TONY found fame as a comic actor in TV’s Scotch and Wry before starring as Jamesie in Rab C Nesbitt and becoming an award-winning playwright with The Steamie.
His friend Billy Connolly wrote the foreward to his autobiography shortly after Tony was treated for prostate cancer two years ago.
He recently starred in Cinderella at the King’s Theatre, Glasgow.
What’s your most memorable moment in panto?
I was appearing live with the great Walter Carr, and the set completely collapsed. I thought I’d learn by seeing a master ad libber in action but all he said was: “Oh dear, the set has fell doon.”
The longest time you’ve ever ‘corpsed’ on stage?
Touring a play, the doors on our set kept flying open. Me and the other actor lay down, still acting, with our arms across two doors each and our feet across the other. Couldn’t speak for laughing.
Who do you remember seeing in panto as a kid?
I saw Lex McLean, also Rikki Fulton and Jack Milroy as Francie and Josie. But I didn’t go to go to many pantos.
Has your play The Steamie still got legs?
It’s 30 years old now but it tours every five years. We’ll be out again this year and I’ll direct it as always.
You’re now 75 years old. Any retiral plans?
At my age you lose popularity. New people come along and you find you’ve had your moment in the sun. But there’s talk of another Rab C Nesbitt this year so I’ll keep an open mind.
Best and worst decisions you’ve made in life?
Best was meeting my wife Isobel. I was a scamp and she sorted me out. She also nursed me through my prostate cancer selflessly. I have no decisions I regret because I always move on.
Have you a secret you’ve never spoken about?
For years I convinced myself I had murdered someone and buried them under a tenement block. No idea why. Every time I had good news in life a voice would say: “Wait till the police find the body.” I could never fully enjoy success because of it. Strange, eh?
Do you still hear that voice?
No. Not long ago I was driving to Edinburgh past a beautiful loch and I heard that voice again. This time I said: “Don’t be daft”. I can’t tell you the weight that came off my shoulders.
Are you comfortable or a millionaire?
No actor working in Scotland becomes a millionaire. If I’d had my career in England I’d be minted. I live modestly and have everything I need.
You have 24 hours left to live. How do you spend it?
I’d sneak on board a space shuttle with my favourite cigars, then leave earth, watching it and my friends disappear behind me, knowing I’d had some great adventures.
Enjoy the convenience of having The Sunday Post delivered as a digital ePaper straight to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Subscribe for only £5.49 a month and enjoy all the benefits of the printed paper as a digital replica.
Subscribe