Michael Keating, Blake's 7's Vila, dies aged 79

tvMay 21, 2026361,209

Michael Keating, the actor WHO played Vila Restal, has died aged 79; he was the only cast member to appear in all 52 episodes of Blake's 7. Keating's comic timing and vulnerable portrayal made Vila the series' human heart and a memorable foil to Paul Darrow's Avon. He later reprised Vila for Big Finish audio dramas, keeping the character alive beyond the original 1978 to 1981 BBC run. His death removes one of British science fiction's most enduring character actors and a defining presence from Blake's 7.

Pip

@pipmadeley.bsky.social

RIP Michael Keating. I don't think many would disagree that Vila was the heart and humanity of Blake's 7, not only for being present in all 52 episodes, but also being by far the most relatable character and a terrific foil for Paul Darrow as Avon. A fine actor with the gift of natural comic timing.

19819d ago

🎃 Agent Pumpkin 🎃2

Much agreement. RIP Michael Keating.

Simon2

He could do comedy brilliantly and as Orbit showed, his terrified acting was utterly convincing.

gavin-in-brussels.bsky.social2

Who didn't love Vila 🥺

Si Hart

@sihart.bsky.social

Very sad to hear Michael Keating, Blake's 7's Vila has died. He was so good and will be very much missed.

15119d ago

Jon Arnold13

A properly subtle and clever actor and a lovely chap to boot. Very generous with his time when our GCSE Drama class went to see Noises Off and met the cast for a workshop afterwards. Course me and another girl just chatted B7 to him the entire time…

David G-P7

He was brilliant and so was Vila. Sad news

TheFutureIs4Everyone4

Whenever he was given a remotely good script or interesting things to do, he never disappointed. Hell, he didn't disappoint even with bad scripts. He'll be missed

Chris Williams (dink)2

Saw this on Facebook and was hoping it wasn't true.

Tufty McTavish2

Oh no 😕 One more of our crew off to the ✨

John Isles2

RIP. I'd heard he'd been in bad ill-health for a while.

Andrew F 🏳️‍🌈🤠🎮2

The perfect sarcastic, cowardly hero. Superb performances.

Cult Edge

@cultedge.bsky.social

So terribly sad to hear reports that we’ve lost Michael Keating. What a loss, and what a wonderful man. He’ll be hugely missed. Thoughts are with his family and friends. RIP Michael, and thank you xx

12119d ago

Pete Deller8

I want to say something as he was so underrated in B7. "Avon, this is stupid" is part of the greatest cliffhanger ever, his tears of terror when he thought Avon was going to jettison him were fantastic acting and his repeated coward-turned-hero character was there till the end. RIP Michael.

Una McCormack5

Oh that’s such sad news

Christopher Marchand3

RIP Michael Keating. Truly a great portrayal of the most relatable character in a show filled with memorable characters. Somewhere in Heaven, Vila is picking the lock to God's Drinks cabinet..

Jonny Morris

@jonnymorris.bsky.social

Raising a glass of space Vimto to Michael Keating RIP.

12519d ago

Chris Orton

@chriso1.bsky.social

Terribly sad to hear about Michael Keating. The only one to be in EVERY episode of Blake’s 7.

11719d ago

Chris Orton5

Everybody should have a glass of GREEN in celebration of his life.

Gary Russell

@twilightstreets.bsky.social

Michael Keating. What an actor and what a man. It was my great pleasure to direct him more than once on audio for Big Finish. One of the funniest, smartest and most charming and self-deprecating of people. He will be so very missed. RIP lovely man

9419d ago

Leela's feather boa

@zoesfeatherboa.bsky.social

Michael Keating has died. It seems he had been ill for some time. I met him 10 years ago and he was absolutely lovely to meet. His character of Vila in #Blakes7 is as important as Avon, Servalan or Blake and he was the only one in all 52 episodes. A fan favourite too. RIP

4819d ago

Cavan Scott

@cavan.bsky.social

Sad to hear the news of Michael Keating. Working with Michael was one of the highlights of writing and producing BLAKE’S 7 for Big Finish. Kind, generous and a complete gentleman. RIP Michael. You were one of my heroes growing up & it was an honour to come to know you in later years. Maximum Power.

4419d ago

Destination Venus sells comics in Harrogate!

@destinationvenus.bsky.social

Michael Keating was phenomenal as Vila in Blake's 7. This is very sad news indeed.

2919d ago

Samira Ahmed

@samiraahmeduk.bsky.social

Farewell Michael Keating. I came to appreciate his Vila Restal in Blake's 7 thanks to talking to @gkw.bsky.social about it on @squarewindowpod.bsky.social sites.libsyn.com/592215/episo...

3419d ago

Dan Hollingsworth

@dhollingsworth.bsky.social

I definitely get my attitude towards AI from Vila. Always a highlight of a Blake's 7 episode. RIP Michael Keating.

3019d ago

Steve Cole

@stevecolewriter.bsky.social

Farewell to Michael Keating. Such a lovely man. I wanted to be Avon but Vila was my spirit animal.

2819d ago

Ian Potter

@ianzpotter.bsky.social

I'm a massive fan of snarling ham and camp malevolent glam but Michael Keating was clearly the best thing in Blake's 7. All the more impressive when the show's originator had his character marked down for the chop. The performance made him indispensable.

1719d ago

Kippy Woo

@tygerwhocame2t.bsky.social

RIP Vila, he planned to live forever but died trying. 😥

Vila Restal (Michael Keating) in Blake's 7

1119d ago

Straight Outta the Federation - A Blake’s 7 Podcast

@sofederation.bsky.social

RIP Michael Keating who brought so much life to #Blakes7 through his portrayal of Vila Restal. We profiled him when we covered City at the Edge of the World. directory.libsyn.com/episode/inde... #MichaelKeating

1519d ago

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Michael Keating, Blake's 7's Vila, dies aged 79

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