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{{short description| British TV and Radio performer, writer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2012}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name        = John Junkin
| image      = John_Junkin.jpg
| image      = John_Junkin.jpg
| caption    = Photo by Nigel Luckhurst, 1975
| caption    = Photo by Nigel Luckhurst, 1975
| birth_date  = {{birth date|1930|01|29|df=y}}
| birth_date  = {{birth date|1930|01|29|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[w:Ealing|Ealing]], [[w:Middlesex|Middlesex]], England
| birth_place = [[Ealing]], [[Middlesex]], England
| death_date  = {{death date and age|2006|03|07|1930|01|29|df=y}}
| death_date  = {{death date and age|2006|03|07|1930|01|29|df=y}}
| death_place = [[w:Aylesbury|Aylesbury]], [[w:Buckinghamshire|Buckinghamshire]], England
| death_place = [[Aylesbury]], [[Buckinghamshire]], England
| resting_place =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates =
| resting_place_coordinates =
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}}
}}


'''John Francis Junkin''' (29 January 1930 – 7 March 2006) was a British actor and [[w:Screenwriter|scriptwriter]] who had a long career in radio, television and film, specialising in comedy.
'''John Francis Junkin''' (29 January 1930 – 7 March 2006) was a British actor and [[Screenwriter|scriptwriter]] who had a long career in radio, television and film, specialising in comedy.


==Life and work==
==Life and work==


Born in [[w:Ealing|Ealing]], [[w:Middlesex|Middlesex]], the son of a policeman, he and his parents subsequently moved to [[w:Forest Gate|Forest Gate]] so that he could attend [[w:St Bonaventure's|St Bonaventure's Catholic School]] there, before qualifying as a teacher at [[w:St Mary's University, Twickenham|St Mary's College, Strawberry Hill]]. He worked as a primary school teacher in the [[w:East End of London|East End]] for three years before becoming a professional actor and scriptwriter.<ref name=guardian/>
Born in [[Ealing|Ealing]], [[Middlesex|Middlesex]], the son of a policeman, he and his parents subsequently moved to [[Forest Gate|Forest Gate]] so that he could attend [[St Bonaventure's|St Bonaventure's Catholic School]] there, before qualifying as a teacher at [[St Mary's University, Twickenham|St Mary's College, Strawberry Hill]]. He worked as a primary school teacher in the [[East End of London|East End]] for three years before becoming a professional actor and scriptwriter.<ref name=guardian/>


In 1960 Junkin joined [[w:Joan Littlewood|Joan Littlewood]]'s Stratford East [[w:Theatre Workshop|Theatre Workshop]] and played the lead in the original production of ''[[w:Sparrows Can't Sing|Sparrers Can't Sing]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/john-junkin-6107168.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220613/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/john-junkin-6107168.html |archive-date=13 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=John Junkin|date=8 March 2006|website=The Independent}}</ref> A few years later he joined the [[Royal Court Theatre]] company and was the foil to [[Tony Hancock]] in some of Hancock's last work for British television.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://theavengers.tv/forever/pnote-junkin.htm|title=The Avengers Forever: John Junkin|website=theavengers.tv}}</ref> He played a diverse range of roles on the small screen; however, he is best remembered for his comedy roles and his appearances as a television quiz master. Worldwide filmgoers will remember him best for playing "Shake", the assistant to [[Norman Rossington]], in [[the Beatles]] film ''[[A Hard Day's Night (film)|A Hard Day's Night]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/499141/index.html|title=BFI Screenonline: Hard Day's Night, A (1964)|website=www.screenonline.org.uk}}</ref> In comedy roles, Junkin was rarely short of work, on account of his ability to play the stony-faced symbol of low level, petty-minded and unquestioning authority, whether the army sergeant, police constable or site foreman.
In 1960 Junkin joined [[Joan Littlewood|Joan Littlewood]]'s Stratford East [[Theatre Workshop|Theatre Workshop]] and played the lead in the original production of ''[[Sparrows Can't Sing|Sparrers Can't Sing]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/john-junkin-6107168.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220613/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/john-junkin-6107168.html |archive-date=13 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=John Junkin|date=8 March 2006|website=The Independent}}</ref> A few years later he joined the [[Royal Court Theatre]] company and was the foil to [[Tony Hancock]] in some of Hancock's last work for British television.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://theavengers.tv/forever/pnote-junkin.htm|title=The Avengers Forever: John Junkin|website=theavengers.tv}}</ref> He played a diverse range of roles on the small screen; however, he is best remembered for his comedy roles and his appearances as a television quiz master. Worldwide filmgoers will remember him best for playing "Shake", the assistant to [[Norman Rossington]], in [[the Beatles]] film ''[[A Hard Day's Night (film)|A Hard Day's Night]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/499141/index.html|title=BFI Screenonline: Hard Day's Night, A (1964)|website=www.screenonline.org.uk}}</ref> In comedy roles, Junkin was rarely short of work, on account of his ability to play the stony-faced symbol of low level, petty-minded and unquestioning authority, whether the army sergeant, police constable or site foreman.


One of his rare leading roles was in the BBC series ''[[The Rough with the Smooth]]'', in which he and [[Tim Brooke-Taylor]] played comedy writers (with both actors contributing scripts to the series as well).<ref name="Teleg">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1512356/John-Junkin.html|title=John Junkin|date=8 March 2006|work=Telegraph|publisher=Telegraph Media Group |access-date=9 August 2008}}</ref> He also hosted his own afternoon television series in the mid-1970s. Titled simply ''Junkin'', it was produced by [[Southern Television]] for the ITV network.<ref name=guardian>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/mar/08/broadcasting.obituaries|title=Obituary: John Junkin|date=8 March 2006|website=the Guardian}}</ref>
One of his rare leading roles was in the BBC series ''[[The Rough with the Smooth]]'', in which he and [[Tim Brooke-Taylor]] played comedy writers (with both actors contributing scripts to the series as well).<ref name="Teleg">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1512356/John-Junkin.html|title=John Junkin|date=8 March 2006|work=Telegraph|publisher=Telegraph Media Group |access-date=9 August 2008}}</ref> He also hosted his own afternoon television series in the mid-1970s. Titled simply ''Junkin'', it was produced by [[Southern Television]] for the ITV network.<ref name=guardian>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/mar/08/broadcasting.obituaries|title=Obituary: John Junkin|date=8 March 2006|website=the Guardian}}</ref>
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* {{IMDb name|0432729}}
* {{IMDb name|0432729}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080725184616/http://abbeyrd.best.vwh.net/johnjunkin.html John Junkin: reminiscences of making A Hard Days' Night]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080725184616/http://abbeyrd.best.vwh.net/johnjunkin.html John Junkin: reminiscences of making A Hard Days' Night]
{{Morecambe and Wise}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Junkin, John}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Junkin, John}}

Latest revision as of 13:59, 18 March 2023

John Junkin
John Junkin.jpg
Photo by Nigel Luckhurst, 1975
Born(1930-01-29)29 January 1930
Ealing, Middlesex, England
Died7 March 2006(2006-03-07) (aged 76)
Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England
NationalityBritish
Occupation(s)Actor, scriptwriter
Years active1955–2004
Spouse
Jenny Claybourn
​
​
(m. 1977; sep. 1992)​
Children1

John Francis Junkin (29 January 1930 – 7 March 2006) was a British actor and scriptwriter who had a long career in radio, television and film, specialising in comedy.

Life and work

Born in Ealing, Middlesex, the son of a policeman, he and his parents subsequently moved to Forest Gate so that he could attend St Bonaventure's Catholic School there, before qualifying as a teacher at St Mary's College, Strawberry Hill. He worked as a primary school teacher in the East End for three years before becoming a professional actor and scriptwriter.[1]

In 1960 Junkin joined Joan Littlewood's Stratford East Theatre Workshop and played the lead in the original production of Sparrers Can't Sing.[2] A few years later he joined the Royal Court Theatre company and was the foil to Tony Hancock in some of Hancock's last work for British television.[3] He played a diverse range of roles on the small screen; however, he is best remembered for his comedy roles and his appearances as a television quiz master. Worldwide filmgoers will remember him best for playing "Shake", the assistant to Norman Rossington, in the Beatles film A Hard Day's Night.[4] In comedy roles, Junkin was rarely short of work, on account of his ability to play the stony-faced symbol of low level, petty-minded and unquestioning authority, whether the army sergeant, police constable or site foreman.

One of his rare leading roles was in the BBC series The Rough with the Smooth, in which he and Tim Brooke-Taylor played comedy writers (with both actors contributing scripts to the series as well).[5] He also hosted his own afternoon television series in the mid-1970s. Titled simply Junkin, it was produced by Southern Television for the ITV network.[1]

Junkin has an entry in the Guinness Book of Records as the voice of "Mr Shifter", one of the chimps in the PG Tips tea advertisement, the longest-running series of commercials on television.[5]

With Barry Cryer Junkin wrote for Morecambe and Wise from 1978 to 1983 as well as two Christmas special in 1972 and 1976.[6]

Junkin lived in Wendover, Buckinghamshire. He married public relations executive Jenny Claybourn in 1977 and had one daughter, Annabel.[1] He and his wife separated in 1992. He died from lung cancer on 7 March 2006 in the Florence Nightingale House, Aylesbury, several miles from his home. A heavy smoker, he had also been suffering from emphysema and asthma.[7] His life and work were honoured at the British Academy Television Awards in 2006.[8]

Acting credits

Film

Radio

Television

References

  1. ^ a b c "Obituary: John Junkin". the Guardian. 8 March 2006.
  2. ^ "John Junkin". The Independent. 8 March 2006. Archived from the original on 13 June 2022.
  3. ^ "The Avengers Forever: John Junkin". theavengers.tv.
  4. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Hard Day's Night, A (1964)". www.screenonline.org.uk.
  5. ^ a b "John Junkin". Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. 8 March 2006. Retrieved 9 August 2008.
  6. ^ "Barry Cryer obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Comedy veteran John Junkin dies". BBC News. BBC. 7 March 2006. Retrieved 9 August 2008.
  8. ^ "John Junkin". www.bafta.org. 11 May 2012.

External links

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