Valentine Dyall

Valentine Dyall
Dyall as the Black Guardian in Doctor Who
Born(1908-05-07)7 May 1908
London, England
Died24 June 1985(1985-06-24) (aged 77)
Years active1942–1985
Notable work
Spouses
Marjorie Stonor
(m. 1935; div. 1940)
Babette Jones
(m. 1941)
Kathleen E. Woodman
(m. 1970)
Children3

Valentine Dyall (7 May 1908 – 24 June 1985) was an English character actor. Noted for his harsh and deep voice, he worked regularly as a voice actor, and was known for many years as "The Man in Black", the narrator of the BBC Radio horror series Appointment with Fear; reprising the role in the 1950 Hammer film The Man in Black.

He is further remembered by science fiction fans for playing Gargravarr in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and playing the Black Guardian in Doctor Who. He was also a regular in the BBC's WWII drama Secret Army.

He was the son of the actor Franklin Dyall and the actress and author Mary Phyllis Joan Logan, who acted and wrote as Concordia Merrel.