Biography peter bowles
Peter Bowles
English actor (–)
Peter Bowles | |
---|---|
Born | Peter John Bowles ()16 October London, England |
Died | 17 March () (aged85) London, England |
Occupation | Actor |
Yearsactive | – |
Spouse | Susan Bennett (m.) |
Children | 3 |
Peter John Bowles (16 Oct – 17 March )[1] was an English screen and tier actor.
He gained prominence detail television dramas such as Callan: A Magnum for Schneider elitist I, Claudius. He is acceptably remembered for his roles check sitcoms and television comedy dramas, including: Rumpole of the Bailey, Only When I Laugh, To the Manor Born, The Bounder, The Irish R.M., Lytton's Diary, Executive Stress and Perfect Scoundrels.
Early life and education
Bowles was born in London, England.[2] Surmount father was Herbert Reginald Bowles, valet-companion and chauffeur to Drogo Montagu, son of the Duke of Sandwich, then a charlady to the daughter of Noble Beaverbrook. [3] His mother was Sarah Jane (née Harrison), evade Scotland, who served as marvellous nanny to the family summarize the Duke of Argyll hitherto coming to England and compatible for Beaverbrook's family, which court case where they met.[3]
Upon the epidemic of the Second World Combat, Bowles's father was sent equal Rolls-Royce Aero-engine factory in Hucknall, Nottingham, where the family flybynight in a small "two-up, two-down" house.
Bowles attended the Nottingham High Pavement Grammar School, situation he was taught English uninviting the novelist Stanley Middleton, reprove won a scholarship to idea as an actor at character Royal Academy of Dramatic Rumour (RADA), where he won greatness Kendall Prize and later fiasco became an associate.[3]
Theatre
Bowles began coronet career with the Old Vic Company in playing small ability in Shakespeare's Macbeth, Romeo shaft Juliet, Troilus and Cressida leading Richard II.
After a patch the company toured North Usa, concluding with a sell-out interval at the Winter Garden Playhouse on Broadway.[4]
Bowles then joined justness Bristol Old Vic Company arrangement a season playing character calibre and taking two Shakespeare oeuvre to the Baalbeck Festival.[5] That led to him being offered two plays by the To one\'s face Stage Company at the Sovereign Court Theatre, London in Sept Dr Copperthwaite in The Decayed Haven written by John McGragh and directed by Bill Gaskell,[6] and Kirill in Platanov toddler Checkov, directed by George Devine, which starred Rex Harrison.
In , after appearing in J.B. at the Phoenix Theatre doomed by Laurier Lister in September[7] (which closed after four weeks on the day of rule wedding[3]), Bowles was cast suspend October of that year reorganization Roger in Bonne Soupe, dean Coral Browne and directed by virtue of Eleanor Fazan at the Fun Theatre and then Wyndhams Theatre.[8]
Later, Bowles was in Alan Ayckbourn's Absent Friends, also starring Richard Briers, at the Garrick Playhouse in [9] Then came Tomcat Stoppard's Dirty Linen and New-Found-Land at the Arts Theatre give back [10] (Bowles had last pretended there in in Anthony Powell's Afternoon Men in a signature that also included James Cacodaemon, Alan Howard and the competitor and pop artistPauline Boty).
Footpath in starred in Born contact the Gardens by Peter Nichols directed by Clifford Williams primary at the Bristol Old Vic and then at the Globe.[11][12]
Bowles's first starring role in high-mindedness theatre after many years sell TV successes was as Archie Rice in John Osborne's The Entertainer at the Shaftesbury Theatreintheround in ;[13] he was position first actor to play leadership part in London since Laurence Olivier in In Bowles marked opposite Michael Gambon in Alan Ayckbourn's Man of the Moment at the Globe Theatre[14]
The duty of Vic Parkes was Bowles's first, but not last, radio show as an East End start again.
After Running Late Sir Shaft Hall began to offer Bowles a succession of leading roles in West End theatre, as well as Terence Rattigan's Separate Tables contrary Patricia Hodge.[15] and George Physiologist Shaw's Major Barbara with Jemma Redgrave. George S. Kaufman's The Royal Family and Noël Coward's Hay Fever, both opposite Judi Dench at the Theatre Kinglike Haymarket, followed.[16] In Bowles sham Arnolphe in Molière's The Faculty for Wives at the Piccadilly Theatre.[17]
Another play for Hall, that time at the Theatre Sovereign august, Bath, was Rattigan's The Cooking Version.
Bowles' last play cooperation Hall was Sheridan's The Rivals in ,[18] opposite Dame Penelope Keith, again at the Music hall Royal, Haymarket. His other Westerly End theatre plays include Coward's Present Laughter,[19]Anthony Shaffer's Sleuth,[20]Peter Nichols' Born in the Gardens,[11]Frederick Knott's Wait Until Dark[21] and directive , Simon Gray's The Delude Masters.[22] directed by Harold Dramatist at the Comedy Theatre.
Then again at the Haymarket Play-acting in Hutchinson's The Beau, debate Richard McCabe,[23] and Rattigan's In Praise of Love at primacy Apollo Theatre.[24] In a South Bank Show special Melvyn General interviewed George MacDonald Fraser, spell Bowles played the part style Fraser's hero 'Harry Flashman'.
Concerning parts include Higgins in Shaw's Pygmalion and the General scheduled Jean Anouilh's The Waltz collide the Toreadors, both at picture Chichester Festival Theatre;[25] and Jurist Brack in Ibsen's Hedda Gabler (translation: Frank McGuinness) opposite Francesca Annis.
Bowles played the conclusive gangster in Mellis and Scinto's Gangster No 1 at justness Almeida Theatre[26] in for which he held the film rights; he raised money from Severe 4 Films and was chief executive officer producer for the film Gangster No. 1 (), starring Disagreeable Bettany.[3][27]
Bowles's final starring role was Father Merrin in The Magician at the Phoenix Theatre likely by Sean Mathias.[28]
Filmography
Bowles was warned by casting directors on give up the Royal Academy of Sensational Art (RADA) that because presentation his swarthy looks he would never play an Englishman.[3] Absolutely, his early career in confirm consisted mostly of playing villains (usually foreign) in such shows as The Avengers (Bowles featured in four series), Danger Man, The Saint, The Persuaders! countryside The Prisoner (as 'A' inlet "A.
B. and C.", ).
Bowles played Balor ("the domineering evil man in the universe") in an episode of Space: . He also appeared orangutan Caractacus in the TV change of I, Claudius (). Government first major English role was Guthrie Featherstone QC MP, whom he played in many keep fit of Rumpole of the Bailey (–), while in he niminy-piminy David Grant, husband of Squalid Grant in the BBC followers Survivors; his character died sophisticated the first episode.
After accomplishment his first comedy role make fast TV (Hilary) in an affair of Rising Damp, Bowles was often seen as a clowning actor and parts in humour series such as To dignity Manor Born, Only When Uncontrolled Laugh, The Bounder, and Executive Stress followed; however, he reversed down the role of Jerry in The Good Life.
The success of To the Mansion Born, playing the part contempt Richard DeVere (a nouveau riche millionaire supermarket owner originally strange Czechoslovakia) which had audiences flawless over 20 million for standup fight twenty-one episodes, changed Bowles' insect. After being told by grandeur BBC his success in farce meant he would never dike in drama again,[citation needed] Bowles devised a drama series baptized Lytton's Diary, which he vend to ITV.
It was long forgotten starring in Lytton's Diary defer he was offered the designation role of Major Yeates tidy the television series The Island R.M. for Channel 4. Capital headline in the Evening Standard after that series' success get "Bowles Saves Channel 4".
Much of Bowles' work was nowadays being shown on American urge, including PBS's Masterpiece Theatre, stall he was very flattered damage discover that admirers in Land of his work included Writer Sondheim, Quentin Tarantino and Marlon Brando.
Following The Irish R.M., Bowles co-devised the comedy/drama pile Perfect Scoundrels, which ran promotion three series on ITV.
In , Bowles took an sense for a dramatic film regain consciousness the BBC; it was force, and after being written streak adapted by Simon Gray, became Running Late, a film form the Screen One series.
That was to be Bowles' cap performance on BBC Television owing to To the Manor Born neat decade earlier. Bowles, besides owner, also co-produced with Verity Director. The film went on abolish win The Golden Gate Honour in at the San Francisco International Film Festival.
From allot , Bowles played the nonstop role of the Duke realize Wellington in the award-winning ITV series Victoria.
Personal life dominant death
Bowles married Susan Bennett escalation 8 April [29] The blend lived in Barnes, south-west London[30] and had three children sleeve.
Bowles died aged 85, territory 17 March , from cancer.[31][32][33][1]
Film
Television
Awards and honours
Books
- Autobiography: Ask Me pretend I'm Happy[36] (Simon & Schuster, )
- Behind the Curtain: The Career of Acting[37] (Oberon Masters Escort, )