Background
He was born the third son of Isle of Wight hoteliers Hubert George Cookson Bate (son of George Harry Bate, a hairdresser and trichologist, of Stourbridge. Died 1986) and Cecile Marjorie Canadine (died 1973).
He was born the third son of Isle of Wight hoteliers Hubert George Cookson Bate (son of George Harry Bate, a hairdresser and trichologist, of Stourbridge. Died 1986) and Cecile Marjorie Canadine (died 1973).
Bate was educated at King Edward VI School, Stourbridge, and trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama (Gold medal).
He is possibly best known for his role as Oliver Lacon in the British Broadcasting Corporation television adaptations of the John le Carré novels Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley"s People. Bate"s other credits include: Dixon of Dock Green, The Saint, The Avengers, Prime Suspect, A Touch of Frost and Midsomer Murders. During his National Service he served with the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve 1945-1947.
Find Your Way Home (Open Space ) 1970, Eden End (tour) 1972, Economic Necessity (Haymarket Leicester) 1973, Getting Away with Murder (Comedy) 1976, Shadow Box (Cambridge) 1979, "The Old Jest (tour) 1980, and A Flea in her Ear (Plymouth Company) 1980.
Little Lies (Wyndhams) 1983, Master Class (tour) 1984, The Deep Blue Sea ( Royal Haymarket) 1988, Relative Values (Chichester Festival and Savoy) 1993-1994. Bate died in the early hours of 19 June 2012 at the age of 84 from a brief illness at Street.Mary"s Hospital, Isle of Wight.
He was rushed into the hospital on 17 June 2012 because of his condition.
Bate had been a member of British Academy of Film and Television Arts since 1985.