George Baker (1931 - 2011)

When George Baker died, most of the obituaries concentrated on the later part of his career when he portrayed Inspector Wexford in 49 episodes of the Ruth Rendall adaptations. However, that was only one role in a career which lasted over 50 years.

Baker's father was a diplomat and he was born in Bulgaria and educated at Lancing college. After school he entered rep in Deal, lying about his age. National Service caught up with him but once that was over he took up where he left off. He made his West End debut in Aren't We All in 1953 and made his film debut the same year. Good looking and 6' 3" he was a natural for cinema and was put under contract by Associated British. 

He was sold as the new Cary Grant and had a decent run until the market changed and the Angry Young Man type became fashionable. At the end of the 50s he re-established his theatrical credentials with a season at the Old Vic. In 1966 he started his own theatre company based at the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds. When this ended in 1971 he created a company making training films.

He got his own TV series in 1973, Bowler, but it was his role as Tiberius in I Claudius that really impressed the critics. A role as a west country Inspector in the Miss Marple episode At Bertram's Hotel convinced the adaptors of the Ruth Rendell novel that he'd be right for Inspector Wexford.

He married three times, the third time to his co-star in the Ruth Rendells, Louie Ramsay.

Filmography 

George Baker at Amazon UK  

George Baker at Amazon US