British dramatist and screenwriter (1928–2016) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Born in London, to Scottish parents, Macllwraith trained as an actor at RADA and worked in repertory during the 1950s, performing around the country. With Tyrone Power in a production of George Bernard Shaw's The Devil's Disciple which ran for a season in London.[1][2] MacIlwraith eventually concentrated on his writing career. By the early 1960s, he had begun to develop a career as a screenwriter with the short film Linda (1960), featuring Carol White, and 8 episodes of the television series, The Human Jungle (1963–64), with Herbert Lom as a Harley Street psychiatrist, among his credits.[3]
MacIlwraith is best known for the stage play The Anniversary (1966). After first being performed at the Theatre Royal, Brighton, the play had a long run at the Duke of York's Theatre in the West End with Mona Washbourne in the lead role as the domineering mother of three sons.[2] It was adapted into a film version released in 1968, now with Bette Davis in the central role. The Anniversary received a West End revival in 2005 with Sheila Hancock now in the lead role.[4]
His situation comedy Two's Company (1975–79), about an American writer and her English butler, starred Elaine Strich and Donald Sinden. A later comedy series Seconds Out (1981–82), about a boxer, starred Robert Lindsay.[3] His other television work includes plays for the Armchair Theatre series broadcast between 1970 and 1972, and episodes of Justice with Margaret Lockwood in a role as a barrister.[3]
