Theatre News

Gareth Thomas dies aged 71

The ”Blake’s 7” actor passed away yesterday

Gareth Thomas
Gareth Thomas
© Creative commons
Welsh actor Gareth Thomas, best known for his role as Roj Blake in the BBC series Blake's 7, has passed away at the age of 71.

Thomas trained at RADA where he also became an associate member. His many stage appearances included Twelfth Night, Othello and Anna Christie with the RSC, and productions of Educating Rita, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and The Crucible.

His other TV appearances included Z-Cars, Bergerac and Torchwood. He was twice nominated for a BAFTA for his performances in Stocker's Copper and Morgan's Boy (1984).

A host of theatrical figures have paid tribute to the actors on twitter including Samuel West who said: "Sad to hear Gareth Thomas, star of Blake's 7 and Children of the Stones has died. Taught me what leadership was. Diolch o galon. Siwrne dda."

— Samuel West (@exitthelemming) April 14, 2016

— Stephen Greif (@StephenGreif) April 14, 2016

— Barnaby Edwards (@BarnabyEdwards) April 14, 2016