Stage, television and screen actor. Wilson was born in Greenock and worked as a research scientist, before becoming an actor. He is particularly noted for his portrayal of Victor Meldrew in the long-running BBC-TV comedy series One foot in the Grave (1990 - 2000). The series concluded when Wilson's character was killed by a neighbour played by another Scot, Hannah Gordon (b.1941).
Film appearances have included The Four-Minute Mile (1988), Soft Top Hard Shoulder (1992) and Women talking Dirty (1999) set in Edinburgh. He was awarded an OBE in 1994 and was Rector of the University of Glasgow (1996-98).
