Ballard Berkeley - Revision history

Kurt at 21:46, 18 February 2023

2023-02-18T21:46:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:46, 18 February 2023
Line 1:		Line 1:
	~~{{Short description\|English actor}}~~
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=August 2022}}~~
	~~{{Use British English\|date=August 2016}}~~
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	~~\| name = Ballard Berkeley~~
	\| image = Ballard Berkeley.jpg		\| image = Ballard Berkeley.jpg
	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| birthname = Ballard Blascheck		\| birthname = Ballard Blascheck
	\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1904\|08\|06\|df=y}}		\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1904\|08\|06\|df=y}}
	\| birth_place = [[w:Tunbridge Wells\|Tunbridge Wells]], [[w:Kent\|Kent]], England		\| birth_place = [[Tunbridge Wells\|Tunbridge Wells]], [[Kent\|Kent]], England
	\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|1988\|01\|16\|1904\|08\|06\|df=y}}		\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|1988\|01\|16\|1904\|08\|06\|df=y}}
	\| death_place = [[w:Westminster\|Westminster]], London, England		\| death_place = [[Westminster\|Westminster]], London, England
	\| occupation = Actor		\| occupation = Actor
	\| yearsactive = 1930–1988		\| yearsactive = 1930–1988
	}}		}}
	'''Ballard Blascheck''' (6 August 1904 – 16 January 1988),<ref name="obit">{{cite news \|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> \|title=Ballard Berkeley \|work=The Times \|location=London \|date=18 January 1988 \|page=10}}</ref> known professionally as '''Ballard Berkeley''',{{efn\|Berkeley is pronounced "bark-lee".}} was an English actor of stage and screen. He is best remembered for playing [[Major Gowen]] in the British television [[w:sitcom\|sitcom]] ''[[Fawlty Towers]]''.		'''Ballard Blascheck''' (6 August 1904 – 16 January 1988),<ref name="obit">{{cite news \|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> \|title=Ballard Berkeley \|work=The Times \|location=London \|date=18 January 1988 \|page=10}}</ref> known professionally as '''Ballard Berkeley''',{{efn\|Berkeley is pronounced "bark-lee".}} was an English actor of stage and screen. He is best remembered for playing [[Major Gowen]] in the British television [[sitcom\|sitcom]] ''[[Fawlty Towers]]''.

	==Life and career==		==Life and career==
Line 23:		Line 19:
	He appeared in the film ''[[In Which We Serve]]'' (1942) and in the [[Alfred Hitchcock\|Hitchcock]] film ''[[Stage Fright (1950 film)\|Stage Fright]]'' (1950). He featured as Detective Inspector Berkeley in two episodes of [[Edgar Lustgarten]]'s drama series, ''[[Scotland Yard (film series)\|Scotland Yard]]'': "Person Unknown" (1956), and "Bullet from the Past" (1957).		He appeared in the film ''[[In Which We Serve]]'' (1942) and in the [[Alfred Hitchcock\|Hitchcock]] film ''[[Stage Fright (1950 film)\|Stage Fright]]'' (1950). He featured as Detective Inspector Berkeley in two episodes of [[Edgar Lustgarten]]'s drama series, ''[[Scotland Yard (film series)\|Scotland Yard]]'': "Person Unknown" (1956), and "Bullet from the Past" (1957).

	Berkeley played the role of bumbling Major Gowen in the BBC TV comedy ''[[Fawlty Towers]]'',<ref>{{cite book\|page=21\|title=Some Joe you don't ~~know:~~ an American biographical guide to 100 British television personalities\|first=Anthony\|last=Slide\|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group\|year=1996\|isbn=978-0-313-29550-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite book\|page=141\|title=Encyclopedia of Television Series, Pilots and Specials: 1974–1984\|first=Vincent\|last=Terrace\|publisher=VNR AG\|year=1985\|isbn=978-0-918432-61-2}}</ref> and a similar role in the legal drama ''[[The Main Chance]]'' (1969). He portrayed another retired military man (Colonel Freddie Danby) in BBC Radio 4's ''[[The Archers]]'', taking over the role from [[Norman Shelley]].		Berkeley played the role of bumbling Major Gowen in the BBC TV comedy ''[[Fawlty Towers]]'',<ref>{{cite book\|page=21\|title=Some Joe you don't kno an American biographical guide to 100 British television personalities\|first=Anthony\|last=Slide\|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group\|year=1996\|isbn=978-0-313-29550-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite book\|page=141\|title=Encyclopedia of Television Series, Pilots and Specials: 1974–1984\|first=Vincent\|last=Terrace\|publisher=VNR AG\|year=1985\|isbn=978-0-918432-61-2}}</ref> and a similar role in the legal drama ''[[The Main Chance]]'' (1969). He portrayed another retired military man (Colonel Freddie Danby) in BBC Radio 4's ''[[The Archers]]'', taking over the role from [[Norman Shelley]].

	He played a starring role in ''[[Fresh Fields]]'' as main character Hester's father Guy, was Hartley in ''[[To the Manor Born]]'' and played Colonel Culpepper in ''[[Terry and June]]''. He had small roles in an episode of ''[[Citizen Smith]]'' (1977), an adaptation of ''[[Little Lord Fauntleroy]]'' (1980), and appeared once in ''[[Bless This House (British TV series)\|Bless This House]]'' as a [[Royal Air Force]] [[Group Captain]] in the episode "Strangers in the Night" (1972), and in ''[[The New Avengers (TV series)\|The New Avengers]]'' as Colonel Foster in the episode "Dirtier by the Dozen". He also had small roles in the BBC sitcoms ''[[Hi-de-Hi!]]'' ("Empty Saddles," 1983) and ''[[Are You Being Served?]]'' ("Memories Are Made of This," 1983).		He played a starring role in ''[[Fresh Fields]]'' as main character Hester's father Guy, was Hartley in ''[[To the Manor Born]]'' and played Colonel Culpepper in ''[[Terry and June]]''. He had small roles in an episode of ''[[Citizen Smith]]'' (1977), an adaptation of ''[[Little Lord Fauntleroy]]'' (1980), and appeared once in ''[[Bless This House (British TV series)\|Bless This House]]'' as a [[Royal Air Force]] [[Group Captain]] in the episode "Strangers in the Night" (1972), and in ''[[The New Avengers (TV series)\|The New Avengers]]'' as Colonel Foster in the episode "Dirtier by the Dozen". He also had small roles in the BBC sitcoms ''[[Hi-de-Hi!]]'' ("Empty Saddles," 1983) and ''[[Are You Being Served?]]'' ("Memories Are Made of This," 1983).

Kurt: /* External links */

2022-11-24T19:54:10Z

External links

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:54, 24 November 2022
Line 203:		Line 203:

	==External links==		==External links==
	~~{{Portal\|Biography}}~~
	* {{IMDb name\|0075326}}		* {{IMDb name\|0075326}}
	* {{Find a Grave\|15166517}}		* {{Find a Grave\|15166517}}

	~~{{Authority control}}~~

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Berkeley, Ballard}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Berkeley, Ballard}}

Kurt at 19:09, 12 November 2022

2022-11-12T19:09:13Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:09, 12 November 2022
Line 4:		Line 4:
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| name = Ballard Berkeley		\| name = Ballard Berkeley
	\| image = Ballard Berkeley.~~gif~~		\| image = Ballard Berkeley.jpg
	\| caption = ~~Berkeley as Major Gowen in ''[[Fawlty Towers]]''~~		\| caption =
	\| birthname = Ballard Blascheck		\| birthname = Ballard Blascheck
	\| birth_date = ~~6 August~~ 1904		\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1904\|08\|06\|df=y}}
	\| birth_place = [[Tunbridge Wells]], [[Kent]], England		\| birth_place = [[w:Tunbridge Wells\|Tunbridge Wells]], [[w:Kent\|Kent]], England
	\| death_date = 16 ~~January 1988 (aged 83)~~		\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|1988\|01\|16\|1904\|08\|06\|df=y}}
	\| death_place = [[Westminster]], London, England		\| death_place = [[w:Westminster\|Westminster]], London, England
	\| occupation = Actor		\| occupation = Actor
	\| yearsactive = 1930–1988		\| yearsactive = 1930–1988
	}}		}}
	'''Ballard Blascheck''' (6 August 1904 – 16 January 1988),<ref name="obit">{{cite news \|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> \|title=Ballard Berkeley \|work=The Times \|location=London \|date=18 January 1988 \|page=10}}</ref> known professionally as '''Ballard Berkeley''',{{efn\|Berkeley is pronounced "bark-lee".}} was an English actor of stage and screen. He is best remembered for playing [[Major Gowen]] in the British television [[sitcom]] ''[[Fawlty Towers]]''.		'''Ballard Blascheck''' (6 August 1904 – 16 January 1988),<ref name="obit">{{cite news \|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> \|title=Ballard Berkeley \|work=The Times \|location=London \|date=18 January 1988 \|page=10}}</ref> known professionally as '''Ballard Berkeley''',{{efn\|Berkeley is pronounced "bark-lee".}} was an English actor of stage and screen. He is best remembered for playing [[Major Gowen]] in the British television [[w:sitcom\|sitcom]] ''[[Fawlty Towers]]''.

	==Life and career==		==Life and career==

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2022-11-12T19:03:17Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 14:03, 12 November 2022
(No difference)

en>Pdebee: /* Life and career */ Added {{cite web}} template for source about his medals.

2022-11-09T16:23:56Z

Life and career: Added {{cite web}} template for source about his medals.

New page

{{Short description|English actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Ballard Berkeley
| image = Ballard Berkeley.gif
| caption = Berkeley as Major Gowen in ''[[Fawlty Towers]]''
| birthname = Ballard Blascheck
| birth_date = 6 August 1904
| birth_place = [[Tunbridge Wells]], [[Kent]], England
| death_date = 16 January 1988 (aged 83)
| death_place = [[Westminster]], London, England
| occupation = Actor
| yearsactive = 1930–1988
}}
'''Ballard Blascheck''' (6 August 1904 – 16 January 1988),<ref name="obit">{{cite news |author= |title=Ballard Berkeley |work=The Times |location=London |date=18 January 1988 |page=10}}</ref> known professionally as '''Ballard Berkeley''',{{efn|Berkeley is pronounced "bark-lee".}} was an English actor of stage and screen. He is best remembered for playing [[Major Gowen]] in the British television [[sitcom]] ''[[Fawlty Towers]]''.

==Life and career==
The son of Joseph and Beatrice Blascheck, he was born in [[Royal Tunbridge Wells]], [[Kent]].<ref name="obit" /> He married Dorothy Long in 1929.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0075326/bio|title=Ballard Berkeley}}</ref> During the 1930s he performed regularly in the so-called "[[Cinematograph Films Act 1927|quota quickies]]". One of his earliest roles was as the heroic lead in the 1937 film ''[[The Last Adventurers]]''.<ref>[http://www.radiotimes.com/servlet_film/com.icl.beeb.rtfilms.client.simpleSearchServlet?frn=9447&searchTypeSelect=5 Profile], radiotimes.com; accessed 30 August 2014.</ref>

He served as a [[special constable]] with the [[Metropolitan Police]] during the [[World War II|Second World War]], witnessing [[the Blitz]] at first hand,<ref>[https://www.timeout.com/london/features/315.html Profile], timeout.com/london; accessed 30 August 2014.</ref> including the bombing of the [[Café de Paris (London)|Café de Paris]] nightclub.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Mortimer|first1=Gavin|title=The Longest Night: Voices from the London Blitz|date=2011|publisher=Hachette|page=53}}</ref> For his service he received the [[Defence Medal (United Kingdom)|Defence Medal]] and the [[Special Constabulary Long Service Medal]].<ref>{{Cite web |title= Ballard Berkeley Biography |publisher= TV Guide |website= www.tvguide.com |url= https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ballard-berkeley/bio/3000046499/ |access-date= 9 November 2022}}</ref>

He appeared in the film ''[[In Which We Serve]]'' (1942) and in the [[Alfred Hitchcock|Hitchcock]] film ''[[Stage Fright (1950 film)|Stage Fright]]'' (1950). He featured as Detective Inspector Berkeley in two episodes of [[Edgar Lustgarten]]'s drama series, ''[[Scotland Yard (film series)|Scotland Yard]]'': "Person Unknown" (1956), and "Bullet from the Past" (1957).

Berkeley played the role of bumbling Major Gowen in the BBC TV comedy ''[[Fawlty Towers]]'',<ref>{{cite book|page=21|title=Some Joe you don't know: an American biographical guide to 100 British television personalities|first=Anthony|last=Slide|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|year=1996|isbn=978-0-313-29550-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|page=141|title=Encyclopedia of Television Series, Pilots and Specials: 1974–1984|first=Vincent|last=Terrace|publisher=VNR AG|year=1985|isbn=978-0-918432-61-2}}</ref> and a similar role in the legal drama ''[[The Main Chance]]'' (1969). He portrayed another retired military man (Colonel Freddie Danby) in BBC Radio 4's ''[[The Archers]]'', taking over the role from [[Norman Shelley]].

He played a starring role in ''[[Fresh Fields]]'' as main character Hester's father Guy, was Hartley in ''[[To the Manor Born]]'' and played Colonel Culpepper in ''[[Terry and June]]''. He had small roles in an episode of ''[[Citizen Smith]]'' (1977), an adaptation of ''[[Little Lord Fauntleroy]]'' (1980), and appeared once in ''[[Bless This House (British TV series)|Bless This House]]'' as a [[Royal Air Force]] [[Group Captain]] in the episode "Strangers in the Night" (1972), and in ''[[The New Avengers (TV series)|The New Avengers]]'' as Colonel Foster in the episode "Dirtier by the Dozen". He also had small roles in the BBC sitcoms ''[[Hi-de-Hi!]]'' ("Empty Saddles," 1983) and ''[[Are You Being Served?]]'' ("Memories Are Made of This," 1983).

He made a brief appearance in the 1985 American film ''[[National Lampoon's European Vacation]]'' which starred [[Chevy Chase]]. In this film, Berkeley played a British man who is involved in a minor road accident with the Griswalds.

Berkeley later performed the role of Winston—a similar character to "The Major"—in the radio comedy ''Wrinkles'' by [[Doug Naylor]] and [[Rob Grant]]. He played Badedas the Blue, a wizard in the radio comedy series ''[[Hordes of the Things (radio series)|Hordes of the Things]]''. His last role was as the Head of the Army in the [[The BFG (1989 film)|animated film version]] of [[Roald Dahl]]'s ''[[The BFG]]''. Berkeley died in London on 16 January 1988, and the film was released on 25 December 1989.

==Selected filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
|1930 || ''[[The Chinese Bungalow (1930 film)|The Chinese Bungalow ]]'' || Richard Marquess ||
|-
|1930 || ''[[London Melody ]]'' || Jan Moor ||
|-
|1933 || ''[[Trouble (1933 film)|Trouble ]]'' || || Uncredited
|-
|1934 || ''[[White Ensign (1934 film)|White Ensign ]]'' || Cortez ||
|-
|1936 || ''[[East Meets West (1936 film)|East Meets West ]]'' || Nazim ||
|-
|1937 || ''[[The Last Adventurers ]]'' || Fred Devlin ||
|-
|1937 || ''[[Jennifer Hale (film)|Jennifer Hale ]]'' || Richard Severn ||
|-
|1939 || ''[[The Outsider (1939 film)|The Outsider ]]'' || || Uncredited
|-
|1939 || ''[[Dead Men are Dangerous ]]'' || Franklin's publisher's partner || Uncredited
|-
|1939 || ''[[The Gang's All Here (1939 film)|The Gang's All Here ]]'' || Detective in Nightclub || Uncredited
|-
|1939 || ''[[Black Eyes (1939 film)|Black Eyes ]]'' || Diner ||
|-
|1939 || ''[[The Saint in London ]]'' || Sir Richard Blake ||
|-
|1940 || ''[[The Flying Squad (1940 film)|The Flying Squad ]]'' || Smuggler in Aeroplane || Uncredited
|-
|1942 || ''[[In Which We Serve ]]'' || Engineer Commander ||
|-
|1946 || ''[[Quiet Weekend ]]'' || Jim Brent ||
|-
|1947 || ''[[They Made Me a Fugitive ]]'' || Rockliffe ||
|-
|1949 || ''[[Third Time Lucky (1949 film)|Third Time Lucky ]]'' || Bertram ||
|-
|1950 || ''[[Stage Fright (1950 film)|Stage Fright]]'' || Sergeant Mellish ||
|-
|1951 || ''[[Blackmailed (1951 film)|Blackmailed ]]'' || Dr. McCormick ||
|-
|1951 || ''[[The Long Dark Hall ]]'' || Police Supt. Maxey ||
|-
|1951 || ''[[Mister Drake's Duck ]]'' || Maj. Deans ||
|-
|1952 || ''[[The Frightened Man ]]'' || Inspector Bligh ||
|-
|1952 || ''[[The Lost Hours ]]'' || Doctor ||
|-
|1952 || ''[[The Night Won't Talk ]]'' || Inspector West ||
|-
|1952 || ''[[Circumstantial Evidence (1952 film)|Circumstantial Evidence ]]'' || Det. Insp. Hall ||
|-
|1953 || ''[[Three Steps to the Gallows ]]'' || Insp. Haley ||
|-
|1953 || ''[[The Blue Parrot ]]'' || Supt. Chester ||
|-
|1953 || ''[[Operation Diplomat (film)|Operation Diplomat ]]'' || Inspector Austin ||
|-
|1954 || ''[[The Weak and the Wicked ]]'' || Police Detective || Uncredited
|-
|1954 || ''[[Dangerous Cargo ]]'' || Security Officer Findley ||
|-
|1954 || ''[[Forbidden Cargo (1954 film)|Forbidden Cargo ]]'' || Cooper || Uncredited
|-
|1954 || ''[[Delayed Action ]]'' || Insp. Crane ||
|-
|1954 || ''[[Child's Play (1954 film)|Child's Play ]]'' || Dr. Nightingale ||
|-
|1954 || ''[[The Men of Sherwood Forest ]]'' || Walter ||
|-
|1955 || ''[[See How They Run (1955 film)|See How They Run ]]'' || Col. Warrington ||
|-
|1955 || ''[[The Stolen Airliner ]]'' || Mr. Head ||
|-
|1955 || ''[[Passport to Treason ]]'' || Inspector Thredgold ||
|-
|1956 || ''[[My Teenage Daughter ]]'' || Magistrate ||
|-
|1957 || ''[[The Betrayal ]]'' || Lawson ||
|-
|1957 || ''[[Yangtse Incident: The Story of H.M.S. Amethyst ]]'' || Lt. Col. Dewar-Durie ||
|-
|1957 || ''[[After the Ball (1957 film)|After the Ball ]]'' || Andrews ||
|-
|1957 || ''[[Just My Luck (1957 film)|Just My Luck ]]'' || Starter at Goodwood || Uncredited
|-
|1957 || ''[[Night of the Demon ]]'' || 1st Reporter || Uncredited
|-
|1958 || ''[[The Man Who Wouldn't Talk (1958 film)|The Man Who Wouldn't Talk ]]'' || Court Clerk || Uncredited
|-
|1958 || ''[[Chain of Events ]]'' || ||
|-
|1958 || ''[[Further Up the Creek ]]'' || Whacker Payne ||
|-
|1960 || ''[[Life Is a Circus (1960 film)|Life Is a Circus ]]'' || ||
|-
|1960 || ''[[Cone of Silence (film)|Cone of Silence ]]'' || Commissioner ||
|-
|1963 || ''[[Impact (1963 film)|Impact ]]'' || Bill MacKenzie ||
|-
|1963 || ''[[A Matter of Choice ]]'' || Charles Grant ||
|-
|1965 || ''[[The Murder Game (1965 film)|The Murder Game ]]'' || Sir Colin Chalmers ||
|-
|1965 || ''[[Night Caller from Outer Space ]]'' || Cmdr. Savage ||
|-
|1968 || ''[[Hostile Witness ]]'' || Clerk of Court ||
|-
|1970 || ''[[The Weekend Murders ]]'' || Peter, the butler ||
|-
|1972 || ''[[Bless This House (film)|Bless This House ]]'' || RAF officer on train ||
|-
|1976 || ''[[Confessions of a Driving Instructor ]]'' || Lord Snodley ||
|-
|1978 || ''[[The Playbirds ]]'' || Trainer ||
|-
|1979 || ''[[Confessions from the David Galaxy Affair ]]'' || Judge ||
|-
|1979 || ''[[Queen of the Blues ]]'' || Uncle Fred ||
|-
|1980 || ''[[The Wildcats of St Trinian's ]]'' || Humphry Wills ||
|-
|1980 || ''[[Little Lord Fauntleroy (1980 film)|''Little Lord Fauntleroy'' ]]'' || Sir Harry ||
|-
|1983 || ''[[Bullshot (film)|''Bullshot'']]'' || Hotel Guest ||
|-
|1985 || ''[[National Lampoon's European Vacation ]]'' || Second English Motorist ||
|-
|1989 || ''[[The BFG ]]'' || Head of the Army || Voice; posthumous release
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
| 1958 || ''[[Leave It to Todhunter]]'' || Det. Chief Insp. Moresby ||
|-
| 1959 || ''[[The Invisible Man (1958 TV series)|The Invisible Man]]'' || Manton || episode: " Play to Kill"
|-
| 1961 || ''[[Deadline Midnight (TV series)|Deadline Midnight]]'' || Desmond || 7 episodes
|-
|1964 || ''[[Swizzlewick]] ''|| Major Lamb ||
|-
|1966 || ''[[United!]] ''|| Dr Newkes ||
|-
|1967–1968 || ''[[The Newcomers (TV series)|The Newcomers]] ''|| Colonel Renshaw ||
|-
|1972|| ''[[The Shadow of the Tower]] ''|| Sir Thomas Tyrrel || episode: " A Fly in the Ointment"
|-
|1972–1980 || ''[[The Dick Emery Show]] ''|| Various characters || 6 episodes
|-
|1975–1979 || ''[[Fawlty Towers]] ''|| Major Gowen ||12 episodes
|-
|1981 || ''[[To The Manor Born]] ''|| Hartley || episode: "Connections in High Places"
|-
|1982–1987 || ''[[Terry and June]] ''|| Sir Arthur Forster-Carter / Colonel Culpepper || episodes: "Swingtime" / "They Also Serve"
|-
|1983 || ''[[Are You Being Served?]] ''|| Angler || episode: "Memories Are Made of This"
|-
|1984–1986 || ''[[Fresh Fields]] ''|| Guy Penrose ||10 episodes
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Biography}}
* {{IMDb name|0075326}}
* {{Find a Grave|15166517}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Berkeley, Ballard}}
[[Category:1904 births]]
[[Category:1988 deaths]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English male radio actors]]
[[Category:English male stage actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:People from Royal Tunbridge Wells]]
[[Category:Male actors from Kent]]
[[Category:20th-century English male actors]]
[[Category:Metropolitan Special Constabulary officers]]
[[Category:British male comedy actors]]
[[Category:British special constables]]