Don Warrington’s famous family including son who appeared in Death in Paradise
Death in Paradise star Don Warrington has two very famous sons who have forged impressive careers in entertainment
Death in Paradise’s Don Warrington is the father of two well-known sons – but who are they?
The 15th series of the enduring detective drama is currently being broadcast on BBC One, with DI Mervin Wilson (Don Gilet) investigating a series of enigmatic deaths on Saint Marie.
Shantol Jackson, Shaquille Ali-Yebuah, and Élizabeth Bourgine also feature as Naomi Thomas, Sebastian Rose, and Catherine Bordey, respectively. The latest series has introduced a new sergeant named Mattie Fletcher (Catherine Garton), alongside a host of high-profile guest stars.
Notably, Don Warrington made a comeback to the show as Selwyn Patterson this year, following what seemed like his departure at the conclusion of series 14. In what appeared to be his final scenes, Selwyn urged Mervin to mend fences with his brother and bid a touching farewell to Catherine.
Fans were therefore thrilled when the long-serving character reappeared for the Beyond Paradise 2025 Christmas special, before returning to Saint Marie once more, reports the Express.
Don Warrington plays Selwyn Patterson(Image: BBC/Red Planet Pictures/Philippe Virapin)
As Selwyn continues to assist Mervin with his inquiries, some Death in Paradise viewers might be intrigued to discover that actor Don is the father of two very famous sons. The 74-year-old actor shares two sons, Jake and Archie, with his wife, Mary Maddocks.
Archie has built a remarkable career in the entertainment world as both a playwright and stand-up performer. His debut production, Shirts Vs Skins, garnered glowing reviews and substantial acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2016, with Archie subsequently touring South Africa the year after.
His next effort, IlluminArchie, was equally praised by reviewers, resulting in its transfer to the Soho Theatre in London in 2017 and subsequently to the Vault Festival in 2018.
Archie has earned widespread recognition for his contributions and reached the finals for both the New Acts of the Year and English Comedian of the Year in 2014. He’s also featured on the panel programme Guessable, and contributed as a writer on television series such as Intergalactic and Gassed Up.
Archie Maddocks is a playwright and comedian(Image: Instagram/@archiemaddocks)
Meanwhile, Don’s other son, Jake, has pursued a path closer to his father’s acting legacy. He notably featured in the 2012 James Bond film Skyfall and television dramas such as Grace, Vera and The Sandman.
That’s not all, as Jake also delivered a memorable guest turn on Death in Paradise alongside his dad in 2022.
In the particular episode, Jake portrayed a character called Gabriel Taylor, whose daughter Clarissa (Karise Yansen) was abducted and held for ransom. Gabriel received a demand for money and swiftly complied in a bid to secure his daughter’s safe return.
In addition to their joint appearances in Saint Marie, the father-and-son pair have also shared the stage in the same city. Jake notably took on a role in The Maids at HOME Manchester, whilst his dad was just up the road at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Death of a Salesman.
Jake Fairbrother guest starred in Death in Paradise(Image: BBC)
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It appears that acting prowess runs in the family, as Don’s wife, Mary, is also an actress, having starred in the West End adaption of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Speaking about his gifted parents in a 2018 interview with Quays Life, Jake previously stated: “The main thing I get from both of them is they understand the art of performance and the need to perform. It’s not something you choose to do. It’s something that you can’t not do.”
Friday’s (February 27) episode of Death in Paradise will see a cast member get poisoned during a performance of The Tempest, after drinking from a tainted bottle of wine. However, the team are soon baffled as to why the other actors were unaffected. Will Mervin and his colleagues unravel the mystery?
