Martin Shaw (born 21 January 1945) is an English actor. He is known for his roles in the television series The Professionals, The Chief, Judge John Deed and Inspector George Gently. He has also acted on stage and in film, and has narrated numerous audiobooks and presented various television series, including the 2006 series Martin Shaw: Aviators.

Biography

Shaw has been married three times. His first wife was actress Jill Allen, whom he married in 1968. They had three children together: Luke Shaw, an actor; Joe Shaw, an actor and director and Sophie Shaw, an actor and singer with the band "Blue Harlem".

Shaw's second wife was former nurse turned alternative therapist and core process psychotherapist, Maggie Mansfield.

Shaw's third wife was TV presenter, environmental activist and fellow pilot Vicky Kimm.

For a while he also lived with the actress Morag Hood.

In 1971, Shaw became a follower of Charan Singh, a master of the ancient spiritual tradition of Sant Mat. This involved a strict lacto vegetarian diet, meditation, yoga and the avoidance of alcohol and other mind-altering drugs.

In interviews and in the Martin Shaw – Aviators documentary series, Shaw readily shares his passion for vintage aeroplanes. He is the holder of a private pilot's licence. For several years, Shaw owned a 1943 Boeing Stearman PT-17 Kaydet and now flies a 1943 Piper Cub which saw action at Dunkirk. The aircraft retains original markings but has a modern registration of G-BFBY. It is operated from Old Buckenham Airport

Between January 2003 and July 2008, Shaw and his current partner, Karen da Silva, were stalked by Sandra Price, a divorcee in her sixties. Price sent Shaw several letters (which he said he found "offensive and intrusive") as well as a 120-page dossier of her views on his career and a 45-minute cassette tape.

In the early hours of a morning in July 2008, Price poured petrol through the door of da Silva's home. This action precipitated Price's arrest by police. In a two-day trial at King's Lynn Magistrates' Court (6–7 January 2009), Price pleaded guilty to damage to property. She was also convicted of harassment. Price was sentenced on 28 January. Although she avoided a custodial sentence, she was ordered to perform 240 hours of unpaid community work and to pay a contribution towards the Crown's costs of £800. An electronically monitored curfew between 19:00 and 07:00 was imposed and the complainants received a restraining order against Price.

On 18 August 2010, Shaw collapsed during the first act of the matinee showing of A Country Girl at Shrewsbury's Theatre Severn. His agent, Roger Charteris, said he had been suffering from cracked ribs and was taking antibiotics for a severe chest infection. An understudy went on in his place.