Michael Brandon

Actor Michael Brandon had the fortune to land his first role in the Oscar-winning comedy "Lovers and Other Strangers," starring Bea Arthur, in 1970. The following year Brandon starred in the Italian thriller "Four Flies on Grey Velvet" directed by Dario Argento; however, his film roles were increasingly made for TV, earning him work through the '70s. In the '80s Brandon transitioned to television series, cast in a recurring role on "Emerald Point N.A.S." as David Marquette. In 1985 he took on one of his best-known roles, as Lieutenant James Dempsey on the crime drama "Dempsey and Makepeace." Continuing to star in TV movies in the '90s, Brandon also made several feature film appearances, in the comedy "The Disappearance of Kevin Johnson," starring Pierce Brosnan, and the romantic drama "Déjà vu." In the '00s Brandon's television career began to pick up; he played Frank Scott on the family series "Dinotopia" and Chuck Newman on the comedy series "Dead Man Weds." In 2004 Brandon began narrating the animated children's series "Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends," voicing the spinoff film as well. On film, Brandon starred in the indie comedy "Are You Ready for Love?," directed by Helen Grace.