Ian Collier

Ian Gordon Arthur Collier (25 January 1943 – 1 October 2008) was a British actor whose career spanned stage, television, and film across several decades. Born in 1943, he worked extensively in repertory theatre, including engagements in Barrow-in-Furness and Liverpool, and performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Collier's Broadway credit came in 1969, when he appeared in Tony Richardson's production of Hamlet. That same production had originated at London's Roundhouse before transferring to the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in New York City. His film work that year also included a role in the 1969 screen adaptation of Hamlet. Subsequent film appearances included The Next Man (1976), A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (1979), and Heritage Africa (1989).

On British television, Collier accumulated a range of credits across comedy and drama series. He appeared in Rentaghost, Hi-de-Hi!, and Howards' Way, and took a guest role in Are You Being Served? in 1985. His connection to the Doctor Who franchise was particularly extensive. He appeared in the classic series serial The Time Monster and later portrayed the villain Omega in the Fifth Doctor serial Arc of Infinity. He reprised that role in the Big Finish Productions audio drama Omega. Additional Big Finish work included the role of Isaac Summerfield, father of Bernice Summerfield, in Death and the Daleks, and a guest appearance in the audio drama Excelis Decays.

Collier died on 1 October 2008.