If you’ve ever watched a British actor on screen and felt you already knew their face but couldn’t place the name, Don Warrington is probably that actor. Best known for playing the strict Commissioner Selwyn Patterson in Death in Paradise and the unforgettable Philip Smith in Rising Damp, Warrington’s career spans five decades.
Born: 23 May 1951 ·
Nationality: Trinidadian-born British ·
Occupation: Actor ·
Known for: Philip Smith in Rising Damp, Selwyn Patterson in Death in Paradise ·
Honours: MBE
Quick snapshot
- Married to Mary Maddocks (Wikipedia)
- Father of two sons, both actors (HELLO!)
- Born in Trinidad, raised in UK (UWI St. Augustine)
- Played Commissioner Selwyn Patterson
- Exit in 2023 Christmas special
- Character was written out as a creative decision
- Played Philip Smith
- Iconic sitcom character
- Breakthrough role that defined early career
Nine facts about Don Warrington, one pattern: the data around his life is well-documented for his career but noticeably quieter on his family finances.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Don Williams (Don Warrington) |
| Birth Date | 23 May 1951 |
| Birth Place | Trinidad |
| Nationality | Trinidadian-born British |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Known For | Rising Damp, Death in Paradise |
| Honours | MBE |
| Children | Two sons (both actors) |
| Spouse | Married (name: Mary Maddocks) |
How many children does Don Warrington have?
Don Warrington’s two sons
- Don Warrington has two sons with his wife Mary Maddocks: Jacob (sometimes called Jake) and Archie Warrington (HELLO! magazine).
- The Mirror also names them as Jake and Archie, while the Express confirms the full names Jacob and Archie Warrington.
Are his children also actors?
- Yes — both sons have followed their father into acting. Jacob Warrington has appeared in TV shows such as Casualty and Doctors (HELLO!).
- Archie Warrington is also an actor and has been featured in short films and theatre productions.
The implication: Warrington’s family has quietly built a multi-generational acting lineage, but neither son has publicly traded on their father’s name — they remain comparatively low-profile compared to other British acting dynasties.
Did Don Warrington leave Death in Paradise?
When did Don Warrington leave Death in Paradise?
- Don Warrington left Death in Paradise after the 2023 Christmas special (HELLO!).
- His character Commissioner Selwyn Patterson had been a fixture on the show since 2011 (Apple TV).
Why did his character Selwyn Patterson leave?
- The character was written out as part of the storyline — the departure was a creative decision by the show’s writers, not an actor-driven exit.
- Selwyn Patterson retired from the Saint-Marie police force in the episode, providing a natural narrative close for the character.
Who replaced him?
- The role of Commissioner was not directly replaced by a new character; the show continued with its existing ensemble cast led by Detective Inspector Neville Parker (Ralf Little).
Warrington’s exit from Death in Paradise closed a 12-year chapter that had become a comfort-viewing staple. For fans, losing Selwyn Patterson meant losing one of the show’s few recurring authority figures — and for the BBC, it meant retooling the dynamic of the Saint-Marie police station without its longest-serving commissioner.
The pattern: Warrington’s departure mirrors a broader trend of long-running cast members leaving the show as the series refreshed its ensemble around younger leads.
Who is Don Warrington’s famous son?
Don Warrington’s son: actor and director
- Jacob Warrington, the elder son, is perhaps the more publicly visible of the two, with credits in TV drama and short films.
- He has also worked as a director on theatre productions, following his father’s footsteps into both performance and creative direction.
Is Don Warrington’s son on social media?
- Neither Jacob nor Archie Warrington maintains a heavily public-facing social media presence. This low profile is consistent with their parents’ approach to privacy.
Why this matters: For a public searching for “Don Warrington’s famous son,” the answer is that Warrington’s children are well-known within the industry but have deliberately avoided the tabloid spotlight — making them famous in a quieter, professional sense.
Who is Don Warrington married to?
Don Warrington’s wife
- Don Warrington is married to Mary Maddocks, an actress and director (HELLO!).
- Mary Maddocks has worked extensively in theatre and television, though she remains significantly less known than her husband.
How long has Don Warrington been married?
- Public records indicate the couple has been married for more than two decades (German Wikipedia).
- The exact wedding date is not publicly documented, consistent with the couple’s preference for privacy.
The implication: Warrington’s marriage has been one of the most stable in British show business — but its privacy is a feature, not a bug. For fans seeking details, the known facts are clear (Mary Maddocks, actress-director, two sons) while the intimate specifics remain off-limits.
Why was Selwyn written out of Death in Paradise?
Who was sacked from Death in Paradise?
- No actor was sacked from Death in Paradise in connection with Warrington’s departure. The exit of Selwyn Patterson was a planned storyline decision.
- Speculation that Warrington was “sacked” appears to stem from confusion with earlier cast departures; no official source supports that claim for his exit.
Did Don Warrington leave voluntarily?
- Reports characterise his departure as a mutual creative decision between the actor and the production team. Warrington has not publicly stated he left under duress.
Though Warrington has left Death in Paradise, he remains active in theatre and television. For viewers who miss Selwyn Patterson, the actor’s back catalogue — from Rising Damp to stage roles at the National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company — offers decades of performances worth revisiting (UWI St. Augustine).
The pattern: Warrington’s exit mirrors a broader shift in the show’s storytelling, where long-running characters make way for fresh dynamics — a common tactic for long-running BBC dramas.
Where did it all begin? A timeline of Don Warrington’s career
- 1951 — Born Don Williams in Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago (Wikipedia)
- 1958 — Father, Basil Kydd, a Trinidadian politician, dies (UWI St. Augustine)
- ~1960s — Migrates to England with his mother, raised in Newcastle upon Tyne (British Comedy Guide)
- ~1968 — Starts acting in repertory theatre at age 17 (LondonTheatre.co.uk)
- 1974–1978 — Stars in Rising Damp as Philip Smith (German Wikipedia)
- 2008 — Appointed MBE for services to drama
- 2011 — Joins Death in Paradise as Commissioner Selwyn Patterson
- 2023 — Leaves Death in Paradise after Christmas special
Warrington’s career trajectory — from Trinidadian childhood to RSC stages to primetime BBC — shows a rare arc in British acting: he became a household name not through one role but through three distinct phases (stage, sitcom, crime drama) that spanned 50 years.
Frequently asked questions
What is Don Warrington’s real name?
His birth name is Don Williams. He uses the stage name Don Warrington (Wikipedia).
When was Don Warrington born?
23 May 1951 (British Comedy Guide).
Where was Don Warrington born?
Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago (UWI St. Augustine).
What is Don Warrington best known for?
He is best known for playing Philip Smith in Rising Damp (1974–1978) and Commissioner Selwyn Patterson in Death in Paradise (2011–2023) (Apple TV).
Is Don Warrington still alive?
Yes, Don Warrington is alive as of 2025 (British Comedy Guide lists him as 73).
How many sons does Don Warrington have?
Two sons: Jacob (Jake) and Archie Warrington (Express).
What other TV shows has Don Warrington been in?
Beyond Rising Damp and Death in Paradise, Warrington has appeared in Doctor Who, Coronation Street, The Bill, and numerous stage productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre (UWI St. Augustine).
How did Don Warrington start his career?
He began acting in repertory theatre at age 17 after graduating from Drama Centre London (LondonTheatre.co.uk).
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For British TV fans curious about a career that bridged classic sitcom and modern crime drama, the full picture matters: Don Warrington is not just Selwyn Patterson or Philip Smith — he’s a Trinidadian-born actor who quietly built one of the most durable careers in British television. His family remains his private anchor, and his exit from Death in Paradise closed a chapter that defined a generation of Sunday-night viewing. The takeaway for viewers: catch his earlier work before it fades from streaming libraries, or risk missing the performances that made the later fame possible.
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Alex Nguyen is Editor-in-Chief at BuzzLayer, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.