Ian Watkin (25 January 1940 – 18 May 2016) was a New Zealand actor known for the films Braindead and Sleeping Dogs.
Watkin grew up in Greymouth, and started his career in theatre and radio plays, and working as a magazine editor before emigrating to Australia in 1999 where he continued to appear in numerous television and theatre roles and also became a wine broker. He was also known as Mr. Big Cheese due to a television commercial in which he appeared.
After having appeared in Pukemanu, he featured in an episode of Ngaio Marsh Theatre in 1977. His later roles included Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Charlotte's Web in 2006.
Contents
Death
Ian Watkin died of cancer on 18 May 2016, aged 76.
Selected filmography
Pukemanu (1971–72) – Town doctor
Sleeping Dogs (1977) – Dudley
Wild Man (1977) – The Colonel
Middle Age Spread (1979) – Wrightson
A Woman of Good Character (1980) – Stock Buyer
Goodbye Pork Pie (1980) – Father in Car
Nutcase (1980) – Godzilla
Bad Blood (1981) – Detective Sgt. Knight
Beyond Reasonable Doubt (1982) – Kevin Ryan
Carry Me Back (1982) – M.C.
The Lost Tribe (1983) – Mears
Utu (1984) – Doorman
Death Warmed Up (1984) – Bill
Pallet on the Floor (1984) – Amos
Peppermint Twist (1987) - Clive Springer
Send a Gorilla (1988)
Just Me and Mario (1988)
Space Knights (1989)
My Grandpa Is a Vampire (1992) – Father Vincent
Braindead (1992) – Uncle Les
Savage Honeymoon (2000) – Frank
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) – COO-2180 (uncredited)
Charlotte's Web (2006) – Fair Official (final film role)