David Dixon (actor)
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox person David Dixon (born 28 October 1947) is an English actor and screenwriter. His credits include A Family at War (1970), Escort Girls (1974), The Sweeney (episode "Big Brother", 1975), The Legend of Robin Hood (1975), Rock Follies (1976), A Horseman Riding By (1978), Lillie (1978), The Tempest (1980), The Missionary (1982), Cold Warrior (1984), Tutti Frutti (1987), Circles of Deceit: Dark Secret (1995), A Touch of Frost: Fun Times for Swingers (1996), and Original Sin (1996). However, his most notable role was starring as Ford Prefect in the 1981 BBC TV series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981).
Early life
David Dixon was born 28 October 1947 in Derby and lived there until the family moved to Normanton in 1959.<ref name="derby">Template:Cite web</ref>
Career
In 1975, he starred as Prince John in the BBC serial The Legend of Robin Hood, alongside Diane Keen and Paul Darrow.<ref name="robin">Template:Cite web</ref> He played Ariel in the 1980 BBC version of The Tempest, directed by John Gorrie.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
His most notable role was in the 1981 BBC TV series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy,<ref name="apple">Template:Cite web</ref> based on the book of the same name by Douglas Adams, in which Dixon starred as Ford Prefect, alongside Simon Jones, who played Arthur Dent,<ref name="hitch">Template:Cite web</ref> and Sandra Dickinson, who played Trillian.<ref name="apple"/> He later rejoined the Hitchhiker's Guide by lending his voice to the "Ecological Man" and the "Zirzla Leader" in Fit the Twentieth of the radio series,<ref name="radio"/> while Geoffrey McGivern, who had originally played the character on radio, returned to the role of Ford.<ref name="radio">Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1982, he appeared in the British comedy film The Missionary (1982), alongside Michael Palin, Michael Horden, Maggie Smith, Denholm Elliott, and David Suchet.<ref name="mission"/> In 1987, he appeared in the episode "Love Hurts" of the Bafta award winning show Tutti Frutti (1987),<ref name="mission"/> alongside Robbie Coltrane and Emma Thompson.<ref name="mission"/>
In 2010, he was a contestant on Pointless Celebrities.<ref name="derby"/> In 2016, he was in the BBC documentary Living in 66 talking to former drama student colleague Robert Lindsay.<ref name="robert">Template:Cite web</ref>
Filmography
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- Z-Cars (1969) - Rob (2 episodes)
- A Family at War (1970) (TV series) – Robert Ashton (7 episodes)
- On the House (1971) Ronald
- Escort Girls (1974) – Hugh Lloyd
- The Sweeney (episode "Big Brother", 1975) (TV) - Andy Deacon
- Jumping Bean Bag (1976, in (BBC TV Play For Today) – Ozymandias Freemantle
- The Legend of Robin Hood (1975) (miniseries) – Prince John
- Rock Follies (1976) (TV series) - PR Man
- A Horseman Riding By (1978) (miniseries) – Keith Horsey
- Lillie (1978) (miniseries) – Prince Leopold
- A Family Affair (1979) (miniseries) – Clifford
- The Tempest (1980) (TV) – Ariel
- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981) (miniseries) – Ford Prefect <ref name="mission"/>
- The Missionary (1982) – Young Man <ref name="mission">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Cold Warrior (1984) (miniseries)
- Tutti Frutti (1987), (TV) – Stuart Gordon Inverarrity <ref name="mission"/>
- Circles of Deceit: Dark Secret (1995) (TV) – DI Ransome
- A Touch of Frost: Fun Times for Swingers (1996) (TV) – Barry Curzon
- Original Sin (1996) (TV) – Dr Wardle
- The Bill (1997), series 13 episode 77 "Too Much to Lose" - Brian Vaughan