British leading actor, born Patrick Archibald Shaw, one of three siblings of Welsh and English parentage. A 1962 graduate from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he was at the peak of his popularity in the late 60s and early 70s. On the London stage from 1963, he also began acting on television the following year. Mower did not achieve prominence until 1967, when he was given his first opportunity to shine as paranormal investigator Michael West in the miniseries
Haunted (1967). Though briefly considered and auditioned for the part of James Bond in 1968, he was deemed as too young for the part.
Mower instead made his mark with featured roles in Hammer's
The Devil Rides Out (1968) and AIP's
Cry of the Banshee (1970), plus with guest spots in popular action series like
Department S (1969),
UFO (1970) and
Paul Temple (1969). Between 1970 and 1973, he had a breakthrough --back-to-back-- as the unscrupulous assassin James Cross in
Callan (1967) and as Detective Chief Inspector Tom Haggerty in the police drama
Special Branch (1969). On the strength of the latter, he received first billing in another cop show,
Target (1977), as Detective Superintendent Steve Hackett. Not wanting to be typecast, he was content to move on after Target's cancellation in the wake of season two. He also made an impact in a trio of miniseries: as Edmund, the main antagonist of
King Lear (1974), as Brother Damian in
Marco Polo (1982) and in the gripping BBC supernatural drama
The Dark Side of the Sun (1983), in which the early death of his character on the island of Rhodes leads to the uncovering of a sinister conspiracy.
More recently, Mower has become a small screen favorite once again in the regular role of Rodney Blackstock in the soap opera
Emmerdale Farm (1972), a character he has portrayed in over 1300 episodes (to date) since October 2000. On the stage, he has portrayed Mortimer in Edward II, Orsino in Twelfth Night, Richard Sherman in The Seven Year Itch (
Tom Ewell's role in the classic Hollywood film) and Manderley's stern owner Maxim de Winter, in Rebecca (famously played on screen by
Laurence Olivier).
Emmerdale Farm(1972)as Rodney Blackstock
TV Burp(2001)as Rodney Blackstock
There's a Viking in My Bed(2001)as Mr. Thripp
The Asylum(2000)as Dr. Adams
The Grimleys(1999)as Hero
The Queen's Platinum Jubilee 2022: The Platinum Pageant(2022)as Self
Harry Hill's Alien Fun Capsule(2017)as Self - Panellist
Callan: This Man Alone(2015)as Self
Carry on Forever(2015)as Self - Carry On England
Black Magic: The Making of the Devil Rides Out(2012)as Self - Original Cast Member, Simon Aron
Harry Hill's TV Burp: The Best Bits - Classic Sketches(2011)as Rodney Blackstock
Harry Hill's TV Burp Gold 2(2009)as Rodney Blackstock
Harry Hill's TV Burp Gold(2008)as Rodney Blackstock
The Best of Les Dawson(1999)
