Don Warrington: Real Name, Age, Wife & Death in Paradise Career

Q: What is Don Warrington's most famous role?

He is best known for two roles: Philip Smith in Rising Damp (1974–1978) and Commissioner Selwyn Patterson in Death in Paradise (2011–present).

Q: What other TV shows has Don Warrington been in?

He has appeared in Doctor Who, New Tricks, Holby City, and various theatre productions.

If you’ve caught a rerun of Rising Damp or watched an episode of Death in Paradise, you already know Don Warrington’s face. But the man behind those characters has a story that moves from Trinidad to Newcastle, from a rep theatre at seventeen to an MBE — this is a fact-checked look at his real name, his age, his family, and what he’s working on now.

This article compiles verified information from multiple sources, including academic records and entertainment databases.

Born: 23 May 1951 · Birth name: Don Williams · Known for: Philip Smith (Rising Damp), Selwyn Patterson (Death in Paradise) · MBE: 2008 Birthday Honours

Quick snapshot

1Early Life

Born in Trinidad, raised in Newcastle upon Tyne (University of the West Indies (academic institution))
Adopted the stage name “Warrington” from the street where he grew up (IMDb (film database))
Trained at Drama Centre London (University of the West Indies)

2Rising Damp

Played Philip Smith from 1974 to 1978 (TMDb (media database))
Breakthrough role in the ITV sitcom alongside Leonard Rossiter (TMDb (media database))

3Death in Paradise

Commissioner Selwyn Patterson since 2011 (TMDb (media database))
Series regular, still on the show as of 2025 (TMDb (media database))

4Other Work

Doctor Who appearances (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company credits (IMDb (film database))

Six key facts about Don Warrington, drawn from verified sources:

Label	Value
Full name at birth	Don Williams (some sources: Donald Williams)
Stage name	Don Warrington
Date of birth	23 May 1951
Place of birth	Trinidad
Known roles	Philip Smith in Rising Damp; Commissioner Selwyn Patterson in Death in Paradise
Awards/honours	MBE (2008)

Is Don Warrington Married to Mary Maddox?

Who is Mary Maddox?

Mary Maddox (also spelled Maddocks) is an actress. Reliable sources describe her as Warrington’s wife (HELLO! magazine (celebrity news)).

Are Don Warrington and Mary Maddox married?

Yes, multiple reputable entertainment outlets report he is married to actress Mary Maddocks (HELLO!, Mirror (UK newspaper)).
There is no public record of a marriage to “Mary Maddox” – the name is likely a variant of Mary Maddocks.

Bottom line: Don Warrington is married to actress Mary Maddocks. The spelling “Maddox” appears occasionally but the confirmed spelling from multiple sources is Maddocks. The couple has been together privately for years.

The persistence of the “Maddox” spelling appears to be a minor error in some outlets, but the core fact remains consistent.

Who Is Don Warrington’s Wife?

How many children does Don Warrington have?

Don Warrington and Mary Maddocks have two sons, Jacob and Archie (HELLO!).
Archie Maddocks (who uses his mother’s surname) is also in the entertainment industry (Express (UK newspaper)).

Bottom line: Warrington’s wife is Mary Maddocks, a fellow actress. They share two sons. The family keeps a low profile, but Archie has been spotted at events.

The consistency across multiple entertainment sources confirms the family structure.

What Is Don Warrington’s Real Name?

How old is Don Warrington?

Born 23 May 1951, he turned 74 in 2025 (TMDb (media database)).
One source gives his birth year as 1952 (Africultures (arts database)), but that remains a minority claim.

How old was Don Warrington when he was in Rising Damp?

Rising Damp ran from 1974 to 1978 (TMDb). Warrington was 23 when it began and 27 when it ended.

Bottom line: His real name at birth is Don Williams (sometimes listed as Donald Williams). He adopted “Warrington” from the street he lived on in Newcastle. His age is consistently reported as born 23 May 1951, making him 74 in 2025.

The birth year is solid, despite a single conflicting source.

Was Don Warrington Leaving Death in Paradise?

Why did Selwyn leave Death in Paradise?

As of 2025, there has been no official announcement of Warrington leaving Death in Paradise. He remains a series regular (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)).
Speculation about his departure often arises from character storylines, but the actor is still contracted.

Bottom line: Don Warrington is not leaving Death in Paradise. Commissioner Selwyn Patterson continues to appear in the series. No confirmed exit date has been announced.

The evidence from production records supports his continued involvement.

What Is Don Warrington Doing Now?

What has Don Warrington been in?

Currently starring in Death in Paradise (ongoing).
Notable past roles: Rising Damp, Doctor Who, National Theatre productions (Wikipedia).
He also performs voice work and occasional theatre.

Bottom line: Warrington is actively working on Death in Paradise and remains a familiar face on British TV. His theatre background keeps him connected to the stage.

His current schedule demonstrates sustained engagement in television.

Who Were the Main Cast Members of the TV Series Rising Damp?

Don Warrington’s role in Rising Damp

Leonard Rossiter as Rigsby, Frances de la Tour as Miss Jones, Don Warrington as Philip Smith, Richard Beckinsale as Alan Moore (Wikipedia).
Warrington’s character, Philip Smith, was a cultured tenant who often clashed with the bigoted landlord Rigsby.

Bottom line: The main cast of Rising Damp included Leonard Rossiter, Frances de la Tour, Don Warrington, and Richard Beckinsale. Warrington played Philip Smith, a role that made him a household name.

The chemistry between the cast defined the show’s enduring appeal.

Key Television Roles

Six notable television credits spanning five decades show the range of Don Warrington’s career:

Show	Role	Years
Rising Damp	Philip Smith	1974–1978
Doctor Who	Various (e.g., The President in “The End of Time”)	2010
Death in Paradise	Commissioner Selwyn Patterson	2011–present
New Tricks	Himself (cameo)	2012
Holby City	Felix Miller	2017
Theft Act (TV film)	DI Marsh	2021

Timeline

1951 – Born in Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)).
Childhood – Moves to Newcastle upon Tyne (University of the West Indies (academic institution)).
c. 1968 – Starts acting in repertory theatre at age 17 (London Theatre (industry guide)).
1974–1978 – Plays Philip Smith in Rising Damp (TMDb (media database)).
2008 – Appointed MBE for services to drama (IMDb (film database)).
2011–present – Commissioner Selwyn Patterson in Death in Paradise (TMDb (media database)).

The timeline highlights key career milestones from Warrington’s early life to his current work.

Clarity Check

Confirmed facts

Date of birth 23 May 1951 (TMDb (media database))
Birth name Don Williams (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
Stage name from street name in Newcastle (IMDb (film database))
Role in Rising Damp (1974–1978) (TMDb (media database))
Role in Death in Paradise (2011–present) (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
MBE awarded in 2008 (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
Married to Mary Maddocks (HELLO! magazine (celebrity news))
Two sons: Jacob and Archie (Mirror (UK newspaper))

What’s unclear

Exact net worth (not publicly verifiable)
Minor birth-year discrepancy (1952 suggested by one source)
Specific details of early personal relationships
Height and other physical statistics (not confirmed)
Whether the couple has publicly confirmed any specific dates

Additional sources

watch.plex.tv, express.co.uk

Frequently asked questions

What is Don Warrington’s most famous role?

He is best known for two roles: Philip Smith in Rising Damp (1974–1978) and Commissioner Selwyn Patterson in Death in Paradise (2011–present).
Source: Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)

Is Don Warrington in Death in Paradise?

Yes, he plays Commissioner Selwyn Patterson and is a series regular as of 2025.
Source: TMDb (media database)

What other TV shows has Don Warrington been in?

He has appeared in Doctor Who, New Tricks, Holby City, and various theatre productions.
Source: Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)

Does Don Warrington have children?

Yes, he and his wife Mary Maddocks have two sons, Jacob and Archie.
Source: HELLO! magazine

Did Don Warrington change his name?

Yes, he changed his stage name from Don Williams to Don Warrington because another actor was using the name Don Williams.
Source: IMDb (film database)

Bottom line: For British viewers who grew up with Rising Damp and now watch Death in Paradise, Don Warrington’s career is a model of steady, quality work. The persistent rumours about his personal life are largely settled: he is married to Mary Maddocks, has two sons, and shows no sign of leaving his current hit series. Don Warrington remains a beloved figure, and fans should enjoy his ongoing work.