Colin McCormack was born on December 2, 1941, in Cardiff, Wales. His father was a railway worker. He was educated at King's College in Cardiff, then studied at the Cardiff Art College before training at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. There, he met his future wife, the actress Wendy Allnutt.Mc Cormack began his professional career with the Bristol Old Vic and went on to perform in many of Britain's theatres. From 1967-2004, he was most closely associated with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He played many roles for the RSC, appearing in productions ranging from a 1967 Peter Hall production of "Macbeth" to Edward Hall's production of "Julius Ceasar". He was also a Royal Court stalwart, where he was known for his performances in more modern plays. His fellow professionals admired his striking presence and clarity on stage. He also tutored at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and his students included Ewan McGregor, Alistair McGowan, Damian Lewis, Joseph Fiennes, and Daniel Craig, among others.His television career began in 1971, with his appearance in the Trial (1971) TV series, and included appearances in Martin Chuzzlewit (1994), Inspector Morse (1987) and other popular TV-series. He died of cancer on June 19, 2004, in Middlesex, England. He was survived by his wife, Wendy Allnutt, and their children Katherine McCormack and Andrew McCormack.