Clive Robert Merrison is a renowned Welsh character actor of all media, particularly recognized for his iconic portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in BBC4 radio dramatizations from 1989 to 1998. Notably, he is the only actor to have depicted Holmes in all adaptations of Arthur Conan Doyle's short stories and novels. Michael Williams voiced Dr. Watson alongside Merrison, and later Andrew Sachs took over the Watson role for a non-canon series, The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, based on references within the original stories.
Merrison's extensive stage career began with his study at Rose Bruford College, followed by his London debut in 1970. He spent two seasons as an ensemble member of Laurence Olivier's National Theater Company (1972-74),a period he refers to as his "golden age." Between 1979 and 1990, Merrison featured in numerous plays for the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon. He headlined in the title role for the London and Rome premiere of Artaud at Rodez in 1986 and portrayed Lenin in Moscow Gold at the Barbican Theatre four years later.
On screen, Merrison has been incredibly versatile, effortlessly playing professional men or authority figures in crime and mystery genres (Softly Softly, Special Branch, Pie in the Sky, Foyle's War),science fiction (Doctor Who, Space Precinct, The Tomorrow People),or historical personae in period drama (Richard Sheridan in Prince Regent, Ascanio Sforza in The Borgias, Quintus Metellus in Caesar). His other notable roles include White Russian revolutionary Boris Savinkov in Reilly: Ace of Spies, Scrooge's clerk Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol, Vyacheslav Molotov in Stalin, Dr. Peter Thorn in Yes, Prime Minister, a Russian major in Firefox, a lecherous explorer in The English Patient, Prime Minister Clement Attlee in Bert & Dickie, and British physicist Dr. Henry Hulme in Heavenly Creatures.
Throughout his illustrious career, Merrison has demonstrated his range and adaptability, taking on a wide variety of roles in film, television, and theater. His last screen credit was in 2019. According to a newspaper article, he married stage actress Stephanie Tremethick circa 1967, and later married the late actress Gillian Barge.
