Henry McGee
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| Henry McGee | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 May 1929 South Kensington, London |
| Died | 28 January 2006 (aged 76) |
| Resting place | Brompton Cemetery, London |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | Stonyhurst College |
| Occupation | Comic actor |
| Known for | Benny Hill's straight man |
Henry McGee (14 May 1929 – 28 January 2006) was a British actor, best known as straight man to Benny Hill for many years. McGee was also often the announcer on Hill's TV programme, delivering the upbeat intro "Yes! It's The Benny Hill Show!"
Born as Henry Marris-McGee in South Kensington, London, and educated at Stonyhurst College, McGee hoped to become a doctor, but the death of his father when he was 17 put financial strains on the family that ended his plans. Having enjoyed acting as a boy, McGee decided to follow his mother's side of the family, which could trace its involvement in acting back to Kitty Clive. He went on to play supporting roles in films and television series and dramas, including The Saint and The Avengers, but it is for comedy roles that he is best remembered, primarily and most famously for his straight man interviewer in the Benny Hill Show. He was also remembered by some as the 'mummy' of Honey Monster, a large, yellow, furry creature in advertisements for the breakfast cereal Sugar Puffs.[citation needed]
McGee played Two-Ton Ted in the video of Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West). Other comedy roles included the holiday centre manager in the 1973 film Holiday on the Buses, opposite Charlie Drake in the ATV/ITV situation comedy The Worker (1965–1970), and There Was An Englishman, An Irishman and a Scotsman for a BBC Scotland comedy series written by Lew Schwarz. McGee was the Englishman, with Harry Towb and Roy Kinnear in their respective roles. The show ran for 1 season in 1972. He also appeared in an episode of Rising Damp as a conman, Seymour. He had a long and successful theatre career, during which he tackled a wide range of roles, receiving plaudits for deadpan delivery in farces such as Plunder.[citation needed]
McGee had one daughter, Stephanie (born 1963). He spent his last six months in a nursing home, suffering from Alzheimer's disease. He is buried at Brompton Cemetery, London.
[edit] External links
- Henry McGee at the Internet Movie Database
- "That's Henry McGee" tribute website
- "The Daily Telegraph" Obituary, 1 February 2006
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