Round at Leicester, Robert and Elizabeth at Chichester, To Kill a Mockingbird, Damn Yankees and School for Scandal at Birmingham Rep.

He made his West End debut in 1985 in John Dexter's production of Gigi, with Sian Phillips and Jean-Pierre Aumont at the Lyric. In 1986. he went on the Far East tour of The Man Most Likely to... with Lesley Phillips and Elizabeth Hurley, and in 1988 played a young Ben in Follies with Eartha Kitt and Daniel Massey at the Shaftesbury. He also produced and acted in Stephen Lowe's Strive at the Capital Radio Drama Festival and the Theatre Museum. He played Tim Diamond in the film Just Ask for Diamond, a part perfectly suited to his lightness Of touch and comic timing. TV roles included Dr Who and Mr Bean.

After his illness was diagnosed in 1990, he channelled his energy into raising money for West End Cares, and initiated the Smith's and Leith's restaurant cabarets. For the last five years he strove tirelessly to stage an AIDS charity gala of Dreamgirls and hopefully the performing rights problems can be overcome and a special gala presented in his memory next year.

Since 1992 he was a regular member of the Phantom of the Opera company, sometimes playing Raoul, sometimes a member of the chorus. This incentive kept him going, as well as a strong support network of friends, and the unstinting help of Cameron Mackintosh, everyone in his office, and The Actors' Benevolent Fund. He was a golden boy cut off in his prime.

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• APA 6th ed.: Grace, Nickolas (1995-11-02). Dursley McLinden obituary. The Stage p. 30.
• MLA 7th ed.: Grace, Nickolas. "Dursley McLinden obituary." The Stage [add city] 1995-11-02, 30. Print.
• Chicago 15th ed.: Grace, Nickolas. "Dursley McLinden obituary." The Stage, edition, sec., 1995-11-02
• Turabian: Grace, Nickolas. "Dursley McLinden obituary." The Stage, 1995-11-02, section, 30 edition.
• Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Dursley McLinden obituary | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Dursley_McLinden_obituary | work=The Stage | pages=30 | date=1995-11-02 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=2 April 2025 }}</ref>
• Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Dursley McLinden obituary | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Dursley_McLinden_obituary | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=2 April 2025}}</ref>