Ian McCulloch (born 18 November 1939) is a Scottish actor. He is best known for his starring role as Greg Preston in the post-apocalyptic television drama Survivors (1975âÂÂ77), and for his work in Italian horror cinema.
Born in Glasgow in 1939, McCulloch fulfilled his National Service in the British Army before enrolling at the University of Oxford. He recalled in a 2003 interview, "At University I couldn't get any parts and actually did more opera than acting. I did go to the Edinburgh Fringe in 1960 and then directed a college production of The Government Inspector." Upon graduating, he was offered a contract with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
McCulloch made his Royal Shakespeare debut in the 1962 season. He made his West End debut in Richard III in 1964. That same year, he played Captain Macheath in The Beggar's Opera at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. During the following decades he appeared in various stage productions, including a starring role as Martin Dysart in Equus at the Theatre Royal, Windsor.
McCulloch debuted in the second episode, "Genesis", of Survivors and went on to appear regularly throughout the first two series, leaving the show in its third and final series, only appearing in Episodes 2 and 10. He reprised his role in the 2014-17 Big Finish Productions audio drama continuation.
Over the years, McCulloch has had supporting roles in studio films like Where Eagles Dare (1968) with Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood, and Cromwell (1970) with Alec Guinness and Richard Harris. In addition, he has appeared in successful independent films, most notably The Ghoul (1975) with Peter Cushing and John Hurt.
McCulloch has also guest starred in many TV series, including: Manhunt (1969); Colditz (1974), as the mysterious Larry Page in "Odd Man In"; Secret Army (1977); Return of the Saint (1978); Hammer House of Horror (1980); The Professionals (1980), episode "Mixed Doubles", in which he played the physical fitness and close quarters combat instructor of Bodie and Doyle; and the Doctor Who serial Warriors of the Deep (1984).
He also starred in the Italian horror films Zombie Flesh Eaters also known as Zombi II (1979) by Lucio Fulci, Zombi Holocaust (1980) by Marino Girolami, and Contamination (1980) by Luigi Cozzi. Zombie Flesh Eaters was originally banned in the United Kingdom as part of the 1980s campaign against "video nasties". McCulloch stated that he did not see the film in its entirety, or on a big screen, until years later.
McCulloch's brother Andrew (b. 1945) is a television writer and actor.