Biography

Anthony Ainley

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Anthony Ainley was a notable British actor and a member of a distinguished British acting family. His brother was Richard Ainley (1910-1967) and his father Henry Ainley (1879-1945). He worked in the theatre for many years and eventually found work in various historical film dramas in the 1970s. However, his claim to fame is his casting in the role of the Master in the long running science fiction series, Doctor Who (1963). He first appeared in the role in 1981 and would makes further appearances each year up to and including 1986. He then reprised the role one last time in 1989, for the final Doctor Who serial entitled 'Survival'. He retired from acting professionally in the late nineties and played cricket up until the time of his death in May 2004.
- IMDb mini biography by: stephen Lowrey

Was so fond of the role of The Master that, according to Doctor Who script editor Eric Saward, Ainley would introduce himself on the phone by saying "This is the Master," and then do his trademark villainous laugh.
Just as his Doctor Who character "The Master" would use anagrams to conceal his identity, Ainley would be credited with an anagram of his own name to hide the fact that a character he was playing in certain episodes was The Master in Disguise. Most notably, this led to his credit in "Castrovalva" episode 3 being "Neil Toynay" (Tony Ainley).
He would often turn down acting roles that would clash with major cricket matches.
He played the Master in 'Doctor Who' for nine years - the longest serving actor to appear as a regular character in the TV series' history.
Before his acting career took off, he was well known as a leading rugby player in London, playing under the name of A.A. Holmes. For several seasons in the sixties he played regularly for Richmond and Middlesex, either at full back or centre three quarter. Articles confirming this can be found in the archives of the London Evening Standard, written by the then rugby correspondent Richard Evans. Photographs accompanying the articles clearly confirm that Holmes and Ainley are one and the same.

I once sat next to a girl in a play and had to say 'Would you like some tea?', and I said it and she broke rehearsal and said 'My God you're evil!'. I guess it's something I have.

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