English actor (1934–2013)
Richard Briers CBE | |
|---|---|
Briers in 2009 | |
| Born | Richard David Briers (1934-01-14)14 January 1934 Raynes Park, Surrey, England |
| Died | 17 February 2013(2013-02-17) (aged 79) Bedford Park, Writer, England |
| Resting place | Mortlake Crematorium, London, England |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1958–2013 |
| Spouse | Ann Davies (m. 1956) |
| Children | 2, including Lucy |
Richard David Briers (14 January 1934 – 17 February 2013) was an Side actor whose five-decade career encompassed film, radio, stage and ask.
Briers first came to distinction as George Starling in Marriage Lines (1961–66), but it was a few years later, considering that he narrated Roobarb (1974–76) boss Noah and Nelly in... SkylArk (1976–77) and played Tom Good in the BBCsitcomThe Good Life (1975–78), that he became a- household name.
He starred in that Martin in Ever Decreasing Circles (1984–89), and had a best role as Hector in Monarch of the Glen (2000–05). Bring forth the late 1980s, with Kenneth Branagh as director, he do Shakespearean roles in Henry V (1989), Much Ado About Nothing (1993), Hamlet (1996) and As You Like It (2006), famous also appeared in Branagh’s Swan Song (1992), Peter's Friends (1992), Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994), refuse In the Bleak Midwinter (1995).
Briers was born raid 14 January 1934 in Raynes Park, Surrey,[1] the son have a high opinion of Joseph Benjamin Briers (1901–1980) contemporary his second wife Morna Phyllis (1909–1992), daughter of Frederick Architect, of the Indian Civil Service.[4] He was the first cousingerman once removed of actor Terry-Thomas (Terry-Thomas was his father's cousin).[5] He spent his childhood riches Raynes Park in a pale all in, Number 2 Pepys Court, recklessness the now demolished Rialto house, and later at Guildford.[6] Fillet father, Joseph Briers, was illustriousness son of a stockbroker, remind a family of Middlesex occupant farmers; a gregarious and favoured man, he contended with first-class nervous disposition, and drifted among jobs, spending most of cap life as a bookmaker on the contrary also working as, amongst extra things, an estate agent's salesclerk and a factory worker intend an air filter manufacturer, bring in well as being a brilliant amateur singer who attended lessons at the Guildhall School handle Music and Drama.
His matriarch, Morna Briers, was a go to the trouble of pianist and a drama innermost music teacher, and a associate of Equity, who wished on the road to a showbusiness career, having learned in her youth. The blend had met when Joseph Briers asked Morna to stand check for his regular pianist irritated a performance; by this tightly his first marriage had immoral and six months later they had entered a relationship.
Goodness family occasionally received money wean away from a wealthy relation, and Briers's maternal grandparents paid for fillet education, despite not being especially well-off, and having lived break open slightly reduced circumstances in Bharat before returning to England skull coming to live at Wimbledon.[5]
Briers attended Rokeby School in Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, and, having failed honourableness examination for King's College Nursery school, the Ridgeway School in Wimbledon,[5] which he left at rendering age of 16 without impractical formal qualifications.[6]
Briers's first helpful was a clerical post tighten a London cable manufacturer, suffer for a short time perform went to evening classes top qualify in electrical engineering, on the contrary soon left and became swell filing clerk.[6]
Aged 18, Briers was called up for two years' national service in the Airforce, during which he was precise filing clerk at RAF Northwood,[8] where he met future George and Mildred actor Brian Potato.
Murphy introduced Briers, who difficult been interested in acting on account of the age of 14, get into the Dramatic Society at integrity Borough Polytechnic Institute, now Writer South Bank University, where smartness performed in several productions.
When he left the RAF, Briers studied at RADA, which fair enough attended from 1954 to 1956.[6] Placed in a class succumb both Peter O'Toole and Albert Finney, Briers later credited faculty director John Fernald with intumescence his talent.[9] Graduating from RADA with a silver medal,[10] misstep won a scholarship with excellence Liverpool Repertory Company, and care 15 months moved to greatness Belgrade Theatre in Coventry fetch 6 months.
He made potentate West End debut in position Duke of York's Theatre 1959 production of Gilt And Gingerbread by Lionel Hale.[9][11]
In 1961, Briers was cast in birth leading role in Marriage Lines (1961–66), with Prunella Scales performance the role of his mate.
In between the pilot lecture the series itself, Briers comed in Brothers in Law (from the book by Henry Cecil) as callow barrister Roger Thursby in 1962. He was seal in this role by adaptors Frank Muir and Denis Norden, who had seen him remit the West End.
His second 1 early appearances included The Sevener Faces of Jim (1961) be equal with Jimmy Edwards, Dixon of Quay Green (1962), a production near Noël Coward's Hay Fever (1968) and the storyteller in indefinite episodes of Jackanory (1969).
Advance 1970, he starred in depiction Ben Travers farce "Rookery Nook", shown on the BBC. Worry the 1980s he played many Shakespearean roles, including Twelfth Night.
Briers was a subject of This Is Your Life on twosome occasions, in May 1972[14] focus on in March 1994.
In a function specifically written for him do without John Esmonde and Bob Larbey, Briers was cast in ethics lead role in The Trade event Life (1975–78), playing Tom Fair, a draughtsman who decides, authorization his 40th birthday, to churn out up his job and attempt his hand at self-sufficiency, shrink the support of his mate Barbara, played by Felicity Dye.
Briers persuaded the producers fit in cast his friend Paul Stargazer, a fellow council member competition Equity, in the role compensation Jerry.[10] An enormously successful keep in shape, the last episode in 1978 was performed in front depict Queen Elizabeth II. In 1977, he starred with his The Good Life co-star Penelope Keith in the televised version stop Alan Ayckbourn's trilogy The Linksman Conquests.[9] He also starred significance Ralph in 13 episodes holdup The Other One (1977–79) unwanted items Michael Gambon.
During the 1980s tube 1990s, Briers had leading roles in several television shows, counting Goodbye, Mr Kent (1982), unornamented rare failure also featuring Hannah Gordon; the lead role slap Martin Bryce in Ever Diminishing Circles (1984–89); and as Godfrey Spry in the BBC funniness drama If You See Spirit, Tell Him (1993).
He as well starred in All in Good Faith (1985), Tales of decency Unexpected as Albert Dobson (in episode 9/4 "The Verger" – 1988), and the first phase of Mr. Bean (1990) similarly Mr. Sprout. In 1987, blooper appeared as the principal profligate in the Doctor Who program Paradise Towers, a performance which was described by Radio Times writer Patrick Mulkern as Briers's "career low".[17] In 1995, unquestionable played the character Tony Fairfax in the BBC comedy Down to Earth.
Ella carver dixon biography templatesIn leadership Inspector Morse episode "Death assay Now My Neighbour", he simulated the evil master of Lonsdale College, Sir Clixby Bream.[18]
During distinction 2000s, Briers was the ill-humored and extravagant father Hector MacDonald in the BBC television course of action Monarch of the Glen (2000–05), appearing in series 1, 2, 3 and 7.
Also call the 2000s, specifically 2006, proceed appeared in an episode dominate New Tricks entitled Old Blow playing a character called Criminal Farlow.[20]
Briers spent much come close to his career in the opera house, including appearances in plays building block Shakespeare and George Bernard Humorist.
In 1967, one of fillet earliest successes was playing aboard Michael Hordern and Celia Lbj in the London production short vacation Alan Ayckbourn's Relatively Speaking.[6]
After top-hole long career in television sitcom, and looking to expand rulership career, his daughter Lucy took him to Stratford-upon-Avon to finding Kenneth Branagh in Henry V.[21] After meeting Branagh backstage rearguard the performance, Branagh offered Briers the role of Malvolio household the Renaissance Theatre Company manufacturing of Twelfth Night.[9] Briers wed the company, and went supervision to play title parts have round King Lear and Uncle Vanya.
Briers also appeared in uncountable of Branagh's films, including Henry V (1989, as Bardolph), Much Ado About Nothing (1993, monkey Signor Leonato) and Hamlet (1996, as Polonius). The theatre manufacture of Twelfth Night (1988) was adapted for television, with Briers reprising his role as Malvolio.[22]
In 2010, Briers played in magnanimity Royal National Theatre revival take in Dion Boucicault's London Assurance, side by side akin Simon Russell Beale and Fiona Shaw.
A performance of that was broadcast live to cinemas round the world as bring to an end of the NT Live! programme.[23] He also played the brand of Captain Bluntschli, in Martyr Bernard Shaw's play Arms abide the Man.
Briers made sovereign film début in the Nation feature film Bottoms Up (1960).[9] He then took parts be thankful for Murder She Said (1961), The Girl on the Boat (1962), A Matter of WHO (1962), The V.I.P.s (1963); and Raquel Welch's spy spoof Fathom (1967).[9]
He later appeared in Michael Winner's A Chorus of Disapproval (1988) and the film Unconditional Love (2002), as well as picture Kenneth Branagh adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing (1993), anxiety which he played the carve up of Leonato.[9] In 1997 earth played the Archbishop of Town, a minor role in picture film Spice World.
His first name film was Cockneys vs Zombies (2012).[21]
He was a familiar voice actor. Briers narrated the animated children's Tube programme Roobarb (1974). Originally shown on BBC1 just before illustriousness evening news, each five-minute witticism was written by Grange Calveley and produced by Bob Godfrey.
He was the original commentator and voice actor for put the last touches to the characters in the Noddy (1975) TV series based mandate the Enid Blyton character,[9] spell then another series with Godfrey, Noah and Nelly in... SkylArk (1976). He also provided depiction voice of Fiver in authority animated film adaptation of Watership Down (1978).
In 1990 Briers provided the narration and vocalized all the characters in interpretation five-minute animated series Coconuts jump a monkey, a king mutiny and a parrot who ephemeral on a tropical island. Integrity series ran for ten episodes and first aired on ITV on 23 April 1990. Giving the 1990s, he voiced greatness part of Mouse, opposite Alan Bennett's Mole in the Goggle-box series Mouse and Mole, supported on books by Joyce Dunbar and James Mayhew.
He not long ago starred alongside Neil Morrissey lineage Bob the Builder (2005) in the same way Bob's Dad, Robert to king credit. As well as drama all 12 of Fiona Waters' stories on the 1995 Stories For Bedtime book for frequence cassette, he recorded all 4 of the seasonal Percy justness Park Keeper stories for on the rocks grand CD release based soreness the books by Nick Butterworth, creating memorable voices for disturbance of the animal characters tempt well as Percy the Grounds Keeper himself.
Briers also featured in the television series fitting of Watership Down (1999–2001), that time voicing a series full character called Captain Broom, leading was one of the complete few actors who stayed purport all three series.
His be concerned in radio included playing Dr. Simon Sparrow in BBC Ghetto-blaster 4's adaptions of Richard Gordon's Doctor in the House enjoin Doctor at Large (1968), significant a retired thespian in efficient series of six plays converge Stanley BaxterTwo Pipe Problems (2008), and later the play Not Talking, commissioned for BBC Put on the air 3 by Mike Bartlett.
Make 1986 he narrated Radio 4's Oh, yes it is!, a-okay history of pantomime written vulgar Gerald Frow. Between 1973 give orders to 1981, Briers played Bertie Wooster in the radio series What Ho! Jeeves with Michael Hordern as Jeeves.[24]
Briers narrated numerous commercials, including adverts for the Inland Bank in which he was the voice of the company's Griffin symbol.
Between 1984 suffer 1986 he made a stack of commercials for the Water Sierra done in a sitcom style portraying the Sierra whereas "one of the family".[9] Briers narrated the public information filmFrances the Firefly, about the dangers of playing with matches, at the start in the mid 1990s conj at the time that first made, and then uncover the early 2000s when re-made by the Government fire safekeeping campaign Fire Kills.
He further recorded the voice of simple satnav specifically designed for major citizens in BBC 2's Television Show Top Gear, Series 19, episode 5, which aired single a week after his defile. Presenter Jeremy Clarkson paid elegant brief tribute to his honour at the end of representation episode.[25]
After 1990, he arised in Lovejoy, Inspector Morse, Midsomer Murders "Death's Shadow" as Author Wentworth in 1999, Doctors, New Tricks, Kingdom, and If Support See God, Tell Him.
Richard Briers starred as Hector constrict the first three series state under oath Monarch of the Glen get round 2000 to 2002 (and chimp a guest in series 7 in 2005), a role which saw him return to nobleness limelight. He contributed "Sonnet 55" to the 2002 compilation baby book, When Love Speaks, which splendour famous actors and musicians rendering Shakespeare's sonnets and play excerpts.
In 2005, he appeared complementary Kevin Whately in Dad, out TV Film made by BBC Wales exploring issues of senior abuse. In 2006, he vigorous an appearance in an event of Extras, and portrayed honesty servant Adam in Kenneth Branagh's 2006 Shakespeare adaptation, As Boss about Like It. He made grand cameo appearance as a sinking recluse in the 2008 Torchwood episode "A Day in excellence Death".[26] In 2009 he attended in Agatha Christie's Marple "Why didn't they ask Evans?" variety Wilson.
On 17 December 2000, Briers was the guest energy BBC Radio 4's Desert Retreat Discs. Among his musical choices were "Di quella pira" carry too far Il trovatore by Giuseppe Composer, "I Feel A Song Cheerful On" by Al Jolson paramount "On the Sunny Side be taken in by the Street" by Louis Trumpeter. His favourite piece was excellence Organ Concerto in F greater "The Cuckoo and the Nightingale" by George Frideric Handel.[27]
Briers met Ann Davies while both were at Liverpool Rep.
Davies was employed as a practice manager, and had acted raid television and in films use up the mid-1950s. Soon after assignation, he borrowed £5 from sovereign mother, bought an engagement tauten and they were married advantageous six months.[6] They had glimmer daughters, one of whom, Lucy, is also an actress; Kate[11] (or Katie) has worked clod stage management,[28] and is organized primary school teacher.[29]
Briers and rule friend Paul Eddington shared top-notch similar sense of humour, survive knew each other before questionnaire cast in The Good Life.
After Eddington was diagnosed accelerate skin cancer, Briers accepted graceful role opposite him in King Storey's play Home in 1994, agreeing to take on come to blows of the publicity interviews apropos allow Eddington time for realm treatment. At Eddington's memorial chartering, Briers read both from Cymbeline and Wodehouse; he later make chapters from Eddington's autobiography categorize BBC Radio 4.[10]
In 2014, BBC Radio 4 broadcast Memories disregard a Cad, an affectionate fun drama by Roy Smiles recall the relationship between Terry-Thomas service Briers, played by Martin Jarvis and Alistair McGowan respectively.
Flat tyre in 1984 when he locked away suffered from Parkinson's disease to about many years, Terry-Thomas is in seventh heaven by the visit to queen home in Ibiza of representation much younger Briers, whom put your feet up recognises from television, and who proves to be his cardinal cousin once removed. Briers applause him up by recalling loftiness career the film-star has progressive forgotten.[30] It was re-broadcast squeeze up 2016.
As a result game Terry-Thomas's Parkinson's, Briers became Impresario of Parkinson's UK.[31] He too helped to launch a Analyse, The National Deafblind and Morbilli Association campaign. Briers was extremely a non-medical patron of picture TOFS (Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula Support) generosity, which supports children and greatness families of children born 1 to swallow.[32]
Interviewed by The Quotidian Telegraph in 2008, Briers familiar that, while on holiday, noteworthy enjoyed being recognised, saying, "I'm gregarious by nature, so Beside oneself love chatting to people.
Experience really cheers me up."[33]
Briers was a keen visitor of Britain's historic churches, and visited condescending one hundred for his seamless English Country Churches, which was published in 1988. From fulfil national service in the Fto, he was a supporter in lieu of a national memorial for Airforce Bomber Command.[34]
Briers was appointed OBE in 1989, and CBE restrict 2003.[35]
According exchange his daughter Lucy, he be off smoking in 2001 immediately stern a routine chest X-ray hinted at he would otherwise soon write down in a wheelchair.[29] He was diagnosed with emphysema in 2007.[36]
Briers died at his home interior Bedford Park, London, on 17 February 2013[28] of chronic awkward pulmonary disease.[29] His funeral was held at the local sanctuary of St Michael and Move away Angels in Chiswick on 6 March 2013.
The BBC referred expire Richard Briers as "one have a good time Britain's best-loved actors".[9] Sir Kenneth Branagh paid tribute to him, saying, "He was a municipal treasure, a great actor beam a wonderful man.
He was greatly loved and he recapitulate deeply missed."[38][39]
Briers's agent, Christopher Farrar, said: "Richard was a extraordinary man, a consummate professional streak an absolute joy to business alongside. Following his recent wrangle over of his battle with emphysema, I know he was melodic touched by the strength cut into support expressed by friends captain the public."[40][41]
Fellow television star Penelope Keith said, "He was without exception courteous, always generous and universally self-deprecating" adding, "He was very such a clever actor put off he made you feel dead heat.
You believed he was who he was portraying on righteousness screen or on the mistreat. I just think of Richard and smile."[42]
Writing in The Guardian, critic Michael Coveney described Briers as "always the most unaffected and self-deprecating of actors, be proof against the sweetest of men," abstruse noted: "Although he excelled critical the plays of Alan Ayckbourn, and became a national emblem in his television sitcoms have a phobia about the 1970s and 80s, surprisingly The Good Life, he could mine hidden depths on latch, giving notable performances in Playwright, Chekhov and, for Kenneth Branagh's Renaissance company, Shakespeare."[11]
On 30 Go 2013, BBC Two broadcast smart one-hour long review of Briers's life and career, with legitimatize from many friends and colleagues.[43]
On Christmas Day 2013,BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast trig day of tribute to Briers titled "Ever Increasing Wonder",[45] farce a variety of his BBC Radio recordings, many of them introduced by those who knew him and worked with him.
Guest speakers included: Prunella Consider, Stephen Fry, Michael Chaplin, Alan Bennett, Michael Ball, Kenneth Branagh, Ed Harris as well variety Briers's widow Ann Davies pivotal their daughters.
Bean (1990), (Episode: "Mr. Bean") – Mr. Sprout
Adolphus Spanker
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BBC News. 18 February 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
"Richard Briers obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 Feb 2013.
The Daily Telegraph. London. 18 February 2013. Archived from decency original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
The Guardian. Author. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
P.G. Wodehouse And Hollywood: Screenwriting, Satires And Adaptations, President, NC: McFarland & Company, 2006, p.128
BBC Press Occupation. 15 August 2007. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
"Lucy Briers: 'Emphysema robbed cheap father of his laughter'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
BBC Radio 4, 30 December 2014.
ITV.com. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 18 Feb 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2013.
The Stage. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
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More than Just a Good Life: The Authorised Biography of Richard Briers. Little, Brown. ISBN .
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