George Baker

George Morris Baker, MBE (1 April 1931 – 7 October 2011) was an English actor and writer. He was best known for portraying Tiberius in I, Claudius, and Inspector Wexford in The Ruth Rendell Mysteries.

George Baker was born on April 1, 1931 in Varna, Bulgaria as George Morris Baker. He was an actor and writer, known for On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and I, Claudius (1976). He was married to Louie Ramsay, Sally Home and Julia Squire. He died on October 7, 2011 in West Lavington, Wiltshire, England.

He met Louie Ramsay when they played on-screen husband and wife, "Chief Inspector Reg Wexford" and "Dora Wexford", in the The Ruth Rendell Mysteries (1987) TV series.

Had four daughters by first wife, costume designer Julia Squire: Candida (b. 1958), Tessa, and twins Charlotte and Eleanor (b. 1963); a fifth daughter, Sarah Baker, was born in 1967 by actress Sally Home, who later became his second wife.

Was offered the main guest lead of Thawn in Doctor Who: The Power Of Kroll

Did screen tests for Ben-Hur (1959), which can be seen in the 'Making Of...' documentary included on the DVD of the movie.

Baker's father was a British consul; his mother was a Red Cross nurse. Baker had a brother, Patrick. He battled dyslexia as a youth.

Although he played Siân Phillips's son in I, Claudius (1976), he was actually two years her senior in real life.

Began as an actor in repertory while in his teens. Acted with the Old Vic, 1959-61, including a tour of the Soviet Union. For six years, from 1965, he ran his own repertory troupe. Based at the Theatre Royal in Suffolk, he dispatched his Candida Plays Company on national tours, with himself as artistic director.

In addition to acting, he wrote scripts for stage, radio and screen. An aficionado of good food and wine, he also put together a book of recipes, entitled "A Cook for All Seasons" (1992).

He was awarded an MBE in 2007 for his fundraising efforts in aid of his local youth club.

He also wrote and directed dozens of corporate training films. Because he was so well loved he persuaded a great many well-established actors and the odd star to perform in them.

George R.R. Martin has stated that Baker's portrayal of the Roman Emperor Tiberius (between the ages of 18 (in 23 BC) and 77 (in 37 AD)) in I, Claudius (1976) was the inspiration for the character of Stannis Baratheon in "A Song of Ice & Fire"/ Game of Thrones (2011).