Tony Scannell Explained

Birth Date:	14 August 1945
Birth Place:	Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland

Thomas Anthony Scannell (14 August 1945 – 26 May 2020^[1]) was an Irish actor, known for his role as DS Ted Roach in ITV's The Bill.

Career

Scannell's debut on The Bill was on 23 October 1984, in an episode called "A Friend in Need". Initially, he was signed for two episodes,^[2] but stayed until 1993 and returned for two episodes in 2000. He also appeared in the Channel 5 soap opera Family Affairs as Eddie Harris from 1997 to 1999.

Personal life

His father, Tom Scannell, was a professional goalkeeper and played once for the Republic of Ireland against Luxembourg in 1954.

In 2002, Tony Scannell was forced to declare himself bankrupt, owing the Inland Revenue over £42,000.^[3]

He was a Freemason.^[4]

Scannell died on 26 May 2020 aged 74 from natural causes.^{[5] [1]}

Partial filmography

• Enemy at the Door (1978, TV Series) .... 1st Sailor in Bar / Gefreiter
• The Playbirds (1978) .... Man at depot (uncredited)
• All the Fun of the Fair (1979) .... Frank
• The Professionals (1979, TV Series) .... Man 1
• Armchair Thriller (1980, TV Series) .... Connally
• Flash Gordon (1980) .... Ming's Officer
• Cribb (1981, TV Series) .... Millar
• Strangers (1981, TV Series) .... John McCleod
• The Gentle Touch (1981, TV Series) .... Andy Golding
• Blue Money (1982, TV Movie) .... Ninian
• The Princess and the Cobbler (1993) .... Brigand (re-edited versions) (voice)
• Family Affairs (1997, TV Series) .... Eddie Harris
• The Things You Do for Love (1998, TV Movie) .... Tony Booth
• The Bill (1984–1993, 2000, TV Series) – D.S. Ted Roach
• Point of View (2004, TV Movie) .... Stanley
• Monkey Trousers (2005, TV Series) .... Police Officer
• Waking the Dead (2007, TV Series) .... Papa McDonagh
• Evil Never Dies (2014) .... Harry Payne
• Bendy Caravans and Everlasting Pens: A Portrait of Evered Wigg (2015) .... Evered Wigg (voice)
• With Love From... Suffolk (2016) .... Bill
• The House in the Clouds (2020, Short) .... Salesman (final film role)

Notes and References

1. News: Tony Scannell, actor best known as no-nonsense detective Ted Roach in The Bill – obituary. Telegraph. Obituaries. The Telegraph. 1 June 2020. www.telegraph.co.uk.
2. News: Tony's topping The Bill!; Tony Scannell shot to fame as The Bill's Ted Roach. Jenny Longhurst catches up with the actor still instantly recognised by millions, years after he left the long-running drama.. South Wales Echo (Cardiff, Wales). 4 May 2002.
3. News: SUN HILL'S DS ROACH CAN'T PAY THE BILL; Bankrupt star owes pounds 42,000 to taxman.. The Mirror (London, England). 23 January 2002.
4. Web site: On the Level – with Bill Star Tony Scannell (Ted Roach). YouTube. 4 February 2011 .
5. News: The Bill actor Tony Scannell dies aged 74. BBC News. 28 May 2020.