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{{short description|British actor (1928–1990)}}
⚫
'''Derek Royle''' (1929-1990), was a [[British]] actor born in [[London]], [[UK]]. His face was probably better known than his name to British viewers, but he was acting in films and TV from the mid-sixties until he died. He had a supporting role in [[The Beatles]]' film [[Magical Mystery Tour]] in 1967, as well as a minor one with [[Cilla Black]] in the film ''Work Is A Four-letter Word'' a year later. Most of his film appearances were however in rather low comedy films.
{{EngvarB|date=June 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| image =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1928|09|07|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Reddish]], Cheshire, England
| death_date = {{death date and age|1990|01|23|1928|09|07|df=y}}
| death_place = London, England
| years_active = 1959–1989
| spouse = {{marriage|Jane Short|1953}}
| children = [[Amanda Royle]]<br>[[Carol Royle]]
}}
⚫
'''Derek Stanley Royle''' (7 September 1928 – 23 January 1990) was a British actor. His face was probably better known than his name to British viewers, but he acted in films and TV from the early 1960s until his death.<ref name=bfi/> He had a supporting role in the [[Beatles]]' film ''[[Magical Mystery Tour (film)|Magical Mystery Tour]]'' in 1967, as well as a minor one with [[Cilla Black]] in the film ''[[Work Is a Four-Letter Word]]'' a year later.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/derek-royle-p121889|title=Derek Royle &#124; Movies and Filmography}}</ref>


Most of his film appearances were in comedy films such as ''[[Tiffany Jones (film)|Tiffany Jones]]'' (1973), ''[[Don't Just Lie There, Say Something!]]'' (1974) and ''Confessions of a Sex Maniac'' (1974).<ref name=bfi>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba35c623d|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815230525/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba35c623d|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 August 2017|title=Derek Royle|website=BFI}}</ref>
His big personal success came in a TV comedy series especially for children. ''Hogg's Back'' (1975) starred him as an eccentric GP. It was shown in the 'children's hour' early evening slot and was very popular. (Hog's Back is an area in [[Surrey]] in [[Britain]]). His most famous acting internationally was in an episode of [[Fawlty Towers]]. But he had only one short scene in this where he spoke - the rest of the show he played a corpse!


==Stage and television roles==
He was in a series of the [[BBC]] comedy [['Allo 'Allo]], and had a supporting role in a remake of ''Indiscreet'' (1988), and in a new BBC version of a Lord Peter Whimsey story. So it is likely he would have continued to act, but he died at the age of 61.
He appeared in a children's TV comedy series, ''Hogg's Back'' (1975) as Doctor Hogg, an eccentric [[general practitioner]] (GP); in 2016, this series appeared on [[Talking Pictures TV]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7279cb11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616083323/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7279cb11|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 June 2020|title=Hogg's Back (1975)|website=BFI}}</ref> Royle acted with [[Wendy Richard]] and [[Pat Coombs]] over two series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/hoggs_back/|title=Hogg's Back - ITV Sitcom|website=British Comedy Guide}}</ref> [[Hog's Back]] is a ridge of hills in [[Surrey]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/surrey/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8386000/8386719.stm|title=In pictures: View from the Hogs Back|date=30 November 2009|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> Royle played the hotel guest who dies in his room in the ''[[Fawlty Towers]]'' episode "[[The Kipper and the Corpse]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/q842/fawlty-towers--s2-e4-the-kipper-and-the-corpse/|title=Fawlty Towers - S2 - Episode 4: The Kipper and the Corpse|website=Radio Times}}</ref>
He also was the first actor to portray [[Monsieur Ernest Leclerc]] in the sixth series of ''[['Allo 'Allo!]]'' (replacing [[Jack Haig (actor)|Jack Haig]], who had portrayed Ernest's brother Roger),<ref>{{cite news |title=Rose Hill |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/rose-hill-37725.html |accessdate=5 June 2021|work=The Independent |date=1 January 2004}}</ref> and had a supporting role in a remake of ''Indiscreet'' (1988) and a new BBC version of a [[Lord Peter Wimsey]] story.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1114934/credits.html|title=BFI Screenonline: 'Allo 'Allo (1984-92) Credits|website=www.screenonline.org.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/1ec5b62cc7624f248595619192d38c1c|title=A Dorothy L. Sayers Mystery: Strong Poison|date=25 March 1987|issue=3304|pages=65|via=BBC Genome}}</ref>
As a stage actor he was a mainstay of [[Brian Rix, Baron Rix|Brian Rix]]'s Whitehall farces company.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theatricalia.com/person/wd7/derek-royle|title=Derek Royle &#124; Theatricalia|website=theatricalia.com}}</ref> He specialised in absent minded characters and used his acrobatic skills to fall down stairs and immediately get up again as if nothing had happened.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qsacAgAAQBAJ&q=derek+royle+brian+rix&pg=PT82|title=Only Fools and Horses - The Official Inside Story|first1=Steve|last1=Clark|first2=Theo|last2=Paphitis|date=30 August 2011|publisher=Splendid Books Limited|isbn=9780956950536|via=Google Books}}</ref> Theatre critic [[Michael Coveney]] called him "simply one of the funniest men on the English stage".<ref name=guardian/>

==Personal life and death==
Derek Stanley Royle was born in [[Reddish]] on 7 September 1928, and graduated from [[RADA]] in 1950.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/profiles/derek-royle/|title=Derek Royle — RADA|website=www.rada.ac.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=d4dVR%2FWi3an03Zd7f8jC1g&scan=1|title=Index entry|accessdate=28 November 2023|work=FreeBMD|publisher=ONS}}</ref><ref name = Telegraph>{{cite news|url = https://www.newspapers.com/image/751432513/|title = Derek Royle|newspaper = [[The Daily Telegraph]]|date = 26 January 1990|page = 21|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = 28 November 2023|url-access = subscription}}</ref> He was married to make-up artist Jane Royle (née Short) and their daughters [[Amanda Royle|Amanda]] and [[Carol Royle]] became actresses.<ref name=guardian>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/mar/07/jane-royle-obituary|title=Jane Royle obituary|first=Anthony|last=Hayward|date=7 March 2011|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref>

Royle died from cancer at the [[Royal Marsden Hospital]] in London on 23 January 1990, aged 61.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.newspapers.com/image/910590617|title = 'Allo 'Allo star dies|date = 25 January 1990|newspaper = [[Coventry Evening Telegraph]]|page = 5|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = 28 November 2023|url-access = subscription}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=0747408|name=Derek Royle}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Royle, Derek}}
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:1990 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in England]]
[[Category:English male stage actors]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art]]
[[Category:Male actors from Cheshire]]
[[Category:People from Reddish]]

{{UK-tv-actor-1920s-stub}}

Latest revision as of 08:49, 1 August 2024

Derek Royle
Born(1928-09-07)7 September 1928
Reddish, Cheshire, England
Died23 January 1990(1990-01-23) (aged 61)
London, England
Years active1959–1989
Spouse
Jane Short
​
(m. 1953)​
ChildrenAmanda Royle
Carol Royle

Derek Stanley Royle (7 September 1928 – 23 January 1990) was a British actor. His face was probably better known than his name to British viewers, but he acted in films and TV from the early 1960s until his death.[1] He had a supporting role in the Beatles' film Magical Mystery Tour in 1967, as well as a minor one with Cilla Black in the film Work Is a Four-Letter Word a year later.[2]

Most of his film appearances were in comedy films such as Tiffany Jones (1973), Don't Just Lie There, Say Something! (1974) and Confessions of a Sex Maniac (1974).[1]

Stage and television roles

[edit]

He appeared in a children's TV comedy series, Hogg's Back (1975) as Doctor Hogg, an eccentric general practitioner (GP); in 2016, this series appeared on Talking Pictures TV.[3] Royle acted with Wendy Richard and Pat Coombs over two series.[4] Hog's Back is a ridge of hills in Surrey.[5] Royle played the hotel guest who dies in his room in the Fawlty Towers episode "The Kipper and the Corpse".[6] He also was the first actor to portray Monsieur Ernest Leclerc in the sixth series of 'Allo 'Allo! (replacing Jack Haig, who had portrayed Ernest's brother Roger),[7] and had a supporting role in a remake of Indiscreet (1988) and a new BBC version of a Lord Peter Wimsey story.[8][9] As a stage actor he was a mainstay of Brian Rix's Whitehall farces company.[10] He specialised in absent minded characters and used his acrobatic skills to fall down stairs and immediately get up again as if nothing had happened.[11] Theatre critic Michael Coveney called him "simply one of the funniest men on the English stage".[12]

Personal life and death

[edit]

Derek Stanley Royle was born in Reddish on 7 September 1928, and graduated from RADA in 1950.[13][14][15] He was married to make-up artist Jane Royle (née Short) and their daughters Amanda and Carol Royle became actresses.[12]

Royle died from cancer at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London on 23 January 1990, aged 61.[16]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Derek Royle". BFI. Archived from the original on 15 August 2017.
  2. ^ "Derek Royle | Movies and Filmography".
  3. ^ "Hogg's Back (1975)". BFI. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Hogg's Back - ITV Sitcom". British Comedy Guide.
  5. ^ "In pictures: View from the Hogs Back". 30 November 2009 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  6. ^ "Fawlty Towers - S2 - Episode 4: The Kipper and the Corpse". Radio Times.
  7. ^ "Rose Hill". The Independent. 1 January 2004. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  8. ^ "BFI Screenonline: 'Allo 'Allo (1984-92) Credits". www.screenonline.org.uk.
  9. ^ "A Dorothy L. Sayers Mystery: Strong Poison". 25 March 1987. p. 65 – via BBC Genome.
  10. ^ "Derek Royle | Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
  11. ^ Clark, Steve; Paphitis, Theo (30 August 2011). Only Fools and Horses - The Official Inside Story. Splendid Books Limited. ISBN 9780956950536 – via Google Books.
  12. ^ a b Hayward, Anthony (7 March 2011). "Jane Royle obituary" – via www.theguardian.com.
  13. ^ "Derek Royle — RADA". www.rada.ac.uk.
  14. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Derek Royle". The Daily Telegraph. 26 January 1990. p. 21. Retrieved 28 November 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "'Allo 'Allo star dies". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 25 January 1990. p. 5. Retrieved 28 November 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
[edit]
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