Michael Keating, the ‘cautious’ heart of Blake’s 7, dies at 79
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The enduring legacy of a sci-fi icon
The British science fiction community is mourning the loss of Michael Keating, an actor whose portrayal of the reluctant thief Vila Restal became a cornerstone of 1970s and 80s cult television. Keating passed away at the age of 79, leaving behind a career that spanned the heights of the West End, the grit of repertory theatre, and some of the most beloved audio dramas in the medium’s history.
For many, Keating will be forever linked to the BBC’s Blake’s 7. Between 1978 and 1981, he was the only cast member to appear in every single one of the show’s 52 episodes. While the series was known for its bleak tone and uncompromising storytelling, Keating provided a vital human element as Vila. Often dismissed by other characters as a coward, Keating famously refined the description, insisting that Vila was simply “cautious.” It was this nuance—the blend of self-preservation and genuine warmth—that made Vila an unexpected fan favorite and the emotional glue of the crew aboard the spaceship Liberator.
From the Playhouse to the West End
Keating’s journey to sci-fi stardom began long before the galactic conflicts of Blake’s 7. Starting his professional acting career in 1966 at the Nottingham Playhouse under the direction of John Neville, he spent years honing his craft in regional theatres. His resume read like a map of the UK’s theatrical heartland, with stints at the Library Theatre in Manchester, the Pitlochry Theatre, and the Lyric Theatre in Belfast.
This classical foundation allowed him to transition seamlessly between genres. He performed with the National Theatre and the Old Vic, and in 1985, he took on the role of Marty in Alan Bleasdale’s Are You Lonesome Tonight at the Phoenix Theatre, acting alongside Martin Shaw in a play centered on the life of Elvis Presley.
A second life in audio
While the original television run of Blake’s 7 ended in 1981 with one of the most devastating finales in television history, Keating’s relationship with the character of Vila evolved through the work of Big Finish. The audio production house allowed Keating to revisit the role in 2012’s The Turing Test, bringing a seasoned maturity to the character while maintaining the comedic timing that had defined his early performance.
Peter Anghelides, a producer at Big Finish, recalled the joy of working with Keating in the studio, describing his presence as a constant source of morale. Anghelides noted that during the planning of the original TV series, creator Terry Nation had considered dropping Vila as a regular. It was only through the sheer popularity of Keating’s performance that the character was retained, proving that the actor’s ability to humanize a “career thief” had fundamentally changed the show’s chemistry.
Keating’s audio work extended beyond Blake’s 7. He appeared in the Doctor Who monthly range, guest-starring with Paul McGann and India Fisher in The Twilight Kingdom in 2004, and later worked alongside Tom Baker and Colin Baker. His final credit with Big Finish, The Terra Nostra, was released in January 2022.
Life beyond the screen
Outside of the spotlight, Keating was known as a thoughtful, easy-going man. He was a voracious reader and an avid rambler who found solace in the outdoors. Colleagues remember him not just for his professional precision, but for his generosity in conversation and his ability to bring a sense of lightness to the demanding environments of television and recording studios.
Even in his later years, Keating remained deeply connected to the spirit of his most famous character. When asked during a 2019 recording session whether Vila could survive in a primitive society stripped of technology, Keating replied with an answer that summed up the character perfectly: “I’m sure he would survive. As long as he could make fire, keep warm and meet a young lady… It would be wonderful.”
In addition to his sci-fi legacy, Keating was a familiar face to millions of soap opera viewers, portraying the Reverend George Stevens in 54 episodes of EastEnders between 2005 and 2017.