Michael Keating

Name:	Michael Keating
Also Known As:
Occupation:	actor
Medium:	TV, film, theatre
Works:	Blake's 7
Official Website(s):
Fan Website(s):
On Fanlore:	Related pages

Michael Keating is an actor well-known for his role as Vila Restal in Blake's 7.

from B7 Complex #12, artist is Gail Bennett, portrays Vila Restal in the back ground and Michael Keating in the foreground

Keating was a guest at many conventions. He and Paul Darrow (who portrayed Kerr Avon) were frequent team on panels and other convention activities. The banter and close friendship between the two actors was appealing to fans, and helped propel the pairing of Avon/Vila.

Keating was Darrow's proponent in the Blake's 7 Wars and co-author of Paul Darrow and Michael Keating's 1989 Cease and Desist Letter in 1989. Some of this was related to his hope-for involvement in Darrow and Terry Nation's plans for for-profit cons as described in Dalek Man, London. Having scrambled British SF TV expectations, Terry Nation considers reshaping fan conventions (1990).

Portrays in RPF

lower right: Paul Darrow hugging Michael Keating, the upper right is Paul Darrow hugging Janet Lees Price, in an interior illo for The Other Side of the Coin (1991), artist is Gail Bennett

• Episodes by Judith Seaman (1982)
• The Totally Imaginary Cheeseboard by Jean Airey and Laurie Haldeman (1988)
• The Other Side of the Coin (1991)

Professional Fan Casting

Some professional/for-profit authors have cast Keating in their novels. One example is "Sheriff Darrow" by Gillian Taylor. Another example is Myal in Tanith Lee's Kill the Dead.

Con Appearances

• Aftermath (2008)
• Anglicon (1989)
• Brits in Space (1989)
• Conflagration (1990)
• A Day with Jon Pertwee (1986)
• Deliverance '98 (1998)
• Dixie Trek (1987, 1990)
• DSV (1988)
• Fan-Out (1990)
• Galacticon (1984)
• Midcon (1990)
• Nebula (Paul Darrow and Michael Keating were guests in 1991)
• Omnicon (1985)
• ORAC (1990)
• ORBIT (1990)
• Scorpio (1984, 1986, 1987)
• Sol III (1985)
• Space City (1986, 1988, 1990, 1992)
• Star One (2004, 2005, 2006)
• TARDISCon (1988)
• Unicon (1989)
• Visions (1990, 1991, 1996)
• Zencon (ConFederation) (1988)
• Michael Keating continues to be a popular guest as fan conventions, including a virtual con in 2021.

• 

  convention photograph (unknown date) of Paul Darrow and Michael Keating. A fan in 1993 wrote: " also have a copy of the picture that shows PD kissing MK. It was taken at my first con (don't remember the name of it) during the auction, in attempts to up prices, and it did. Directors copy of last episode went for $2400.00! (No, not a misprint!)"

• 

  Paul Darrow & Michael Keating at Scorpio IV, from Ashton Press

• 

  a 1989 photo of Michael Keating (who portrayed Vila Restal) showing off his Disney swag from a trip to the park which was organized by a Blake's 7 fan club

• 

  from Southern Seven #1, artist is Leah Rosenthal, portrays Paul Darrow and Michael Keating keeping the fans happy at a con

• 

  Michael Keating and some fan art by Leah Rosenthal at Scorpio #4 in 1986

Active in Fandom

"The Paul and Michael Show" was a term used by fans and celebrities alike. In Paul Darrow was quoted: "in a rare moment of modesty Paul confirms that the "Paul and Michael show is not bad."

The main story in Episodes (1982) is a Blake's 7 RPF that includes Michael Keating, Paul Darrow, and Janet Darrow. There is a disclaimer at the end of the story that says the story was "published with the permission and approval of Paul and Janet Darrow."

Keating continues to be heavily involved in the Blake's 7 (Big Finish Series), featuring in numerous audio plays (both full-cast and individual).

Fan Comments

Michael Keating was adorable [at Scorpio in 1984]. When he came out for his panel he took pictures of the audience! After receiving a cowboy hat he became Michael "Tex” Keating. Brian Croucher, whom many of us knew very little about, was a hit with his ’’off the wall” T-shirts and sunglasses. Terry Nation was constantly in conversation on all aspects of B7.