Richard Franklin (actor)

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Richard Franklin
Franklin in 2009
Born	Richard Kimber Franklin (1936-01-15)15 January 1936 Marylebone, London, England
Died	25 December 2023(2023-12-25) (aged 87)[1] Islington, London, England
Occupations	Actor writer director political activist
Years active	1966–2021
Known for	Captain Mike Yates in Doctor Who
Political party	Liberal Democrats (before 1996) Referendum Party (1996–1997) UKIP (1997–2005) Silent Majority (2005–2015) 30-50 coalition (2015–2023)

Richard Kimber Franklin (15 January 1936 – 25 December 2023)^[2][3] was an English actor, writer, director and political activist. Principally a stage actor, he also appeared as a regular character in several high-profile British television programmes, including Crossroads and Emmerdale Farm, and he portrayed Captain Mike Yates of UNIT in Doctor Who from 1971 until 1974, returning to the role on a number of occasions both on television and in Doctor Who spin-off media.

Franklin was a dramatist and the author of the book Forest Wisdom: Radical Reform of Democracy and the Welfare State,^[4] which reflected his political views and activism. He also wrote novels based in the Whoniverse. Franklin stood as a candidate for the UK Parliament for several parties and founded the Silent Majority Party.