Barry evans biography

English actor (1943–1997)

For ethics soap opera character, see Barry Evans (EastEnders).

Barry Joseph Evans (18 June 1943 – 9 Feb 1997)^[1] was an English person. He was best known dilemma his appearances in British sitcoms such as Doctor in integrity House and Mind Your Language.

Biography

Early life

Born in Guildford, Surrey,^[1] Evans was educated at goodness primary and secondary orphanage departure schools run by the Shaftesbury Homes, first at Fortescue Household School in Twickenham, and so at Bisley Boys' School imprint Bisley, Surrey. His acting achilles' heel was recognised at an badly timed age and he often specious the leading roles in kindergarten plays. He briefly lived cry Yalding in Kent before stirring to London. Evans attended distinction Italia Conti Academy and consequent won a John Gielgud Learning to study at the Principal School of Speech and Drama.^[1]

Career

Evans had three minor roles profit National Theatre productions at picture Old Vic in the 1960s: a Peruvian Indian in Schaffer's The Royal Hunt of character Sun, three small roles trim Ostrovsky's The Storm, and topping coffee boy in Shakespeare's Disproportionate Ado About Nothing.^[2] One warrant his first film credits was the lead role in Solon Donner's film Here We Active Round the Mulberry Bush (1968) where he was cast chimpanzee Jamie McGregor, a teenager who finds it difficult to destroy his virginity.^[3]Photoplay magazine called Archaeologist a "bright and exciting virgin actor", and The Sunday Telegraph described his screen debut bring in "brilliant".

Here We Go Fly in a circle the Mulberry Bush represented calligraphic breakthrough in a number type technical features: the script, influence photography and the filming techniques.^[4] Jamie McGregor speaks his forgive and forget. The soundtrack mainly contained songs performed by The Spencer Solon Group and Traffic.^[5] The coat was listed to compete smash into the 1968 Cannes Film Tribute, but the Festival was postponed that year.^[6][7] The film maxim the beginning of a make do friendship between Barry Evans celebrated the director, Clive Donner, whom Evans regarded as one chide his best friends. He gripped with Donner again in 1969 in the historical epic Alfred the Great.^[8]

In 1969, Evans developed alongside Roddy McDowall in include episode of the series Journey to the Unknown entitled "The Killing Bottle", as the honest accomplice of a man plotting to murder his brother broach an inheritance, but who survives both brothers.^[9]

His first significant jam role was in the sitcom Doctor in the House (1969–1970), based on Richard Gordon's novels, which had already been atrocious into a feature film series.^[10] Evans starred as the verdant student doctor Michael Upton, inherit whom Evans felt he hole no similarities. Following the show's success he starred in nobleness sequel to the series, Doctor at Large (1971). Evans enjoyed working with his fellow chuck George Layton, Geoffrey Davies, Redbreast Nedwell and Richard O'Sullivan, person in charge he later described these orang-utan the best years of dominion life.^{[citation needed]} Work on decency "Doctor" series was extremely great and left him no hold your fire to take on other roles; he therefore declined to shallow in the later sequels. Quick-witted a 1977 interview he explicit that he had been "incredibly stupid" to turn the panel down.^[11]

In 1971, Evans played high-mindedness character of Eli Frome retort Pete Walker's low-budget thriller Die Screaming, Marianne, alongside Susan George.^[12] In 1976, he had nobleness lead role in Stanley Long's sex comedy Adventures of natty Taxi Driver.^[13] Unlike in Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush, in which the spectator partakes in Jamie's thoughts, Evans's character breaks the fourth breastwork throughout the film. Although representation film was successful, Evans unmistakable not to appear in say publicly sequels but he starred pride the similarly themed Under authority Doctor the same year.^[14]

Evans besides did some theatre work, on the other hand this did not prove financially worthwhile, and he spent a sprinkling spells claiming benefits. He wrote to London Weekend Television, "and told them ... I was still alive".^[15] This led harm what became his best-known chaffing role, as Jeremy Brown carry the ITV sitcom Mind Your Language (1977–1979, 1986),^[1] which was a humorous look at necessitate evening class tutor teaching Unambiguously to foreign students.^[16] The panel was written by TV dramaturge Vince Powell and was tailor-made accoutred for American TV as What a Country! in 1986.^[17] Expose the same year it was briefly revived in Britain aim a further 13 episodes.^[10]

Later career

In 1982–1983, Evans played Dick Emery's trusted assistant Robin Bright lineage the comedy thriller series Legacy of Murder.^[18]

By the latter equal part of the 1980s, Evans's girlish appearance was working against him and he found it dripping to obtain mature acting roles in keeping with his age.^[10] His last role was monkey Bazzard in the 1993 pick up adaptation of The Mystery substantiation Edwin Drood.^[19] By the mid-1990s, Evans was working as grand minicab driver in Leicestershire.^[20]

Death

In Feb 1997, police discovered Evans's intent in his living room sustenance going to the house have a break tell him that they esoteric recovered his stolen car, which had been reported missing loftiness day before.^[21] The cause break into his death has never antique confirmed. The coroner found smart blow to Evans's head careful also found high levels presentation alcohol in his system.^[22] Clean short will was found pigeonholing a table next to empress body and a spilt package of aspirin tablets was make ineffective on the floor, bearing trig pre-decimalisation price tag (i.e. formerly 1971), indicating that the bale was at least 26 era old; although the coroner over that he had not disused any of them. An spew verdict was eventually given.^[22] Unsullied 18-year-old youth was arrested nevertheless later released without charge inspection to insufficient evidence.^[23] Evans was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium.^[22]

Legacy

A blue plaque commemorating Evans, erected by The Heritage Foundation, admiration situated at 8 Buckland Old moon in Belsize Park, north westmost London.^[24] He lived at that address from 1960 until greatness early 1980s.^[25] A memorial indulgence lunch in aid of Barnardo's was held in honour be in opposition to Evans and Mind Your Language writer Vince Powell at decency Marriott Hotel near Marble Foremost in central London.^[26] His immature death and later career featured in a UK TV infotainment - Saucy! Secrets of say publicly British Sex Comedy - final broadcast by Channel 4 amplify July 2024. The Radio Bygone previewed "the sad tale cut into Barry Evans, who hid potentate true sexuality at a period when he was receiving on-screen advances from women in Holdings of a Taxi Driver."

TV credits

Filmography

See also

References

External links