Patrick Newell (March 27 1932 - July 22 1988) was a British actor known for his large size. It is reputed he gained weight as a deliberate attempt to boost his career, marking him out for some niche roles. It has been written that his entry in Who's Who On Television in the late 1970s, Newell described himself as "Actor with a weight problem--the more he diets, the less work he seems to get."

His most notable role was as "Mother," the spymaster in The Avengers. Other cult television appearances included roles in Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), the Doctor Who story The Android Invasion, The Young Ones and Kinvig.

1932 births | 1988 deaths | British actors | Avengers actors | Doctor Who actors

Patrick Newell