{{Short description |English actor, writer (1931–2016)}} {{More citations needed |date=April 2025}} {{Use dmy dates |date=April 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Jon Rollason | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_name = Jon Roger Rollinson | birth_date = {{birth date|1931|04|09|df=y}} | birth_place = Birmingham, England, U.K. | death_date = {{death date and age|2016|02|20|1931|04|09|df=y}} | death_place = Llandudno, Wales, U.K. | known_for = {{hlist|The Avengers|The Web of Fear}} | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|broadcaster|writer|councillor}} | years_active = 1955–2016 | spouse = Shirley Rollason Janet Rollason }}
'''Jon Rollason''' (9 April 1931 – 20 February 2016) was an English television actor, broadcaster and writer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jon Roger ROLLASON |url=http://www.bmdsonline.co.uk/daily-post/obituary/rollason/45288281?s_source=tmnw_dapo}}</ref>
He is remembered for the role of Dr. Martin King in the television series ''The Avengers''.<ref>{{cite web |title=BFI Screenonline: Avengers, The (1961–69) |url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/473728/index.html |website=screenonline.org.uk}}</ref> He appeared in episodes of ''Doctor Who'' (as Harold Chorley in ''The Web of Fear''), ''Z-Cars'', ''Coronation Street'', ''Softly, Softly'', and the soap opera ''Crossroads''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jon Rollason |url=http://www.bafta.org/heritage/in-memory-of/jon-rollason |website=bafta.org |date=13 January 2017}}</ref> For the last of these, he also wrote the scripts for some episodes.<ref>{{cite web |title=BFI Screenonline: Crossroads – The 1970s Credits |url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1357870/credits.html |website=screenonline.org.uk}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Rollason was born on 9 April 1931 in Birmingham, and went to drama school at The Old Vic in London after completing his National Service.
==Career== One of his first acting jobs was as an understudy to Sir Laurence Olivier in the West End production of John Osborne's play ''The Entertainer''. One of his first major roles was in Joan Littlewood's production of ''The Quare Fellow'' by Brendan Behan, in which he starred alongside Richard Harris; he then spent several years at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, and appeared in stage productions of ''Henry VI'' (parts I, II and III), ''The Boy David'' and ''The Critic''.
This led to much radio and television work throughout the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s in some of Britain's top-rated shows, including ''The Avengers'', ''Coronation Street'', ''Z-Cars'', ''Swizzlewick'', ''Softly Softly'', ''Doctor Who'', ''Crossroads'', ''Barlow'' and ''Robin's Nest'', along with, among other work, a part in the world-premiere broadcast of Harold Pinter's ''The Dwarves'' on BBC Radio 3.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Town+top+of+bill+for+star+Jon%3b+He+acted+with+the+greats+--+now+Jon...-a0123391098 | title=Town Top of Bill for Star Jon; He Acted with the Greats -- now Jon Rollason's Life Is Devoted to Boosting the Fortunes of His Adopted Home, as Ian Jones Discovers. – Free Online Library }}</ref>
Rollason continued to act and also wrote for television; he co-created the 1969 BBC One series ''Special Project Air''. His writing work for television expanded, notably including daytime soap opera ''Crossroads'', after he gained a job as a contract writer for ATV in the mid-to-late 1970s.
He was also a published author and scriptwriter for radio, spent time writing and presenting for major international conferences, and went on to write speeches for the bosses of Audi, Jaguar and Rover and – in the United States – Ford, as well as writing television documentaries and commercials. In addition, he worked as a Llanrwst town councillor, and collected ceramics.
==Death== Rollason died on 20 February 2016 in Llandudno, Wales, at the age of 84.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|0738345}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rollason, Jon}} Category:1931 births Category:2016 deaths Category:20th-century English male actors Category:20th-century English male writers Category:20th-century English screenwriters Category:21st-century English male actors Category:21st-century English male writers Category:21st-century English screenwriters Category:BBC people Category:British speechwriters Category:English male radio actors Category:English male Shakespearean actors Category:English male soap opera actors Category:English male stage actors Category:English male television writers Category:English radio writers Category:Male actors from Birmingham, West Midlands Category:Male actors from Gwynedd Category:Male actors from London Category:People from Llandudno Category:West End theatre Category:Writers from Birmingham, West Midlands Category:Writers from London