Billy Murray
Known for: Acting
Billy Murray (William Albert Murray, born October 6, 1941, Forest Gate, Essex, England) is an English actor who grew up in Upton Park, east London, one of three children of Timothy and Vera Murray; his father was a plasterer, nightclub bouncer, and boxing champion. After leaving school at fourteen, he worked as a shelf-stacker at a Co-Op supermarket and at the local docks cleaning oil tankers before enrolling at the East 15 Acting School. He is best known for playing Don Beech in The Bill (1995–2004), Captain John Price in the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare video game series, and Johnny Allen in EastEnders (2005–2006). He is often typecast in "hard man" roles and has been active since 1963. He was married to Maureen from 1967 to 1996, and to Elaine Hoyer since 1998. His notable film credits include Performance (1970) (Mick Jagger, James Fox), McVicar (1980) (Michael Caine, Ian McShane), Essex Boys (2000) (Sean Bean, Ray Winstone), Rise of the Footsoldier (2007) (Craig Fairbrass, Terry Stone), One in the Chamber (2012) (Ray Winstone, Michael Fassbender), We Still Steal the Old Way (2016) (Ray Winstone, John Simm), Nemesis (2021) (Ray Winstone, Danny Trejo), and Renegades (2022) (Lee Majors, Danny Trejo). On television he is best known for his nine-year run as Don Beech on The Bill (1995–2004), his role as Johnny Allen on EastEnders (2005–2006), and appearances in Midsomer Murders, Doctor Who, and Line of Duty.
Filmography
Series
EastEnders
Johnny Allen
1985
Series
The Bill
1984
Series
Casualty
Don Collins
1986
Series
Loose Women
Self
1999
Series
Minder
Charlie Pope
1979
Series
Minder
Mick
1979
Series
A Touch of Frost
Bill Boxley
1992
Series
An Audience with...
Self
1978
Series
Bergerac
John Kelp
1981
Series
The Professionals
Morgan
1977
Series
ITV Saturday Night Theatre
Eric
1969
Series
ITV Saturday Night Theatre
Jim
1969
Series
ITV Saturday Night Theatre
Welder #2
1969
Series
The Sweeney
Brian Cooney
1975
Series
New Scotland Yard
George Read
1972
Series
New Scotland Yard
Charlie Palmer
1972
Series
Dempsey and Makepeace
Billy Kennaway
1985
Series
Target
Rex Adcock
1977
Series
Private Schulz
Fred
1981
Series
Rock Follies
Spike
1976
The Root of All Evil?
Terry Milward
1968
Trapped
Gerry
1967
Film
Rise of the Footsoldier
Mickey Steele
2007
Film
Rise of the Footsoldier 3
Mickey Steele
2017
Film
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner
Borstal Inmate (uncredited)
1962
Film
One in the Chamber
Leo Crosby
2012
Film
Rise of the Footsoldier: Origins
Mickey Steele
2021
Film
Poor Cow
Tom's Mate
1967
Film
Performance.
Thug (uncredited)
1970
Film
We Still Steal the Old Way
Vic Farrow
2017
Saturday Night Thriller
Bernie
1982
Film
Doghouse
Colonel
2009
Beech is Back
2001
Film
Renegades
Woody
2022
Film
Strippers vs. Werewolves
Ferris
2012
Film
Aladdin: The ITV Pantomime
Police Chief
2000
Film
Corruption
Rik
1968
Film
The Rise & Fall of a White Collar Hooligan
Mr. Robinson
2012
Film
How to Stop Being a Loser
Dr. Leaner
2011
Film
McVicar
Joey Davis
1980
Film
Essex Boys
Perry Elley
2000
Film
Airborne
Cutter
2012
Film
Rollin' with the Nines
David Brumby
2006
Film
Freight
Gabe Taylor
2010
Film
The Grey Man
George Rowlands
2007
Film
Dead Cert
Dante Livenko
2010
Film
What's the Score
The Producer
2014
Film
What a Crazy World
Youth
1963
Film
Two Left Feet
Yob (uncredited)
1963
Film
Stalker
Robert Gainer
2010
Film
Up the Junction
Ray
1968
Film
Vengeance
Eric Williams
2020
Film
Buddy's Song
Harry
1991
Film
On a Paving Stone Mounted
1978
Grass
Bernie
1982
Film
Essex Boys Retribution
Prisoner
2013
Film
The Disappearance Of Lenka Wood
Draper
2014
Film
Nemesis
John Morgan
2021
Film
The Bill: Target
D.S. Beech
1996
Film
Hell to Pay
Larry Malone
2005