David Neal Biography: Age, Wife, Kids, Height, Net Worth, Parents, Movies & TV Shows

David Henry Neal, known professionally as David Neal, was a British television, film, and stage actor remembered for a prolific range of supporting roles in major productions from the 1960s through the 1990s.

He gained recognition for guest appearances in popular series such as Doctor Who, Inspector Morse, and Agatha Christie’s Poirot, as well as film roles including the 7th Elder on the Kryptonian Council in Superman (1978) and Captain of Ming’s Air Force in Flash Gordon (1980).

David Neal
Wiki Facts & About Data
Real Name:	David Henry Neal
Stage Name:	David Neal
Born:	13 February 1932
Died:	27 June 2000 (age 68 years old)
Place of Birth:	Kettering, Northamptonshire, England, UK
Nationality:	British
Parents:	Mr. and Mrs. Neal
Spouse:	Margaret Manning (m. ?–1981)
Relationship:	Deceased
Children:	2
Occupation:	Television, film, and stage actor
Net Worth:	$500,000 USD

Early Life and Education

David Henry Neal was born on 13 February 1932 in Kettering, Northamptonshire, England, UK, to Mr. and Mrs. Neal. He might have had siblings but details about them are unknown.

Neal left the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in 1958. His ethnicity is Caucasian, and his religious affiliation is not publicly known.

Career

David Neal began his acting career in classical theatre after leaving RADA in 1958, joining the Royal Shakespeare Company before working in several leading repertory companies during the 1960s and 1970s. He performed at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1963 and the Nottingham Playhouse in 1964 during the John Neville period, playing many leading roles including Thomas More in A Man for all Seasons, Gloucester in King Lear, and subsequently the title role in Lear.

His screen career began in the mid-1960s with television appearances including Hereward the Wake (1965). In 1970, he took a major supporting role as Cinna the Conspirator in the all-star feature film Julius Caesar, starring Charlton Heston, Christopher Lee, and Sir John Gielgud.

Neal achieved wider recognition through significant supporting roles in popular British television series, including Softly, Softly, Z-Cars, Doctor Who, Inspector Morse, Poirot, The Bill, and Wycliffe. He appeared as the President of the Federation in the 1984 Doctor Who serial The Caves of Androzani.

Although rarely cast in lead roles, an exception was the children’s television production The Flockton Flyer (1977–1978), in which he played the principal character, Bob Carter. He later took the lead role of the father in the 1980 TV series Noah’s Castle.

In film, he appeared as the 7th Elder on the Kryptonian Council in Superman (1978) and as Captain of Ming’s Air Force in Flash Gordon (1980), followed by roles in M. Butterfly (1993) as a judge and Feast of July (1995).

Later in his career, Neal continued to take on character roles in both television and film. In 1979, he portrayed Richard le Scrope, Archbishop of York, in the BBC’s productions of Henry IV, Part 1 and Henry IV, Part 2 as part of the complete works of Shakespeare series.

He later appeared in Jonathan Miller‘s productions of Timon of Athens and Antony and Cleopatra for the same series. He also broadcast several short stories by HE Bates, co-wrote the screenplay for the 1998 Swedish film Under Solen (Under the Sun) adapted from Bates‘ novel The Little Farm, and toured a one-man show around Northamptonshire.

His final credit was The Garden of Redemption (1997).

Social Media

David Neal does not have social media accounts.

Personal Life

David Henry Neal was married to costume designer Margaret Manning; the marriage was dissolved in 1981. He leaves two devoted daughters and a grandchild.

Neal lived with his beloved cats in a cottage in the woods, near the remains of a Cistercian Abbey in Northamptonshire, the county he loved so much. He died on 27 June 2000 in Kettering, Northamptonshire, England, UK, from natural causes at the age of 68.

Filmography

• Hereward the Wake (1965)
• The Cut-Throats (1969)
• Julius Caesar (1970)
• Crown Court (1972–1975)
• The Flockton Flyer (1977–1978)
• Superman (1978)
• Henry IV, Part 1 (1979)
• Henry IV, Part 2 (1979)
• Noah’s Castle (1980)
• Flash Gordon (1980)
• Antony & Cleopatra (1981)
• Blake’s 7 (1981)
• Doctor Who: The Caves of Androzani (1984)
• Agatha Christie’s Poirot (1993)
• M. Butterfly (1993)
• The Bill (1994)
• Feast of July (1995)
• The Garden of Redemption (1997)

Net Worth

David Henry Neal has an estimated net worth at the time of his death was approximately $500,000 USD. His primary income sources were acting in television, film, and stage productions spanning over three decades from the 1960s to the 1990s.

Additional income included radio voice work, screenplay co-writing for the Swedish film Under Solen, and touring a one-man show.