David Battley
David Battley | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | David John Battley 5 November 1935 |
| Died | 20 January 2003 (aged 67) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1964–2000 |
| Spouse |
Sarah Hanrahan (m. 1971) |
| Children | 2 |
David John Battley (5 November 1935 – 20 January 2003) was a British actor of stage and screen, mainly appearing in comedy roles.
Early life
Battley was born at Battersea, London, the elder son of John Battley, a post-Second World War Labour MP, and his wife Sybill (née Allchurch). Born with a hole in the heart, he was initially home schooled before attending a special school. He later enrolled at Camberwell School of Art but left before completing the course. He earned a living working for the family printing firm, Battley Brothers, before applying to Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.[1] Battley had one brother, Bernard.
Career
Battley used a dry, ironic delivery on television and in films. He found steady work as a character actor and comic stooge. Battley's TV work ranged from the satire show BBC-3 and the military police drama Redcap in the 1960s through Eric Sykes' BBC sitcom, the 1975 TV adaptation of Moll Flanders, the 1977 Christmas Special of The Good Life, and later The Bill, Lovejoy, The Beiderbecke Tapes as John the hippy barman, and Mr. Bean.[2] Battley also appears as the Executioner in the 1966 BBC production of Alice in Wonderland.[3] He also appeared in the mid-1970s as a foil to Eric Idle in the BBC series Rutland Weekend Television (1975–1976).[4] Battley played the Paul McCartney role in the original RWT sketch of The Rutles, a parody of The Beatles, but did not appear in the American TV film All You Need Is Cash, based on the sketch.[5]
Battley also featured in films, including Hotel Paradiso (1966), Crossplot (1969), Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971), Up the Chastity Belt (1972), Up the Front (1972), That's Your Funeral (1972), Rentadick (1972), Don't Just Lie There, Say Something! (1973), Mister Quilp (1975), S.O.S. Titanic (1979), The London Connection (1979) and Krull (1983).[6]
In 1990 he appeared in an early episode of One Foot in the Grave.[7] Among his last roles were a miniature golf course employee in the Mr. Bean episode "Tee Off, Mr. Bean" (1995), and a doctor examining new regimental recruits in Sharpe's Regiment (1996).[6]
Personal life and death
Battley had two daughters, Zoe S. Battley and E. Martha Battley. He died on 20 January 2003, after suffering a heart attack, at the age of 67, in Epsom, Surrey, England.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Hotel Paradiso | George | |
| Alice in Wonderland | Executioner | TV film | |
| 1968 | The Franchise Trail | Wesley Dagenham | TV film |
| 1969 | Mrs Wilson's Diary | David Frost | TV film |
| Crossplot | Bridegroom | ||
| 1971 | Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory | Mr. Turkentine | |
| 1972 | Up the Chastity Belt | Yokel | |
| Rentadick | Desk Sergeant | ||
| Up the Front | Midgeley the Cook | ||
| Follow Me! | Writer | Uncredited | |
| That's Your Funeral | Percy | ||
| 1974 | Don't Just Lie There, Say Something! | Country Yokel | |
| 1975 | A Man in the Zoo | Collins | TV film |
| Mister Quilp | Codlin | ||
| Moll Flanders | Henry Haydock | TV film | |
| 1976 | The Snow Queen | Old Woman | TV film |
| 1979 | The Omega Connection | Peters | |
| S.O.S. Titanic | Chief Boots: S. Stebbing | TV film | |
| 1980 | Moving Pictures | Picture Restorer | TV film |
| 1983 | Krull | Ergo | |
| 1998 | Vigo: A Passion for Life | Cinema Manager | |
| 2000 | Out of Depth | Donald |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Second City Reports | Various roles | Series regular |
| The Protectors | Wally | Episode: "The Reluctant Thief" | |
| The Indian Tales of Rudyard Kipling | Private Jones | Episode: "Only a Subaltern" | |
| 1964-1965 | Redcap | Corporal Metters | 2 episodes |
| 1965 | Public Eye | Charlie Andrews | Episode: "You Think It'll Be Marvellous - But It's Always a Rabbit" |
| 1966 | Sergeant Cork | James Starkey | Episode: "The Case of the Crystal Ball" |
| Mystery and Imagination | Klaus | Episode: "Room 13" | |
| 1967 | The Wednesday Play | Joey | Episode: "Another Day, Another Dollar" |
| Mickey Dunne | Milkman | Episode: "No Flowers by Request" | |
| Theatre 625 | The New Scribe | Episode: "Lieutenant Tenant" | |
| 1968 | The Jazz Age | Hook | Episode: "Thark" |
| 1969 | Hark at Barker | Episode: "Rustless in Pigtails" | |
| The Benny Hill Show | Russian Officer | Episode: "Show 1" | |
| 1970 | Comedy Playhouse | Percy | Episode: "Last Tribute" |
| 1970-1971 | That's Your Funeral | Percy | Series regular |
| 1971 | The Sinners | Olly | Episode: "One Man, One Boat, One Girl" |
| Father, Dear Father | Sorting Office Clerk | Episode: "A Book for the Bishop" | |
| 1972 | Sykes | Darlington Porter | 3 episodes |
| 1973 | The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes | Podgers | Episode: "The Absent-Minded Coterie" |
| Bless This House | Mr. Jones | Episode: "Watch the Birdie" | |
| Centre Play | Dennis | Episode: "The Museum Attendant" | |
| Sporting Scenes | Villager | Episode: "England, Their England" | |
| BBC Play of the Month | Costar Pearmain | Episode: "The Recruiting Officer" | |
| 1974 | Jackanory Playhouse | Percy Harlow | Episode: "The Lost Voice" |
| Funny Ha-Ha | Boy Wonder | Episode: "Commander Badman" | |
| Bless This House | Wally | Episode: "Freedom Is" | |
| 1975 | Churchill's People | Edwards | Episode: "Death of Liberty" |
| Comedy Playhouse | Nigel the Idle | Episode: "For Richer... For Poorer" | |
| 1975-1976 | Rutland Weekend Television | Stig O'Hara - Rutles Bassist | Series regular |
| 1976 | Saturday Night Live | Stig O'Hara | Episode: "Eric Idle/Joe Cocker/Stuff" |
| 1977 | BBC Play of the Month | Parson | Episode: "The Country Wife" |
| Beryl's Lot | Mr. Biggleswade | 2 episodes | |
| The Cost of Loving | Desmond Waterhouse | Episode: "Albert's Part" | |
| The Good Life | Bill, Tradesman | Episode: "Silly, But It's Fun" | |
| 1978 | In the Looking Glass | Episode: "Fading Away" | |
| 1979 | The Dawson Watch | 2 episodes | |
| 1981 | Crown Court | Paul Flood | 3 episodes |
| Thicker than Water | Harry Fishwick | ||
| Roger Doesn't Live Here Anymore | Porter | 1 episode | |
| 1982 | Don't Rock the Boat | Eric | 2 episodes |
| 1983 | The Climber | Ted | |
| 1984 | The Gentle Touch | Reginald Loon | 2 episodes |
| 1985 | Super Gran | Police Sergeant | Episode: "Supergran and the Day at the Sea" |
| 1985-1987 | Relative Strangers | Gerald | Series regular |
| 1986 | Comrade Dad | Cliff | Episode: "Cars That Pass in the Night" |
| Dramarama | Arthur Crouchley | Episode: "Last Days of Black Berts" | |
| 1987 | The Beiderbecke Tapes | John the Barman | Miniseries |
| 1989 | Close to Home | Mr. Barnes | Episode: "A Matter of Decree" |
| 1990 | One Foot in the Grave | Carpet-Fitter | Episode: "The Eternal Quadrangle" |
| 1992 | The Darling Buds of May | Norman | Episode: "Oh! To Be in England" |
| 1994 | The Bill | Banwell | Episode: "No Job for an Amateur" |
| Minder | Potter | Episode: "Bring Me the Head of Arthur Daley" | |
| Lovejoy | Norman Ebersley | Episode: "Holding the Baby" | |
| 1995 | As Time Goes By | Ted Pringle | Episode: "The Anniversary Party" |
| Mr. Bean | Golf Attendant | Episode: "Tee Off, Mr. Bean" | |
| 1996 | Annie's Bar | Gus James | 3 episodes |
| Sharpe | Doctor | Episode: "Sharpe's Regiment" | |
| 1997 | Grange Hill | Cab Driver | 1 episode |
| 1999 | Murder Most Horrid | Mr. Gaunt | Episode: "Frozen" |
References
- ^ "David Battley — RADA". www.rada.ac.uk.
- ^ "David Battley". www.aveleyman.com.
- ^ "BFI Screenonline: Alice in Wonderland (1966) Credits". www.screenonline.org.uk.
- ^ "BFI Screenonline: Rutland Weekend Television (1975-76)". www.screenonline.org.uk.
- ^ Kitts, Thomas M.; Baxter-Moore, Nick (April 25, 2019). The Routledge Companion to Popular Music and Humor. Routledge. ISBN 9781351266628 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "David Battley". BFI.
- ^ "One Foot in the Grave: The Eternal Quadrangle". February 1, 1990. p. 54 – via BBC Genome.
