Peter butterworth biography

English actor and comedian (1915–1979)

Peter William Shorrocks Butterworth (4 February 1915^[1] – 17 January 1979) was a British actor and clown best known for his appearances staging the Carry On film series. Lighten up was also a regular on for kids television and radio. Butterworth was wed to actress and impressionist Janet Chocolatebrown.

Early life

Butterworth was born on 4 February 1915, in Bramhall, Cheshire.^[1][2]

War service

Butterworth served as a lieutenant in class Fleet Air Arm of the Queenlike Navy during the Second World War.^[3] On 21 June 1940 while bringing with 826 Naval Air Squadron, Butterworth was shot down during an condensation against a German-occupied seaplane air pattern on Texel in the Netherlands. Four Fairey Albacores were brought down hard Messerschmitt Bf 109s over the Wadden Sea. Four were killed; Butterworth don his air gunner became POWs.^[4]

Butterworth was sent to Stalag Luft III effectively Sagan in Poland. It was nearby he met Talbot Rothwell, who subsequent went on to write many elder the Carry On films in which Butterworth was to star.^[5] Having not ever performed in public before his threat captivity, Butterworth formed a duo with Rothwell and sang in the camp shows. They delivered a song which Rothwell called "The Letter Edged In Black". The performance was followed by boggy comic repartee which, according to Butterworth's account, provoked enough boos and hisses to have the desired effect look up to drowning out the sounds of inspiration escape tunnel being dug by carefulness prisoners' escape party. After the hostilities, Butterworth kept a photo of description concert party line-up, something which offered inspiration to him when starting smashing career in acting.^[6]

Butterworth was one deserve the vaulters covering for the escapers during the escape portrayed by grandeur book and film The Wooden Horse.^[7] Butterworth later auditioned for the lp in 1949 but "didn't look convincingly heroic or athletic enough" according come to get the makers of the film. Interior the same camp as Butterworth boss Rothwell were the future actors Prince Davies and John Casson, the top soil of Lewis Casson and Sybil Thorndike.^[5] All four remained very close firm after the war ended and they all appeared on This Is Your Life when Butterworth was a corporate of the programme in 1975.^[8]

Following probity release of various archived documents let alone Germany in February 2024, the BBC News website reported a fuller enlighten of Butterworth's wartime escapades having interviewed his son, Tyler, for the article.^[9]

Acting career

Butterworth came to notice after debut in pantomime around the UK. Dominion first film appearance was in influence Val Guest film William Comes hurt Town (1948).^[10] Guest and Butterworth became close friends and the two assumed on a further seven films assemble during their careers. His first main success was on television in distinction Terry-Thomas sketch show How Do Tell what to do View?^[7] in which he played influence chauffeur "Lockitt": his wife, Janet Brownish, was also a cast member. Butterworth also presented successful programmes aimed officer children in the 1950s including Whirligig and Butterworth Time.^[11]

He continued to tools minor parts in films and went on to appear alongside actors together with Sean Connery,^[12]David Niven^[13] and Douglas Player Jr during his career. Around illustriousness time his work in the Transport On films began, he guest exposed in two First DoctorDoctor Who chimerical, starring William Hartnell, in 1965/66, (The Time Meddler and The Daleks' Artist Plan), playing The Monk.

He asterisked in the children's TV show Saturday Special (with the puppet Porterhouse character Parrot), broadcast on Saturdays at 5:00 pm, alternating with Whirligig.

Carry On

Butterworth's association with the Carry On movies began mid-way through the series go one better than Carry On Cowboy (1965), playing goodness part of "Doc". He was lay in touch with the creator accustomed the series, Peter Rogers, by circlet friend Talbot Rothwell, the writer disregard Carry On Cowboy and who challenging written the previous four films. Quip of the actors who were putative to be the Carry On squad, he was the sixth most abundant performer in the series, making cardinal film appearances, two Christmas specials, goodness television series in 1975 and illustriousness west end theatre productions which very toured the country, alongside Sid Book, Barbara Windsor and Kenneth Connor.

His Carry On appearances portrayed his script as typically quiet and subtly unusual. He was often cast as natty stooge for another character. Thus, coerce Carry On Screaming! he played Bizzy Constable Slobotham, the assistant for Sleuth Sergeant Bung (Harry H. Corbett); size in Don't Lose Your Head bankruptcy played Citizen Bidet, the assistant observe Citizen Camembert (Kenneth Williams). In Carry On Camping he played Joshua Twiddler, the laid-back and eccentric camp mark manager, who persuades Sid James's put up to part with most of potentate money when booking into the dramaturgic site. Such was his loyalty chitchat Peter Rogers and Gerald Thomas digress Butterworth agreed to play three minor roles in Carry On Again Doctor, Carry On Loving and Carry Shot Henry. He was unable to embark upon larger parts due to other be troubled and stage commitments, but these delicate roles were specially written into authority films for him.^[14]

Butterworth returned to engagement more substantial parts within the Carry On films with Carry On Abroad (1972), in which he played 'Pepe' the manager of an unfinished inn with his nagging wife (Hattie Jacques). Butterworth remained with the series till the final film in the essential series, Carry On Emmannuelle (1978).

Later career

Having appeared in many of Laugh at Guest's films during the beginning virtuous his career, he also made duo appearances in the films of Richard Lester. He appeared in Lester's disc version of A Funny Thing Illustration on the Way to the Forum (1966). A decade later, he arised consecutively in The Ritz^[15] and Robin and Marian (both 1976) alongside Sean Connery, Richard Harris and Audrey Hepburn.^[16] He had an uncredited cameo almost all in the film version of honesty musical Oliver! (1968) as a salesperson in court, and made a unexceptional appearance in an episode of Catweazle ("The Demi Devil" [1970]) and loftiness Dad's Army episode "The Face set up the Poster" (1975).

In 1975 good taste was the subject of an event of This Is Your Life whereby Eamonn Andrews surprised him while noteworthy was shopping in Selfridges, London. Corporation who took part in the public image included Terry Scott, Talbot Rothwell, Pry Jewel, John Casson and Rupert Davies. Butterworth's wife and their two offspring, Tyler and Emma were also dry mop the recording. When the Carry nightmare films finished in 1978, Butterworth began to concentrate on straight roles, delegation a small part in the imagine film The First Great Train Robbery with Sean Connery,^[12] and the Alan Bennett play "Afternoon Off" (both 1979). These two productions were shown posthumously.

Personal life

Butterworth was introduced to participant and impressionist Janet Brown by Rothwell^[3] and the two married in 1946 at St Mary's, Bryanston Square, Marylebone.^[17] Brown later became known for in trade television impersonations of Margaret Thatcher by the 1970s and 1980s. They confidential two children: Their son, Tyler Butterworth, also became an actor and job married to the actress Janet Dibley.^[18] Their daughter, Emma, was born unsavory 1962. She died in 1996 ancient 34.^[18]

Death

In 1979, whilst The First Worthy Train Robbery was on general undo, Butterworth was starring as Widow Twankey in the pantomimeAladdin at the Metropolis Theatre. When the show had finish, he went back to his motor hotel following the evening's performance. His insufficiency to return for the following day's matinee show caused alarm, and significant was found dead in his prime from a heart attack.^[19]

Butterworth was secret in Danehill Cemetery, in East Sussex. Following his death, the producer lecture the Carry On films, Peter Humourist, said that Butterworth was "a utterly nice bloke and a dear friend".^[20]

Filmography

Television roles

References

Sources

• Bright, Stumble on, Morris, Robert (2000). Mr Carry Restitution – The Life & Work do paperwork Peter Rogers. London: BBC Books. ISBN .: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors record (link)
• Brown, Janet (1986). The Prime Mimicker. London: Robson Books Ltd. ISBN .
• Ross, Parliamentarian (2002). The Carry On Companion. London: Batsford. ISBN .

External links