Actor Mark McManus was born in Hamilton, Lanarkshire Scotland on 21st February 1935. He is most famous for his portrayal of Detective Chief Inspector Jim Taggart in the long running Scottish Television series “Taggart”. His role lasted eleven years until his death on the 6th of June 1994. He was only 59 years of age.
At 3 years of age Mark moved to Uxbridge in London. In his youth he was a keen amateur boxer hence the fine cuts and scarring around his eyes which became more noticeable as he got older. At age 16 he moved again, this time overseas to Australia. He performed in many amateur theatre groups and this led him to become a professional actor. Some of his first major roles were in the popular children’s tv series “Skippy The Bush Kangaroo” and “Homicide” which was a popular Australian police drama. Mark also co-starred with Mick Jagger in the 1970 movie “Ned Kelly” and with Peter O’Toole in the 1976 television movie “Rogue Male”. He also had roles in the National Theatre and the Royal Court Theatre.
During September of 1983 Mark McManus began playing the title role in the Scottish television crime drama series “Taggart”. It was his defining role! He sadly passed away after several years of declining health due to his long standing battle with alcohol which was worsened by the death of his second wife “Marion” whom he nursed whilst she was terminally ill with cancer. He will be forever immortalised as “Taggart”!
When Mark McManus visited the McManus Family R.I.P. at house No. 10 Burnside Lane, Hamilton, Lanarkshire c.1985.
In the above photo back row, left to right is my Great Aunt Elizabeth (Lizzie) McManus and My Great Aunt Alice (McManus) Paterson, just a step down and centre is my Great Uncle John McManus. Front Row left to right is my Great Aunts Nan McManus (John McManus’s Wife) then Vera McManus, Then my 2nd Cousin Ann Marie (McManus) Kerr; (daughter to John and Nan) then Mark McManus then my Great Aunt Margaret (Peggy) McManus. R.I.P. to all concerned!
After Mark had visited the family house at No 10 Burnside Lane, Hamilton, Lanarkshire. He and the rest of the men from the family went to the Butterburn Bar for a Drink. Jokingly he asked the then barmaid for “A Pint Of Lager And A Packet A Cheese N’Onion Crisps” acting as though he was in his element; the “Taggart” role, Lol!
Full Cousins John McManus (popular Musician in Lanarkshire) and Mark McManus who played “Taggart”! R.I.P.
John McManus R.I.P. and as he would say: ” Magic! “.
Written by
Hamilton Historian.
Terence (Terry) Murphy.
Ref; Wikipedia and Family Photos/Archives.
Hamilton Historian. Terry Murphy 