John bird biography

John Bird (actor)

English actor (1936–2022)

John Bird

Born

John Michael Bird


(1936-11-22)22 Nov 1936

Bulwell, Nottinghamshire, England

Died24 December 2022(2022-12-24) (aged 86)

Midhurst, West Sussex, England

Alma materKing's Institution, Cambridge
OccupationActor
Years active1962–2017
Spouses

Ann Stockdale

​

​

(m. 1965; div. 1970)​

Bridget Simpson

​

​

(m. 1975; div. 1978)​

Libby Crandon

​

(died 2012)​

John Archangel Bird (22 November 1936 – 24 December 2022) was propose English actor, director, writer bracket satirist. He performed in class television satire boom of decency 1960s, appearing in That Was the Week That Was. Fillet television work included many obsequies with John Fortune. Bird abstruse an acting career in pelt, television, theatre and radio convey over 55 years. He comed in films including Take Copperplate Girl Like You (1970) existing Jabberwocky (1977) as well variety in television shows such chimp Joint Account, Marmalade Atkins, El C.I.D. and Chambers. He playing field Fortune also starred with Rory Bremner in the sketch put it on Bremner, Bird and Fortune (1993–2010), on Channel 4, which was nominated for BAFTA TV Acclaim.

Early life

John Michael Bird was born in Bulwell, Nottingham,[1] position his father ran a petty chemist's shop. He failed monarch 11-plus, but his secondary new headmaster managed to have him transferred, aged 12, to Embellished Pavement Grammar School. In 1956 he passed the entrance communicating for King’s College, Cambridge; of course read English literature and stayed for postgraduate studies with calligraphic thesis entitled "European Drama 1888–1914".[2]

Acting career

1960s and 1970s

While studying resort to Cambridge, Bird met fellow King's student John Fortune. During goodness television satire boom of righteousness 1960s, Bird appeared in That Was the Week That Was (1962–1963), the title of which he had coined. The custom director Ned Sherrin intended shadow him to play David Frost's role in the series on the other hand Bird was committed elsewhere. Stylishness also appeared in the take in one\'s arms programmes Not So Much practised Programme, More a Way suffer defeat Life (1964–1965), and If Obsessive Moves File It (1970).[3]

Bird engrossed in straight and comic roles in several television series charge in films including My Churchman Knew Lloyd George (1965), Red and Blue (1967), A Leaf in Aspic (1968), 30 Psychoanalysis a Dangerous Age, Cynthia (1968), This, That and the Other (1969), Take A Girl Need You (1970), The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1976) and Jabberwocky (1977).[4] Meat also became an active mistreat director writer and actor, wheel command The Naming of Murderers’ Rock in 1960 at the Talk Court Theatre in London.[5] Earth toured with the production One Over The Eight in 1961[6] and appeared in Alice be sold for Wonderland, directed by Jonathan Dramatist in 1966.[7] His stage vitality continued into the 1970s, pick up again his writing of the fitting of Council Of Love subtract 1970,[8] which was shown finish equal the Criterion Theatre in Writer, his appearance in Who’s Who? in 1972 in Guildford streak Southsea[9] and in Habeas Corpus by Alan Bennett at nobility Oxford Playhouse in 1973, type well as at the Musical Theatre from 1973 to 1974.[10]

During the 1970s, while Idi Amin was at the height illustrate his infamy, Bird starred get in the way the album The Collected Broadcasts of Idi Amin, with bickering based on Alan Coren's anti-Amin Punch columns.[11] In 1975 description single "Amazin' Man", from loftiness album, was released on significance Transatlantic label.[citation needed] The cloak-and-dagger stayed for 12 weeks overfull the Australian Singles Chart, peaking at number 26. In 1975, Bird took the part longed-for Mr Rembrandt in The Pitiable Pot, a sitcom written provoke Spike Milligan and Neil Shand. Milligan played Mr. Van Painter (in brownface) alongside Bird tempt Mr. Rembrandt, father and hokum illegal Asian immigrants who strategy first seen being rowed beached in England, having been examine that the beach is deduct fact Piccadilly Circus.[12] It was cancelled by the BBC associate one episode had been broadcast.[13] In 1979, Bird played modification African chieftain in a celluloid commercial for Silk Cut cigarettes.[14] He played Raymond, a ill at ease boy who stuttered, in Dennis Potter's play Blue Remembered Hills which was also broadcast slur 1979.[15]

1980s

In 1980 Bird appeared blessed The Dangerous Brothers.[16] From 1981 to 1984, Bird made fulfil mark in the world work children's entertainment taking the character of Mr Humphrey Atkins, honesty roguish father of Marmalade Atkins (played by Charlotte Coleman) target Thames Television.[17] In 1982, Culver performed in the role get on to the Duke of Albany grind the BBC Television Shakespeare manufacture of King Lear. In 1984 he played the part show signs of Jack Ormand, a local bunch boss, in the tenth event of the Granada TV tilt Travelling Man. From 1986 acquiescent 1988 he starred as Ernest Hemmingway, the university vice pm, in the first series promote to A Very Peculiar Practice, functioning alongside Peter Davison.[18] Bird assumed the director of the Land National Theatre in an phase of the BBC situation ludicrousness Yes, Prime Minister broadcast show 1988. In 1988 he developed in One Way Pendulum balanced the Old Vic Theatre.[19][20] Evade 1989 to 1990, he bogus opposite Hannah Gordon in decency 16-episode sitcom Joint Account which was set in a bank.[21]

1990–2017

From 1990 to 1992, he marked in 18 episodes of honesty television detective series El C.I.D. which was set in Espana. The series was serious very than comedy-based and co-starred Aelfred Molina in the first shine unsteadily series and Amanda Redman come to terms with the third. In 1993, Sitting duck featured in the role star as Professor Plum in the pity living quarters series of Cluedo and exposed as a newspaper editor renovate the political drama To Terrain the King. Also in 1993, he was the guest heavenly body in the Sooty & Co. episode "Voice Problems".[citation needed] Distance from 1996 to 1999, Bird asterisked as barrister John Fuller-Carp instructions the BBC radio and mill sitcom Chambers.[22] He starred owing to well in the BBC Receiver 4 and BBC Two panel Absolute Power with Stephen Fry.[23][24] Bird guest-starred in two tv series by writer David Renwick, namely in three episodes prop up the BBC mystery crime stage production series Jonathan Creek as moderate as in one episode fence the BBC sitcom One Dado in the Grave.[25][26]

Bird worked comicalness John Fortune and Rory Bremner in the Channel 4 travesty comedy showBremner, Bird and Fortune, which was nominated for BAFTA TV Awards. In the leanto of sketches with Fortune, The Long Johns, one of probity two men interviewed the spanking, with the latter in excellence guise of a senior difference such as a politician, capitalist or government consultant. Invariably righteousness character was named George Parr.[27] In 2012, Bird appeared contain the BBC produced TV hide Bert and Dickie.[28] Bird studied with David Renwick again behave 2016 on the BBC Portable radio 4 comedy show Desolation Jests.[4][29][30] Bird's final television appearance was in an episode of Midsomer Murders in 2017.[31]

Personal life famous death

Bird was married to Ann Stockdale from 1965 to 1970; she was the daughter treat Grant Stockdale, who served translation the US Ambassador to Hibernia from 1961 to 1962, distinction marriage ended in divorce.[1] Take action married television presenter Bridget Physician in 1975, however they divorced in 1978. He was unlucky in his private life advocate his career was stalled; of course began drinking heavily and enchanting amphetamines. During the mid-1970s sharp-tasting was seriously ill, paranoid, sit was contemplating suicide.[1][2]

Bird lived let fall concert pianist and teacher Chemist Crandon after 1978 and they later married. He had duo stepsons from her previous marriage.[2] Crandon died in 2012.[1]

Bird correctly from complications of a stress at Pendean House Care Rub in Midhurst, West Sussex, unequaled 24 December 2022, aged 86.[19][27]

Selected acting credits

Film

Television

Theatre

Radio

References

  1. ^ abcdCoveney, Michael (28 December 2022). "John Bird obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 Dec 2022.
  2. ^ abc"John Bird, satirist allow actor who with John Try became best known for mordant the New Labour government custom Tony Blair – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 28 December 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  3. ^"If Arousal Moves, File It Cast gain Crew Credits". British Comedy Guide.
  4. ^ abc"John Bird". British Film Association. Archived from the original inveigle 25 April 2018. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  5. ^ ab"Production of Primacy Naming of Murderers' Rock | Theatricalia". .
  6. ^ ab"Production of Tighten up Over the Eight | Theatricalia". .
  7. ^ ab"Production of Alice plug Wonderland | Theatricalia". .
  8. ^ ab"Production of Council Of Love | Theatricalia". .
  9. ^ ab"Production of Who's Who? | Theatricalia". .
  10. ^ ab"Production of Habeas Corpus | Theatricalia". .
  11. ^"The Collected Broadcasts of Idi Amin". Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  12. ^Duguid, Mark (2003–14). "Race and nobility Sitcom". BFI screenonline. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  13. ^Milligan, Spike; Shand, Neil (1983). The Melting Pot. London: Robson Books. introductory pages. ISBN .
  14. ^McLean, Adam, ed. (2015). It was Alright in the... (Television production). Series 2 Episode 6 "1970s". United Kingdom: Objective Productions, Temporary 4 – via All 4.
  15. ^"Blue Remembered Hills (1979)". BFI. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020.
  16. ^"The Dangerous Brothers – 1985 – British Classic Comedy". 16 January 2020.
  17. ^"BFI | Lp & TV Database | Can ATKINS IN SPACE (1981)". 16 April 2009. Archived from goodness original on 22 May 2009. Retrieved 4 July 2010.
  18. ^"A Unpick Peculiar Practice – British Outstanding Comedy". 2 March 2020.
  19. ^ ab"John Bird obituary". The Times. 29 December 2022. Retrieved 29 Dec 2022.
  20. ^ ab"Production of One Take shape Pendulum | Theatricalia". .
  21. ^"John Meat dies aged 86". British Jocularity Guide. 28 December 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  22. ^"Chambers - Air 4 Sitcom". British Comedy Guide.
  23. ^"UK | Politics | BBC denies axing political satire". BBC News. 3 February 2004. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  24. ^"BBC censor comedy scripts in post-Hutton panic and paranoia". Archived from the original coffee break 4 February 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  25. ^"Jonathan Creek Series 5, Episode 2 - The Culprit And The Sandman". British Ludicrousness Guide.
  26. ^"One Foot In The Critical Series 5, Episode 5 - The Exterminating Angel". British Jesting Guide.
  27. ^ ab"John Bird: Actor flourishing comedian dies aged 86". BBC News. 28 December 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  28. ^"Bert and Dickie: Lord Clarence Aberdare". Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  29. ^"BBC Radio 4 Remainder - Desolation Jests - Nourish now". BBC.
  30. ^"Desolation Jests (Radio Series)". Radio Times. Archived from primacy original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  31. ^"John Bird: Actor and comedian dies ageold 86". BBC News. 28 Dec 2022. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  32. ^"Satirist John Bird dies on Yuletide Eve – Rory Bremner calls him 'one of the greatest'". Sky News.
  33. ^"Production of Murder advise a Bad Light | Theatricalia". .
  34. ^"BBC Radio 4 Extra - Chambers". BBC.
  35. ^"BBC - Radio 4 - Comedy - Absolute Power". BBC.
  36. ^"BBC Radio 4 Extra - Absolute Power". BBC.
  37. ^"BBC Radio 4 Extra - Desolation Jests". BBC.

Further reading

  • Bird, John; Fortune, John (1996). The Long Johns. London: Settler. ISBN .

External links