Royce Mills
Born
Anthony Royce Mills[1]

(1942-05-12)12 May 1942
Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England
Died21 May 2019(2019-05-21) (aged 77)
OccupationActor
Spouse
Una Mills
​
(divorced)​
[2]
PartnerEmma Taylor
Children4

Anthony Royce Mills (12 May 1942 – 21 May 2019) was an English television, stage and film actor.[3]

Life and career

Born in Tetbury, Gloucestershire to Herbert Mills and concert pianist Winifred, Royce did not feel the need to look into the disappearance of his father. He and his mother moved to Eastbourne,[1] and he made his television debut aged 13 on the BBC’s Children's Hour[1] in 1956.[4] He attended Eastbourne College working in their kitchens to pay for his education.[1][4] He then became an assistant to comedian Sandy Powell, getting him hung over when he filled pint glasses with beer instead of tinted water, and was fired. Sandy’s wife Kay, however, let him announce her husband’s stage entrance, for which he wore the long aprons Royce used in the kitchens in order to cover his damaged feet.[4] He then began his longtime hobby of painting[1] and was offered the Carleton Hobbs Bursary, but declined.[4] In 1969 he made his acting debut in Oh, Brother!.

In later years he proved himself to be among the finest pantomime dames in the country, notably in his appearances at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford.[5] He considered Morecambe and Wise to be the most generous people he had worked with, allowing him to perform Bring Me Sunshine on his own to give him a chance to shine.[4] He also rehearsed Frankie Howerd’s lines for Up Pompeii,[6] and improvised a sketch for The Les Dawson Show when time ran over during filming and it couldn’t be rehearsed.[6]

In 1984 Royce began voicing the Daleks in Doctor Who, after being asked by director of Resurrection of the Daleks, Matthew Robinson.[4] He would hold his nose to perform the role,[4] for which he maintained it was his best-known,[1] and voiced them in Resurrection of the Daleks, 1985’s Revelation of the Daleks and 1988’s Remembrance of the Daleks, although he only had the one voice that he used.[6] He died shortly after his 77th birthday on 21 May 2019.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1971Up PompeiiNausius
Sunday Bloody SundayBob's Partner
1972Up the Chastity BeltKnotweed
1979The KnowledgeTaxi Driver
1981History of the World, Part IDuke D'Honnefleur(The French Revolution)
1984Real LifeAndrew Bazzard
2012Run for Your WifeMan in Church Hall(final film role)
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1969Oh Brother!1 episode
Play of the MonthPhillip DrummondEpisode “Charlie’s Aunt”
1969–1970Fraud SquadVarious2 episodes
1970Doctor in the HouseDr. Dave Peters1 epísode
Hark at BarkerTrouserless ManEpisode “Rustless on Law”
1970Comedy PlayhouseGrahame TomsEpisode “Weren’t You Marcia Honeywell?”
1973Armchair TheatreUsher1 episode
1974–1981The Dick Emery ShowVarious6 episodes
1975Look, Mike Yarwood!Various1975 Christmas Special
1977The Tomorrow PeopleDr. Taylor1 episode
RainbowCross ManEpisode “Cross”
1977–1979Mike Yarwood in PersonsVarious3 episodes
1978–1980Rings on Their FingersKen / Graham2 episodes
1978The Les Dawson ShowVariousEpisode 2
1979SykesDr. Pinto1 episode
1981CrossroadsGilbert Latham25 episodes
1982Kelly MonteithVarious2 episodes
1982–1986The Kenny Everett Television ShowVarious4 episodes
1984–1988Doctor WhoDalekVoice, 7 episodes
1984–1989MinderAndrew4 episodes
1985Alice in WonderlandDormouseVoice, 2 episodes
1986The Bob Monkhouse ShowHooray Henry1 episode
1987Edward and FriendsVoices28 episodes
1990Never the TwainFirst ManEpisode “X Marks the Spot”
1991The BillMahonEpisode “Machines”
1992Keeping Up AppearancesDorian1 episode
1999PolterguestsMr. DiproseEpisode 2 “Hee Haw Hotel”
2001Bernard's WatchMr. ArnoldEpisode “Running on Time”
2002SpooksToby McInnesUncredited, 1 episode
Radio
1969After All, We Have Got the Moneywith Michael DeaconRadio play
A Day Among ManyUnknown
1979My Sainted AuntEpisode 2 “Not Now, Voyager!”
Tony’sGuest1 episode
1981Give or TakeUnknown1 episode
Out of My HeadResident of Chris Allen’s mindRadio play
1984The Demon Cakestand of Beestly ChaseUnknown
1985Brogue MaleHubert Carstairs4 episodes
1986–1987The Phenomenon SquadSigaloff6 episodes
1987Tales from the Mausoleum ClubClarence Green6 episodes
1987–1989BlandingsVarious14 episodes
1987Starring Leslie WilleyDudley MillingtonEpisode 1 “The Play Music
1990Gorby: The Man and his MusicUnknown2 episodes
1991A Glass of BlessingsGerald Beamish2 episodes
1992Robbing HoodPettigrewEpisode 2 “Norman Delivers the Goods”
1993A Perfect SpyNigel6 episodes
1998Ben Sees it ThroughUnknownRadio play
1999BristowUnknownEpisode 1 “When Melancholy Autumn Comes to Chester-Perry”
2000Each Way YankeePeter and GeorgeRadio play
2010The Diabolical GourmetChavetteRadio play

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The Times obituary". Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  2. ↑ "Royce Mills". IMDb.
  3. ↑ "Royce Mills". BFI. Archived from the original on 10 September 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Royce Mills (Part One) - Stage Panel @Turlough Tales". Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  5. ↑ "Mills Royce – Artist Information and Profile". therichardstonepartnership.co.uk.
  6. 1 2 3 "Royce Mills (Part Two) - Stage Panel @Turlough Tales". Retrieved 1 July 2023.
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