Obituary: Scott Fredericks

The degree of fame Scott Fredericks found on British television was slight compared to his standing in his native Ireland where he was regarded as a leading actor of considerable resources and a noted director of radio drama for the state broadcaster, RTE.

Born in Sligo on Ireland’s western coast to German-Irish parents, a scholarship to RADA took him away from the family jewellers business and into a career in theatre that began at Chesterfield Rep.

He later worked with Peter Brook at Northampton Rep and was seen as Demetrius (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Henry II (Lord Tennyson’s Becket) in Harrogate in 1969 and 1970.

Returning to Dublin in 1973, he formed a close relationship with Micheal Mac Liammoir (Alfred Willmore) and Hilton Edwards at the city’s Gate Theatre and became a familiar face on Irish television.

He had his television in an episode of Crossroads in 1964 and went on to appear in Dixon of Dock Green, Dad’s Army, Z-Cars and two separate roles in Doctor Who. His brush with fame came as Tom Kelly in the BBC’s North Sea ferry drama, Triangle, appearing in all but 10 of the show’s 78 episodes from 1981 to 1983. He was also seen in Keith Waterhouse’s Charters and Caldicott (1985).

Later stage work included appearances with the Irish Theatre Company and the Playwrights and Actors Company, with whom he was seen at the Tivoli Theatre, Dublin in Mary Halpin’s Semi-private in 1989.

His self-devised solo show, Yeats Remembers, was nominated in the annual Evening Herald newspaper awards in 1980.

In 1992, he joined the RTE radio drama department, representing the broadcaster at the 1997 Prix Italia awards.

Scott Fredericks was born Frederick Wehrly on March 15, 1943 and died on November 6, aged 74. He is survived by his wife and two sons.