Mark McManus


1935 - 1994

Actor. Born in Hamilton, half brother of Brian Connolly (1945-97), member of the glam-rock band Sweet. Unsure of his vocation, McManus left Scotland for Australia, where he took employment in Sydney Docks. Involvement in amateur dramatics gave him a taste for acting and he turned professional in 1964. Appearances in the Australian TV series Skippy and the film Ned Kelly (1970) were followed by a return to London (1971). He initially worked in theatre but came to public notice in the television series Sam (1973).

McManus is best remembered as the tough Glaswegian Detective Chief Inspector Jim Taggart in the Scottish Television series of the same name. Taggart, first shown in 1983, was enormously popular for the ten years in which McManus starred. Somewhat curiously the series continued after his death, retaining some success, but was never the same without its lead.

He also appeared in the films 2,000 Weeks (1969), Adam's Woman (1970) and Twelfth Night (1987), together with various TV-movies many of which were based on Taggart. McManus was known for his charitable work with the homeless, prisoners and victims of crime.

McManus died in Glasgow of pneumonia only eight months after the death of his wife Marion. He posthumously received the Lord Provost of Glasgow's Award for performing arts.


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