Frank Windsor

Frank Windsor (born Frank W. Higgins 12 July 1927, Walsall, Staffordshire) is an English actor, mainly on television.

He attended Queen Mary's Grammar School, Walsall. He began his career on radio and made an appearance in a 1953 film of Henry V. His first TV appearances were in 1960 in a series of Shakespearean plays.

His most famous role was as Detective Sergeant John Watt in Z-Cars from 1962-65, and thereafter its spin-offs Softly, Softly and Softly, Softly: Taskforce from 1966-76. From 1987-89 he starred in the comedy drama Flying Lady written by Brian Finch.^[1]

He starred as a rather old-fashioned headmaster grappling with problems in education in Headmaster, which started as a single play in Play for Today in 1974 and was well received, being expanded into a six-part series in 1977. In 1969 he appeared in the pilot episode of Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) in the episode "My Late Lamented Friend and Partner" as Sorrensen, a wealthy businessman with a murderous streak. His lighter side was demonstrated in the pilot episode of the situation comedy The Dustbinmen in 1968, and as Scoutfinder General in an episode of The Goodies.^[2]

He had regular roles in the BBC drama Casualty; the ITV drama Peak Practice; he played Major Charlie Grace in EastEnders (1992); appeared twice in Doctor Who; had various stage roles, and in his later years appeared in a number of television commercials advertising life-assurance policies for people over-50.^[2]

Selected filmography

• This Sporting Life (1963)
• Spring and Port Wine (1969)
• Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971)
• Assassin (1973)
• Barry McKenzie Holds His Own (1974)
• Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? (1978)
• The London Connection (1979)
• The Shooting Party (1985)
• Revolution (1985)
• Out of Order (1987)
• Between Two Women (2000)

References