Most Doctor who fans know the Master very well. In the beginning, the actor the producers chose was Roger Delgado. Delgado is the original master and for many who watch Doctor Who, especially the older fans, he is the best. I hate the fact that he dies tragedically in a car accident in 1973.(1)
Barry Letts makes the choice of Delgado for the role of the Master and from what I have watched the choice was right on. I enjoy each every serial and episode which he plays the Master. My supposing that seems a little bias, but I am not sayin this just because he is the first Master. I admit the classic series for me starts with Tom Baker and the Master is not a real big part of the show at that time. The first appearance I see is of a skeleton. The Master is near death because of the use of all his life cycle. So, at that time I did not know about Delgado’s Master.
Later on as LPB begin to air other Doctors, I see the Delgado as the Master. The original Master is devious and underhanded. He is a power hungry Time Lord looking to rule the Earth. Barry Letts was able to have Delgado for eight serials and they are: Terror of the Autons, The Mind of Evil, The Claws of Axos, Colony in Space, The Daemons, The Sea Devils, The Time Monster, and Frontier in Space. There is one other serial which is going to be shot, but the death of Delgado causes them to scrap it.
As with other actors, Delgado acts in other film and television shows. He also did radio as well. I love him as the Master and really hated to hear about his death. Even though it is several years after his death. I watch the serial which he stars with Pertwee and wish he did not leave so soon.
There is a rumor which tells us that the last serial they are planning is going to unmask the mystery of the Master. In that final story, they were going to reveal that the Master is the Doctor’s Brother. That is only a rumor and has not happened and is not going to now.
The actors who worked with him say that he is the exact opposite of the Master. The Master is rough and unkind, but Delgado is gentle and kind.(2) Outside of Doctor Who, I have not seen any of his work. My judgement of his ability to act is from his time on Doctor Who. I truly enjoy watching him as the original Master and wish there is more of them. He reprises the role of the Master in such a way that he sets the standard for all those who follow.