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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2013}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Gordon Rollings
| image = Gordon Rollings.jpg
| image = Gordon Rollings.jpg
| caption =   
| caption =   
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1926|04|17}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1926|04|17}}
| birth_place =  [[w:Batley|Batley]],  England
| birth_place =  [[Batley|Batley]],  England
| birth_name = Gordon Charles Rollings
| birth_name = Gordon Charles Rollings
| death_date  = {{death date and age|1985|06|07|1926|4|17|df=y}}
| death_date  = {{death date and age|1985|06|07|1926|4|17|df=y}}
| death_place =  [[w:Bristol|Bristol]], England
| death_place =  [[Bristol|Bristol]], England
| yearsactive = 1949–1985
| yearsactive = 1949–1985
| spouse =
| spouse =
}}
}}
'''Gordon Charles Rollings''' (17 April 1926 &ndash; 7 June 1985)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/88586|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122055707/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/88586|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 January 2009|title=Biography of Gordon Rollings|accessdate=30 December 2007|work=British Film Institute}}</ref> was an English actor who mainly appeared on television, but also appeared on-stage and in feature films. He was born in [[w:Batley|Batley]], in the [[w:West Riding of Yorkshire|West Riding of Yorkshire]], [[w:England|England]] in 1926 and started his career in radio in [[w:Mandatory Palestine|Palestine]]. It was in Palestine while serving in the British Army during the Mandate that he was shot by a sniper of the [[w:Lehi (militant group)|Stern Gang]]. He later trained as a clown in [[w:Paris]], appearing in the [[w:Cirque Medrano|Medrano Circus]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://theherbs.homestead.com/GordonRollings/Clown.JPG|title=A Proper Charlie|accessdate=30 December 2007|year=1960s|work=TV Times|format=jpg image}}</ref>
'''Gordon Charles Rollings''' (17 April 1926 &ndash; 7 June 1985)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/88586|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122055707/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/88586|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 January 2009|title=Biography of Gordon Rollings|accessdate=30 December 2007|work=British Film Institute}}</ref> was an English actor who mainly appeared on television, but also appeared on-stage and in feature films. He was born in [[Batley|Batley]], in the [[West Riding of Yorkshire|West Riding of Yorkshire]], [[England|England]] in 1926 and started his career in radio in [[Mandatory Palestine|Palestine]]. It was in Palestine while serving in the British Army during the Mandate that he was shot by a sniper of the [[Lehi (militant group)|Stern Gang]]. He later trained as a clown in [[Paris]], appearing in the [[Cirque Medrano|Medrano Circus]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://theherbs.homestead.com/GordonRollings/Clown.JPG|title=A Proper Charlie|accessdate=30 December 2007|year=1960s|work=TV Times|format=jpg image}}</ref>


Rollings made an uncredited screen appearance in the [[w:The Beatles|Beatles']] film ''[[w:A Hard Day's Night (film)|A Hard Day's Night]]''. He played the man in the pub who is shocked to find that [[w:Ringo Starr|Ringo]] has thrown a dart into his lunch. Director [[w:Richard Lester|Richard Lester]] later used him in both ''Superman'' films he directed: in the first, he plays a fisherman who is stunned to see General Zod walking on water and in the second, he appears as a pedestrian in a flat cap who upsets a display of toy penguins that triggers the slapstick chaos in the opening credits scene.
Rollings made an uncredited screen appearance in the [[The Beatles|Beatles']] film ''[[A Hard Day's Night (film)|A Hard Day's Night]]''. He played the man in the pub who is shocked to find that [[Ringo Starr|Ringo]] has thrown a dart into his lunch. Director [[Richard Lester|Richard Lester]] later used him in both ''Superman'' films he directed: in the first, he plays a fisherman who is stunned to see General Zod walking on water and in the second, he appears as a pedestrian in a flat cap who upsets a display of toy penguins that triggers the slapstick chaos in the opening credits scene.


After a number of small parts in TV shows such as ''[[w:Z-Cars|Z-Cars]]'' in the early 1960s, on 21 April 1964, he was the first presenter of BBC 2's daily programme for young children, ''[[w:Play School (UK TV series)|Play School]]'', alongside [[w:Virginia Stride|Virginia Stride]].<ref name="tv">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/Television/tvh_detail.asp?tvhid=14133&search=&genre=1|title=Play School (Episode 1)|accessdate=30 December 2007|work=National Media Museum}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> In the same year he played the character of [[w:Charlie Moffitt|Charlie Moffitt]] in ''[[w:Coronation Street|Coronation Street]]''. Between 1966 and 1967 Rollings appeared as a storyteller in [[w:List of Jackanory episodes|ten episodes]] of the BBC children's television show ''[[w:Jackanory|Jackanory]]'', reading amongst others, stories of [[w:Worzel Gummidge|Worzel Gummidge]]. (Rollings would later appear in a 1981 episode of the televised series of ''[[w:Worzel Gummidge (TV series)|Worzel Gummidge]])''. He later narrated ''[[w:The Herbs|The Herbs]]'', and as the character Arkwright with his small dog, Tonto, in the adverts for [[w:John Smith's Brewery|John Smith's Bitter]].<!-- more to do here -->
After a number of small parts in TV shows such as ''[[Z-Cars|Z-Cars]]'' in the early 1960s, on 21 April 1964, he was the first presenter of BBC 2's daily programme for young children, ''[[Play School (UK TV series)|Play School]]'', alongside [[Virginia Stride|Virginia Stride]].<ref name="tv">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/Television/tvh_detail.asp?tvhid=14133&search=&genre=1|title=Play School (Episode 1)|accessdate=30 December 2007|work=National Media Museum}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> In the same year he played the character of [[Charlie Moffitt|Charlie Moffitt]] in ''[[Coronation Street|Coronation Street]]''. Between 1966 and 1967 Rollings appeared as a storyteller in [[List of Jackanory episodes|ten episodes]] of the BBC children's television show ''[[Jackanory|Jackanory]]'', reading amongst others, stories of [[Worzel Gummidge|Worzel Gummidge]]. (Rollings would later appear in a 1981 episode of the televised series of ''[[Worzel Gummidge (TV series)|Worzel Gummidge]])''. He later narrated ''[[The Herbs|The Herbs]]'', and as the character Arkwright with his small dog, Tonto, in the adverts for [[John Smith's Brewery|John Smith's Bitter]].<!-- more to do here -->


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
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|1961|| ''[[What a Whopper]]'' || Constable Doone ||
|1961|| ''[[What a Whopper]]'' || Constable Doone ||
|-
|-
|1962|| ''[[w:Captain Clegg (film)|Captain Clegg]]'' || Wurzel ||
|1962|| ''[[Captain Clegg (film)|Captain Clegg]]'' || Wurzel ||
|-
|-
|1963||  [[w:Edgar Wallace Mysteries|Edgar Wallace Mysteries]] || Walker || Episode: '[[w:Five to One (film)|Five to One]]'
|1963||  [[Edgar Wallace Mysteries|Edgar Wallace Mysteries]] || Walker || Episode: '[[Five to One (film)|Five to One]]'
|-
|-
|1963|| ''[[w:Just for Fun (film)|Just for Fun]]'' || Party Official with radio ||
|1963|| ''[[Just for Fun (film)|Just for Fun]]'' || Party Official with radio ||
|-
|-
|1964|| ''[[w:The Comedy Man|The Comedy Man]]'' || Skippy ||
|1964|| ''[[The Comedy Man|The Comedy Man]]'' || Skippy ||
|-
|-
|1964|| ''[[w:A Hard Day's Night (film)|A Hard Day's Night]]'' || Man with sandwich in pub || Uncredited
|1964|| ''[[A Hard Day's Night (film)|A Hard Day's Night]]'' || Man with sandwich in pub || Uncredited
|-
|-
|1966|| ''[[w:Press for Time|Press for Time]]'' || Bus conductor ||
|1966|| ''[[Press for Time|Press for Time]]'' || Bus conductor ||
|-
|-
|1967|| ''[[Carry On Doctor]]'' || Night Porter ||
|1967|| ''[[Carry On Doctor]]'' || Night Porter ||
|-
|-
|1968|| ''[[w:Great Catherine (film)|Great Catherine]]'' || Glaizer ||
|1968|| ''[[Great Catherine (film)|Great Catherine]]'' || Glaizer ||
|-
|-
|1969|| ''[[The Bed-Sitting Room (film)|The Bed-Sitting Room]]'' || Drip feed patient || (as Gordon Rawlings)
|1969|| ''[[The Bed Sitting Room (film)|The Bed Sitting Room]]'' || Drip feed patient || (as Gordon Rawlings)
|-
|-
|1969|| ''[[Rhubarb (1969 film)|Rhubarb]]'' || Artist Rhubarb ||
|1969|| ''[[Rhubarb (1969 film)|Rhubarb]]'' || Artist Rhubarb ||
|-
|-
|1972|| ''[[w:Something to Hide|Something to Hide]]'' || 2nd Man at Airport ||
|1972|| ''[[Something to Hide|Something to Hide]]'' || 2nd Man at Airport ||
|-
|-
|1976|| ''[[The Pink Panther Strikes Again]]'' || Inmate ||
|1976|| ''[[The Pink Panther Strikes Again]]'' || Inmate ||
|-
|-
|1977|| ''[[w:Jabberwocky (film)|Jabberwocky]]'' || King's taster || (as Gordon Rawlings)
|1977|| ''[[Jabberwocky (film)|Jabberwocky]]'' || King's taster || (as Gordon Rawlings)
|-
|-
|1980|| ''[[w:Superman II|Superman II]]'' || Fisherman ||
|1980|| ''[[Superman II|Superman II]]'' || Fisherman ||
|-
|-
|1983|| ''[[w:Superman III|Superman III]]'' || Man in cap || (as Gordon Rawlings)
|1983|| ''[[Superman III|Superman III]]'' || Man in cap || (as Gordon Rawlings)
|-
|-
|1983|| ''[[w:Fanny Hill (1983 film)|Fanny Hill]]'' || Beggar ||
|1983|| ''[[Fanny Hill (1983 film)|Fanny Hill]]'' || Beggar ||
|-
|-
|1983|| ''[[w:The Sign of Four (1983 film)|The Sign of Four]]'' || Mr. Sherman ||
|1983|| ''[[The Sign of Four (1983 film)|The Sign of Four]]'' || Mr. Sherman ||
|-
|-
|1984|| ''[[w:Bloodbath at the House of Death|Bloodbath at the House of Death]]'' || Man at bar ||
|1984|| ''[[Bloodbath at the House of Death|Bloodbath at the House of Death]]'' || Man at bar ||
|-
|-
|1984|| ''[[w:Give My Regards to Broad Street (film)|Give My Regards to Broad Street]]'' || Monster ||
|1984|| ''[[Give My Regards to Broad Street (film)|Give My Regards to Broad Street]]'' || Monster ||
|}
|}


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*{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0712606/|title=IMDb entry for Gordon Rollings|website=[[IMDb]] |accessdate=30 December 2007}}
*{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0712606/|title=IMDb entry for Gordon Rollings|website=[[IMDb]] |accessdate=30 December 2007}}
*{{Cite web|url=http://theherbs.homestead.com/GordonRollings.html|title=Gordon Rollings, The Herbs, John Smiths advert|accessdate=30 December 2007|work=The Herbs and The Adventures of Parsley}}
*{{Cite web|url=http://theherbs.homestead.com/GordonRollings.html|title=Gordon Rollings, The Herbs, John Smiths advert|accessdate=30 December 2007|work=The Herbs and The Adventures of Parsley}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Rollings, Gordon}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rollings, Gordon}}
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:1985 deaths]]
[[Category:1985 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in England]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English male film actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]
[[Category:English male television actors]]

Latest revision as of 07:07, 30 March 2023

Gordon Rollings
Gordon Rollings.jpg
Born
Gordon Charles Rollings

(1926-04-17)17 April 1926
Batley, England
Died7 June 1985(1985-06-07) (aged 59)
Bristol, England
Years active1949–1985

Gordon Charles Rollings (17 April 1926 – 7 June 1985)[1] was an English actor who mainly appeared on television, but also appeared on-stage and in feature films. He was born in Batley, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England in 1926 and started his career in radio in Palestine. It was in Palestine while serving in the British Army during the Mandate that he was shot by a sniper of the Stern Gang. He later trained as a clown in Paris, appearing in the Medrano Circus.[2]

Rollings made an uncredited screen appearance in the Beatles' film A Hard Day's Night. He played the man in the pub who is shocked to find that Ringo has thrown a dart into his lunch. Director Richard Lester later used him in both Superman films he directed: in the first, he plays a fisherman who is stunned to see General Zod walking on water and in the second, he appears as a pedestrian in a flat cap who upsets a display of toy penguins that triggers the slapstick chaos in the opening credits scene.

After a number of small parts in TV shows such as Z-Cars in the early 1960s, on 21 April 1964, he was the first presenter of BBC 2's daily programme for young children, Play School, alongside Virginia Stride.[3] In the same year he played the character of Charlie Moffitt in Coronation Street. Between 1966 and 1967 Rollings appeared as a storyteller in ten episodes of the BBC children's television show Jackanory, reading amongst others, stories of Worzel Gummidge. (Rollings would later appear in a 1981 episode of the televised series of Worzel Gummidge). He later narrated The Herbs, and as the character Arkwright with his small dog, Tonto, in the adverts for John Smith's Bitter.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1961 A Weekend with Lulu Humper Uncredited
1961 What a Whopper Constable Doone
1962 Captain Clegg Wurzel
1963 Edgar Wallace Mysteries Walker Episode: 'Five to One'
1963 Just for Fun Party Official with radio
1964 The Comedy Man Skippy
1964 A Hard Day's Night Man with sandwich in pub Uncredited
1966 Press for Time Bus conductor
1967 Carry On Doctor Night Porter
1968 Great Catherine Glaizer
1969 The Bed Sitting Room Drip feed patient (as Gordon Rawlings)
1969 Rhubarb Artist Rhubarb
1972 Something to Hide 2nd Man at Airport
1976 The Pink Panther Strikes Again Inmate
1977 Jabberwocky King's taster (as Gordon Rawlings)
1980 Superman II Fisherman
1983 Superman III Man in cap (as Gordon Rawlings)
1983 Fanny Hill Beggar
1983 The Sign of Four Mr. Sherman
1984 Bloodbath at the House of Death Man at bar
1984 Give My Regards to Broad Street Monster

References

  1. ^ "Biography of Gordon Rollings". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 22 January 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
  2. ^ "A Proper Charlie" (jpg image). TV Times. 1960s. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
  3. ^ "Play School (Episode 1)". National Media Museum. Retrieved 30 December 2007.[dead link]

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.thegoonshow.co.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Gordon_Rollings&oldid=46315"