Theatre Gallagher studied English at
Sheffield University, and following
National service in the
RAF Educational Service (1952–54), made his stage debut in
Lyme Regis in 1956. Other roles included in Howard Brenton’s
Weapons of Happiness and Tom Stoppard’s
Jumpers. In
Granada Television’s daytime legal drama series
Crown Court, he played
barrister Jonathan Fry
QC. Gallagher's numerous other TV credits include appearances in two of Britain's most hard-hitting police dramas of the 1970s,
The Sweeney and
The Professionals. He was cast in
The Sweeney as a Desk Sergeant in the episode entitled
"Jackpot", whilst in
The Professionals Gallagher appeared as a Government Minister in the episode
"Need to Know." In 1977, he played the role of Enfield in
The Duchess of Duke Street (series 2, episode 12). Gallagher played recurring character Graham Weston in series 6 and 7 of
Heartbeat, and different characters in its sister programme
The Royal. He was also an original cast member of
Casualty from 1986–1988. Other credits include:
Bergerac,
Bad Girls,
Wycliffe,
Cadfael,
Midsomer Murders, and ''
London's Burning''. In rare comedic roles he played Mervyn, the
Holiday Camp manager in
Selwyn, DS Lang in the "
Photographs" episode of ''
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and Mr. Glockenspiel in the "
Alternative Culture"
episode of The Thin Blue Line''. Gallagher portrayed keen gardener Bill Molesley, father of Joseph Molesley (played by
Kevin Doyle), in
ITV's
Downton Abbey (2010–2013).
Death Bernard Gallagher died of
pneumonia on 27 November 2016, aged 87. ==Selected acting credits==