Monarch of the Glen actor Alexander Morton has died, aged 81.
The star, who was the stepfather of White Lotus actor Leo Woodall, was best known for his role in the British series about a man trying to restore his childhood home in the Scottish highlands.
He played Golly Mackenzie, a member of staff at Glenbogle, the estate the lead character inherits from his late father. Morton appeared in all 64 episodes of the show, which ran from 2000 to 2005.
The actor, who trained at Central School of Speech and Drama in London, was a stalwart of television, starring in series ranging from Casualty and Taggart to Luther and Shetland. He also founded the Raindog Theatre Company with actors Robert Carlyle and Caroline Paterson and, in the early 1990s, was the lead star in Carlyle’s production of Macbeth and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
‘Not only a brilliant actor, but one of the kindest men I ever knew,” Carlyle said in tribute to Morton. “Working with him through the years with Raindog Theatre Company was an education.”
Carlyle said Morton taught him “so much”, adding: “His unique, naturalistic style was a thing of beauty. So real that you would forget he was even acting at all. I’ve never seen anyone do it better than Sandy.
“I owe him so much, and he will forever be in my heart. RIP Alexander Morton.”
Morton’s other credits included Michael Caine gangster drama Get Carter – his screen debut – Scottish soap Take the High Road, in which he played the villainous Andy Semple, and he played criminal Billy Kennedy in River City from 2012 to 2015, before returning for the show’s 20th anniversary in 2022.
The actor was married three times, and had two children from his first two marriages. He met his third wife – landlady Jane – while he was in London doing TV work. Jane’s son is Woodall, the actor whose credits include Netflix shows One Day and Vladimir. He was recently announced as playing a lead role in new Lord of the Rings film The Hunt for Gollum, set to be released in December 2027.
Actor Gavin Mitchell, who worked with Morton on stage and in Monarch of the Glen, also paid tribute, calling him “one of the best”.
”Such devastating news to hear of the passing of Sandy Morton today from his son Jamie,” he wrote.
“He taught and gave me so much. Warm, wise, encouraging, generous and gentle. An exceptional talent.
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“I was lucky enough to work with him on various things over the years, from the inception of Raindog Theatre Company and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, panto, radio, Monarch of the Glen, of course, and much more.
Mitchell continued: “His door was always open and always tales to share. He loved music, history, politics, radio, and remained eternally curious. I loved him dearly and I owe him a lot. I’ll miss our chats and I’ll miss catching him off guard and making him chortle. We’ve lost one of the best. All my love. Travel well Sandy.”