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	~~{{Short description\|English actor}}~~
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=January 2020}}~~
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| name = Tony Melody		\| name = Tony Melody
	\| image = ~~Tony_Melody~~.jpg		\| image = Tony Melody.jpg
	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| birth_name = Anthony John Melody		\| birth_name = Anthony John Melody

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2022-12-12T20:46:32Z

External links

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	==External links==		==External links==
	* {{IMDb name\|0578292\|Tony Melody}}		* {{IMDb name\|0578292\|Tony Melody}}

	~~{{Authority control}}~~

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Melody, Tony}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Melody, Tony}}
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	[[Category:English male radio actors]]		[[Category:English male radio actors]]
	[[Category:English Roman Catholics]]		[[Category:English Roman Catholics]]
	~~[[Category:Deaths from cancer in England]]~~
	[[Category:Male actors from London]]		[[Category:Male actors from London]]
	[[Category:Male actors from Lancashire]]		[[Category:Male actors from Lancashire]]

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2022-07-22T19:56:32Z

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Career: typo

New page

{{Short description|English actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Tony Melody
| image = Tony_Melody.jpg
| caption =
| birth_name = Anthony John Melody
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1922|12|18|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[London]], England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2008|06|26|1922|12|18|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Bispham, Blackpool|Bispham]], [[Blackpool]], [[Lancashire]], England
| othername =
| occupation = [[Actor]]
| years_active = 1955–2005
| spouse = Margaret Little (1972–2008; second wife)}}

'''Anthony John Melody''' (18 December 1922 – 26 June 2008) was an English television actor who appeared in a number of long running comedies and [[soap opera]]s. He was a prolific character actor<ref name="independent863875"/> with more than 100 television roles.<ref name="tribute2865531">{{Cite web|url=http://www.lastingtribute.co.uk/tribute/melody/2865531|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505032923/http://www.lastingtribute.co.uk/tribute/melody/2865531|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 May 2013|title=Tony Melody Actor |publisher=Lasting Tribute |accessdate=5 November 2008}}</ref>

==Early life==
Melody was born in London, where his father was in the [[Royal Horse Guards]], but was brought up in [[Yorkshire]], where his parents ran the Station [[public house]] in [[Goole]], [[West Riding of Yorkshire]].{{efn|Prior to 1 April 1974 Goole was part of the West Riding of Yorkshire}} It was as a singer that he initially made his mark, starting out at the pub his mother Myra ran with his father, where, as a small boy, he accompanied the pianist; later in life he went on to sing with the [[BBC Northern Dance Orchestra]].

He was raised as a devout [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] and attended [[Sacred Heart Church, Blackpool|Sacred Heart Church]] in [[Blackpool]].<ref name="telegraph2307669">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/2307669/Tony-Melody.html|title=Obituary – Tony Melody |date=19 July 2008|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |accessdate=5 November 2008}}</ref> During the [[Second World War]] he served in the [[Royal Air Force]].<ref name="tribute2865531"/><ref name="guardian290708">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/jul/29/television|title=Obituary – Tony Melody|last=Gaughan|first=Gavin|date=29 July 2008|newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |accessdate=5 November 2008}}</ref>

==Career==
Initially as a [[dancer]], Melody spent three years touring the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] with [[Ralph Reader|Ralph Reader's Gang Show]], performing for British troops in various countries along with [[Tony Hancock]] and [[Norrie Paramor]].<ref name="independent863875"/><ref name="telegraph2307669"/> In 1952 he spent a season performing at the [[Windmill Theatre]] in London, among the nudes, where he featured as a comedy singer, before returning to Yorkshire, where he performed semi-professionally in local clubs while working in a factory in [[Leeds]] during the day. In 1955 he appeared on ''What Makes A Star?'' on [[BBC]] local radio. He became a regular on BBC regional radio, working in the North region of the BBC Home Service from 1958 with, among others, [[Jimmy Clitheroe]] (who he also appeared with on stage, touring the Variety theatres) and with [[Harry Worth]].<ref name="telegraph2307669"/> With Clitheroe, he did a regular double-act on a radio variety show called ''Call Boy'', as well as doing much the same act together on stage in the theatres.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/de93e818d58f46ef9b6035612acb8615|title=Jimmy Clitheroe as the CALL BOY|date=17 April 1957|issue=1744|pages=45|via=BBC Genome}}</ref>

His acting career at the BBC began in radio, appearing in the [[situation comedy|sitcom]] ''[[The Clitheroe Kid]]'', another show which starred Jimmy Clitheroe, in which he appeared from 1957 as grumpy taxi driver Horatio Higginbottom, a regular role that he continued in for sixteen years, until 1972.<ref name="guardian290708"/><ref name="gazette4046754">{{cite news|url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Tragic-end-of-Blackpool-comic.4046754.jp|title=Tragic end of Blackpool comic genius|last=Morley|first=Jacqueline|date=5 May 2008|newspaper=[[Blackpool Gazette]] |accessdate=4 November 2008}}</ref> In the 1950s he also had a regular role as [[Compere (host)|compère]] and singer with the [[BBC]]'s Northern Dance Orchestra, in the BBC radio show ''The Straw Hat Club''.<ref name="independent863875"/>

His first television role came on 6 December 1957 when he appeared in the BBC comedy ''Be Soon'' alongside comedian [[Hylda Baker]].<ref name="imdb0973018">{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0973018/|title=Be Soon episode, 6 December 1957|publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]] |accessdate=4 November 2008}}</ref> Between 1964 and 1968 he appeared regularly on ITV with Jimmy Clitheroe in the sitcom ''Just Jimmy'', and featured in two episodes of ITV's ''[[Coronation Street]]'', playing two small different roles, as a coach driver and a taxi driver. In 1968 he made his third appearance on ''Coronation Street'', this time as Harold Eaton, a decorator working at the Rovers Return pub. <ref name="independent863875"/> He also reappeared as a compere in 2000 in an episode filmed in Blackpool Winter Gardens. In 1969 he played a postman in ''Parkin's Patch''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b850bdbad|title=Nothing Personal (1969)|website=BFI}}</ref>

By the early 1970s he was getting regular television work, with a number of minor roles (mostly in comedy parts) in programmes including the BBC sitcom ''[[Steptoe and Son]]'' (as a milkman in the 1970 episode ''Come Dancing'', which is said to be one of the most repeated episodes of that series).<ref name="guardian290708"/> Also on the BBC in the sitcom ''[[Sykes (TV series)|Sykes]]'', and on ITV in ''[[Public Eye (TV series)|Public Eye]]'' (as guest star in a humorous Christmas special), both in 1972, at which time Melody said, "This is the first time in years I have turned down pantomime, up home in Blackpool, because I wanted to concentrate on television, to stretch myself with such roles."<ref name="guardian290708"/> However, he was certainly not stretched by these roles, which were straightforward comedy supporting parts, of which he already had five years television experience as a semi-regular on the weekly sitcom ''Just Jimmy''.

As he became better known, he gradually was offered more varied TV work. His subsequent television appearances included police drama in ''[[Z-Cars]]'' (1973) and ''[[Barlow at Large]]'', and comedy on ITV in ''[[Bless This House (UK TV series)|Bless This House]]'' (1974).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=37029|title=Tony Melody|website=www.aveleyman.com}}</ref> In 1975 he had a starring role as George Bradshaw in the short-lived comedy series ''Rule Britannia!''.<ref name="independent863875"/>

In 1979 Melody appeared in the [[John Schlesinger]] film ''[[Yanks]]'' opposite [[Rachel Roberts (actress)|Rachel Roberts]], playing the husband of the terminally ill Roberts.<ref name="guardian290708"/> The following year he appeared in ''[[Little Lord Fauntleroy#Film, TV or theatrical adaptations|Little Lord Fauntleroy]]'' as Kimsey.<ref name=bfi>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f1e4e83|title=Tony Melody|website=BFI}}</ref> He also played Station Sergeant Billy Machin in the comedy series ''[[The Nesbitts Are Coming]]'' and followed that up in 1981 by appearing as Archie in the comedy series, ''[[The Incredible Mr Tanner]]''.<ref name=bfi/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b82579758|title=The Good Samaritan (1981)|website=BFI}}</ref> He was always most effective in comedy roles: from 1981-83 he was instantly forgettable as the Chief, John Nettles' boss in the first six episodes of the BBC police series, ''[[Bergerac (TV series)|Bergerac]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/eddb9097064a4547af12393876d3c372|title=Bergerac|date=9 February 1985|issue=3195|pages=24|via=BBC Genome}}</ref> On [[Channel 4]]'s opening night he appeared in ''[[Walter (1982 film)|Walter]]'', alongside [[Ian McKellen]] in the title role.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/510827/index.html|title=BFI Screenonline: Walter (1982)|website=www.screenonline.org.uk}}</ref>

In the 1983 Special of ''Last of the Summer Wine'' - Getting Sam Home - John Comer's voice was badly affected by illness, so his lines were re-recorded by Tony Melody. Comer died 6 weeks after the broadcast.

His first appearance in ''[[Emmerdale|Emmerdale Farm]]'' came in 1983, when he played Nicholas Martin. In 1985 he appeared in the drama series ''The Winning Streak'' and in 1986 he played Dave Sharkey in the sitcom, ''Jossy's Giants''. In 1990 he appeared as the husband of [[Patricia Routledge]] in ''Missing Persons'', which was a feature-length [[Television pilot|pilot]] for ''[[Hetty Wainthropp Investigates]]''.<ref name="guardian290708"/>

He made a second appearance in ''Emmerdale'' in 1998 this time as the farmer, Jed Outhwaite. In 2002 he made a fourth appearance on ''[[Coronation Street]]'', this time as the MC at a ballroom dance competition in Blackpool, which the characters of [[Norris Cole (Coronation Street)|Norris Cole]] and [[Vera Duckworth]] were entered.<ref name="independent863875"/>

He appeared in the television drama film ''[[Shipman (film)|Shipman]]'' in 2002, as Len, a patient who survived the real-life homicidal doctor, who was played by [[James Bolam]].<ref name="guardian290708"/> He also appeared in the drama, ''[[A Good Thief]]'' as Alfie as well as a television advertising campaign for [[McDonald's]].<ref name="gazette422819"/> His last television appearance was in 2003 on ''[[Last of the Summer Wine]]''.<ref name="tribute2865531"/>

Throughout his broadcasting career he continued to work live in summer season (at Butlins and other holiday camps, and in seaside resorts such as Blackpool and Skegness), and in Pantomime.

==Personal life==
Melody's first marriage was dissolved; he had four children with his first wife. He met his second wife, Maggie when they were both performing in [[pantomime]] in [[Skegness]]. They made their home in [[Bispham, Blackpool|Bispham]], Blackpool which he claimed was her home town,<ref name="independent863875">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/tony-melody-star-of-the-tv-series-rule-britannia-863875.html|title=Tony Melody: Star of the TV series 'Rule Britannia'|last=Hayward|first=Anthony|date=10 July 2008|newspaper=[[The Independent]] |accessdate=5 November 2008}}</ref><ref name="telegraph2307669"/> where he spent the rest of his life. Melody would say about living in Bispham, "Other actors can have London. I don't like it there, can't stand the trains, the noise, the hassle. Home is here."<ref name="gazette422819"/> But the real reason they lived there was not unconnected with the fact that Melody was in a long-term professional double act with Jimmy Clitheroe, who lived a 5-minute walk from their front door. Offscreen Melody was a shy unassuming man, who rarely gave interviews and who shunned the "show business scene".<ref name="telegraph2307669"/>

Melody had four children, three sons and one daughter from his first marriage.<ref name="tribute2865531"/><ref name="guardian290708"/>

==Death==
Melody died in a nursing home from [[cancer]] after a short illness on 26 June 2008, aged 85.<ref name="gazette422819">{{cite news|url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Death-of--TV-and.4228819.jp|title=Death of TV and stage favourite|last=Morley|first=Jacqui|date=27 June 2008|newspaper=[[Blackpool Gazette]]|accessdate=4 November 2008}}</ref> His funeral was held at [[Carleton Crematorium]], Blackpool, Lancashire on 3 July.<ref name="gazette795426">{{cite news|url=http://announce.jpress.co.uk/795426|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728031643/http://announce.jpress.co.uk/795426|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 July 2011|title=Anthony Melody : Obituary|date=1 July 2008|newspaper=[[Blackpool Gazette]]|accessdate=5 April 2009}}</ref>

==Filmography==

===Television===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Title !! Role
|-
|1957 || ''Be Soon'' ||
|-
|1964–68 || ''Just Jimmy'' || Jim Moreton (semi-regular appearances for 5 years)
|-
|1965 || ''[[Coronation Street]]'' || Coach driver
|-
|1965 || ''Coronation Street'' || Taxi driver
|-
|1968 || ''Coronation Street'' || Harold Eaton
|-
|1969 || ''[[Parkin's Patch]]'' || Post Office Man
|-
|1970 || ''[[Steptoe and Son]]'' || Milkman
|-
|1970 || ''[[ITV Sunday Night Theatre|ITV Saturday Night Theatre]]'' || Jack Scott
|-
|1971 || ''Some Matters of Little Consequence'' ||
|-
|1972 || ''[[Home and Away (1972 TV series)|Home and Away]]'' || Godrey
|-
|1972 || ''[[Play for Today]]'' || Official Receiver
|-
|1972 || ''[[Sykes (TV series)|Sykes]]'' || Milkman
|-
|1972 || ''[[New Scotland Yard (TV series)|New Scotland Yard]]'' || Charles Change
|-
|1972 || ''[[Love Story (British TV series)|Love Story]]'' || Stan Truscott
|-
|1972 || ''[[Public Eye (TV series)|Public Eye]]'' || Harry
|-
|1973 || ''[[Z-Cars]]'' || Brazendale
|-
|1973 || ''[[Hadleigh (TV series)|Hadleigh]]'' || Walter Unwin
|-
|1974 || ''[[Barlow at Large]]'' || Roger Tober
|-
|1974 || ''[[Justice (1971 TV series)|Justice]]'' || Charlie Thompson
|-
|1974 || ''[[Marked Personal]]'' || Steve Morris
|-
|1974 || ''[[Bless This House (UK TV series)|Bless This House]]'' || Owen
|-
|1974 || ''[[Play for Today]]'' || Detective
|-
|1975 || ''[[Sadie, It's Cold Outside]]'' || Bob
|-
|1975 || ''[[The Main Chance]]'' || Sammy Dayton
|-
|1975 || ''Rule Britannia'' || George Bradshaw
|-
|1975 || ''[[Down the 'Gate]]'' || Len Peacock
|-
|1978 || ''[[George and Mildred]]'' || Ernest Groves
|-
|1979 || ''[[Turtle's Progress]]'' || Colour Sergeant Arnold
|-
|1980 || ''[[The Nesbitts Are Coming]]'' || Station Sergeant Billy Machin
|-
|1980 || ''[[Juliet Bravo]]'' || Rodney Maskill
|-
|1980 || ''[[Little Lord Fauntleroy (1980 film)|Little Lord Fauntleroy]]'' || Kimsey
|-
|1980 || ''Play for Today'' ([[The Flipside of Dominick Hide]]) || Harry
|-
|1981 || ''[[The Incredible Mr Tanner]]'' || Archie
|-
|1981–1983 || ''[[Bergerac (TV series)|Bergerac]]'' || Chief
|-
|1982 || ''[[The Chinese Detective]]'' || Mr Morris
|-
|1982 || ''[[Walter (1982 film)|Walter]]'' || Mr Hingley
|-
|1983 || ''[[Crown Court (TV series)|Crown Court]]'' ||
|-
|1983 || ''[[Let There Be Love (TV series)|Let There Be Love]]'' || Steven
|-
|1983 || ''[[Emmerdale|Emmerdale Farm]]'' || Nicholas Martin
|-
|1983 || ''[[Last of the Summer Wine]]'' || Sid's Voice Stand In
|-
|1985 || ''The Winning Streak'' || Matt Hutton
|-
|1986 || ''[[Jossy's Giants]]'' || Dave Sharkey
|-
|1988 || ''The Nature of the Beast'' || Chunder
|-
|1989 || ''[[All Creatures Great and Small (TV serial)|All Creatures Great and Small]]'' || Mr Skipton
|-
|1989 || ''[[Boon (TV series)|Boon]]'' || Mr Brown
|-
|1990 || ''Missing Persons'' || Robert Wainthropp
|-
|1990 || ''[[Stay Lucky]]'' || Uncle Horace
|-
|1991 || ''[[Plaza Patrol]]'' || Painter
|-
|1992 || ''[[Moon and Son]]'' || Bill Atley
|-
|1992 || ''[[Rumpole of the Bailey]]'' || Saggers
|-
|1994 || ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]'' || Brian Miller
|-
|1995 || ''[[Heartbeat (UK TV series)|Heartbeat]]'' || Walter Openshaw
|-
|1996 || ''[[Dalziel and Pascoe (TV series)|Dalziel and Pascoe]]'' || Harold Lapping
|-
|1998 || ''[[Emmerdale]]'' || Jed Outhwaite
|-
|1999 || ''[[Where the Heart Is (1997 TV series)|Where the Heart Is]]'' || Hughie Burridge
|-
|2000 || ''[[Coronation Street]]'' || MC
|-
|2002 || ''[[A Good Thief]]'' || Alfie
|-
|2003 || ''[[Last of the Summer Wine]]'' || Landlord
|-
|}

===Film===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Title !! Role
|-
|1977 || ''[[The Stick Up]]'' || Tall Cop
|-
|1979 || ''[[Yanks]]'' || Jim Moreton
|-
|1980 || ''[[Little Lord Fauntleroy (1980 film)|Little Lord Fauntleroy]]'' || Kimsey
|-
|1985 || ''[[Mr. Love]]'' || Ferris
|-
|1985 || ''Invitation to the Wedding'' || Vine
|-
|1985 || ''[[Turtle Diary]]'' || Garage Attendant with Bucket
|-
|1987 || ''Pretorius'' || Huizinga
|-
|2002 || ''[[Shipman (film)|Shipman]]'' || Len Fallows
|-
|}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0578292|Tony Melody}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Melody, Tony}}
[[Category:1922 births]]
[[Category:2008 deaths]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English male radio actors]]
[[Category:English Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in England]]
[[Category:Male actors from London]]
[[Category:Male actors from Lancashire]]
[[Category:Male actors from Yorkshire]]
[[Category:People from Bispham, Blackpool]]
[[Category:People from Goole]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force personnel of World War II]]

Tony Melody - Revision history

Kurt at 04:09, 7 February 2023

Kurt: /* External links */

Kurt: 1 revision imported

92.236.6.201: /* Career */typo