George Stewart Auchinleck (3 March 1932 – 17 March 1990), known professionally as Paul Kermack, was a Scottish television actor who is best known for playing Archie Menzies in ''

Take the High Road ''Take the High Road'' (renamed ''High Road'' from 1994 to 2003) was a Scottish soap opera produced by Scottish Television, which started in February 1980 as an ITV network daytime programme, and was broadcast until 2003. It was set in the ficti ...

'' from 1980 until he died, suddenly, from a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...

on 17 March 1990.Elder, pp. 78–79. Kermack studied drama at the

Rose Bruford College Rose Bruford College (formerly Rose Bruford College of Theatre & Performance) is a drama school in the south London suburb of Sidcup. The college has degree programmes in acting, actor musicianship, directing, theatre arts and various discipli ...

in London. His ambition was to become an opera singer but, lacking the necessary vocal range for leading roles, he decided to become a full-time actor instead. Like several of his colleagues in ''Take the High Road'', he had a long career in Scottish theatre, playing a wide variety of roles. He made his TV debut in 1961 and went on to make guest appearances in several drama programmes, including four in ''

Dr. Finlay's Casebook ''Dr. Finlay's Casebook'' is a television drama series that was produced and broadcast by the BBC from 1962 until 1971. Based on A. J. Cronin's 1935 novella ''Country Doctor'', the storylines centred on a general medical practice in the fictiona ...

'' and three in ''

Sutherland's Law ''Sutherland's Law'' is a television series made by BBC Scotland between 1973 and 1976. The series had originated as a stand-alone edition of the portmanteau programme ''Drama Playhouse'' in 1972 in which Derek Francis played Sutherland and w ...

''. He frequently played police officers. He was Jamie's father, Mr Knox, in the ''

Bill Douglas William Gerald Douglas (17 April 1934 – 18 June 1991) was a Scottish film director best known for the trilogy of films about his early life. Biography Born in Newcraighall on the outskirts of Edinburgh, he was brought up initially by his m ...

'' trilogy of ''My Childhood'' (1972), ''My Ain Folk'' (1973) and ''My Way Home'' (1978). In 1976, he was cast as Jock Nesbit in ''

Garnock Way ''Garnock Way'' was a short-lived Scottish soap opera, produced by Scottish Television for the ITV network, running from 1976 to 1979. It was replaced by ''Take the High Road'' which also featured actors Eileen McCallum, Bill Henderson, Paul ...

'' and, when that series was axed in 1979, he was offered the role of workshy handyman Archie Menzies in ''Take the High Road''.

References

Bibliography

External links

* 1932 births 1990 deaths People from East Lothian Scottish male soap opera actors Scottish male stage actors Scottish male film actors Scottish male television actors Take the High Road {{Scotland-actor-stub