Victor Spinetti - Revision history

Kurt: /* Tributes */

2023-01-11T16:25:02Z

Tributes

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	==Tributes==		==Tributes==
	Spinetti was visited shortly before his death by [[Barbara Windsor]], who had co-starred with him in the West End production of ''Oh, What a Lovely War!'' Windsor said, "We were very close. He was another of my great friends from that era. He was such a great man. He was such a good actor because he took notice of people and used their characters. He portrayed them wonderfully, whatever he did."<ref name=BBCa/> Comedian [[Rob Brydon]] tweeted, "So sad Victor Spinetti has died. The funniest story teller I've ever met and a lovely warm man." Spinetti also received warm tributes from actor and singer [[Britt Ekland]] and fellow Welsh actor [[Siân Phillips]], who told [[BBC Wales]] that she was shocked and saddened. Phillips added, "He was such a force of joy and vitality. When one saw him across a crowded room, one couldn't wait to get together with him and have a chat and a catch-up."<ref name="BBCa"/>		Spinetti was visited shortly before his death by [[Barbara Windsor]], who had co-starred with him in the West End production of ''Oh, What a Lovely War!'' Windsor said, "We were very close. He was another of my great friends from that era. He was such a great man. He was such a good actor because he took notice of people and used their characters. He portrayed them wonderfully, whatever he did."<ref name=BBCa/> Comedian [[w:Rob Brydon\|Rob Brydon]] tweeted, "So sad Victor Spinetti has died. The funniest story teller I've ever met and a lovely warm man." Spinetti also received warm tributes from actor and singer [[w:Britt Ekland\|Britt Ekland]] and fellow Welsh actor [[w:Siân Phillips\|Siân Phillips]], who told [[w:BBC Wales\|BBC Wales]] that she was shocked and saddened. Phillips added, "He was such a force of joy and vitality. When one saw him across a crowded room, one couldn't wait to get together with him and have a chat and a catch-up."<ref name="BBCa"/>

	[[Paul McCartney]] paid tribute to Spinetti on his website: "Victor was a fine man, a great pal and a fantastic actor and someone I am proud to have known for many years. His irreverent wit and exuberant personality will remain in my memory forever. I will miss his loyal friendship as will all the others who were lucky enough to know and love the wonderful Mr Spinetti."<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.paulmccartney.com/web/guest/news/-/blogs/victor-spinetti-1929-2012?_33_redirect=/web/guest/home&#p_33top\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630080654/http://www.paulmccartney.com/web/guest/news/-/blogs/victor-spinetti-1929-2012?_33_redirect=%2Fweb%2Fguest%2Fhome&\|url-status=dead\|title="Victor Spinetti 1929 – 2012"\|archive-date=30 June 2012\|access-date=5 November 2021}}</ref> At a memorial service for Spinetti, attended by McCartney, the Beatles song "[[In My Life]]" was sung by [[Michael Ball (singer)\|Michael Ball]].~~{{citation needed\|date=October 2013}}~~ [[Preston FM]] scheduled a tribute broadcast, for 22 June, of a previously unaired in-depth interview with Spinetti, recorded when he visited Blackpool in July 2010, in Paul and Lucy Breeze's ''Best Kept Secrets in Conversation''.<ref>[http://www.bestkeptsecrets.biz/2012/06/in-conversation-victor-spinetti-special.html In Conversation: Victor Spinetti Special – Friday 7pm] {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124081803/http://www.bestkeptsecrets.biz/2012/06/in-conversation-victor-spinetti-special.html \|date=24 November 2015 }}. Bestkeptsecrets.biz (21 June 2012). Retrieved 3 September 2013.</ref>		[[w:Paul McCartney\|Paul McCartney]] paid tribute to Spinetti on his website: "Victor was a fine man, a great pal and a fantastic actor and someone I am proud to have known for many years. His irreverent wit and exuberant personality will remain in my memory forever. I will miss his loyal friendship as will all the others who were lucky enough to know and love the wonderful Mr Spinetti."<ref>{{Cite web\|url=http://www.paulmccartney.com/web/guest/news/-/blogs/victor-spinetti-1929-2012?_33_redirect=/web/guest/home&#p_33top\|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630080654/http://www.paulmccartney.com/web/guest/news/-/blogs/victor-spinetti-1929-2012?_33_redirect=%2Fweb%2Fguest%2Fhome&\|url-status=dead\|title="Victor Spinetti 1929 – 2012"\|archive-date=30 June 2012\|access-date=5 November 2021}}</ref> At a memorial service for Spinetti, attended by McCartney, the Beatles song "[[w:In My Life\|In My Life]]" was sung by [[w:Michael Ball (singer)\|Michael Ball]]. [[w:Preston FM\|Preston FM]] scheduled a tribute broadcast, for 22 June, of a previously unaired in-depth interview with Spinetti, recorded when he visited Blackpool in July 2010, in Paul and Lucy Breeze's ''Best Kept Secrets in Conversation''.<ref>[http://www.bestkeptsecrets.biz/2012/06/in-conversation-victor-spinetti-special.html In Conversation: Victor Spinetti Special – Friday 7pm] {{webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124081803/http://www.bestkeptsecrets.biz/2012/06/in-conversation-victor-spinetti-special.html \|date=24 November 2015 }}. Bestkeptsecrets.biz (21 June 2012). Retrieved 3 September 2013.</ref>

	==Filmography==		==Filmography==

Kurt at 16:21, 11 January 2023

2023-01-11T16:21:38Z

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	{{short description\|Welsh actor and theatre director}}		{{short description\|Welsh actor and theatre director}}
	~~{{EngvarB\|date=November 2017}}~~
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=November 2017}}~~
	{{Infobox person		{{Infobox person
	\| name = Victor Spinetti		\| name = Victor Spinetti
	\| image = ~~6702~~ Victor Spinetti.jpg		\| image = Victor Spinetti.jpg
	\| imagesize =		\| imagesize =
	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| birth_name = Vittorio Giorgio Andre Spinetti		\| birth_name = Vittorio Giorgio Andre Spinetti
	\| birth_date = {{Birth date~~\|df=y~~\|1929\|09\|02}}		\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|1929\|09\|02}}
	\| birth_place = [[Cwm, Blaenau Gwent\|Cwm]], [[Ebbw Vale]], Wales		\| birth_place = [[w:Cwm, Blaenau Gwent\|Cwm]]\|df=y, [[w:Ebbw Vale\|Ebbw Vale]], Wales
	\| death_date = {{Death date and age~~\|df=y~~\|2012\|06\|19\|1929\|09\|02}}		\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|2012\|06\|19\|1929\|09\|02\|df=y}}
	\| death_place = [[Monmouth]], [[Monmouthshire]], Wales		\| death_place = [[w:Monmouth\|Monmouth]], [[w:Monmouthshire\|Monmouthshire]], Wales
	\| occupation = Actor, author, poet, raconteur		\| occupation = Actor, author, poet, raconteur
	\| spouse =		\| spouse =
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	\| yearsactive = 1961–2012		\| yearsactive = 1961–2012
	\| children =		\| children =
	\| relatives = [[Henry Spinetti]] (brother)<br />Adrian Spinetti (twin brother)		\| relatives = [[w:Henry Spinetti\|Henry Spinetti]] (brother)<br />Adrian Spinetti (twin brother)
	\| website =		\| website =
	}}		}}

Kurt: /* Filmography */

2023-01-11T16:18:07Z

Filmography

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	! Notes		! Notes
	\|-		\|-
	\|1958\|\| ''[[Behind the Mask (1958 film)\|Behind the Mask]]'' \|\| Minor Role \|\| Uncredited		\|1958
			\|\| ''[[Behind the Mask (1958 film)\|Behind the Mask]]''
			\|\| Minor Role
			\|\| Uncredited
	\|-		\|-
	\|1961\|\| ''[[The Gentle Terror]]'' \|\| Joe \|\|		\|1961
			\|\| ''[[The Gentle Terror]]''
			\|\| Joe
			\|\|
	\|-		\|-
	\|1963\|\| ''[[Sparrows Can't Sing]]'' \|\| Arnold \|\|		\|1963
			\|\| ''[[Sparrows Can't Sing]]''
			\|\| Arnold
			\|\|
	\|-		\|-
	\|1963\|\| ''[[Stolen Hours]]'' \|\| Freddy Cadogan - Party Guest \|\| Uncredited \|\|		\|1963
			\|\| ''[[Stolen Hours]]''
			\|\| Freddy Cadogan - Party Guest
			\|\| Uncredited
	\|-		\|-
	\|1964\|\| ''[[Becket (1964 film)\|Becket]]'' \|\| French Tailor \|\| Uncredited		\|1964
			\|\| ''[[Becket (1964 film)\|Becket]]''
			\|\| French Tailor
			\|\| Uncredited
	\|-		\|-
	\|1964\|\| ''[[A Hard Day's Night (film)\|A Hard Day's Night]]'' \|\| T.V. Director \|\|		\|1964
			\|\| ''[[A Hard Day's Night (film)\|A Hard Day's Night]]''
			\|\| T.V. Director
			\|\|
	\|-		\|-
	\|1965\|\| ''[[Help! (film)\|Help!]]'' \|\| Foot \|\|		\|1965
			\|\| ''[[Help! (film)\|Help!]]''
			\|\| Foot
			\|\|
	\|-		\|-
	\|1965\|\| ''[[The Wild Affair]]'' \|\| Quentin \|\|		\|1965\|\| ''[[The Wild Affair]]'' \|\| Quentin \|\|

Kurt: /* External links */

2023-01-11T16:15:26Z

External links

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	==External links==		==External links==
	~~{{commons category\|Victor Spinetti}}~~
	* {{IBDB name}}		* {{IBDB name}}
	* {{IMDb name\|0818920}}		* {{IMDb name\|0818920}}
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	* [http://paulandlucysbestkeptsecrets.blogspot.com/2012/06/rip-victor-spinetti-1929-2012.html Paul & Lucy's BEST KEPT SECRETS: In Conversation: Victor Spinetti Special]		* [http://paulandlucysbestkeptsecrets.blogspot.com/2012/06/rip-victor-spinetti-1929-2012.html Paul & Lucy's BEST KEPT SECRETS: In Conversation: Victor Spinetti Special]
	* [http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsS/spinetti-victor.html doollee.com listing of Spinetti's works written for the stage]		* [http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsS/spinetti-victor.html doollee.com listing of Spinetti's works written for the stage]

	~~{{TonyAward MusicalFeaturedActor 1947-1975}}~~

	~~{{Authority control}}~~

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Spinetti, Victor}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Spinetti, Victor}}
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	[[Category:2012 deaths]]		[[Category:2012 deaths]]
	[[Category:Alumni of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama]]		[[Category:Alumni of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama]]
	~~[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Wales]]~~
	~~[[Category:Deaths from prostate cancer]]~~
	[[Category:Welsh gay actors]]		[[Category:Welsh gay actors]]
	[[Category:British people of Italian descent]]		[[Category:British people of Italian descent]]

Kurt: /* Television */

2023-01-11T16:14:43Z

Television

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	===Television===		===Television===
	~~{{unreferenced section\|date=May 2018}}~~
	From 1968 to 1969 Spinetti was a cast member of the Marty Feldman sketch show ''It's Marty'', which was written by Barry Took, with contributions by [[John Cleese]], [[Michael Palin]] and [[Graham Chapman]], members of [[Monty Python]] as well as [[John Junkin]], who appeared with Spinetti in ''A Hard Day's Night''. In 1969 and 1970 Spinetti appeared on [[Thames Television]], alongside [[Sid James]], as one half of ''[[Two in Clover]]'' over two series. A sitcom about two office workers who jack it all in to become farmers, he starred in all but one of the 13 episodes. His absence in episode No. 3 of the second series was covered by fellow Welsh actor [[Richard Davies (Welsh actor)\|Richard Davies]], playing Spinetti's character's brother.		From 1968 to 1969 Spinetti was a cast member of the Marty Feldman sketch show ''It's Marty'', which was written by Barry Took, with contributions by [[John Cleese]], [[Michael Palin]] and [[Graham Chapman]], members of [[Monty Python]] as well as [[John Junkin]], who appeared with Spinetti in ''A Hard Day's Night''. In 1969 and 1970 Spinetti appeared on [[Thames Television]], alongside [[Sid James]], as one half of ''[[Two in Clover]]'' over two series. A sitcom about two office workers who jack it all in to become farmers, he starred in all but one of the 13 episodes. His absence in episode No. 3 of the second series was covered by fellow Welsh actor [[Richard Davies (Welsh actor)\|Richard Davies]], playing Spinetti's character's brother.

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2022-08-01T20:06:47Z

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← Older revision	Revision as of 15:06, 1 August 2022
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en>7szz: /* External links */

2022-07-13T05:01:31Z

External links

New page

{{short description|Welsh actor and theatre director}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Victor Spinetti
| image = 6702 Victor Spinetti.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birth_name = Vittorio Giorgio Andre Spinetti
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1929|09|02}}
| birth_place = [[Cwm, Blaenau Gwent|Cwm]], [[Ebbw Vale]], Wales
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2012|06|19|1929|09|02}}
| death_place = [[Monmouth]], [[Monmouthshire]], Wales
| occupation = Actor, author, poet, raconteur
| spouse =
| partner = Graham Curnow<br />(1953–1997; Curnow's death)
| yearsactive = 1961–2012
| children =
| relatives = [[Henry Spinetti]] (brother)<br />Adrian Spinetti (twin brother)
| website =
}}

'''Vittorio Giorgio Andre''' "'''Victor'''" '''Spinetti''' (2 September 1929 – 19 June 2012)<ref name=freebmd/><ref>[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/09/15/victor-spinetti-the-man-the-beatles-loved-91466-27268954/ Victor Spinetti – the man The Beatles loved]. WalesOnline (15 September 2010). Retrieved 3 September 2013.</ref> was a Welsh<ref name=obit/> actor, author, poet, and raconteur. He appeared in dozens of films and stage plays throughout his 50-year career, including the three 1960s [[The Beatles|Beatles]] films ''[[A Hard Day's Night (film)|A Hard Day's Night]]'', ''[[Help! (film)|Help!]]'', and ''[[Magical Mystery Tour (film)|Magical Mystery Tour]]''.

Born in [[Cwm, Blaenau Gwent|Cwm]], Spinetti was educated at [[Monmouth School]] and the [[Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama]] in Cardiff, of which he became a Fellow. After various menial jobs, Spinetti pursued a stage career and was closely associated with [[Joan Littlewood]]'s [[Theatre Workshop]]. Among the productions were ''[[Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be]]'' and ''[[Oh, What a Lovely War!]]'' (1963), which transferred to [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] and for which he won a [[Tony Award]]. Spinetti's film career developed simultaneously; his dozens of film appearances included [[Franco Zeffirelli|Zeffirelli's]] ''[[The Taming of the Shrew (1967 film)|The Taming of the Shrew]]'', ''[[Under Milk Wood (1972 film)|Under Milk Wood]]'', ''[[The Return of the Pink Panther]]'' and ''[[Under the Cherry Moon]]''.

During his later career, Spinetti acted with the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]], in such roles as Lord Foppington in ''[[The Relapse]]'' and the Archbishop in ''[[Richard III (play)|Richard III]]'', at [[Stratford-upon-Avon]]; and, in 1990, he appeared in ''[[The Krays (film)|The Krays]]''. In 2008 he appeared in a one-man show, ''A Very Private Diary'', which toured the UK as ''A Very Private Diary ... Revisited!'', recounting his life story. Spinetti was diagnosed with [[prostate cancer]] in 2011 and died of the disease in June 2012.

==Early life==
Vittorio Giorgio Andre Spinetti was born on 2 September 1929<ref name=freebmd>{{cite web|url=http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=z2ymuZK8Nf0PljDQ3RBncg&scan=1|title=Index entry |access-date=15 August 2011 |work=FreeBMD|publisher=ONS}}</ref> in [[Cwm, Blaenau Gwent|Cwm]], of [[Welsh people|Welsh]] and Italian descent from a grandfather who was said to have 'walked' from Italy to Wales to work as a coal miner, just to earn enough money to buy a plough.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ySRmCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT7|title=Up Front...: His Strictly Confidential Autobiography - Victor Spinetti - Google Books|isbn=9781910232620|access-date=5 November 2021|last1=Spinetti|first1=Victor|date=30 July 2015}}</ref> His parents, Giuseppe and Lily (''née'' Watson),<ref name=freebmd/> owned the [[Fish and chips|chip shop]] in Cwm, over which premises the family lived and where Spinetti was born. Spinetti was the eldest of six,<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/film-obituaries/9341462/Victor-Spinetti.html Victor Spinetti]. ''The Daily Telegraph''. (19 June 2012). Retrieved 3 September 2013.</ref> and his younger brother, [[Henry Spinetti|Henry]] (born 1951), is a [[Session musician|session drummer]]. Spinetti was educated at [[Monmouth School]] and the [[Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama]] in Cardiff, of which he later became a Fellow. Early on, he worked as a waiter and factory worker. It was at the college that Spinetti met actor Graham Curnow, who became his partner.

==Career==
===Film===
[[File:Victor Spinetti, Old Monmothian.jpg|thumb|At [[Monmouth School]] on speech day, 2009]]
Spinetti gained international fame during the 1960s due to his association with [[the Beatles]]. He appeared in the first three Beatles films: ''[[A Hard Day's Night (film)|A Hard Day's Night]]'' (1964), ''[[Help! (film)|Help!]]'' (1965), and ''[[Magical Mystery Tour (film)|Magical Mystery Tour]]'' (1967). He also appeared on the Beatles' 1967 Christmas recording, released to members of their fan club. The best explanation for this long-running collaboration and friendship might have been provided by [[George Harrison]], who told Spinetti, "You've got to be in all our films ... if you're not in them me Mum won't come and see them – because she fancies you."<ref name="BBCa">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-18148017 "Victor Spinetti, actor and star of Beatles films, dies"], BBC News, 19 June 2012</ref> But Harrison also later told him, "You've got a lovely karma, Vic." [[Paul McCartney]] once described Spinetti as "the man who makes clouds disappear". Spinetti made a small appearance in the promotional video for McCartney's song "London Town" from the 1978 [[London Town (Wings album)|album of the same name]]. Spinetti's July 2010 performance of the song "[[Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da]]", at the [[Festival Theatre, Malvern]] in Worcestershire, was available on "The Beatles Complete on Ukulele" podcast.<ref>[http://thebeatlescompleteonukulele.com/2010/07/080-ob-la-di-ob-la-da-victor-spinetti "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" – Victor Spinetti]. Thebeatlescompleteonukulele.com. Retrieved 3 September 2013.</ref>

Spinetti appeared in around 30 films, including ''[[The Gentle Terror]]'' (1961), ''[[Sparrows Can't Sing]]'' (1963), ''[[The Wild Affair]]'' (1964), ''[[Becket (1964 film)|Becket]]'' (1964), [[Franco Zeffirelli|Zeffirelli's]] ''[[The Taming of the Shrew (1967 film)|The Taming of the Shrew]]'' (1967), ''[[The Biggest Bundle of Them All]]'' (1968), ''[[Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness?]]'' (1969), ''[[A Promise of Bed|This, That and the Other]]'' (1969), ''[[Start the Revolution Without Me]]'' (1970), ''[[Under Milk Wood (1972 film)|Under Milk Wood]]'' (1972), ''[[Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World]]'' (1973), ''[[The Great McGonagall (film)|The Great McGonagall]]'' (1974), ''[[The Little Prince (1974 film)|The Little Prince]]'' (1974), ''[[The Return of the Pink Panther]]'' (1975), ''[[Voyage of the Damned]]'' (1976), ''[[Emily (1976 film)|Emily]]'' (1976), ''[[Hardcore (1977 film)|Hardcore]]'' (1977), ''[[Casanova & Co.]]'' (1977), ''[[Under the Cherry Moon]]'' (1986) and ''[[The Krays (film)|The Krays]]'' (1990).

Spinetti's last on-screen appearance was in the DVD release of the independent film ''[[Beatles Stories]]'' by US musician [[Seth Swirsky]], issued to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' first recording sessions at [[Abbey Road Studios|Abbey Road]].<ref name=obit>{{cite web |last=Coveney |first=Michael |date=19 June 2012 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/jun/19/victor-spinetti?newsfeed=true |title=Victor Spinetti obituary |quote=Victor Spinetti, who has died of cancer aged 82, was an outrageously talented Welsh actor and raconteur |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=3 September 2013}}</ref>

===Theatre===
[[File:Voorpremiere Hair in Amsterdam. Regisseur Victor Spinetti, Bestanddeelnr 923-1143.jpg|thumb|Spinetti directing the premiere of ''[[Hair (musical)|Hair]]'' in Amsterdam, 1969]]
Spinetti's work in [[Joan Littlewood]]'s [[Theatre Workshop]] produced many memorable performances including ''[[Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be]]'' (1959, by [[Frank Norman]], with music by [[Lionel Bart]]), and ''[[Oh, What a Lovely War!]]'' (1963), which transferred to New York City and for which he won a [[Tony Award]] for his main role as an obnoxious Drill Sergeant. He appeared in the [[West End theatre|West End]] in ''[[The Odd Couple (play)|The Odd Couple]]'' (as Felix); in ''[[Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (musical)|Chitty Chitty Bang Bang]]'' in the West End; and as [[Albert Einstein]] in a critically lauded performance in 2005 in a new play, ''Albert's Boy'' at the [[Finborough Theatre]]. He launched his own one-man show of witty reminiscences, ''A Very Private Diary'', at the [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe]].<ref name=obit/>

One of Spinetti's most challenging theatre roles was as the principal male character in [[Jane Arden (director)|Jane Arden]]'s radical feminist play ''[[Vagina Rex and the Gas Oven]]'', which played to packed houses for six weeks at the [[Arts Lab]] on [[Drury Lane]] in 1969. In 1980 he directed ''[[The Biograph Girl]]'', a musical about the [[silent film]] era, at the [[Phoenix Theatre (London)|Phoenix Theatre]]. In 1986 he appeared as [[Fagin]] in the musical ''[[Oliver!]]'', which was the last professional production to use [[Sean Kenny (theatre designer)|Sean Kenny's]] original stage design. He appeared on Broadway in ''[[The Hostage (play)|The Hostage]]'' and ''[[The Philanthropist (play)|The Philanthropist]]'', and also acted in 1995 with the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]], in such roles as Lord Foppington in ''[[The Relapse]]'' and the Archbishop in ''[[Richard III (play)|Richard III]]'', at [[Stratford-upon-Avon]], although this was not a happy experience for him.<ref name=obit/>

Spinetti co-authored ''[[In His Own Write]]'', the play adapted from a book by [[John Lennon]] with the Beatle which he also directed at the [[Royal National Theatre|National Theatre]], premiering on 18 June 1968, at the [[Old Vic]]. Spinetti and Lennon appeared together in June 1968 on BBC2's ''Release''. During the interview, Spinetti said of the play, that "it's not really John's childhood, it's all of ours really, isn't it John?" to which Lennon replied, assuming a camp voice, "It is, we're all one Victor, we're all one aren't we. I mean 'what's going on?'" Spinetti described the play as being "about the growing up of any of us; the things that helped us to be more aware".

He also directed ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar]]'' and ''[[Hair (musical)|Hair]]'', including productions staged in Europe. His many television appearances on British TV, include ''Take My Wife'' in which he played a London-based booking agent and schemer who was forever promising his comedian client that fame was just around the corner, and the sitcom ''[[An Actor's Life For Me]]''.

In 1999 Victor Spinetti played in a [[Jim Davidson]] Adult Pantomime of Babes In The Wood (Boobs In The Wood) plays as Friar Tuck where he been taking weed and been told by The Sheriff Of Nottingham who was played by Jim Davidson to kill his Niece and Nephew which they were escape convicts which one played by Kenny Baker.

In September 2008 Spinetti reprised his one-man show, ''A Very Private Diary'', touring the UK, as ''A Very Private Diary ... Revisited!'', telling his life story.<ref>[http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/20975/entertainer-spinetti-to-tour-life-story Entertainer Spinetti to tour life story]. ''The Stage''. (30 August 2013). Retrieved 3 September 2013. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612022726/http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/20975/entertainer-spinetti-to-tour-life-story |date=12 June 2011 }}</ref>

===Television===
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2018}}
From 1968 to 1969 Spinetti was a cast member of the Marty Feldman sketch show ''It's Marty'', which was written by Barry Took, with contributions by [[John Cleese]], [[Michael Palin]] and [[Graham Chapman]], members of [[Monty Python]] as well as [[John Junkin]], who appeared with Spinetti in ''A Hard Day's Night''. In 1969 and 1970 Spinetti appeared on [[Thames Television]], alongside [[Sid James]], as one half of ''[[Two in Clover]]'' over two series. A sitcom about two office workers who jack it all in to become farmers, he starred in all but one of the 13 episodes. His absence in episode No. 3 of the second series was covered by fellow Welsh actor [[Richard Davies (Welsh actor)|Richard Davies]], playing Spinetti's character's brother.

In the 1970s Spinetti appeared in a series of television advertisements for [[McVities]]' (now [[United Biscuits]]) [[Jaffa Cakes]], as "The Mad Jaffa Cake Eater", a turbaned, Middle-Eastern style character who rode a bicycle and surreptitiously stole and ate other people's Jaffa Cakes, prompting the catchphrase "There's Orangey!" He hosted ''Victor's Party'' for [[Granada Television|Granada]]. In 1979 he voiced Mr. Tumnus in the USA dubbed version of the 1979 animated adaptation of ''[[The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1979 film)|The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe]]'' as well as voice directing for the film. Later he voiced arch villain Texas Pete in the popular [[S4C]] animated TV series ''[[SuperTed]]'' (1982–84) and narrated several ''[[Fireman Sam]]'' audiobooks. In 1988 he appeared alongside [[Paul Schofield]] and [[Mary Steenburgen]] in ''[[The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank|The Attic]]'', a World War Two drama about Anne Frank. In 1992, he voiced the King of the Rats in the British children's animated programme ''[[Tales of the Tooth Fairies]]'' (in the episode The Stolen Present) on [[BBC]], produced by Welsh animation company [[Calon (TV production company)|Calon]], formerly Siriol Productions. In 1995, he appeared in the "[[Finger (Bottom)|Finger]]" episode of the comedy series ''[[Bottom (TV series)|Bottom]]'', with [[Rik Mayall]] and [[Ade Edmondson]], as Audrey the [[Maître d'hôtel]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0530636/|title = "Bottom" Finger (TV Episode 1995) |website=IMDb.com}}</ref> He also starred in the 1999 DVD film ''Boobs in the Wood'' with [[Jim Davidson]].

From 1999 to 2002, Spinetti played Max, the 'man of a thousand faces', in the children's TV programme ''[[Harry and the Wrinklies]]'', which also starred [[Nick Robinson (English actor)|Nick Robinson]] in the title role.

===Appearances===
*Spinetti appears in ''[[This Is Your Life (UK TV series)|This Is Your Life]]''.
* 1985: The "[[All I Need Is a Miracle]]" music video by [[Mike and the Mechanics]] as the club owner.

===Writing===
Spinetti's poetry, notably ''Watchers Along the Mall'' (1963), and prose appeared in various publications. His memoir, ''Victor Spinetti Up Front...: His Strictly Confidential Autobiography'', published in September 2006, is filled with anecdotes. In conversation with BBC Radio 2's [[Michael Ball (singer)|Michael Ball]], on his show broadcast on 7 September 2008, Spinetti revealed that [[Princess Margaret]] had been instrumental in securing the necessary censor permission for the first run of ''[[Oh, What A Lovely War!]]''.

==Personal life ==
Spinetti lived with his partner of forty-four years, Graham Curnow, who died in 1997. Curnow appeared in the 1959 British horror film ''[[Horrors of the Black Museum]]''.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0192789/ Graham Curnow (1930–1997)]. IMDb</ref>

==Death==
Spinetti had been diagnosed with [[prostate cancer]] in February 2011, after he collapsed onstage on [[Valentine's Day]]. He suffered a spinal fracture and discovered only by chance that he had a tumour. He was at first treated in London, but after being cared for by his sister and brother-in-law, he moved to the Velindre Cancer Centre in [[Whitchurch, Cardiff|Whitchurch]] for radiotherapy treatment.<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Victor+was+a+magnificent+man,+a+wonderful+man+who+was+full+of+great...-a0293717497 TRIBUTES TO LARGER-THAN-LIFE STAR SPINETTI WHO'S DIED AT 82.] WalesOnline.co.uk via Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2013-09-03.<br />"Victor was a magnificent man, a wonderful man who was full of great stories... Liz Taylor and Richard Burton wanted him at their parties, The Beatles loved him – they wouldn't do a film without him."</ref><ref>[http://www.beatlesbible.com/people/victor-spinetti/ Victor Spinetti]. Beatlesbible.com. Retrieved 3 September 2013.</ref> He died from the disease<ref>[http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2012/06/19/actor-victor-spinetti-loses-his-battle-with-prostate-cancer-aged-82-91466-31214735/ Actor Victor Spinetti loses his battle with prostate cancer, aged 82 at walesonline, 19 June 2012]. Walesonline.co.uk (19 June 2012). Retrieved 3 September 2013.</ref> at [[Monnow Vale Integrated Health and Social Care Facility]] in [[Monmouth]] on the morning of 19 June 2012. His funeral was conducted by [[Ajahn Khemadhammo]].<ref>[https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/11/24/religion-in-prisons-buddhism-monk-ajahn-khemadhammo_n_6212664.html 'The Monk Who Gave Up Acting With Laurence Olivier To Lead Buddhism In British Prisons']. ''[[HuffPost]]''. 25 November 2014.</ref>

==Tributes==
Spinetti was visited shortly before his death by [[Barbara Windsor]], who had co-starred with him in the West End production of ''Oh, What a Lovely War!'' Windsor said, "We were very close. He was another of my great friends from that era. He was such a great man. He was such a good actor because he took notice of people and used their characters. He portrayed them wonderfully, whatever he did."<ref name=BBCa/> Comedian [[Rob Brydon]] tweeted, "So sad Victor Spinetti has died. The funniest story teller I've ever met and a lovely warm man." Spinetti also received warm tributes from actor and singer [[Britt Ekland]] and fellow Welsh actor [[Siân Phillips]], who told [[BBC Wales]] that she was shocked and saddened. Phillips added, "He was such a force of joy and vitality. When one saw him across a crowded room, one couldn't wait to get together with him and have a chat and a catch-up."<ref name="BBCa"/>

[[Paul McCartney]] paid tribute to Spinetti on his website: "Victor was a fine man, a great pal and a fantastic actor and someone I am proud to have known for many years. His irreverent wit and exuberant personality will remain in my memory forever. I will miss his loyal friendship as will all the others who were lucky enough to know and love the wonderful Mr Spinetti."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.paulmccartney.com/web/guest/news/-/blogs/victor-spinetti-1929-2012?_33_redirect=/web/guest/home&#p_33top|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120630080654/http://www.paulmccartney.com/web/guest/news/-/blogs/victor-spinetti-1929-2012?_33_redirect=%2Fweb%2Fguest%2Fhome&|url-status=dead|title="Victor Spinetti 1929 – 2012"|archive-date=30 June 2012|access-date=5 November 2021}}</ref> At a memorial service for Spinetti, attended by McCartney, the Beatles song "[[In My Life]]" was sung by [[Michael Ball (singer)|Michael Ball]].{{citation needed|date=October 2013}} [[Preston FM]] scheduled a tribute broadcast, for 22 June, of a previously unaired in-depth interview with Spinetti, recorded when he visited Blackpool in July 2010, in Paul and Lucy Breeze's ''Best Kept Secrets in Conversation''.<ref>[http://www.bestkeptsecrets.biz/2012/06/in-conversation-victor-spinetti-special.html In Conversation: Victor Spinetti Special – Friday 7pm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124081803/http://www.bestkeptsecrets.biz/2012/06/in-conversation-victor-spinetti-special.html |date=24 November 2015 }}. Bestkeptsecrets.biz (21 June 2012). Retrieved 3 September 2013.</ref>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|1958|| ''[[Behind the Mask (1958 film)|Behind the Mask]]'' || Minor Role || Uncredited
|-
|1961|| ''[[The Gentle Terror]]'' || Joe ||
|-
|1963|| ''[[Sparrows Can't Sing]]'' || Arnold ||
|-
|1963|| ''[[Stolen Hours]]'' || Freddy Cadogan - Party Guest || Uncredited ||
|-
|1964|| ''[[Becket (1964 film)|Becket]]'' || French Tailor || Uncredited
|-
|1964|| ''[[A Hard Day's Night (film)|A Hard Day's Night]]'' || T.V. Director ||
|-
|1965|| ''[[Help! (film)|Help!]]'' || Foot ||
|-
|1965|| ''[[The Wild Affair]]'' || Quentin ||
|-
|1967|| ''[[The Taming of the Shrew (1967 film)|The Taming of the Shrew]]'' || Hortensio ||
|-
|1967|| ''[[Magical Mystery Tour (film)|Magical Mystery Tour]]'' || Army Sergeant ||
|-
|1968|| ''[[The Biggest Bundle of Them All]]'' || Captain Giglio ||
|-
|1969|| ''[[Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness?]]'' || Critic Sharpnose ||
|-
|1970|| ''[[Start the Revolution Without Me]]'' || Duke d'Escargot ||
|-
|1970|| ''[[A Promise of Bed]]'' || George ||
|-
|1970|| ''[[Defeat of the Mafia]]'' || Charles Agostino ||
|-
|1971|| ''[[Under Milk Wood (1972 film)|Under Milk Wood]]'' || Mog Edwards ||
|-
|1973|| ''[[Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World]]'' || Professor Ribart ||
|-
|1974|| ''[[The Little Prince (1974 film)|The Little Prince]]'' || The Historian ||
|-
|1975|| ''[[The Great McGonagall (film)|The Great McGonagall]]'' || Mr. Stewart / Second-Lieutenant Rotlo / Supposed John Brown / Gentleman / Revolutionary / Cardinal / Policeman ||
|-
|1975|| ''[[The Return of the Pink Panther]]'' || Hotel Concierge ||
|-
|1975|| ''[[Dick Deadeye, or Duty Done]]'' || Dick Deadeye || Voice
|-
|1976|| ''[[Emily (1976 film)|Emily]]'' || Richard Walker ||
|-
|1976|| ''[[Voyage of the Damned]]'' || Dr. Erich Strauss ||
|-
|1977|| ''[[Casanova & Co.]]'' || The Prefect ||
|-
|1977|| ''[[Hardcore (1977 film)|Hardcore]]'' || Duncan ||
|-
|1986|| ''[[Under the Cherry Moon]]'' || The Jaded Three #1 ||
|-
|1990|| ''[[The Krays (film)|The Krays]]'' || Mr. Lawson ||
|-
|1990|| ''Romeo.Juliet''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.victorspinetti.co.uk/filmography.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=11 February 2019 |archive-date=12 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212130808/https://www.victorspinetti.co.uk/filmography.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> || Tybalt / Benvolio || Voice
|-
|1991|| ''[[The Princess and the Goblin (film)|The Princess and the Goblin]]'' || Glump || Voice
|-
|1999|| ''Julie and the Cadillacs'' || Cyril Wise ||
|-
|1999|| ''[[Dragon Tales]]'' || Narrator (Audiobooks)||
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Victor Spinetti}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{IMDb name|0818920}}
* {{tcmdb name|id=182084|name=Victor Spinetti}}
* [http://articles.absoluteelsewhere.net/Articles/victor_spinneti.html Stories, biography, filmography]
* [http://paulandlucysbestkeptsecrets.blogspot.com/2012/06/rip-victor-spinetti-1929-2012.html Paul & Lucy's BEST KEPT SECRETS: In Conversation: Victor Spinetti Special]
* [http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsS/spinetti-victor.html doollee.com listing of Spinetti's works written for the stage]

{{TonyAward MusicalFeaturedActor 1947-1975}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spinetti, Victor}}
[[Category:1929 births]]
[[Category:2012 deaths]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Wales]]
[[Category:Deaths from prostate cancer]]
[[Category:Welsh gay actors]]
[[Category:British people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:LGBT writers from Wales]]
[[Category:LGBT actors from Wales]]
[[Category:People educated at Monmouth School]]
[[Category:People from Ebbw Vale]]
[[Category:Theatre World Award winners]]
[[Category:Tony Award winners]]
[[Category:Welsh male film actors]]
[[Category:Welsh male stage actors]]
[[Category:Welsh male television actors]]
[[Category:Welsh male voice actors]]
[[Category:Welsh voice directors]]
[[Category:Welsh people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:British gay writers]]
[[Category:Gay entertainers]]
[[Category:20th-century LGBT people]]
[[Category:21st-century LGBT people]]