Percy Edwards: Difference between revisions
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| known_for = Animal impersonator, entertainer, [[ornithologist]] | | known_for = Animal impersonator, entertainer, [[w:ornithologist|ornithologist]] | ||
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'''Percy Edwards''' {{post-nominals|MBE}} (1 June 1908 – 7 June 1996)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gifford |first1=Denis |title=Obituary: Percy Edwards |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-percy-edwards-1336419.html |access-date=2022-04-29 |work=The Independent |date=1996-06-10}}</ref> was an English animal impersonator,<ref name="showdown">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00htwx7 |publisher=BBC |title = Percy Edwards Showdown |date=4 March 2009}}</ref> entertainer and [[ornithologist]]. | '''Percy Edwards''' {{post-nominals|MBE}} (1 June 1908 – 7 June 1996)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gifford |first1=Denis |title=Obituary: Percy Edwards |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-percy-edwards-1336419.html |access-date=2022-04-29 |work=The Independent |date=1996-06-10}}</ref> was an English animal impersonator,<ref name="showdown">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00htwx7 |publisher=BBC |title = Percy Edwards Showdown |date=4 March 2009}}</ref> entertainer and [[w:ornithologist|ornithologist]]. | ||
==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
As a child, Edwards was fascinated by the wildlife he found in his local area, and by the age of 12 was accomplished enough at imitating many of them that this became his "[[w:party piece|party piece]]".<ref name=":0" /> | As a child, Edwards was fascinated by the wildlife he found in his local area, and by the age of 12 was accomplished enough at imitating many of them that this became his "[[w:party piece|party piece]]".<ref name=":0" /> | ||
In 1930 he debuted on the [[ | In 1930 he debuted on the [[BBC]] radio series ''Vaudeville'', the start of a career that would last the best part of 60 years. During [[w:World War II|World War II]], Edwards worked at [[w:Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies|Ransomes]] in [[w:Ipswich|Ipswich]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/20/a2811520.shtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729052638/http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/20/a2811520.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-07-29|title=WW2 People's War - Joan Whitson|publisher=BBC History|accessdate=2008-04-30}}</ref> | ||
Edwards became a household name after his animal imitations in the radio shows ''Ray's a Laugh'' with [[Ted Ray (comedian)|Ted Ray]], and playing Psyche the dog in the radio series ''A Life of Bliss.'' It was said that at the height of his career he could accurately imitate over 600 birds, as well as many other animals. Among other things, he provided the voices for the [[orca]]s in [[Orca (1977 film)|Orca]] (1977), the [[Reindeer]] in ''[[Santa Claus: The Movie]]'' (1985), sheep and bird sounds on [[Kate Bush]]'s song ''[[The Dreaming (song)|The Dreaming]]'', and the [[Alien (creature in Alien franchise)|alien]] in the [[Alien (film)|film of the same name]]. Edwards appeared occasionally on BBC TV's pre-school series ''[[Play School (British TV series)|Play School]]'' as a storyteller, in 1967 and from 1973 through 1980. One of his last stage appearances was in the [[Grand Order of Water Rats]] centenary show at the [[London Palladium]] in 1989. | Edwards became a household name after his animal imitations in the radio shows ''[[Ray's a Laugh]]'' with [[Ted Ray (comedian)|Ted Ray]], and playing Psyche the dog in the radio series ''A Life of Bliss.'' It was said that at the height of his career he could accurately imitate over 600 birds, as well as many other animals. Among other things, he provided the voices for the [[orca]]s in [[Orca (1977 film)|Orca]] (1977), the [[Reindeer]] in ''[[Santa Claus: The Movie]]'' (1985), sheep and bird sounds on [[Kate Bush]]'s song ''[[The Dreaming (song)|The Dreaming]]'', and the [[Alien (creature in Alien franchise)|alien]] in the [[Alien (film)|film of the same name]]. Edwards appeared occasionally on BBC TV's pre-school series ''[[Play School (British TV series)|Play School]]'' as a storyteller, in 1967 and from 1973 through 1980. One of his last stage appearances was in the [[Grand Order of Water Rats]] centenary show at the [[London Palladium]] in 1989. | ||
Edwards was appointed [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in 1993 for services to ornithology and entertainment.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0250272/bio |title=Percy Edwards - Biography |publisher=Imdb.com |date= |accessdate=2009-03-04}}</ref> | Edwards was appointed [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in 1993 for services to ornithology and entertainment.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0250272/bio |title=Percy Edwards - Biography |publisher=Imdb.com |date= |accessdate=2009-03-04}}</ref> | ||
Although he always referred to himself as an entertainer, Edwards was a fellow of the [[Zoological Society of London]], and a respected and published ornithologist. | Although he always referred to himself as an entertainer, Edwards was a fellow of the [[Zoological Society of London]], and a respected and published ornithologist. | ||
In 2009, [[David Attenborough|Sir David Attenborough]] presented a special BBC radio panel game, ''The Percy Edwards Showdown'', dedicated to Edwards's life and career.<ref name="showdown"/> | In 2009, [[David Attenborough|Sir David Attenborough]] presented a special BBC radio panel game, ''The Percy Edwards Showdown'', dedicated to Edwards's life and career.<ref name="showdown"/> | ||
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*{{IMDb name|id=0250272|name=Percy Edwards}} | *{{IMDb name|id=0250272|name=Percy Edwards}} | ||
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081023132234/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/109472?view=credit Percy Edwards at the BFI dBase] | *[https://web.archive.org/web/20081023132234/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/individual/109472?view=credit Percy Edwards at the BFI dBase] | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, Percy}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, Percy}} | ||
Latest revision as of 18:57, 18 July 2024
Percy Edwards | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1 June 1908 |
| Died | 7 June 1996 (aged 88) Hintlesham, Suffolk, England |
| Known for | Animal impersonator, entertainer, ornithologist |
Percy Edwards MBE (1 June 1908 – 7 June 1996)[1] was an English animal impersonator,[2] entertainer and ornithologist.
Biography
As a child, Edwards was fascinated by the wildlife he found in his local area, and by the age of 12 was accomplished enough at imitating many of them that this became his "party piece".[3]
In 1930 he debuted on the BBC radio series Vaudeville, the start of a career that would last the best part of 60 years. During World War II, Edwards worked at Ransomes in Ipswich.[4]
Edwards became a household name after his animal imitations in the radio shows Ray's a Laugh with Ted Ray, and playing Psyche the dog in the radio series A Life of Bliss. It was said that at the height of his career he could accurately imitate over 600 birds, as well as many other animals. Among other things, he provided the voices for the orcas in Orca (1977), the Reindeer in Santa Claus: The Movie (1985), sheep and bird sounds on Kate Bush's song The Dreaming, and the alien in the film of the same name. Edwards appeared occasionally on BBC TV's pre-school series Play School as a storyteller, in 1967 and from 1973 through 1980. One of his last stage appearances was in the Grand Order of Water Rats centenary show at the London Palladium in 1989.
Edwards was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1993 for services to ornithology and entertainment.[3]
Although he always referred to himself as an entertainer, Edwards was a fellow of the Zoological Society of London, and a respected and published ornithologist.
In 2009, Sir David Attenborough presented a special BBC radio panel game, The Percy Edwards Showdown, dedicated to Edwards's life and career.[2]
He is buried in the churchyard of St Mary's, Polstead, Suffolk.
The grave of Percy Edwards in the churchyard of St Mary, Polstead, Suffolk
Filmography
- NB: Edwards worked purely as a voice artist unless otherwise stated
1960s
- A Life of Bliss (1960, TV Series) - Psyche, fox terrier (voice)
- The Deadly Bees (1966) - Tess the Dog (voice, uncredited)
1970s
- UFO (1971, TV Series) - (voice)
- The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer (1970) - Bird impersonator
- On the Buses (1971, TV Series) - Bird impressions by (voice)
- The Morecambe and Wise Show (1972, TV Series) - Jungle Sounds
- The Good Life (1976, TV Series) - Animal Noises (voice)
- Ripping Yarns (1977, TV Series) - Frog Noises (uncredited)
- The Goodies (1977, TV Series) - The Dodo (voice)
- Just William (1977, TV Series) - Parrots (voice)
- Orca (1977) - (whale vocalisations) (uncredited)
- The Innes Book of Records (1979, TV Series) - Himself
- Alien (1979) - (vocal effects for the alien and facehugger)
1980s
- Hi-de-Hi! (1981, TV Series) - Bubbles (voice)
- The Island of Adventure (1982) - Kiki (voice)
- The Plague Dogs (1982) - (various animal vocal effects including Rowf and Snitter's barks) (voice)
- The Dark Crystal (1982) - Fizzgig (voice)
- Fair Ground! (1983, TV Series) - Captain Cutlass's Voice (voice)
- Hilary (1984-1985, TV Series) - Arthur (voice)
- Buttercup Buskers (1984) - Narrator
- Santa Claus: The Movie (1985) - (voice)
- Valhalla (1986) - (Danish version, voice)
- Sorry! (1986, TV Series) - The Duck (voice)
- Labyrinth (1986) - Ambrosius (voice)
Bibliography
- Call Me at Dawn (1948)
- The Birdman's Pocket Book (1954)
- The Road I Travelled (1979)
- Country Book (c.1980)
- Song Birds (1986)
References
- ^ Gifford, Denis (1996-06-10). "Obituary: Percy Edwards". The Independent. Retrieved 2022-04-29.
- ^ a b "Percy Edwards Showdown". BBC. 4 March 2009.
- ^ a b "Percy Edwards - Biography". Imdb.com. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
- ^ "WW2 People's War - Joan Whitson". BBC History. Archived from the original on 2012-07-29. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
