Ross Davidson
(William Russell Davidson)

1949 - 2006

Actor. Born William Russell Davidson in Airdrie and raised in Glasgow, he qualified as a Physical Education teacher and taught in the city for some years. He was selected for the Scottish water polo team in the early Seventies, but was also involved in amateur dramatics. Turning professional he began in pantomime and his first television role was in a BBC Play for Today in 1979. Minor screen roles included The Pirates of Penzance (1983), The Crimson Permanent Assurance (1983) and the television production of The Comedy of Errors (1983). He also appeared in Lynda La Plante's drama Widows II (1985). However Davidson was best known for a succession of television soap operas, including EastEnders, High Road (1994), Brookside (1999) and Hollyoaks (1999 - 2002), as well as the long-running Welsh-language soap Pobol Y Cwm.

He also presented the magazine programme Daytime Live for the BBC (1987-88) and made numerous commercials.

Davidson died from a brain tumour at his home in Frinton-on-Sea, Essex.

Use the tabs on the right of this page to see other parts of this entry