Michael John Elphick was an English film and television actor. Born in Chichester in 1946, he went to the Lancastrian school. He played the eponymous private investigator in the ITV series Boon and Harry Slater in BBC’s EastEnders. He was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the 1983 film Gorky Park. He died of a heart attack in 2002 that was complicated by a history of alcohol issues.
Samuel Richards has penned a memory of the actor.
I saw Michael in the eighties at the height of his fame in York, he was in the side bar restaurant of the big hotel at Clifford’ Tower when the hotel was beautiful and in its hay-day. I was a very young barman and remembered spotting him and asked to serve him. Very quiet and polite, handsome and very pleasant and he would order a large brandy in a proper medium-sized balloon glass – and have a bowl of sugar cubes with it and would put two white sugar cubes in with each drink. I thought he was fascinating and quite cool and probably annoyed him a little, he would sit alone looking towards the street and wore a very nice black leather jacket and he was there for a few nights in York. I always remember how deep in thought he looked and serious compared to his many light hearted roles. Three up and two down is on again, and Michael’s acting is so easy and comfortable you can only think he’s a character for real, but a great cast and the gorgeous girl of the young couple was super pretty and the Daphne was really beautiful in my older eyes. A big fan of Olivier too, and it was good he gave his support to Michael and simply cements him in his own legend too.