Derek Anthony "Tony" Beckley (7 October 1929 – 19 April 1980) was an English character actor. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Beckley went on to carve out a career on film and television throughout the 1960s and 1970s often playing villainous roles, as well as being a veteran of numerous stage productions.

Biography

In an interview in 1979 Beckley stated that there was nothing in his background to explain why he became an actor except for possibly "a desire for some attention, which I really didn't get much as a kid."

While often playing villains and psychopaths on screen his personal self seemed far removed from it. Beckley is described as friendly and funny by people who met him and as someone who could tell a good story. Beckley remarked himself that he would be surprised if people could find anything psychotic in his behaviour.

For more than 15 years Beckley was in a relationship with film producer Barry Krost. When Krost opened up his own management company Beckley became his first client. Krost also produced Beckley's last film When A Stranger Calls and was a production associate on The Penthouse.

Shortly before his death, Beckley moved to California where he lived in a flat in West Hollywood.