Trevor Mills Byfield (20 October 1943 – 11 October 2017)[1] was a British character actor particularly well known for his roles on British television. In many of his later roles he was credited as Zig Byfield.

Trevor Byfield
Born
Trevor Mills Byfield

(1943-10-20)20 October 1943
Died11 October 2017(2017-10-11) (aged 73)
Other namesZig Byfield, Ziggy Byfield
OccupationActor
Years active1967–2017
Spouse
Janet Offor
(m. 1966, divorced)
Children2

Theatre work

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Prior to his work in television and film he appeared in several stage musicals under the name Ziggy Byfield. These included the 1970s production of Hair, where he appeared alongside Joan Armatrading, Richard O'Brien, Paul Nicholas and Floella Benjamin.[2] He also appeared later in Richard O’Brien's The Rocky Horror Show.[3]

Television work

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Byfield featured in many popular British television programmes over several decades, these included Heartbeat, EastEnders, Casualty, Holby City, Coronation Street, Family Affairs, Doctors, Only Fools and Horses, Inspector Morse (as the title character in the episode "Who Killed Harry Field?"), One Foot in the Grave, Birds of a Feather, The Professionals, Minder, Spooks, Lovejoy, So Haunt Me and New Tricks.[4][5][6] He appeared in seventeen episodes of The Bill in fourteen different roles.

Personal life

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Byfield married Janet Offor in 1966 and they had two children together, but subsequently divorced.

Accident

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In January 2009 he suffered a broken hip and ribs as well as a collapsed lung, when a tractor that he was driving lost control on a road and hit trees before rolling down an embankment during filming of the ITV show Heartbeat near Grosmont. Four crew members were also hurt. Byfield was airlifted to hospital.[7]

Death

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Byfield died from pneumonia on 11 October 2017, aged 73.

Partial filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1982 Who Dares Wins Baker
1983 Slayground Sams
1989 The Wolves of Willoughby Chase Train Driver
1995 GoldenEye Train Driver
1999 Nasty Neighbours Car Salesman
1999 G:MT – Greenwich Mean Time Brian
2000 Distant Shadow John Clay
2009 Dead Man Running The Mark

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1980 Minder Billy 1 episode
1987 Yesterday's Dreams Don Ackford 6 episodes
1991 Lovejoy Jeff Diamond Series 2 Episode 4 – Montezuma's Revenge
1991 Inspector Morse Harry Field Series 5 Episode 3:
1991 Only Fools and Horses Eric Series 7 Episode 3 – Stage Fright
1991 Minder Billy Meadows 1 episode
1992 One Foot in the Grave Salmon 1 episode
2003–2010 Waking the Dead John Nesbitt 2 episodes
2000 A Touch of Frost George English 1 episode
2003–2012 Doctors Tom Irving / Buster Bevan / Tony Raynor 3 episodes (including final acting role)
2003 Holby City John Palmer 1 episode
2004 Heartbeat Don Megson 1 episode
1989–2008 The Bill various characters 17 episodes
2008 New Tricks Clive Evans 1 episode
2008 Casualty Don Harrikent 1 episode
2009 Lewis Bone 1 episode
2009 Heartbeat Harry Brown 1 episode
2010 EastEnders Reg 2 episodes

References

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  1. ^ Hayward, Anthony (18 October 2017). "Trevor 'Ziggy' Byfield obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Programme, 'Hair', Birmingham Hippodrome – Hippodrome Heritage".
  3. ^ "Obituary: Trevor 'Ziggy' Byfield | Obituaries". 15 November 2017.
  4. ^ "Trevor Byfield". Archived from the original on 26 April 2017.
  5. ^ "Trevor Byfield". aveleyman.com.
  6. ^ "Obituary: Trevor 'Ziggy' Byfield – Obituaries – The Stage". 15 November 2017.
  7. ^ "Heartbeat actor hurt in on-set accident". Whitby Gazette. 30 January 2009. Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
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