Ronnie Barker
Acting
Biography
Ronald William George Barker (25 September 1929 - 3 October 2005) was an English actor, comedian and writer. He was known for roles in British comedy television series such as Porridge, The Two Ronnies, and Open All Hours. Barker began acting in Oxford amateur dramatics while working as a bank clerk, having dropped out of higher education.
Born: September 25, 1929
Place of Birth: Bedfordshire, England, U.K.
Known For
Two off the Cuff
A pair of irreverent shorts. In "Masks," a sad man hides behind a happy mask. In "Happenings," a bored man stands around waiting for something to happen.
Porridge
Porridge is a British situation comedy broadcast on BBC1 from 1974 to 1977, running for three series, two Christmas specials and a feature film also titled Porridge. Written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, it stars Ronnie Barker and Richard Beckinsale as two inmates at the fictional HMP Slade in Cumberland. "Doing porridge" is British slang for serving a prison sentence, porridge once being the traditional breakfast in UK prisons. The series was followed by a 1978 sequel, Going Straight, which established that Fletcher would not be going back to prison again. Porridge was voted number seven in a 2004 BBC poll of the 100 greatest British sitcoms.
The Best of The Two Ronnies - Volume 1
A tribute to a legendary duo from the golden age in television variety. From 1971 to 1987, and over the course of twelve series and eight specials, The Two Ronnies was one of the nation's favourite television comedy shows. The show was practically an institution, with Christmas and Easter holidays only really being complete for most families, with a Two Ronnies special. This compilation features favourite sketches from sixteen years of the much-loved and much-missed programme, including: * The Vagaband Lover (before he died of drink, women and horses) * Swedish Made Simple * Mastermind (answering the question before last) and * The St. Botolph's Country Dance Team
The Many Faces of Ronnie Barker
Programme telling the story of Ronnie Barker, a quiet dedicated actor who might have been a bank manager but went on to become one of the country's favourite comedy stars. Ben Elton, Michael Grade, David Renwick and Josephine Tewson are among friends and colleagues who remember his genius. Famed as one half of the Two Ronnies and the likeable convict Fletcher in Porridge, he was also a prolific writer and admired actor in serious roles.
The Best Of The Two Ronnies
A tribute to a legendary duo from the golden age in television variety. From 1971 to 1987, and over the course of twelve series and eight specials, The Two Ronnies was one of the nation's favourite television comedy shows. The show was practically an institution, with Christmas and Easter holidays only really being complete for most families, with a Two Ronnies special. This compilation features favourite sketches from sixteen years of the much-loved and much-missed programme, including: * The Vagaband Lover (before he died of drink, women and horses) * Swedish Made Simple * Mastermind (answering the question before last) and * The St. Botolph's Country Dance Team
Open All Hours
Open All Hours is a British television sitcom created and written by Roy Clarke, starring Ronnie Barker as penny-pinching corner-shopkeeper Albert Arkwright, and David Jason as his nephew and assistant Granville. The programme originated as a 1973 episode of Barker’s comedy anthology Seven of One, and later ran for 26 episodes; the first series broadcast on BBC2, the remaining three series broadcast on BBC1.
The Avengers
A quirky spy show of the adventures of eccentrically suave British Agent John Steed and his predominantly female partners. Jonathan Steed - an urbane, proper gentleman spy - teams with various assistants throughout the series' run, including Dr. David Keel, Cathy Gale, Emma Peel and Tara King, to repeatedly save the world from diabolical schemes plotted by equally diabolical evil-doers (among them robots and man-eating monsters).
Going Straight
Going Straight is a BBC sitcom which was a direct spin-off from Porridge, starring Ronnie Barker as Norman Stanley Fletcher, newly released from the fictional Slade Prison where the earlier series had been set. It sees Fletcher trying to become an honest member of society, having vowed to stay away from crime on his release. The title refers to his attempt, 'straight' being a slang term meaning being honest, in contrast to 'bent', i.e., dishonest. Also re-appearing was Richard Beckinsale as Lennie Godber, who was Fletcher's naïve young cellmate and was now in a relationship with his daughter Ingrid. Her brother Raymond was played by a teenage Nicholas Lyndhurst. Only one series, of six episodes, was made in 1978. It attracted an audience of over 15 million viewers and won a BAFTA award in March 1979, but hopes of a further series had already been dashed by Beckinsale's premature death earlier in the same month.
The Two Ronnies
The Two Ronnies is a British sketch show which aired on BBC1 from 1971 to 1987. It featured the double act of Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett, the "Two Ronnies" of the title.
The Saint
Simon Templar is The Saint, a handsome, sophisticated, debonair, modern-day Robin Hood who recovers ill-gotten wealth and redistributes it to those in need.
Filmography
as (archive footage)
as Himself
as Archive Footage
as Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
as Norman Stanley Fletcher (archive footage) (uncredited)
as Himself
as Norman Stanley Fletcher
as The General
as David Inches
as Self/Various
as Self
as Clarence
as Various Roles
as Self
as Plantagenet Evans
as Albert Arkwright
as Self
as The General
as Self
as Norman Stanley Fletcher
as Norman Stanley Fletcher
as Self
as Fletcher
as The General
as Friar Tuck
as Albert Arkwright
as Fletcher
as Norman Stanley Fletcher
as various roles
as Albert Arkwright
as Norman Stanley Fletcher
as Sam Cobbett
as Albert Spanner
as Harry Norvel
as Alan Joyce
as Evan Owen / Grandpa Owen
as Lord Towers
as Guest Appearance (segment "Sloth")
as Bottom
as Arthur Harriman
as Fred
as Inspector Alexander
as Arthur Harriman
as Lola / Fritz Braun
as Dr Swanton
as Prince Boffo
as George Bastow
as Gen. Futtock
as George Venaxas
as Mr. Prendergast
as Henry Ormonroyd
as Stephen Spettigue
as Nick Bottom
as Mr. Galore
as The Cement Mixer
as Crowther Rimington
as Ronnie
as Josh Wicks
as Man at Railway Station Ticket Counter (uncredited)
as Yossle
as Alphonse
as Burton
as Cheshire
as Waiter (uncredited)
as Perigord
as Himself