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{{Short description|British comedian and character actor}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| image      = Harold Berens.jpg
| image      = Harold Berens.jpg
| birth_name  = Isadore Harold Berenbaum
| birth_name  = Isadore Harold Berenbaum
| birth_date  = {{birth date|1903|3|4|df=y}}
| birth_date  = {{birth date|1903|3|4|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[w:Glasgow|Glasgow]], Scotland
| birth_place = [[Glasgow]], Scotland
| death_date  = {{death date and age|1995|5|10|1903|3|4|df=y}}
| death_date  = {{death date and age|1995|5|10|1903|3|4|df=y}}
| death_place = London, England
| death_place = London, England
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==Biography==
==Biography==
He was born into a Jewish family in [[w:Glasgow|Glasgow]], the son of a tailor, and grew up and was educated in [[w:Leeds|Leeds]], [[w:Harrogate|Harrogate]], and [[w:Brussels|Brussels]].  After his father built up a successful business in [[w:Brighton|Brighton]], he moved there, and began performing at [[w:show business|show business]] parties organised by his father.  After completing his education he worked as a shirt salesman, primarily to a show business clientele, while developing his own talent for comedy, especially his ability to imitate a wide range of different [[w:dialect|dialect]]s, at private functions.  In the 1930s he opened his own shop in [[w:Regent Street|Regent Street]], London, where he styled himself as "Shirtmaker to the Stars".  One of his customers was [[w:Carroll Levis|Carroll Levis]], who thought that Berens was too professional a performer to perform in his regular amateur talent shows, and recommended that he audition for the [[w:BBC|BBC]].<ref name=obituary>{{cite work|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituaryharold-berens-1619287.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220509/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituaryharold-berens-1619287.html |archive-date=9 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|author= Denis Gifford|title= Obituary: Harold Berens|work=[[w:The Independent|]]|date=13 May 1995|accessdate= 28 November 2020}}</ref>
He was born into a Jewish family in [[Glasgow]], the son of a tailor, and grew up and was educated in [[Leeds]], [[Harrogate]], and [[Brussels]].  After his father built up a successful business in [[Brighton]], he moved there, and began performing at [[show business]] parties organised by his father.  After completing his education he worked as a shirt salesman, primarily to a show business clientele, while developing his own talent for comedy, especially his ability to imitate a wide range of different [[dialect]]s, at private functions.  In the 1930s he opened his own shop in [[Regent Street]], London, where he styled himself as "Shirtmaker to the Stars".  One of his customers was [[Carroll Levis]], who thought that Berens was too professional a performer to perform in his regular amateur talent shows, and recommended that he audition for the [[BBC]].<ref name=obituary>{{cite work|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituaryharold-berens-1619287.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220509/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituaryharold-berens-1619287.html |archive-date=9 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|author= Denis Gifford|title= Obituary: Harold Berens|work=[[The Independent]]|date=13 May 1995|accessdate= 28 November 2020}}</ref>


He won the support of [[w:BBC radio|BBC radio]] producer Ernest Longstaffe, who used him in radio programmes from the late 1930s and wrote some of his scripts.<ref name=hudd/>  Berens compered broadcasts by [[w:Maurice Winnick|Maurice Winnick]] and his orchestra from the [[w:The Dorchester|Dorchester Hotel]], and then, in 1939, started compering shows by [[w:Jay Wilbur|Jay Wilbur]] and his band for [[w:Radio Luxembourg|Radio Luxembourg]].  During the [[w:Second World War|Second World War]], he made regular broadcasts for the services, and by 1941 was well known for his comedy routines, in which one of his characters was Mrs Twiddleswitch.  He became known as "The Man with a Thousand Voices."<ref name=jewish>[https://www.jewishlivesproject.com/profiles/harold-berens  "Harold Berens 1903-1995", ''Jewish Lives Project'']. Retrieved 28 November 2020</ref>
He won the support of [[BBC radio]] producer Ernest Longstaffe, who used him in radio programmes from the late 1930s and wrote some of his scripts.<ref name=hudd/>  Berens compered broadcasts by [[Maurice Winnick]] and his orchestra from the [[Dorchester Hotel]], and then, in 1939, started compering shows by [[Jay Wilbur]] and his band for [[Radio Luxembourg]].  During the [[Second World War]], he made regular broadcasts for the services, and by 1941 was well known for his comedy routines, in which one of his characters was Mrs Twiddleswitch.  He became known as "The Man with a Thousand Voices."<ref name=jewish>[https://www.jewishlivesproject.com/profiles/harold-berens  "Harold Berens 1903-1995", ''Jewish Lives Project'']. Retrieved 28 November 2020</ref>


He featured regularly in the radio series ''Hoop-La'', with [[Robb Wilton]] and [[Max Wall]], and became more popular after 1945 playing the role of a Cockney [[w:dunce|ignoramus]] on ''Ignorance Is Bliss'', chaired by [[w:Stewart MacPherson (broadcaster)|Stewart MacPherson]], which was a BBC adaptation of the American show ''[[w:It Pays to Be Ignorant|It Pays to Be Ignorant]]''.<ref name=obituary/><ref name=jewish/>  According to [[Roy Hudd]], Berens' exclamations of "What a Geezer!" became a national [[w:catchphrase|catchphrase]].<ref name=hudd>Roy Hudd and Philip Hindin, ''Roy Hudd's Cavalcade of Variety Acts'', Robson Books, 1998, {{ISBN|1-86105-206-5}}, pp.13-14</ref>  By 1947, it was said that he had done over 2,000 radio broadcasts.  He also appeared in four [[w:Royal Variety Performance|Royal Variety Performance]]s.<ref name=hudd/>
He featured regularly in the radio series ''Hoop-La'', with [[Robb Wilton]] and [[Max Wall]], and became more popular after 1945 playing the role of a Cockney [[dunce|ignoramus]] on ''Ignorance Is Bliss'', chaired by [[Stewart MacPherson (broadcaster)|Stewart MacPherson]], which was a BBC adaptation of the American show ''[[It Pays to Be Ignorant]]''.<ref name=obituary/><ref name=jewish/>  According to [[Roy Hudd]], Berens' exclamations of "What a Geezer!" became a national [[catchphrase]].<ref name=hudd>Roy Hudd and Philip Hindin, ''Roy Hudd's Cavalcade of Variety Acts'', Robson Books, 1998, {{ISBN|1-86105-206-5}}, pp.13-14</ref>  By 1947, it was said that he had done over 2,000 radio broadcasts.  He also appeared in four [[Royal Variety Performance]]s.<ref name=hudd/>


He continued to feature on radio through the 1950s, notably as Mrs Mosseltoff on the show ''[[Ted Ray (comedian)|Ted Ray Time]]''.<ref name=jewish/>  He also developed a career as a supporting actor in films and television.  His first film appearance was in ''[[w:Candlelight in Algeria|Candlelight in Algeria]]'' (1944), followed by appearances in ''[[w:Third Time Lucky (1949 film)|Third Time Lucky]]'' (1949), ''[[w:Up for the Cup (1950 film)|Up for the Cup]]'' (1950), ''[[w:Man from Tangier|Man from Tangier]]'' (1957), and ''[[The Pure Hell of St Trinian's]]'' (1960), among others.  He also appeared in such television shows as ''[[w:The Avengers (TV programme)|The Avengers]]'' and ''[[w:It's a Square World|It's a Square World]]''.<ref name=obituary/>  His final film appearances came in ''[[Trail of the Pink Panther]]'' (1982), ''[[w:Hear My Song|Hear My Song]]'' (1991), and ''[[Carry On Columbus]]'' (1992).<ref name=jewish/>
He continued to feature on radio through the 1950s, notably as Mrs Mosseltoff on the show ''[[Ted Ray (comedian)|Ted Ray Time]]''.<ref name=jewish/>  He also developed a career as a supporting actor in films and television.  His first film appearance was in ''[[Candlelight in Algeria]]'' (1944), followed by appearances in ''[[Third Time Lucky (1949 film)|Third Time Lucky]]'' (1949), ''[[Up for the Cup (1950 film)|Up for the Cup]]'' (1950), ''[[Man from Tangier]]'' (1957), and ''[[The Pure Hell of St Trinian's]]'' (1960), among others.  He also appeared in such television shows as ''[[The Avengers (TV programme)|The Avengers]]'' and ''[[It's a Square World]]''.<ref name=obituary/>  His final film appearances came in ''[[Trail of the Pink Panther]]'' (1982), ''[[Hear My Song]]'' (1991), and ''[[Carry On Columbus]]'' (1992).<ref name=jewish/>


Berens died in London in 1995, aged 92.<ref name=obituary/>
Berens died in London in 1995, aged 92.<ref name=obituary/>
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! Notes
! Notes
|-
|-
|1944|| ''[[w:Candlelight in Algeria|Candlelight in Algeria]]'' || Toni ||
|1944|| ''[[Candlelight in Algeria]]'' || Toni ||
|-
|-
|1945|| ''[[w:The Man from Morocco|The Man from Morocco]]'' || Ali ||
|1945|| ''[[The Man from Morocco]]'' || Ali ||
|-
|-
|1947|| ''[[w:Dual Alibi|Dual Alibi]]'' || Ali ||
|1947|| ''[[Dual Alibi]]'' || Ali ||
|-
|-
|1949|| ''[[w:Third Time Lucky (1949 film)|Third Time Lucky]]'' || Young Waiter ||
|1949|| ''[[Third Time Lucky (1949 film)|Third Time Lucky]]'' || Young Waiter ||
|-
|-
|1950|| ''[[w:Up for the Cup (1950 film)|Up for the Cup]]'' || Auctioneer ||
|1950|| ''[[Up for the Cup (1950 film)|Up for the Cup]]'' || Auctioneer ||
|-
|-
|1955|| ''[[w:A Kid for Two Farthings (film)|A Kid for Two Farthings]]'' || Oliver ||
|1955|| ''[[A Kid for Two Farthings (film)|A Kid for Two Farthings]]'' || Oliver ||
|-
|-
|1955|| ''[[w:The Secret (1955 film)|The Secret]]'' || Frank Farmer ||
|1955|| ''[[The Secret (1955 film)|The Secret]]'' || Frank Farmer ||
|-
|-
|1956|| ''[[w:Not So Dusty (1956 film)|Not So Dusty]]'' || Driver ||
|1956|| ''[[Not So Dusty (1956 film)|Not So Dusty]]'' || Driver ||
|-
|-
|1956|| ''[[w:The Big Money (film)|The Big Money]]'' || Bookmaker ||
|1956|| ''[[The Big Money (film)|The Big Money]]'' || Bookmaker ||
|-
|-
|1957|| ''[[w:Man from Tangier|Man from Tangier]]'' || Sammy ||
|1957|| ''[[Man from Tangier]]'' || Sammy ||
|-
|-
|1960|| ''[[w:Jazz Boat|Jazz Boat]]'' || Barber Shop Owner || Uncredited
|1960|| ''[[Jazz Boat]]'' || Barber Shop Owner || Uncredited
|-
|-
|1960|| ''[[w:Bluebeard's Ten Honeymoons|Bluebeard's Ten Honeymoons]]'' || Jeweller || Uncredited
|1960|| ''[[Bluebeard's Ten Honeymoons]]'' || Jeweller || Uncredited
|-
|-
|1960|| ''[[w:Surprise Package (film)|Surprise Package]]'' || Max Schissel || Uncredited
|1960|| ''[[Surprise Package (film)|Surprise Package]]'' || Max Schissel || Uncredited
|-
|-
|1960|| ''[[The Pure Hell of St. Trinian's]]'' || British Consul ||
|1960|| ''[[The Pure Hell of St. Trinian's]]'' || British Consul ||
|-
|-
|1961|| ''[[w:A Weekend with Lulu|A Weekend with Lulu]]'' || Card Seller ||
|1961|| ''[[A Weekend with Lulu]]'' || Card Seller ||
|-
|-
|1961|| ''[[w:What a Whopper|What a Whopper]]'' || Sammy ||
|1961|| ''[[What a Whopper]]'' || Sammy ||
|-
|-
|1962|| ''[[w:The Painted Smile|The Painted Smile]]'' || Mikhala ||
|1962|| ''[[The Painted Smile]]'' || Mikhala ||
|-
|-
|1962|| ''[[w:Live Now, Pay Later|Live Now]]'' || Solly Cowell ||
|1962|| ''[[Live Now, Pay Later|Live Now]]'' || Solly Cowell ||
|-
|-
|1964|| ''[[w:Mozambique (film)|Mozambique]]'' || Banker ||
|1964|| ''[[Mozambique (film)|Mozambique]]'' || Banker ||
|-
|-
|1969|| ''[[w:Hostile Witness|Hostile Witness]]'' || Rosen ||
|1969|| ''[[Hostile Witness]]'' || Rosen ||
|-
|-
|1969|| ''[[w:The Magic Christian (film)|The Magic Christian]]'' || Waiter || Uncredited
|1969|| ''[[The Magic Christian (film)|The Magic Christian]]'' || Waiter || Uncredited
|-
|-
|1972|| ''[[w:Straight On till Morning (film)|Straight On till Morning]]'' || Mr. Harris ||
|1972|| ''[[Straight On till Morning (film)|Straight On till Morning]]'' || Mr. Harris ||
|-
|-
|1976|| ''[[w:Queen Kong|Queen Kong]]'' || Man in Phone Booth || Uncredited
|1976|| ''[[Queen Kong]]'' || Man in Phone Booth || Uncredited
|-
|-
|1976|| ''[[The Pink Panther Strikes Again]]'' || Hotel Clerk || (scenes deleted)
|1976|| ''[[The Pink Panther Strikes Again]]'' || Hotel Clerk || (scenes deleted)
Line 85: Line 84:
|1982|| ''[[Trail of the Pink Panther]]'' || Hotel Clerk ||
|1982|| ''[[Trail of the Pink Panther]]'' || Hotel Clerk ||
|-
|-
|1991|| ''[[w:Hear My Song|Hear My Song]]'' || Benny Rose ||
|1991|| ''[[Hear My Song]]'' || Benny Rose ||
|-
|-
|1992|| ''[[Carry On Columbus]]'' || Cecil the Torturer || (final film role)
|1992|| ''[[Carry On Columbus]]'' || Cecil the Torturer || (final film role)

Latest revision as of 18:05, 6 August 2024

Harold Berens
Harold Berens.jpg
Born
Isadore Harold Berenbaum

(1903-03-04)4 March 1903
Glasgow, Scotland
Died10 May 1995(1995-05-10) (aged 92)
London, England
Occupation(s)Comedian, character actor

Harold Berens (born Isadore Harold Berenbaum; 4 March 1903 – 10 May 1995) was a British comedian and character actor.

Biography

He was born into a Jewish family in Glasgow, the son of a tailor, and grew up and was educated in Leeds, Harrogate, and Brussels. After his father built up a successful business in Brighton, he moved there, and began performing at show business parties organised by his father. After completing his education he worked as a shirt salesman, primarily to a show business clientele, while developing his own talent for comedy, especially his ability to imitate a wide range of different dialects, at private functions. In the 1930s he opened his own shop in Regent Street, London, where he styled himself as "Shirtmaker to the Stars". One of his customers was Carroll Levis, who thought that Berens was too professional a performer to perform in his regular amateur talent shows, and recommended that he audition for the BBC.[1]

He won the support of BBC radio producer Ernest Longstaffe, who used him in radio programmes from the late 1930s and wrote some of his scripts.[2] Berens compered broadcasts by Maurice Winnick and his orchestra from the Dorchester Hotel, and then, in 1939, started compering shows by Jay Wilbur and his band for Radio Luxembourg. During the Second World War, he made regular broadcasts for the services, and by 1941 was well known for his comedy routines, in which one of his characters was Mrs Twiddleswitch. He became known as "The Man with a Thousand Voices."[3]

He featured regularly in the radio series Hoop-La, with Robb Wilton and Max Wall, and became more popular after 1945 playing the role of a Cockney ignoramus on Ignorance Is Bliss, chaired by Stewart MacPherson, which was a BBC adaptation of the American show It Pays to Be Ignorant.[1][3] According to Roy Hudd, Berens' exclamations of "What a Geezer!" became a national catchphrase.[2] By 1947, it was said that he had done over 2,000 radio broadcasts. He also appeared in four Royal Variety Performances.[2]

He continued to feature on radio through the 1950s, notably as Mrs Mosseltoff on the show Ted Ray Time.[3] He also developed a career as a supporting actor in films and television. His first film appearance was in Candlelight in Algeria (1944), followed by appearances in Third Time Lucky (1949), Up for the Cup (1950), Man from Tangier (1957), and The Pure Hell of St Trinian's (1960), among others. He also appeared in such television shows as The Avengers and It's a Square World.[1] His final film appearances came in Trail of the Pink Panther (1982), Hear My Song (1991), and Carry On Columbus (1992).[3]

Berens died in London in 1995, aged 92.[1]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1944 Candlelight in Algeria Toni
1945 The Man from Morocco Ali
1947 Dual Alibi Ali
1949 Third Time Lucky Young Waiter
1950 Up for the Cup Auctioneer
1955 A Kid for Two Farthings Oliver
1955 The Secret Frank Farmer
1956 Not So Dusty Driver
1956 The Big Money Bookmaker
1957 Man from Tangier Sammy
1960 Jazz Boat Barber Shop Owner Uncredited
1960 Bluebeard's Ten Honeymoons Jeweller Uncredited
1960 Surprise Package Max Schissel Uncredited
1960 The Pure Hell of St. Trinian's British Consul
1961 A Weekend with Lulu Card Seller
1961 What a Whopper Sammy
1962 The Painted Smile Mikhala
1962 Live Now Solly Cowell
1964 Mozambique Banker
1969 Hostile Witness Rosen
1969 The Magic Christian Waiter Uncredited
1972 Straight On till Morning Mr. Harris
1976 Queen Kong Man in Phone Booth Uncredited
1976 The Pink Panther Strikes Again Hotel Clerk (scenes deleted)
1982 Trail of the Pink Panther Hotel Clerk
1991 Hear My Song Benny Rose
1992 Carry On Columbus Cecil the Torturer (final film role)

References

  1. ^ a b c d Denis Gifford (13 May 1995). Obituary: Harold Berens. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2020. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  2. ^ a b c Roy Hudd and Philip Hindin, Roy Hudd's Cavalcade of Variety Acts, Robson Books, 1998, ISBN 1-86105-206-5, pp.13-14
  3. ^ a b c d "Harold Berens 1903-1995", Jewish Lives Project. Retrieved 28 November 2020

External links

Retrieved from "https://www.thegoonshow.co.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Harold_Berens&oldid=49094"