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{{Short description|English actor and comedian}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Alfred Marks
| image = Actor_Alfred_Marks.jpg
| image = Actor_Alfred_Marks.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| caption =
| birth_name = Alfred Edward Touchinsky <ref>Brian McFarlane (ed.) ''The Encyclopedia of British Film'', Methuen/BFI, 2003, p. 433<!-- ISBN needed --></ref>
| birth_name = Alfred Edward Touchinsky <ref>Brian McFarlane (ed.) ''The Encyclopedia of British Film'', Methuen/BFI, 2003, p. 433<!-- ISBN needed --></ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1921|1|28}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1921|1|28}}
| birth_place = [[w:Holborn|Holborn]], London, England
| birth_place = [[Holborn|Holborn]], London, England
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1996|7|1|1921|1|28}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1996|7|1|1921|1|28}}
| death_place = [[w:London Borough of Hillingdon|Hillingdon, London]], England
| death_place = [[London Borough of Hillingdon|Hillingdon, London]], England
| occupation = Actor, comedian
| occupation = Actor, comedian
| spouse = {{marriage|[[w:Paddie O'Neil|Paddie O'Neil]]|1952}}
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Paddie O'Neil|Paddie O'Neil]]|1952}}
| children = 2
| children = 2
}}
}}


'''Alfred Edward Marks''' [[w:Officer of the Order of the British Empire|OBE]] (born '''Alfred Edward Touchinsky'''; 28 January 1921{{spaced ndash}}1 July 1996) was a British actor and comedian. In his 60-year career, he played dramatic and comedy roles in numerous television programmes, stage shows and films. His self-titled television sketch show ran from 1956 to 1961.
'''Alfred Edward Marks''' [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire|OBE]] (born '''Alfred Edward Touchinsky'''; 28 January 1921{{spaced ndash}}1 July 1996) was a British actor and comedian. In his 60-year career, he played dramatic and comedy roles in numerous television programmes, stage shows and films. His self-titled television sketch show ran from 1956 to 1961.


==Biography==
==Biography==
Marks was born as Alfred Edward Touchinsky in [[w:Holborn|Holborn]], London, to [[w:Polish Jewish|Polish Jewish]] parents.<ref name=times>[https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/alt.obituaries/fR23fsyQ1NQ Obituary]. ''[[w:The Times|]]''</ref> He left Bell Lane School at 14 and started in entertainment at the [[w:Windmill Theatre|Windmill Theatre]]. He then served in the [[w:RAF|RAF]] as a [[w:Flight Sergeant|Flight Sergeant]] in the Middle East where he arranged concerts for servicemen. He also worked as an auctioneer and engineer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/obituary-alfred-marks-5609700.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508103337/http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/obituary-alfred-marks-5609700.html |archive-date=2017-05-08 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=Obituary : Alfred Marks|date=2 July 1996}}</ref>
Marks was born as Alfred Edward Touchinsky in [[Holborn|Holborn]], London, to [[Polish Jewish|Polish Jewish]] parents.<ref name=times>[https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/alt.obituaries/fR23fsyQ1NQ Obituary]. ''[[The Times|]]''</ref> He left Bell Lane School at 14 and started in entertainment at the [[Windmill Theatre|Windmill Theatre]]. He then served in the [[RAF|RAF]] as a [[Flight Sergeant|Flight Sergeant]] in the Middle East where he arranged concerts for servicemen. He also worked as an auctioneer and engineer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/obituary-alfred-marks-5609700.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508103337/http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/obituary-alfred-marks-5609700.html |archive-date=2017-05-08 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=Obituary : Alfred Marks|date=2 July 1996}}</ref>


He started in variety at the [[w:Kilburn, London|Kilburn]] Empire in 1946, and his stage appearances included ''[[w:The Sunshine Boys|The Sunshine Boys]]'' and ''[[w:Fiddler on the Roof|Fiddler on the Roof]]''. He also did comedy work with [[Peter Sellers]] and [[Harry Secombe]] which later led to the formation (along with writer [[Spike Milligan]]) of ''[[The Goon Show]]'', though Marks did not become a member.<ref>N. Farnes (ed.) (1997) ''T[[He Goons: The Story|he Goons: The Story]]''. London: Virgin Publishing.<!-- ISBN, pages needed --></ref>
He started in variety at the [[Kilburn, London|Kilburn]] Empire in 1946, and his stage appearances included ''[[The Sunshine Boys|The Sunshine Boys]]'' and ''[[Fiddler on the Roof|Fiddler on the Roof]]''. He also did comedy work with [[Peter Sellers]] and [[Harry Secombe]] which later led to the formation (along with writer [[Spike Milligan]]) of ''[[The Goon Show]]'', though Marks did not become a member.<ref>N. Farnes (ed.) (1997) ''T[[He Goons: The Story|he Goons: The Story]]''. London: Virgin Publishing.<!-- ISBN, pages needed --></ref>


His films included ''[[w:The Frightened City|The Frightened City]]'', ''[[w:Scream and Scream Again|Scream and Scream Again]]'' and ''[[w:Our Miss Fred|Our Miss Fred]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f619ba0|title=Alfred Marks}}</ref> His television show, ''[[w:Alfred Marks Time|Alfred Marks Time]]'', ran for 6 years on [[w:ITV Network|ITV]]. He compered ''[[w:Sunday Night at the London Palladium|Sunday Night at the London Palladium]]'' and in 1966 he appeared as a narrator in [[w:List of Jackanory episodes|five episodes]] of the BBC children's television show ''[[w:Jackanory|Jackanory]]''. Marks also appeared in numerous other television programmes including ''[[W:The Good Old Days (UK TV series)|The Good Old Days]]'', ''[[w:The Sweeney|The Sweeney]]'', ''[[w:Blankety Blank|Blankety Blank]]'', ''[[w:Marti Caine|The Marti Caine Show]]'', ''[[The Two Ronnies]]'', ''[[w:The Generation Game|The Generation Game]]'', ''[[w:Lovejoy|Lovejoy]]'', ''[[w:Minder (TV series)|Minder]]'', ''[[w:Parkinson (TV series)|Parkinson]]'', ''[[w:The All New Alexei Sayle Show|The All New Alexei Sayle Show]]'', [[w:The Persuaders!|The Persuaders!]] amongst others.<ref name="imdb"/>
His films included ''[[The Frightened City|The Frightened City]]'', ''[[Scream and Scream Again|Scream and Scream Again]]'' and ''[[Our Miss Fred|Our Miss Fred]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f619ba0|title=Alfred Marks}}</ref> His television show, ''[[Alfred Marks Time|Alfred Marks Time]]'', ran for 6 years on [[ITV Network|ITV]]. He compered ''[[Sunday Night at the London Palladium|Sunday Night at the London Palladium]]'' and in 1966 he appeared as a narrator in [[List of Jackanory episodes|five episodes]] of the BBC children's television show ''[[Jackanory|Jackanory]]''. Marks also appeared in numerous other television programmes including ''[[The Good Old Days (UK TV series)|The Good Old Days]]'', ''[[The Sweeney|The Sweeney]]'', ''[[Blankety Blank|Blankety Blank]]'', ''[[Marti Caine|The Marti Caine Show]]'', ''[[The Two Ronnies]]'', ''[[The Generation Game|The Generation Game]]'', ''[[Lovejoy|Lovejoy]]'', ''[[Minder (TV series)|Minder]]'', ''[[Parkinson (TV series)|Parkinson]]'', ''[[The All New Alexei Sayle Show|The All New Alexei Sayle Show]]'', [[The Persuaders!|The Persuaders!]] amongst others.<ref name="imdb"/>


In 1965 he appeared in [[w:Bill Naughton|Bill Naughton]]'s ''[[w:Spring & Port Wine|Spring & Port Wine]]'' at the Mermaid Theatre, London, playing Rafe,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Naughton|first=Bill|title=Sprng and Port Wine|publisher=Samuel French|year=1967|isbn=0 573 01550 3|location=London}}</ref> and in 1967, he toured Australia for [[w:J.&nbsp;C. Williamson's|J.&nbsp;C. Williamson Theatres]] in that play <ref name=times/> In 1968, he played the lead in ''[[w:The Young Visiters|The Young Visiters]]'', a musical version of the turn of the 20th century [[w:Daisy Ashford|Daisy Ashford]] novel (written when she was nine and published as submitted by her with the spelling errors) at the [[w:Piccadilly Theatre|Piccadilly Theatre]] in London.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.overthefootlights.co.uk/1967-1968.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=4 January 2018 |archive-date=5 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805032807/http://overthefootlights.co.uk/1967-1968.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> When he was the subject of ''[[w:This Is Your Life (British TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' in December 1971, he was surprised by [[w:Eamonn Andrews|Eamonn Andrews]] at London's Garrick Theatre.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} Marks was a fine bass-baritone and appeared regularly on the BBC TV series 'The Good Old Days'. One of his most memorable renditions was of Kipling's '[[w:On the Road to Mandalay (song)|The Road to Mandalay]]', in the version made famous by [[w:Peter Dawson (bass-baritone)|Peter Dawson]]. He appeared as "Wilfred Shadbolt" in a video production of the [[w:Gilbert and Sullivan|Gilbert and Sullivan]] opera ''[[w:The Yeomen of the Guard|The Yeomen of the Guard]]'' in 1982.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KLsUDAAAQBAJ&q=alfred+marks++video+production+of+the+Gilbert+and+Sullivan+opera+The+Yeomen+of+the+Guard+1982&pg=PA827|title=The Complete Annotated Gilbert & Sullivan: 20th Anniversary Edition|first=Ian|last=Bradley|date=3 May 2016|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780199392438|via=Google Books}}</ref>
In 1965 he appeared in [[Bill Naughton|Bill Naughton]]'s ''[[Spring & Port Wine|Spring & Port Wine]]'' at the Mermaid Theatre, London, playing Rafe,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Naughton|first=Bill|title=Sprng and Port Wine|publisher=Samuel French|year=1967|isbn=0 573 01550 3|location=London}}</ref> and in 1967, he toured Australia for [[J.&nbsp;C. Williamson's|J.&nbsp;C. Williamson Theatres]] in that play <ref name=times/> In 1968, he played the lead in ''[[The Young Visiters|The Young Visiters]]'', a musical version of the turn of the 20th century [[Daisy Ashford|Daisy Ashford]] novel (written when she was nine and published as submitted by her with the spelling errors) at the [[Piccadilly Theatre|Piccadilly Theatre]] in London.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.overthefootlights.co.uk/1967-1968.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=4 January 2018 |archive-date=5 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805032807/http://overthefootlights.co.uk/1967-1968.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> When he was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (British TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' in December 1971, he was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews|Eamonn Andrews]] at London's Garrick Theatre. Marks was a fine bass-baritone and appeared regularly on the BBC TV series 'The Good Old Days'. One of his most memorable renditions was of Kipling's '[[On the Road to Mandalay (song)|The Road to Mandalay]]', in the version made famous by [[Peter Dawson (bass-baritone)|Peter Dawson]]. He appeared as "Wilfred Shadbolt" in a video production of the [[Gilbert and Sullivan|Gilbert and Sullivan]] opera ''[[The Yeomen of the Guard|The Yeomen of the Guard]]'' in 1982.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KLsUDAAAQBAJ&q=alfred+marks++video+production+of+the+Gilbert+and+Sullivan+opera+The+Yeomen+of+the+Guard+1982&pg=PA827|title=The Complete Annotated Gilbert & Sullivan: 20th Anniversary Edition|first=Ian|last=Bradley|date=3 May 2016|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780199392438|via=Google Books}}</ref>


While on tour in Australia, Marks was appointed the second ''King of Moomba'' (1968) by the [[w:Melbourne|Melbourne]] [[w:Moomba|Moomba]] festival committee. When asked what his qualifications were, he quipped (in full [[w:Cockney|Cockney]]):
While on tour in Australia, Marks was appointed the second ''King of Moomba'' (1968) by the [[Melbourne|Melbourne]] [[Moomba|Moomba]] festival committee. When asked what his qualifications were, he quipped (in full [[Cockney|Cockney]]):


<blockquote>When I was eleven there were rival gangs around a fruit market in the [[w:East End|East End]]. And desperately, I always wanted to be a member of the bigger rival gang. One day when I was in my best Easter suit, someone from one of the other gangs said to me 'would you like to be King of the Golden Apples?' 'All right, just sit there on this box and call out Apples, Apples, give me the Golden Apples.' Which innocently I did and they cobbled me with every rotten apple in the market.<ref>Craig Bellamy, Gordon Chisholm & Hilary Ericksen (2006) [http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/rsrc/PDFs/Moomba/History%20of%20Moomba.pdf ''Moomba – A festival for the people''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091028203816/http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/rsrc/PDFs/Moomba/History%20of%20Moomba.pdf |date=28 October 2009 }} <!-- ISBN needed --></ref></blockquote>
<blockquote>When I was eleven there were rival gangs around a fruit market in the [[East End|East End]]. And desperately, I always wanted to be a member of the bigger rival gang. One day when I was in my best Easter suit, someone from one of the other gangs said to me 'would you like to be King of the Golden Apples?' 'All right, just sit there on this box and call out Apples, Apples, give me the Golden Apples.' Which innocently I did and they cobbled me with every rotten apple in the market.<ref>Craig Bellamy, Gordon Chisholm & Hilary Ericksen (2006) [http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/rsrc/PDFs/Moomba/History%20of%20Moomba.pdf ''Moomba – A festival for the people''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091028203816/http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/rsrc/PDFs/Moomba/History%20of%20Moomba.pdf |date=28 October 2009 |title=Moomba: A festival for the people}} <!-- ISBN needed --></ref></blockquote>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Marks married actress [[w:Paddie O'Neil|Paddie O'Neil]] in 1952. They remained together until his death. The couple had two children, Gareth (also an actor), and Danielle.<ref name="imdb">{{IMDb name|0548767}}</ref>
Marks married actress [[Paddie O'Neil|Paddie O'Neil]] in 1952. They remained together until his death. The couple had two children, Gareth (also an actor), and Danielle.<ref name="imdb">{{IMDb name|0548767}}</ref>


==Selected filmography==
==Selected filmography==
* ''[[Penny Points to Paradise]]'' (1951) - Edward Haynes
* ''[[Penny Points to Paradise]]'' (1951) - Edward Haynes
* ''[[w:Johnny, You're Wanted|Johnny]]'' (1956) - Marks
* ''[[Johnny, You're Wanted|Johnny]]'' (1956) - Marks
* ''[[w:Desert Mice|Desert Mice]]'' (1959) - Poskett
* ''[[Desert Mice|Desert Mice]]'' (1959) - Poskett
* ''[[w:There Was a Crooked Man (film)|There Was a Crooked Man]]'' (1960) - Adolf Carter
* ''[[There Was a Crooked Man (film)|There Was a Crooked Man]]'' (1960) - Adolf Carter
* ''[[w:A Weekend with Lulu|A Weekend with Lulu]]'' (1961) - Comte de Grenoble
* ''[[A Weekend with Lulu|A Weekend with Lulu]]'' (1961) - Comte de Grenoble
* ''[[w:The Frightened City|The Frightened City]]'' (1961) - Harry Foulcher
* ''[[The Frightened City|The Frightened City]]'' (1961) - Harry Foulcher
* ''[[w:She'll Have to Go|She'll Have to Go]]'' (1962) - Douglas Oberon
* ''[[She'll Have to Go|She'll Have to Go]]'' (1962) - Douglas Oberon
* ''[[w:Scream and Scream Again|Scream and Scream Again]]'' (1970) - Detective Supt. Bellaver
* ''[[Scream and Scream Again|Scream and Scream Again]]'' (1970) - Detective Supt. Bellaver
* ''[[w:Scramble (film)|Scramble]]'' (1970) - Mr. Heppelwhite
* ''[[Scramble (film)|Scramble]]'' (1970) - Mr. Heppelwhite
* ''[[w:Hide and Seek (1972 film)|Hide and Seek]]'' (1972) - Butcher
* ''[[Hide and Seek (1972 film)|Hide and Seek]]'' (1972) - Butcher
* ''[[w:Our Miss Fred|Our Miss Fred]]'' (1972) - General Brincker
* ''[[Our Miss Fred|Our Miss Fred]]'' (1972) - General Brincker
* ''[[w:Valentino (1977 film)|Valentino]]'' (1977) - Richard Rowland
* ''[[Valentino (1977 film)|Valentino]]'' (1977) - Richard Rowland
* ''[[w:Fanny Hill (1983 film)|Fanny Hill]]'' (1983) - Lecher
* ''[[Fanny Hill (1983 film)|Fanny Hill]]'' (1983) - Lecher


==References==
==References==
Line 54: Line 50:
==External links==
==External links==
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{IMDb name}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Marks, Alfred}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marks, Alfred}}

Latest revision as of 08:03, 13 February 2023

Alfred Marks
Actor Alfred Marks.jpg
Born
Alfred Edward Touchinsky [1]

(1921-01-28)28 January 1921
Holborn, London, England
Died1 July 1996(1996-07-01) (aged 75)
Hillingdon, London, England
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian
Spouse
​
(m. 1952)​
Children2

Alfred Edward Marks OBE (born Alfred Edward Touchinsky; 28 January 1921 – 1 July 1996) was a British actor and comedian. In his 60-year career, he played dramatic and comedy roles in numerous television programmes, stage shows and films. His self-titled television sketch show ran from 1956 to 1961.

Biography

Marks was born as Alfred Edward Touchinsky in Holborn, London, to Polish Jewish parents.[2] He left Bell Lane School at 14 and started in entertainment at the Windmill Theatre. He then served in the RAF as a Flight Sergeant in the Middle East where he arranged concerts for servicemen. He also worked as an auctioneer and engineer.[3]

He started in variety at the Kilburn Empire in 1946, and his stage appearances included The Sunshine Boys and Fiddler on the Roof. He also did comedy work with Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe which later led to the formation (along with writer Spike Milligan) of The Goon Show, though Marks did not become a member.[4]

His films included The Frightened City, Scream and Scream Again and Our Miss Fred.[5] His television show, Alfred Marks Time, ran for 6 years on ITV. He compered Sunday Night at the London Palladium and in 1966 he appeared as a narrator in five episodes of the BBC children's television show Jackanory. Marks also appeared in numerous other television programmes including The Good Old Days, The Sweeney, Blankety Blank, The Marti Caine Show, The Two Ronnies, The Generation Game, Lovejoy, Minder, Parkinson, The All New Alexei Sayle Show, The Persuaders! amongst others.[6]

In 1965 he appeared in Bill Naughton's Spring & Port Wine at the Mermaid Theatre, London, playing Rafe,[7] and in 1967, he toured Australia for J. C. Williamson Theatres in that play [2] In 1968, he played the lead in The Young Visiters, a musical version of the turn of the 20th century Daisy Ashford novel (written when she was nine and published as submitted by her with the spelling errors) at the Piccadilly Theatre in London.[8] When he was the subject of This Is Your Life in December 1971, he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at London's Garrick Theatre. Marks was a fine bass-baritone and appeared regularly on the BBC TV series 'The Good Old Days'. One of his most memorable renditions was of Kipling's 'The Road to Mandalay', in the version made famous by Peter Dawson. He appeared as "Wilfred Shadbolt" in a video production of the Gilbert and Sullivan opera The Yeomen of the Guard in 1982.[9]

While on tour in Australia, Marks was appointed the second King of Moomba (1968) by the Melbourne Moomba festival committee. When asked what his qualifications were, he quipped (in full Cockney):

When I was eleven there were rival gangs around a fruit market in the East End. And desperately, I always wanted to be a member of the bigger rival gang. One day when I was in my best Easter suit, someone from one of the other gangs said to me 'would you like to be King of the Golden Apples?' 'All right, just sit there on this box and call out Apples, Apples, give me the Golden Apples.' Which innocently I did and they cobbled me with every rotten apple in the market.[10]

Personal life

Marks married actress Paddie O'Neil in 1952. They remained together until his death. The couple had two children, Gareth (also an actor), and Danielle.[6]

Selected filmography

References

  1. ^ Brian McFarlane (ed.) The Encyclopedia of British Film, Methuen/BFI, 2003, p. 433
  2. ^ a b Obituary. [[The Times|]]
  3. ^ "Obituary : Alfred Marks". 2 July 1996. Archived from the original on 2017-05-08.
  4. ^ N. Farnes (ed.) (1997) The Goons: The Story. London: Virgin Publishing.
  5. ^ "Alfred Marks".
  6. ^ a b Alfred Marks at IMDb
  7. ^ Naughton, Bill (1967). Sprng and Port Wine. London: Samuel French. ISBN 0 573 01550 3.
  8. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 August 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ^ Bradley, Ian (3 May 2016). The Complete Annotated Gilbert & Sullivan: 20th Anniversary Edition. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199392438 – via Google Books.
  10. ^ Craig Bellamy, Gordon Chisholm & Hilary Ericksen (2006) Moomba – A festival for the people Moomba: A festival for the people at the Wayback Machine (archived 28 October 2009)

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.thegoonshow.co.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Alfred_Marks&oldid=37622"