British actors – Page 2 – Cottage Capers

On this day in history….27th November 1920

On this day in history: 27th November 1920 – The birth of Buster Merryfield, the English actor best known as ‘Uncle Albert’ in the BBC comedy series Only Fools and Horses….

Buster Merryfield as Uncle Albert in ‘Only Fools and Horses’ – Fair use

Buster was born in Battersea, London to Lily and Harry Merryfield…. Weighing a whopping nine pounds he was immediately nicknamed ‘Buster’ by his grandfather…. It was the name he was to go by throughout his entire life – in fact he refused to divulge his real name…. It only became public knowledge after his death that he had really been named Harry, after his father….

His was a working-class background…. He enjoyed sport, liked football and was a life-long Millwall supporter; but he was particularly keen on boxing…. During the 1930s he became quite a boxing sensation himself, he was the 1936 British Schoolboy Champion and an Army Champion in 1945….

Buster began working for the Westminster Bank (now National Westminster) and in June 1942 he married Iris – they went on to have a daughter…. During the War years he served in the Army, as a jungle warfare instructor…. It was while in the Army he discovered his talent for acting and also directing, after joining the Entertainments Division…. He was to become Entertainments Officer, responsible for organising shows….

After being demobilised in March 1946 Buster returned to the bank and was to remain with them for nearly 40 years, reaching the position of Senior Bank Manager at Thames Dutton in Surrey…. He carried on with his acting by joining an amateur dramatics group and after taking early retirement from the bank in 1978 he joined a repertory theatre company….

One of his first professional parts was in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat in Eastbourne; he was also to have other small parts both on stage and television…. Then in January 1985 he joined the cast of Only Fools and Horses as the former sea-dog Albert Gladstone Trotter…. His character ‘Uncle Albert’, the long lost little brother of Grandad Trotter (who had been played by Lennard Pearce until his death in December 1984), was a pipe-smoking rum-swigger – who always predictably started his stories with….”during the War”….much to the annoyance of Del Boy….

Buster could not have been more unlike Uncle Albert in real life…. He was keen on keeping himself fit and never drank or smoked during his lifetime…. He died of a brain tumour in Poole General Hospital on the 23rd of June 1999….

On this day in history….30th October 2014

On this day in history : 30th October 2014 – The death of English actress Renee Asherson – with a career spanning 65 years she was known for her versatility and grace….

Born Dorothy Renee Ascherson in Kensington, London, on the 19th of May 1915, she was to drop the ‘c’ from her name early in her acting career…. Renee’s father was a German-Jewish businessman and she was brought up in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire – before attending finishing schools in Switzerland and Anjou…. As a teenager her health suffered as she battled with anorexia…. When she announced that she had decided on an acting career her mother was greatly alarmed – it was not what she wanted for her daughter…. However, she enrolled at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London and completed her training….

Renee’s first stage performance was a walk-on part in October 1935, in John Gielgud’s production of Romeo and Juliet…. Her stage career was to focus on Shakespeare at the Birmingham Rep, Old Vic and other leading theatres…. Her first major film role was as Katherine in the 1944 film adaption of Henry V – in which she starred opposite Laurence Olivier…. Rumours were, at the time, that he had chosen her over Vivien Leigh, as he did not want his own performance to be overshadowed….

Renee was to work with actor Robert Donat – who became enchanted with her…. He was then to cast her in the 1945 comedy A Cure for Love…. In 1946 she returned to the stage playing Juliet at St. James’s Theatre – and completely won the hearts of the audience with her charm, poise and elegance…. Olivier tried to persuade her to join him at the Old Vic but she opted to work with Donat – whom she married in 1953….

Donat was suffering from ill-health and Renee put her own career on hold so that she could nurse him…. However, his illness put too much strain on their relationship and the marriage broke down…. Ironically they were on the verge of a reconciliation when Donat died of a brain tumour in June 1958….

Having been left nothing in Donat’s will Renee threw herself back into her work – more out of financial necessity rather than love of her trade…. She never remarried and had no children….

Over the next half a century she proved her versatility as an actress in a large variety of roles…. from Shakespeare to Agatha Christie, to comedy…. Her television work included series such as Clayhanger and Tenko…. Her last film appearance was in 2001, in the haunting story with an incredible twist at the end – The Others – also starring Nicole Kidman….

Renee died in Primrose Hill, London, at the age of 99….

British History

On this day in history….13th October 1904

On this day in history : 13th October 1904 – The birth of actor and radio presenter Wilfred Pickles – a proud Yorkshire man and the first newsreader to speak on the BBC with a regional accent….

Pickles was born and grew up in Halifax – and when his family moved to Southport, Lancashire in 1929 he, now a young man, went with them…. He was to join an amateur dramatic society and here he was to meet Mabel Cecelia Myerscough; they were to marry on the 20th of September 1930 and went on to have one child….

It was during the 1920s that Pickles made his first professional appearance as an actor, at the Theatre Royal in Halifax, as an extra in a production of Julius Caesar…. He was to go on to become a radio celebrity after joining the BBC in 1927…. He was chosen by the BBC as an announcer for their Northern Regional Radio Service during World War 2 – the thinking behind this being that his regional accent would make it harder for the Nazis to impersonate BBC broadcasters….

Pickles made his West End debut in 1946 – and his acting career developed to include films and television…. Also in 1946 he became the host of radio show Have A Go, which ran until 1967…. This hugely popular show, which also featured his wife, brought familiar catchphrases, such as ‘How do, how are yer?’, ‘What’s on the table, Mabel?’, ‘Give him the money Barney’ and ‘Are yer courting?’…. By sharing their innermost secrets contestants could earn £1.19s.11d…. Over 20 million listeners tuned in each week….

In 1948 a children’s board game, called Ask Pickles, was released that was based on the format of the show…. In May 1954 the hit radio show became a TV show, with the same name – Ask Pickles…. It ran until 1956…. Pickles starred in his first TV sitcom Caxton’s Tales (along with Mabel) in 1958….

Pickles was not unique in his family for becoming famous…. He was the uncle of actresses Vivian Pickles and Christina Pickles and great uncle to Carolyn Pickles…. He was also uncle to colourful and outspoken Judge, James Pickles….

Pickles was awarded with a CBE for services to broadcasting in 1950…. He died in Brighton on the 27th of March 1978 and is buried with Mabel in Southern Cemetery, Manchester….

Image credit : Plucas58 -own work CC BY-SA 4.0

British History

On this day in history….7th October 1914

On this day in history : 7th October 1914 – The birth of English actress, dancer and member of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, Sarah Churchill – who was also the daughter of Winston Churchill….

Sarah Churchill in 1966 – Image : Dutch National Archives CCO

Sarah Millicent Hermoine Churchill was the third child and second daughter of Winston and Clementine Churchill…. Little is known about her childhood other than that she was born in London and was educated at Notting Hill High School before boarding at North Foreland Lodge, an independent school for girls in Kent…. It is thought that she was a bit of a loner but had a wild side to her character…. Unlike her brother and sisters she did not want to follow in her father’s footsteps….

After leaving school Sarah studied ballet and began performing professionally at the age of 21…. It was at this time that she met popular Austrian comedian Vic Oliver, who was to become her first husband – but not with the blessing of her parents….

During World War 2 Sarah joined the Women’s Air Force and worked in photo intelligence, a job she was good at…. She accompanied her father on trips to Teheran and Yalta….and was to have an affair with American ambassador John Winart…. By the end of the War her marriage was over….

Sarah Churchill with her father Winston Churchill – From the collections of the Imperial War Museums – Public domain

Following the War Sarah relocated to the United States and became an actress…. Her best known role was as Anne Ashmond in the 1951 film Royal Wedding, in which she played opposite Fred Astaire as the love interest of his character Tom Bowen…. She also appeared in He Found A Star (1941), All Over the Town (1949), Fabian of the Yard (1954) and Serious Change (1959)….

Sarah Churchill in ‘Royal Wedding’ – Public domain

She was to marry again, this time to photographer Anthony Beauchamp – but once again with the disapproval of her parents…. They did not even meet their new son-in-law until after the marriage had taken place…. Although Clementine tried to be civil to him, as she had with her daughter’s first husband, Sarah’s father remained frosty with both….

Sarah continued to work as an actress appearing on Broadway and television – and then after eight years of marriage Anthony was to die after taking an overdose of sleeping pills….

In 1962 Sarah was to marry yet again – this time very much with the approval of her parents…. Her new husband was Thomas Percy Henry Touchet-Jesson, the 23rd Baron Audley – making her The Right Honourable Lady Audley…. A year later Sarah was to become a widow again….

She continued with her acting career until 1971…. By now the effects of her alcoholism were beginning to show…. She had been drinking heavily since the 1950s and had been arrested on a number of occasions for causing a scene in the street – even spending a short spell in Holloway Prison….

On the 24th of September 1982 Sarah died at the age of 67 after having an undisclosed illness…. She is said to have died in her sleep…. She is buried with her parents and three of her siblings at St. Martin’s Church, Bladon, near Woodstock in Oxfordshire….

British History

On this day in history….6th October 1992

On this day in history : 6th October 1992 – The death of much loved actor Denholm Elliott, who had over 125 film and television credits to his name….

Denholm Elliott – by Clare Park, 1985 – Fair use

Denholm was born in Kensington, London on the 31st of May 1922…. He was the son of Nina and Myles Layman Farr Elliott…. His father, a barrister, was appointed solicitor-general to the Mandatory Government of Palestine…. In 1930 he was assassinated….

Denholm attended Malvern College – he did not care much for public school life…. After finishing his schooling he began training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London…. However, after only a couple of terms his mother was asked to remove him – as in their opinion she was wasting her money….

During World War 2 he joined the Royal Air Force, serving in No.76 Squadron as a wireless operator and an aircraft gunner…. On the 24th of September 1942 the Halifax bomber he was flying in was hit by flak and came down in the North Sea…. Only Denholm and two others survived….he spent the rest of the War in a prisoner of war camp – and here he became involved in amateur dramatics….

After the War he pursued his acting career and made his film debut in 1949 with a part in the film Dear Mr Prohack…. The roles he tended to play were generally likeable, dignified characters but sometimes could err on being seedy – such as the drunken journalist Bayliss in Defence of the Realm and the illegal abortionist in Alfie….

During the 1980s Denholm won three BAFTA awards, for his roles in Trading Places, A Private Function and Defence of the Realm…. He received an Academy Award nomination for A Room with a View…. What many of us will remember him for though, is his role as Dr Marcus Brady in Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade….

Denholm Elliott as Marcus Brody – Fair use

Denholm made many television appearances, including in Dennis Potter plays – he also appeared on the stage…. In 1988 he was awarded with a CBE for his services to acting….

In 1954 he was briefly married to Virginia McKenna and then in 1962 he married actress Susan Robinson and they had two children…. Theirs was an open marriage – Denholm was bi-sexual and had many relationships…. In 1987 he was diagnosed as HIV positive…. He died of AIDS related TB at his home on Ibiza, aged 70….