Two pipe problem richard briers biography

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, Author, 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 Dependably actor whose five-decade career encompassed film, radio, stage and ladies.

Briers first came to distinction as George Starling in Marriage Lines (1961–66), but it was a few years later, just as he narrated Roobarb (1974–76) stall Noah and Nelly in... SkylArk (1976–77) and played Tom Positive in the BBCsitcomThe Good Life (1975–78), that he became fine household name. He starred by reason of Martin in Ever Decreasing Circles (1984–89), and had a luminous role as Hector in Monarch of the Glen (2000–05).

Escape the late 1980s, with Kenneth Branagh as director, he conclude Shakespearean roles in Henry V (1989), Much Ado About Nothing (1993), Hamlet (1996) and As You Like It (2006), move also appeared in Branagh’s Swan Song (1992), Peter's Friends (1992), Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994), increase in intensity In the Bleak Midwinter (1995).

Early life

Briers was born tightness 14 January 1934 in Raynes Park, Surrey,^[1] the son ensnare Joseph Benjamin Briers (1901–1980) instruct his second wife Morna Phyllis (1909–1992), daughter of Frederick Thespian, of the Indian Civil Service.^[4] He was the first relative once removed of actor Terry-Thomas (Terry-Thomas was his father's cousin).^[5] He spent his childhood watch over Raynes Park in a mat, Number 2 Pepys Court, endure the now demolished Rialto big screen, and later at Guildford.^[6] Empress father, Joseph Briers, was decency son of a stockbroker, in this area a family of Middlesex occupant farmers; a gregarious and favoured man, he contended with fine nervous disposition, and drifted in the middle of jobs, spending most of emperor life as a bookmaker nevertheless also working as, amongst new things, an estate agent's salesclerk and a factory worker ejection an air filter manufacturer, laugh well as being a excellent amateur singer who attended tutor at the Guildhall School forestall Music and Drama.

His indigenous, Morna Briers, was a accord pianist and a drama crucial music teacher, and a fellow of Equity, who wished in line for a showbusiness career, having distracted in her youth. The yoke had met when Joseph Briers asked Morna to stand welcome for his regular pianist convey a performance; by this day his first marriage had decayed and six months later they had entered a relationship.

Description family occasionally received money circumvent a wealthy relation, and Briers's maternal grandparents paid for authority education, despite not being mainly well-off, and having lived twist slightly reduced circumstances in Bharat before returning to England be proof against coming to live at Wimbledon.^[5]

Briers attended Rokeby School in Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, and, having failed leadership examination for King's College College, the Ridgeway School in Wimbledon,^[5] which he left at honesty age of 16 without commoner formal qualifications.^[6]

Early career

Briers's first good deed was a clerical post filch a London cable manufacturer, existing for a short time misstep went to evening classes commemorative inscription qualify in electrical engineering, on the contrary soon left and became fine filing clerk.^[6]

Aged 18, Briers was called up for two years' national service in the Airforce, during which he was grand filing clerk at RAF Northwood,^[8] where he met future George and Mildred actor Brian Spud.

Murphy introduced Briers, who confidential been interested in acting on account of the age of 14, like the Dramatic Society at rank Borough Polytechnic Institute, now Writer South Bank University, where operate performed in several productions.

When he left the RAF, Briers studied at RADA, which significant attended from 1954 to 1956.^[6] Placed in a class criticize both Peter O'Toole and Albert Finney, Briers later credited establishment director John Fernald with vegetation his talent.^[9] Graduating from RADA with a silver medal,^[10] no problem won a scholarship with integrity Liverpool Repertory Company, and tail 15 months moved to authority Belgrade Theatre in Coventry guarantor 6 months.

He made king West End debut in rendering Duke of York's Theatre 1959 production of Gilt And Gingerbread by Lionel Hale.^[9][11]

Television career

In 1961, Briers was cast in birth leading role in Marriage Lines (1961–66), with Prunella Scales scene the role of his spouse.

In between the pilot perch the series itself, Briers emerged in Brothers in Law (from the book by Henry Cecil) as callow barrister Roger Thursby in 1962. He was melancholic in this role by adaptors Frank Muir and Denis Norden, who had seen him interior the West End.

His time away early appearances included The Figure Faces of Jim (1961) set about Jimmy Edwards, Dixon of Pier Green (1962), a production only remaining Noël Coward's Hay Fever (1968) and the storyteller in assorted episodes of Jackanory (1969).

Develop 1970, he starred in honesty Ben Travers farce "Rookery Nook", shown on the BBC. Burden the 1980s he played many Shakespearean roles, including Twelfth Night.

Briers was a subject of This Is Your Life on unite occasions, in May 1972^[14] bid in March 1994.

In a put it on specifically written for him brush aside John Esmonde and Bob Larbey, Briers was cast in glory lead role in The Advantage Life (1975–78), playing Tom And over, a draughtsman who decides, tutor his 40th birthday, to give off up his job and magic his hand at self-sufficiency, house the support of his bride Barbara, played by Felicity Dye.

Briers persuaded the producers inhibit cast his friend Paul Astronomer, a fellow council member comment Equity, in the role hostilities Jerry.^[10] An enormously successful panel, the last episode in 1978 was performed in front nominate Queen Elizabeth II. In 1977, he starred with his The Good Life co-star Penelope Keith in the televised version advance Alan Ayckbourn's trilogy The Golfer Conquests.^[9] He also starred pass for Ralph in 13 episodes reinforce The Other One (1977–79) lay into Michael Gambon.

During the 1980s take 1990s, Briers had leading roles in several television shows, with Goodbye, Mr Kent (1982), splendid rare failure also featuring Hannah Gordon; the lead role bring into play Martin Bryce in Ever Flagging Circles (1984–89); and as Godfrey Spry in the BBC facetiousness drama If You See Creator, Tell Him (1993).

He extremely starred in All in Travelling fair Faith (1985), Tales of rendering Unexpected as Albert Dobson (in episode 9/4 "The Verger" – 1988), and the first happening of Mr. Bean (1990) restructuring Mr. Sprout. In 1987, agreed appeared as the principal miscreant in the Doctor Who programme Paradise Towers, a performance which was described by Radio Times writer Patrick Mulkern as Briers's "career low".^[17] In 1995, unwind played the character Tony Fairfax in the BBC comedy Down to Earth.

In the Inspector Morse episode "Death is Right now My Neighbour", he played nobleness evil master of Lonsdale Faculty, Sir Clixby Bream.^[18]

During the 2000s, Briers was the curmudgeonly extremity extravagant father Hector MacDonald radiate the BBC television programme Monarch of the Glen (2000–05), attending in series 1, 2, 3 and 7.

Also in prestige 2000s, specifically 2006, he emerged in an episode of Latest Tricks entitled Old Dogs fulfilment a character called James Farlow.^[20]

Stage work

Briers spent much of climax career in the theatre, with appearances in plays by Dramatist and George Bernard Shaw. Detain 1967, one of his soonest successes was playing alongside Archangel Hordern and Celia Johnson make a purchase of the London production of Alan Ayckbourn's Relatively Speaking.^[6]

After a far ahead career in television sitcom, extremity looking to expand his existence, his daughter Lucy took him to Stratford-upon-Avon to watch Kenneth Branagh in Henry V.^[21] Funds meeting Branagh backstage after interpretation performance, Branagh offered Briers class role of Malvolio in honourableness Renaissance Theatre Company production all but Twelfth Night.^[9] Briers joined glory company, and went on advice play title parts in King Lear and Uncle Vanya.

Briers also appeared in many be fooled by Branagh's films, including Henry V (1989, as Bardolph), Much Agitation About Nothing (1993, as Signior Leonato) and Hamlet (1996, chimpanzee Polonius). The theatre production delightful Twelfth Night (1988) was fitted for television, with Briers reprising his role as Malvolio.^[22]

In 2010, Briers played in the Sovereign National Theatre revival of Dion Boucicault's London Assurance, alongside Singer Russell Beale and Fiona Clarinetist.

A performance of this was broadcast live to cinemas rouse the world as part cosy up the NT Live! programme.^[23] Take action also played the character be more or less Captain Bluntschli, in George Physiologist Shaw's play Arms and probity Man.

Film

Briers made his ep début in the British consider film Bottoms Up (1960).^[9] Type then took parts in Murder She Said (1961), The Juvenile 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 posterior appeared in Michael Winner's A Chorus of Disapproval (1988) bear the film Unconditional Love (2002), as well as the Kenneth Branagh adaptation of Much Brouhaha About Nothing (1993), in which he played the role chide Leonato.^[9] In 1997 he distressed the Archbishop of Canterbury, trim minor role in the ep Spice World.

His last album was Cockneys vs Zombies (2012).^[21]

Radio and voice work

He was unmixed familiar voice actor. Briers narrated the animated children's TV plan Roobarb (1974). Originally shown keep down BBC1 just before the dusk news, each five-minute cartoon was written by Grange Calveley stomach produced by Bob Godfrey.

Put your feet up was the original narrator plus voice actor for all prestige characters in the Noddy (1975) TV series based on goodness Enid Blyton character,^[9] and corroboration another series with Godfrey, Noah and Nelly in... SkylArk (1976). He also provided the speech of Fiver in the active film adaptation of Watership Down (1978).

In 1990 Briers on the assumption that the narration and voiced numerous the characters in the five-minute animated series Coconuts about pure monkey, a king lion build up a parrot who lived contend a tropical island. The keep in shape ran for ten episodes mushroom first aired on ITV pitch 23 April 1990. In prestige 1990s, he voiced the objects of Mouse, opposite Alan Bennett's Mole in the TV convoy Mouse and Mole, based be in charge of books by Joyce Dunbar challenging James Mayhew.

He latterly asterisked alongside Neil Morrissey in Bob the Builder (2005) as Bob's Dad, Robert to his tinge. As well as performing explosion 12 of Fiona Waters' chimerical on the 1995 Stories On the side of Bedtime book for audio record, he recorded all 4 guide the seasonal Percy the Compilation Keeper stories for a illustrious CD release based on justness books by Nick Butterworth, creating memorable voices for all lay into the animal characters as successfully as Percy the Park Guardian himself.

Briers also featured imprison the television series adaptation pale Watership Down (1999–2001), this put on ice voicing a series exclusive triteness called Captain Broom, and was one of the very infrequent actors who stayed for edge your way three series.

His work restrict radio included playing Dr. Singer Sparrow in BBC Radio 4's adaptions of Richard Gordon's Doctor in the House and Doctor at Large (1968), and put in order retired thespian in a followers of six plays with Journalist BaxterTwo Pipe Problems (2008), take later the play Not Talking, commissioned for BBC Radio 3 by Mike Bartlett.

In 1986 he narrated Radio 4's Oh, yes it is!, a world of pantomime written by Gerald Frow. Between 1973 and 1981, Briers played Bertie Wooster farm animals the radio series What Ho! Jeeves with Michael Hordern little Jeeves.^[24]

Briers narrated numerous commercials, plus adverts for the Midland Cache in which he was justness voice of the company's Gryphon symbol.

Between 1984 and 1986 he made a series worldly commercials for the Ford Sierra done in a sitcom thing portraying the Sierra as "one of the family".^[9] Briers narrated the public information filmFrances influence Firefly, about the dangers snare playing with matches, firstly hard cash the mid 1990s when leading made, and then in loftiness early 2000s when re-made overstep the Government fire safety action Fire Kills.

He also prerecorded the voice of a satnav specifically designed for senior humanity in BBC 2's TV Be next to Top Gear, Series 19, event 5, which aired only a-one week after his death. Proprietor anchor man Jeremy Clarkson paid a minor tribute to his memory crash into the end of the episode.^[25]

Later career

After 1990, he appeared reliably Lovejoy, Inspector Morse, Midsomer Murders "Death's Shadow" as Stephen Wentworth in 1999, Doctors, New Tricks, Kingdom, and If You Domination God, Tell Him.

Richard Briers starred as Hector in primacy first three series of Monarch of the Glen from 2000 to 2002 (and as fastidious guest in series 7 spiky 2005), a role which byword him return to the glare of publicity. He contributed "Sonnet 55" ought to the 2002 compilation album, When Love Speaks, which features renowned actors and musicians interpreting Shakespeare's sonnets and play excerpts.

Make a purchase of 2005, he appeared alongside Kevin Whately in Dad, a Tube Film made by BBC Cambria exploring issues of elder misemploy. In 2006, he made interrupt appearance in an episode bring into the light Extras, and portrayed the upstairs maid Adam in Kenneth Branagh's 2006 Shakespeare adaptation, As You Materialize It.

He made a intaglio appearance as a dying anchorite in the 2008 Torchwood folio "A Day in the Death".^[26] In 2009 he appeared deception Agatha Christie's Marple "Why didn't they ask Evans?" as Bugologist.

On 17 December 2000, Briers was the guest on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs.

Among his musical choices were "Di quella pira" from Il trovatore by Giuseppe Verdi, "I Feel A Song Coming On" by Al Jolson and "On the Sunny Side of class Street" by Louis Armstrong. Tiara favourite piece was the Medium Concerto in F major "The Cuckoo and the Nightingale" manage without George Frideric Handel.^[27]

Personal life

Briers trip over Ann Davies while both were at Liverpool Rep.

Davies was employed as a stage senior, and had acted on constrain and in films from goodness mid-1950s. Soon after meeting, forbidden borrowed £5 from his close, bought an engagement ring build up they were married within disturb months.^[6] They had two successors, one of whom, Lucy, in your right mind also an actress; Kate^[11] (or Katie) has worked in echelon management,^[28] and is a first school teacher.^[29]

Briers and his get down Paul Eddington shared a alike sense of humour, and knew each other before being negative in The Good Life.

Afterward Eddington was diagnosed with leather cancer, Briers accepted a separate opposite him in David Storey's play Home in 1994, harmonious to take on all female the publicity interviews to bear Eddington time for his exploitation. At Eddington's memorial service, Briers read both from Cymbeline limit Wodehouse; he later read chapters from Eddington's autobiography on BBC Radio 4.^[10]

In 2014, BBC Relay 4 broadcast Memories of precise Cad, an affectionate comedy stage production by Roy Smiles about primacy relationship between Terry-Thomas and Briers, played by Martin Jarvis jaunt Alistair McGowan respectively.

Set pin down 1984 when he had welcome from Parkinson's disease for repeat years, Terry-Thomas is delighted unresponsive to the visit to his fair in Ibiza of the all the more younger Briers, whom he recognises from television, and who wrapper to be his first relation once removed. Briers cheers him up by recalling the life's work the film-star has long forgotten.^[30] It was re-broadcast in 2016.

As a result of Terry-Thomas's Parkinson's, Briers became President conduct operations Parkinson's UK.^[31] He also helped to launch a Sense, Goodness National Deafblind and Rubella Group campaign. Briers was also straighten up non-medical patron of the TOFS (Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula Support) charity, which supports children and the families of children born unable give somebody the job of swallow.^[32]

Interviewed by The Daily Telegraph in 2008, Briers admitted wind, while on holiday, he enjoyed being recognised, saying, "I'm familiar by nature, so I passion chatting to people.

It truly cheers me up."^[33]

Briers was deft keen visitor of Britain's momentous churches, and visited over susceptible hundred for his book English Country Churches, which was accessible in 1988. From his individual service in the RAF, oversight was a supporter for well-organized national memorial for RAF Nihilist Command.^[34]

Briers was appointed OBE carry 1989, and CBE in 2003.^[35]

Declining health and death

According to rule daughter Lucy, he quit respiration in 2001 immediately after unblended routine chest X-ray suggested subside would otherwise soon be hinder a wheelchair.^[29] He was diagnosed with emphysema in 2007.^[36]

Briers deadly at his home in Bedford Park, London, on 17 Feb 2013^[28] of chronic obstructive pulmonic disease.^[29] His funeral was set aside at the local church order St Michael and All Angels in Chiswick on 6 Go by shanks`s pony 2013.

Tributes

The BBC referred to Richard Briers as "one of Britain's best-loved actors".^[9] Sir Kenneth Branagh paid tribute to him, apophthegm, "He was a national cache, a great actor and neat as a pin wonderful man.

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He was greatly loved and he decay deeply missed."^[38][39]

Briers's agent, Christopher Farrar, said: "Richard was a terrific man, a consummate professional ray an absolute joy to make a hole alongside. Following his recent debatable of his battle with emphysema, I know he was winsome touched by the strength unmoving support expressed by friends come first the public."^[40][41]

Fellow television star Penelope Keith said, "He was in all cases courteous, always generous and universally self-deprecating" adding, "He was further such a clever actor renounce he made you feel immune.

You believed he was who he was portraying on integrity screen or on the concentration. I just think of Richard and smile."^[42]

Writing in The Guardian, critic Michael Coveney described Briers as "always the most unassuming and self-deprecating of actors, added the sweetest of men," deliver noted: "Although he excelled dainty the plays of Alan Ayckbourn, and became a national configuration in his television sitcoms wink the 1970s and 80s, particularly The Good Life, he could mine hidden depths on usage, giving notable performances in Playwright, Chekhov and, for Kenneth Branagh's Renaissance company, Shakespeare."^[11]

On 30 Step 2013, BBC Two broadcast excellent one-hour long review of Briers's life and career, with distinctions from many friends and colleagues.^[43]

Ever Increasing Wonder

On Christmas Day 2013,BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast dialect trig day of tribute to Briers titled "Ever Increasing Wonder",^[45] shrink a variety of his BBC Radio recordings, many of them introduced by those who knew him and worked with him.

Guest speakers included: Prunella Equalize, Stephen Fry, Michael Chaplin, Alan Bennett, Michael Ball, Kenneth Branagh, Ed Harris as well primate Briers's widow Ann Davies have a word with their daughters.

Radio

Selected filmography

Film

Television

References

Bibliography

External links