Eric Sykes - Revision history

Kurt: /* Career */

2024-08-26T13:06:53Z

Career

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:06, 26 August 2024
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	== Career ==		== Career ==
	Sykes's entertainment career began during the Second World War while serving in a ~~[[Ultra\|~~Special Liaison Unit]], when he met and worked with then [[flight lieutenant]] [[Bill Fraser]]. Sykes also collaborated with fellow RAF servicemen [[Denis Norden]] and Ron Rich in the production of troop entertainment shows. Whilst preparing for one of these shows in 1945, Sykes, accompanied by Norden and Rich, went to a nearby prison camp in search of stage lighting; the camp turned out to be the [[Bergen-Belsen concentration camp]], which had recently been liberated by the Allies. Sykes, Norden, and Rich organised a food collection amongst their comrades to feed the starving camp inmates.<ref name=belsen>{{cite news\|title=How Denis Norden stumbled upon concentration camp horror\|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33230122\|access-date=8 September 2015\|work=BBC News\|date=23 June 2015}}</ref>		Sykes's entertainment career began during the Second World War while serving in a Special Liaison Unit, when he met and worked with then [[flight lieutenant]] [[Bill Fraser]]. Sykes also collaborated with fellow RAF servicemen [[Denis Norden]] and Ron Rich in the production of troop entertainment shows. Whilst preparing for one of these shows in 1945, Sykes, accompanied by Norden and Rich, went to a nearby prison camp in search of stage lighting; the camp turned out to be the [[Bergen-Belsen concentration camp]], which had recently been liberated by the Allies. Sykes, Norden, and Rich organised a food collection amongst their comrades to feed the starving camp inmates.<ref name=belsen>{{cite news\|title=How Denis Norden stumbled upon concentration camp horror\|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33230122\|access-date=8 September 2015\|work=BBC News\|date=23 June 2015}}</ref>

	When the war ended, Sykes decided to try his luck in London, arriving in the middle of the [[Winter of 1946–1947 in the United Kingdom\|coldest winter in living memory (1946–47)]]. He rented lodgings, expecting to find work quickly, but by the end of the first week he was cold, hungry, and penniless. The turning point in his life and career came on the Friday night of his first week in London: he had a chance meeting in the street with Bill Fraser, who was by now featuring in a comedy at the [[Playhouse Theatre]]. Fraser took the impoverished Sykes to the theatre, offered him food and drink, then asked if Sykes would like to write for him. Sykes began providing scripts for both Fraser and [[Frankie Howerd]] and soon found himself in demand as a comedy writer. Forming a partnership with [[Sid Colin]], he worked on the [[BBC]] radio ventriloquism show ''[[Educating Archie]]'',<ref>{{cite news\|title=Archie Andrews goes under the hammer\|url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/10449/archie-andrews-goes-under-the-hammer\|access-date=24 February 2011\|newspaper=[[The Stage]]\|date=15 November 2005}}</ref> which began in 1950, and also ''[[Variety Bandbox]]''. Working on ''Educating Archie'' led to him meeting [[Hattie Jacques]] for the first time.		When the war ended, Sykes decided to try his luck in London, arriving in the middle of the [[Winter of 1946–1947 in the United Kingdom\|coldest winter in living memory (1946–47)]]. He rented lodgings, expecting to find work quickly, but by the end of the first week he was cold, hungry, and penniless. The turning point in his life and career came on the Friday night of his first week in London: he had a chance meeting in the street with Bill Fraser, who was by now featuring in a comedy at the [[Playhouse Theatre]]. Fraser took the impoverished Sykes to the theatre, offered him food and drink, then asked if Sykes would like to write for him. Sykes began providing scripts for both Fraser and [[Frankie Howerd]] and soon found himself in demand as a comedy writer. Forming a partnership with [[Sid Colin]], he worked on the [[BBC]] radio ventriloquism show ''[[Educating Archie]]'',<ref>{{cite news\|title=Archie Andrews goes under the hammer\|url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/10449/archie-andrews-goes-under-the-hammer\|access-date=24 February 2011\|newspaper=[[The Stage]]\|date=15 November 2005}}</ref> which began in 1950, and also ''[[Variety Bandbox]]''. Working on ''Educating Archie'' led to him meeting [[Hattie Jacques]] for the first time.

Kurt at 21:12, 25 August 2024

2024-08-25T21:12:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:12, 25 August 2024
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	== Personal life ==		== Personal life ==
	Sykes became partially [[Deafness\|deaf]] as an adult. His hearing started to deteriorate in the Second World War, and he had an operation in 1952 followed by another two years later. Recovering from the second procedure he discovered he was [[profoundly deaf]].<ref>{{cite web \|last1=Traynor \|first1=Robert \|title=The Genius of Eric Sykes – An International Comedian \|url=https://hearinghealthmatters.org/hearinginternational/2012/the-genius-of-eric-sykes/ \|website=Hearing Health Matters \|access-date=6 March 2022 \|date=28 August 2012}}</ref> His spectacles contained no lenses but were a [[bone conduction\|bone-conducting]] [[hearing aid]].<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.cottontown.org/page.cfm?language=eng&pageID=5104 \|title=Eric Sykes Biography \|access-date=6 December 2017 \|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130414125850/http://www.cottontown.org/page.cfm?language=eng&pageID=5104 \|archive-date=14 April 2013 \|work=Cotton Town}}<br />- {{cite news\|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18703602\|title = Obituary:Eric Sykes \| work=BBC News \| date=4 July 2012}}<br />- {{cite news\|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/nice-one-eric-1277920.html\|title = Nice One Eric! \|work=The Independent \| location=London \| first=Jasper\|last=Rees\|date=10 February 1997}}</ref> Disciform [[macular degeneration]], brought about by age and possibly smoking, left Sykes partially sighted, and he was registered as [[Blindness\|blind]]. He was a patron of the [[Macular Disease Society]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.maculardisease.org/page.asp?section=78&sectionTitle=Finance\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119000317/http://www.maculardisease.org/page.asp?section=78&sectionTitle=Finance\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=19 January 2011\|title=Macular Disease Society}}</ref> He stopped smoking cigarettes in November 1966, but continued to smoke cigars until 1998. He underwent quadruple [[heart bypass]] surgery in 1997, and experienced a stroke in 2002.~~{{cn\|date=April 2022}}~~		Sykes became partially [[Deafness\|deaf]] as an adult. His hearing started to deteriorate in the Second World War, and he had an operation in 1952 followed by another two years later. Recovering from the second procedure he discovered he was [[profoundly deaf]].<ref>{{cite web \|last1=Traynor \|first1=Robert \|title=The Genius of Eric Sykes – An International Comedian \|url=https://hearinghealthmatters.org/hearinginternational/2012/the-genius-of-eric-sykes/ \|website=Hearing Health Matters \|access-date=6 March 2022 \|date=28 August 2012}}</ref> His spectacles contained no lenses but were a [[bone conduction\|bone-conducting]] [[hearing aid]].<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.cottontown.org/page.cfm?language=eng&pageID=5104 \|title=Eric Sykes Biography \|access-date=6 December 2017 \|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130414125850/http://www.cottontown.org/page.cfm?language=eng&pageID=5104 \|archive-date=14 April 2013 \|work=Cotton Town}}<br />- {{cite news\|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18703602\|title = Obituary:Eric Sykes \| work=BBC News \| date=4 July 2012}}<br />- {{cite news\|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/nice-one-eric-1277920.html\|title = Nice One Eric! \|work=The Independent \| location=London \| first=Jasper\|last=Rees\|date=10 February 1997}}</ref> Disciform [[macular degeneration]], brought about by age and possibly smoking, left Sykes partially sighted, and he was registered as [[Blindness\|blind]]. He was a patron of the [[Macular Disease Society]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.maculardisease.org/page.asp?section=78&sectionTitle=Finance\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119000317/http://www.maculardisease.org/page.asp?section=78&sectionTitle=Finance\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=19 January 2011\|title=Macular Disease Society}}</ref> He stopped smoking cigarettes in November 1966, but continued to smoke cigars until 1998. He underwent quadruple [[heart bypass]] surgery in 1997, and experienced a stroke in 2002.

	He married Edith Eleanore Milbrandt on 14 February 1952, and they had three daughters and a son.<ref>{{cite news\|author=TV and Radio \|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/9375340/Eric-Sykes-gentleman-of-comedy-dies.html \|title=Eric Sykes dies \|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]\|date= 4 July 2012\|access-date=15 July 2013 \|location=London}}<br />- {{cite book \|url=http://www.debretts.co.uk/people/biographies/search/results/7186/Eric+SYKES.aspx \|publisher=Debretts \|title=People of Today \|access-date=20 February 2011 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718183002/http://www.debretts.co.uk/people/biographies/search/results/7186/Eric+SYKES.aspx \|archive-date=18 July 2011}}</ref> In the year Sykes died they marked their 60th wedding anniversary.		He married Edith Eleanore Milbrandt on 14 February 1952, and they had three daughters and a son.<ref>{{cite news\|author=TV and Radio \|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/9375340/Eric-Sykes-gentleman-of-comedy-dies.html \|title=Eric Sykes dies \|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]\|date= 4 July 2012\|access-date=15 July 2013 \|location=London}}<br />- {{cite book \|url=http://www.debretts.co.uk/people/biographies/search/results/7186/Eric+SYKES.aspx \|publisher=Debretts \|title=People of Today \|access-date=20 February 2011 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718183002/http://www.debretts.co.uk/people/biographies/search/results/7186/Eric+SYKES.aspx \|archive-date=18 July 2011}}</ref> In the year Sykes died they marked their 60th wedding anniversary.

Kurt at 05:09, 13 February 2023

2023-02-13T05:09:04Z

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	\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1923\|05\|04\|df=yes}}		\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1923\|05\|04\|df=yes}}
	\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|2012\|07\|04\|df=yes\|1923\|05\|04}}		\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|2012\|07\|04\|df=yes\|1923\|05\|04}}
	\| death_place = [[w:Esher\|Esher]], [[w:Surrey\|Surrey]], England		\| death_place = [[Esher\|Esher]], [[Surrey\|Surrey]], England
	\| birth_place = [[w:Oldham\|Oldham]], [[w:Lancashire\|Lancashire]], England		\| birth_place = [[Oldham\|Oldham]], [[Lancashire\|Lancashire]], England
	\| medium = Television, radio		\| medium = Television, radio
	\| active = 1947–2010		\| active = 1947–2010
	\| spouse = {{marriage\|Edith Eleanore Milbrandt\|1952}}		\| spouse = {{marriage\|Edith Eleanore Milbrandt\|1952}}
	\| children = 4		\| children = 4
	\| notable_work = ''[[Sykes (TV series)\|Sykes]]'', ''[[The Goon Show]]'', ''[[The Plank (1967 film)\|The Plank]]'', ''[[w:Teletubbies\|Teletubbies]]''		\| notable_work = ''[[Sykes (TV series)\|Sykes]]'', ''[[The Goon Show]]'', ''[[The Plank (1967 film)\|The Plank]]'', ''[[Teletubbies\|Teletubbies]]''
	}}		}}
	'''Eric Sykes''' {{postnom\|country=GBR\|size=100\|CBE}} (4 May 1923 – 4 July 2012) was an English radio, stage, television and film writer, comedian, actor, and director whose performing career spanned more than 50 years. He frequently wrote for and performed with many other leading comedy performers and writers of the period, including [[Tony Hancock]], [[Spike Milligan]], [[Tommy Cooper]], [[Peter Sellers]], [[John Antrobus]], and [[Johnny Speight]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/1058088/ \|title=Sykes, Eric (1923–2012) \|publisher=BFI Screenonline}}</ref> Sykes first came to prominence through his many radio credits as a writer and actor in the 1950s, most notably through his collaboration on ''[[The Goon Show]]'' scripts. He became a TV star in his own right in the early 1960s when he appeared with [[Hattie Jacques]] in several popular [[BBC]] comedy television series.		'''Eric Sykes''' {{postnom\|country=GBR\|size=100\|CBE}} (4 May 1923 – 4 July 2012) was an English radio, stage, television and film writer, comedian, actor, and director whose performing career spanned more than 50 years. He frequently wrote for and performed with many other leading comedy performers and writers of the period, including [[Tony Hancock]], [[Spike Milligan]], [[Tommy Cooper]], [[Peter Sellers]], [[John Antrobus]], and [[Johnny Speight]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/1058088/ \|title=Sykes, Eric (1923–2012) \|publisher=BFI Screenonline}}</ref> Sykes first came to prominence through his many radio credits as a writer and actor in the 1950s, most notably through his collaboration on ''[[The Goon Show]]'' scripts. He became a TV star in his own right in the early 1960s when he appeared with [[Hattie Jacques]] in several popular [[BBC]] comedy television series.

	==Early life==		==Early life==
	Sykes was born on 4 May 1923<ref name=Birth>{{cite web\|title=Birthday's today\|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/archive/2011-5-4.html \|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110505184900/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/archive/2011-5-4.html \|url-status= dead \|archive-date= 5 May 2011 \|work=The Telegraph\|access-date=26 April 2014\|date=4 May 2011\|quote=Mr Eric Sykes, comedian and writer, 88 }}</ref> in [[w:Oldham]], Lancashire; his mother died three weeks later, leaving him and his two-year-old brother Vernon motherless. Their father was a labourer in a [[w:cotton mill\|cotton mill]] and a former [[w:British Army\|army]] [[w:sergeant\|sergeant]]. When Sykes was two, his father remarried and he gained a [[w:half-brother\|half-brother]] named John.<ref>{{cite book\|last=Sykes\|first=Eric\|title=If I Don't Write It, Nobody Else Will\|year=2005\|publisher=Fourth Estate\|isbn=0-00-717784-4\|pages=3–4}}</ref> Sykes was educated at Ward Street Central School in Oldham. He joined the [[w:Royal Air Force\|Royal Air Force]] during the [[w:Second World War\|Second World War]], qualifying as a wireless operator with the rank of [[w:leading aircraftman\|leading aircraftman]].		Sykes was born on 4 May 1923<ref name=Birth>{{cite web\|title=Birthday's today\|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/archive/2011-5-4.html \|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110505184900/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/archive/2011-5-4.html \|url-status= dead \|archive-date= 5 May 2011 \|work=The Telegraph\|access-date=26 April 2014\|date=4 May 2011\|quote=Mr Eric Sykes, comedian and writer, 88 }}</ref> in [[Oldham]], Lancashire; his mother died three weeks later, leaving him and his two-year-old brother Vernon motherless. Their father was a labourer in a [[cotton mill\|cotton mill]] and a former [[British Army\|army]] [[sergeant\|sergeant]]. When Sykes was two, his father remarried and he gained a [[half-brother\|half-brother]] named John.<ref>{{cite book\|last=Sykes\|first=Eric\|title=If I Don't Write It, Nobody Else Will\|year=2005\|publisher=Fourth Estate\|isbn=0-00-717784-4\|pages=3–4}}</ref> Sykes was educated at Ward Street Central School in Oldham. He joined the [[Royal Air Force\|Royal Air Force]] during the [[Second World War\|Second World War]], qualifying as a wireless operator with the rank of [[leading aircraftman\|leading aircraftman]].

	== Career ==		== Career ==
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	The third version of ''[[The Plank (1979 film)\|The Plank]]'' was made in 1979 for [[Thames Television\|Thames TV]] as a half-hour TV special.		The third version of ''[[The Plank (1979 film)\|The Plank]]'' was made in 1979 for [[Thames Television\|Thames TV]] as a half-hour TV special.

	Sykes was the subject of [[Thames Television]]'s ''[[This Is Your Life (UK TV series)\|This Is Your Life]]'', broadcast on 25 December 1979.~~{{Citation needed\|date=September 2021}}~~		Sykes was the subject of [[Thames Television]]'s ''[[This Is Your Life (UK TV series)\|This Is Your Life]]'', broadcast on 25 December 1979.

	=== 1980s ===		=== 1980s ===
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	==Death==		==Death==
	[[File:Eric Sykes Plaque Covent Garden.jpg\|thumb\|160px\|right\|Memorial plaque to Eric Sykes in [[St Paul's, Covent Garden\|St Paul's Church]] in [[Covent Garden]]]]		[[File:Eric Sykes Plaque Covent Garden.jpg\|thumb\|160px\|right\|Memorial plaque to Eric Sykes in [[St Paul's, Covent Garden\|St Paul's Church]] in [[Covent Garden]]]]
	Sykes died on the morning of 4 July 2012, aged 89, at his home in [[w:Esher\|Esher]], [[w:Surrey\|Surrey]], after a short illness. His family was with him when he died.<ref>{{citation \|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18704263\|title=Comedian Eric Sykes dies aged 89 \|work=BBC News\|date=4 July 2012\|access-date=4 July 2012}}<br />- {{cite news\|author=Mark Brown \|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/jul/04/eric-sykes-dies-aged-89?INTCMP=SRCH \|title=Eric Sykes dies aged 89 \|work=The Guardian \|date= 4 July 2012\|access-date=15 July 2013 \|location=London}}<br />- {{cite news\|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/tv-radio-obituaries/9375396/Eric-Sykes.html \|title=Telegraph obituary \|newspaper=[[w:The Daily Telegraph\|The Daily Telegraph]] \|date=4 July 2012 \|access-date=15 July 2013 \|location=London}}</ref> He has a memorial plaque in [[w:St Paul's, Covent Garden\|St Paul's Church]] in [[w:Covent Garden\|Covent Garden]].		Sykes died on the morning of 4 July 2012, aged 89, at his home in [[Esher\|Esher]], [[Surrey\|Surrey]], after a short illness. His family was with him when he died.<ref>{{citation \|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18704263\|title=Comedian Eric Sykes dies aged 89 \|work=BBC News\|date=4 July 2012\|access-date=4 July 2012}}<br />- {{cite news\|author=Mark Brown \|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/jul/04/eric-sykes-dies-aged-89?INTCMP=SRCH \|title=Eric Sykes dies aged 89 \|work=The Guardian \|date= 4 July 2012\|access-date=15 July 2013 \|location=London}}<br />- {{cite news\|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/tv-radio-obituaries/9375396/Eric-Sykes.html \|title=Telegraph obituary \|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph\|The Daily Telegraph]] \|date=4 July 2012 \|access-date=15 July 2013 \|location=London}}</ref> He has a memorial plaque in [[St Paul's, Covent Garden\|St Paul's Church]] in [[Covent Garden\|Covent Garden]].

	== Honours and Awards ==		== Honours and Awards ==

Kurt at 04:41, 4 February 2023

2023-02-04T04:41:23Z

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	~~{{Short description\|English writer and actor}}~~
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=October 2020}}~~
	{{Infobox comedian		{{Infobox comedian
	\| name = Eric Sykes		\| name = Eric Sykes

Kurt: clean up, replaced: BBC → BBC

2023-01-22T00:48:02Z

clean up, replaced: BBC → BBC

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:48, 21 January 2023
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	\| notable_work = ''[[Sykes (TV series)\|Sykes]]'', ''[[The Goon Show]]'', ''[[The Plank (1967 film)\|The Plank]]'', ''[[w:Teletubbies\|Teletubbies]]''		\| notable_work = ''[[Sykes (TV series)\|Sykes]]'', ''[[The Goon Show]]'', ''[[The Plank (1967 film)\|The Plank]]'', ''[[w:Teletubbies\|Teletubbies]]''
	}}		}}
	'''Eric Sykes''' {{postnom\|country=GBR\|size=100\|CBE}} (4 May 1923 – 4 July 2012) was an English radio, stage, television and film writer, comedian, actor, and director whose performing career spanned more than 50 years. He frequently wrote for and performed with many other leading comedy performers and writers of the period, including [[Tony Hancock]], [[Spike Milligan]], [[Tommy Cooper]], [[Peter Sellers]], [[John Antrobus]], and [[Johnny Speight]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/1058088/ \|title=Sykes, Eric (1923–2012) \|publisher=BFI Screenonline}}</ref> Sykes first came to prominence through his many radio credits as a writer and actor in the 1950s, most notably through his collaboration on ''[[The Goon Show]]'' scripts. He became a TV star in his own right in the early 1960s when he appeared with [[Hattie Jacques]] in several popular [[~~w:BBC\|~~BBC]] comedy television series.		'''Eric Sykes''' {{postnom\|country=GBR\|size=100\|CBE}} (4 May 1923 – 4 July 2012) was an English radio, stage, television and film writer, comedian, actor, and director whose performing career spanned more than 50 years. He frequently wrote for and performed with many other leading comedy performers and writers of the period, including [[Tony Hancock]], [[Spike Milligan]], [[Tommy Cooper]], [[Peter Sellers]], [[John Antrobus]], and [[Johnny Speight]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/1058088/ \|title=Sykes, Eric (1923–2012) \|publisher=BFI Screenonline}}</ref> Sykes first came to prominence through his many radio credits as a writer and actor in the 1950s, most notably through his collaboration on ''[[The Goon Show]]'' scripts. He became a TV star in his own right in the early 1960s when he appeared with [[Hattie Jacques]] in several popular [[BBC]] comedy television series.

	==Early life==		==Early life==
	Sykes was born on 4 May 1923<ref name=Birth>{{cite web\|title=Birthday's today\|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/archive/2011-5-4.html \|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110505184900/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/archive/2011-5-4.html \|url-status= dead \|archive-date= 5 May 2011 \|work=The Telegraph\|access-date=26 April 2014\|date=4 May 2011\|quote=Mr Eric Sykes, comedian and writer, 88 }}</ref> in [[~~w:Oldham\|~~w:Oldham]], Lancashire; his mother died three weeks later, leaving him and his two-year-old brother Vernon motherless. Their father was a labourer in a [[w:cotton mill\|cotton mill]] and a former [[w:British Army\|army]] [[w:sergeant\|sergeant]]. When Sykes was two, his father remarried and he gained a [[w:half-brother\|half-brother]] named John.<ref>{{cite book\|last=Sykes\|first=Eric\|title=If I Don't Write It, Nobody Else Will\|year=2005\|publisher=Fourth Estate\|isbn=0-00-717784-4\|pages=3–4}}</ref> Sykes was educated at Ward Street Central School in Oldham. He joined the [[w:Royal Air Force\|Royal Air Force]] during the [[w:Second World War\|Second World War]], qualifying as a wireless operator with the rank of [[w:leading aircraftman\|leading aircraftman]].		Sykes was born on 4 May 1923<ref name=Birth>{{cite web\|title=Birthday's today\|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/archive/2011-5-4.html \|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110505184900/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/archive/2011-5-4.html \|url-status= dead \|archive-date= 5 May 2011 \|work=The Telegraph\|access-date=26 April 2014\|date=4 May 2011\|quote=Mr Eric Sykes, comedian and writer, 88 }}</ref> in [[w:Oldham]], Lancashire; his mother died three weeks later, leaving him and his two-year-old brother Vernon motherless. Their father was a labourer in a [[w:cotton mill\|cotton mill]] and a former [[w:British Army\|army]] [[w:sergeant\|sergeant]]. When Sykes was two, his father remarried and he gained a [[w:half-brother\|half-brother]] named John.<ref>{{cite book\|last=Sykes\|first=Eric\|title=If I Don't Write It, Nobody Else Will\|year=2005\|publisher=Fourth Estate\|isbn=0-00-717784-4\|pages=3–4}}</ref> Sykes was educated at Ward Street Central School in Oldham. He joined the [[w:Royal Air Force\|Royal Air Force]] during the [[w:Second World War\|Second World War]], qualifying as a wireless operator with the rank of [[w:leading aircraftman\|leading aircraftman]].

	== Career ==		== Career ==

Kurt: /* External links */

2023-01-16T04:07:50Z

External links

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:07, 15 January 2023
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	== External links ==		== External links ==
	~~{{Wikiquote}}~~
	* {{IMDb name\|843059}}		* {{IMDb name\|843059}}
	* {{screenonline name\|id=1058088}}		* {{screenonline name\|id=1058088}}
	* {{British Comedy Guide\|people\|eric_sykes}}		* {{British Comedy Guide\|people\|eric_sykes}}
	* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18703602 Obituary: Eric Sykes from BBC News]		* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18703602 Obituary: Eric Sykes from BBC News]

	~~{{Authority control}}~~

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Sykes, Eric}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Sykes, Eric}}

Kurt at 21:58, 21 September 2022

2022-09-21T21:58:09Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:58, 21 September 2022
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	\| honorific_suffix = {{postnom\|country=GBR\|size=100\|CBE}}		\| honorific_suffix = {{postnom\|country=GBR\|size=100\|CBE}}
	\| image = Eric Sykes.jpg		\| image = Eric Sykes.jpg
	\| caption = ~~Sykes, c.1955~~		\| caption =
	\| birth_name =		\| birth_name =
	\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1923\|05\|04\|df=yes}}		\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1923\|05\|04\|df=yes}}
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	\| birth_place = [[w:Oldham\|Oldham]], [[w:Lancashire\|Lancashire]], England		\| birth_place = [[w:Oldham\|Oldham]], [[w:Lancashire\|Lancashire]], England
	\| medium = Television, radio		\| medium = Television, radio
	~~\| nationality =~~
	\| active = 1947–2010		\| active = 1947–2010
	\| spouse = {{marriage\|Edith Eleanore Milbrandt\|1952}}		\| spouse = {{marriage\|Edith Eleanore Milbrandt\|1952}}

Kurt at 21:54, 21 September 2022

2022-09-21T21:54:03Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:54, 21 September 2022
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	\| name = Eric Sykes		\| name = Eric Sykes
	\| honorific_suffix = {{postnom\|country=GBR\|size=100\|CBE}}		\| honorific_suffix = {{postnom\|country=GBR\|size=100\|CBE}}
	\| image = ~~Eric_Sykes_publicity_photo~~.jpg		\| image = Eric Sykes.jpg
	~~\| image_size =~~
	\| caption = Sykes, c.1955		\| caption = Sykes, c.1955
	\| birth_name =		\| birth_name =
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	\| nationality =		\| nationality =
	\| active = 1947–2010		\| active = 1947–2010
	\| spouse = {{marriage\|Edith Milbrandt\|1952}}		\| spouse = {{marriage\|Edith Eleanore Milbrandt\|1952}}
	\| children = 4		\| children = 4
	\| notable_work = ''[[Sykes (TV series)\|Sykes]]'', ''[[The Goon Show]]'', ''[[The Plank (1967 film)\|The Plank]]'', ''[[w:Teletubbies\|Teletubbies]]''		\| notable_work = ''[[Sykes (TV series)\|Sykes]]'', ''[[The Goon Show]]'', ''[[The Plank (1967 film)\|The Plank]]'', ''[[w:Teletubbies\|Teletubbies]]''

Kurt at 21:50, 21 September 2022

2022-09-21T21:50:15Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:50, 21 September 2022
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	[[Category:Royal Air Force airmen]]		[[Category:Royal Air Force airmen]]
	[[Category:British male television writers]]		[[Category:British male television writers]]
			[[Category:The Goon Show writer]]

Kurt at 16:01, 3 August 2022

2022-08-03T16:01:25Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:01, 3 August 2022
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	\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1923\|05\|04\|df=yes}}		\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1923\|05\|04\|df=yes}}
	\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|2012\|07\|04\|df=yes\|1923\|05\|04}}		\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|2012\|07\|04\|df=yes\|1923\|05\|04}}
	\| death_place = [[Esher]], [[Surrey]], England		\| death_place = [[w:Esher\|Esher]], [[w:Surrey\|Surrey]], England
	\| birth_place = [[Oldham]], [[Lancashire]], England		\| birth_place = [[w:Oldham\|Oldham]], [[w:Lancashire\|Lancashire]], England
	\| medium = Television, radio		\| medium = Television, radio
	\| nationality =		\| nationality =
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	\| spouse = {{marriage\|Edith Milbrandt\|1952}}		\| spouse = {{marriage\|Edith Milbrandt\|1952}}
	\| children = 4		\| children = 4
	\| notable_work = ''[[Sykes (TV series)\|Sykes]]'', ''[[The Goon Show]]'', ''[[The Plank (1967 film)\|The Plank]]'', ''[[Teletubbies]]''		\| notable_work = ''[[Sykes (TV series)\|Sykes]]'', ''[[The Goon Show]]'', ''[[The Plank (1967 film)\|The Plank]]'', ''[[w:Teletubbies\|Teletubbies]]''
	}}		}}
	'''Eric Sykes''' {{postnom\|country=GBR\|size=100\|CBE}} (4 May 1923 – 4 July 2012) was an English radio, stage, television and film writer, comedian, actor, and director whose performing career spanned more than 50 years. He frequently wrote for and performed with many other leading comedy performers and writers of the period, including [[Tony Hancock]], [[Spike Milligan]], [[Tommy Cooper]], [[Peter Sellers]], [[John Antrobus]], and [[Johnny Speight]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/1058088/ \|title=Sykes, Eric (1923–2012) \|publisher=BFI Screenonline}}</ref> Sykes first came to prominence through his many radio credits as a writer and actor in the 1950s, most notably through his collaboration on ''[[The Goon Show]]'' scripts. He became a TV star in his own right in the early 1960s when he appeared with [[Hattie Jacques]] in several popular [[w:BBC\|BBC]] comedy television series.		'''Eric Sykes''' {{postnom\|country=GBR\|size=100\|CBE}} (4 May 1923 – 4 July 2012) was an English radio, stage, television and film writer, comedian, actor, and director whose performing career spanned more than 50 years. He frequently wrote for and performed with many other leading comedy performers and writers of the period, including [[Tony Hancock]], [[Spike Milligan]], [[Tommy Cooper]], [[Peter Sellers]], [[John Antrobus]], and [[Johnny Speight]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/1058088/ \|title=Sykes, Eric (1923–2012) \|publisher=BFI Screenonline}}</ref> Sykes first came to prominence through his many radio credits as a writer and actor in the 1950s, most notably through his collaboration on ''[[The Goon Show]]'' scripts. He became a TV star in his own right in the early 1960s when he appeared with [[Hattie Jacques]] in several popular [[w:BBC\|BBC]] comedy television series.