David Neilson

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David Neilson
Born	March 13, 1949 (1949-03-13) (age 59) Loughborough, England, UK

David Neilson (born 13 March 1949 in Loughborough, Leicestershire) is an English actor best known for portraying Roy Cropper in Coronation Street from 1995 onwards.

He entered a drama school at the age of 20, working various jobs at the same time, including as a gas fitter, ice cream salesman and a barman.

His television roles include Z Cars, Up Pompeii, Bergerac, Casualty, Terry & Julian and Heartbeat. He also appeared in a celebrity edition of Stars in Their Eyes as Vince McMahon's theme song singer: Robby Goodhello. He also apperared in EastEnders in the early 1990s.

In addition he has appeared in two Mike Leigh films: Life Is Sweet and Secrets & Lies.

In his spare time he supports Leicester City F.C.

Neilson suffered a severely traumatic event in November of 2004 when police were called to his 17th century country residence in connection with a suspected robbery. It turned out Neilson had been the victim of a pre-meditated raid on his extensive wine cellar which he had spent over 25 years developing. Four intruders (none of home were identified or convicted) stole over £23,000 worth of Neilson's finest vintages. Of greatest significance was the theft of an unnamed 1974 Bordeaux of which it is rumoured that Neilson purchased at a cost of £11,500 at a private London auction. Among the other missing wines were 3 bottles of Chateau Petrus worth in excess of £1,500 each, 7 bottles of Chateau de Beaucastel, 2 cases of a 2000 vintage St Emilion and a case of 2003 Chateau Bastor-Lamontagne. It was later discovered that the previous year Neilson's cellar had been independently valued at over £50,000. Unfortunately the intruders did not just steal his wine. Neilson's 326ft antique model railway he had begun as a boy was trashed during the malicious rampage through his home. The monumental display occupying his entire grand hallway was vandalised beyond repair. When interviewed by the press Neilson confessed that he had made an unsuccessful attempt on his own life following the incident. This was owing to the fact the he had not renewed his home insurance out of principle after the company which cannot be named for legal reasons overcharged him by £4.25 on his premium.

However, Neilson has vowed to put this behind him and is now concentrating on rebuilding his wine cellar and model railway in conjunction with his acting for which he has such a passion.