Victor Spinetti

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Victor Spinetti
6702 Victor Spinetti.jpg
Born
Vittorio Giorgio Andre Spinetti

(1929-09-02)2 September 1929
Cwm, Ebbw Vale, Wales
Died19 June 2012(2012-06-19) (aged 82)
Occupation(s)Actor, author, poet, raconteur
Years active1961–2012
Partner(s)Graham Curnow
(1953–1997; Curnow's death)
RelativesHenry Spinetti (brother)
Adrian Spinetti (twin brother)

Vittorio Giorgio Andre "Victor" Spinetti (2 September 1929 – 19 June 2012)[1][2] was a Welsh[3] actor, author, poet, and raconteur. He appeared in dozens of films and stage plays throughout his 50-year career, including the three 1960s Beatles films A Hard Day's Night, Help!, and Magical Mystery Tour.

Born in Cwm, Spinetti was educated at Monmouth School and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff, of which he became a Fellow. After various menial jobs, Spinetti pursued a stage career and was closely associated with Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop. Among the productions were Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be and Oh, What a Lovely War! (1963), which transferred to Broadway and for which he won a Tony Award. Spinetti's film career developed simultaneously; his dozens of film appearances included Zeffirelli's The Taming of the Shrew, Under Milk Wood, The Return of the Pink Panther and Under the Cherry Moon.

During his later career, Spinetti acted with the Royal Shakespeare Company, in such roles as Lord Foppington in The Relapse and the Archbishop in Richard III, at Stratford-upon-Avon; and, in 1990, he appeared in The Krays. In 2008 he appeared in a one-man show, A Very Private Diary, which toured the UK as A Very Private Diary ... Revisited!, recounting his life story. Spinetti was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2011 and died of the disease in June 2012.

Early life

Vittorio Giorgio Andre Spinetti was born on 2 September 1929[1] in Cwm, of Welsh and Italian descent from a grandfather who was said to have 'walked' from Italy to Wales to work as a coal miner, just to earn enough money to buy a plough.[4] His parents, Giuseppe and Lily (née Watson),[1] owned the chip shop in Cwm, over which premises the family lived and where Spinetti was born. Spinetti was the eldest of six,[5] and his younger brother, Henry (born 1951), is a session drummer. Spinetti was educated at Monmouth School and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff, of which he later became a Fellow. Early on, he worked as a waiter and factory worker. It was at the college that Spinetti met actor Graham Curnow, who became his partner.

Career

Film

At Monmouth School on speech day, 2009

Spinetti gained international fame during the 1960s due to his association with the Beatles. He appeared in the first three Beatles films: A Hard Day's Night (1964), Help! (1965), and Magical Mystery Tour (1967). He also appeared on the Beatles' 1967 Christmas recording, released to members of their fan club. The best explanation for this long-running collaboration and friendship might have been provided by George Harrison, who told Spinetti, "You've got to be in all our films ... if you're not in them me Mum won't come and see them – because she fancies you."[6] But Harrison also later told him, "You've got a lovely karma, Vic." Paul McCartney once described Spinetti as "the man who makes clouds disappear". Spinetti made a small appearance in the promotional video for McCartney's song "London Town" from the 1978 album of the same name. Spinetti's July 2010 performance of the song "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da", at the Festival Theatre, Malvern in Worcestershire, was available on "The Beatles Complete on Ukulele" podcast.[7]

Spinetti appeared in around 30 films, including The Gentle Terror (1961), Sparrows Can't Sing (1963), The Wild Affair (1964), Becket (1964), Zeffirelli's The Taming of the Shrew (1967), The Biggest Bundle of Them All (1968), Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? (1969), This, That and the Other (1969), Start the Revolution Without Me (1970), Under Milk Wood (1972), Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World (1973), The Great McGonagall (1974), The Little Prince (1974), The Return of the Pink Panther (1975), Voyage of the Damned (1976), Emily (1976), Hardcore (1977), Casanova & Co. (1977), Under the Cherry Moon (1986) and The Krays (1990).

Spinetti's last on-screen appearance was in the DVD release of the independent film Beatles Stories by US musician Seth Swirsky, issued to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' first recording sessions at Abbey Road.[3]

Theatre

Spinetti directing the premiere of Hair in Amsterdam, 1969

Spinetti's work in Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop produced many memorable performances including Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be (1959, by Frank Norman, with music by Lionel Bart), and Oh, What a Lovely War! (1963), which transferred to New York City and for which he won a Tony Award for his main role as an obnoxious Drill Sergeant. He appeared in the West End in The Odd Couple (as Felix); in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in the West End; and as Albert Einstein in a critically lauded performance in 2005 in a new play, Albert's Boy at the Finborough Theatre. He launched his own one-man show of witty reminiscences, A Very Private Diary, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.[3]

One of Spinetti's most challenging theatre roles was as the principal male character in Jane Arden's radical feminist play Vagina Rex and the Gas Oven, which played to packed houses for six weeks at the Arts Lab on Drury Lane in 1969. In 1980 he directed The Biograph Girl, a musical about the silent film era, at the Phoenix Theatre. In 1986 he appeared as Fagin in the musical Oliver!, which was the last professional production to use Sean Kenny's original stage design. He appeared on Broadway in The Hostage and The Philanthropist, and also acted in 1995 with the Royal Shakespeare Company, in such roles as Lord Foppington in The Relapse and the Archbishop in Richard III, at Stratford-upon-Avon, although this was not a happy experience for him.[3]

Spinetti co-authored In His Own Write, the play adapted from a book by John Lennon with the Beatle which he also directed at the National Theatre, premiering on 18 June 1968, at the Old Vic. Spinetti and Lennon appeared together in June 1968 on BBC2's Release. During the interview, Spinetti said of the play, that "it's not really John's childhood, it's all of ours really, isn't it John?" to which Lennon replied, assuming a camp voice, "It is, we're all one Victor, we're all one aren't we. I mean 'what's going on?'" Spinetti described the play as being "about the growing up of any of us; the things that helped us to be more aware".

He also directed Jesus Christ Superstar and Hair, including productions staged in Europe. His many television appearances on British TV, include Take My Wife in which he played a London-based booking agent and schemer who was forever promising his comedian client that fame was just around the corner, and the sitcom An Actor's Life For Me.

In 1999 Victor Spinetti played in a Jim Davidson Adult Pantomime of Babes In The Wood (Boobs In The Wood) plays as Friar Tuck where he been taking weed and been told by The Sheriff Of Nottingham who was played by Jim Davidson to kill his Niece and Nephew which they were escape convicts which one played by Kenny Baker.

In September 2008 Spinetti reprised his one-man show, A Very Private Diary, touring the UK, as A Very Private Diary ... Revisited!, telling his life story.[8]

Television

From 1968 to 1969 Spinetti was a cast member of the Marty Feldman sketch show It's Marty, which was written by Barry Took, with contributions by John Cleese, Michael Palin and Graham Chapman, members of Monty Python as well as John Junkin, who appeared with Spinetti in A Hard Day's Night. In 1969 and 1970 Spinetti appeared on Thames Television, alongside Sid James, as one half of Two in Clover over two series. A sitcom about two office workers who jack it all in to become farmers, he starred in all but one of the 13 episodes. His absence in episode No. 3 of the second series was covered by fellow Welsh actor Richard Davies, playing Spinetti's character's brother.

In the 1970s Spinetti appeared in a series of television advertisements for McVities' (now United Biscuits) Jaffa Cakes, as "The Mad Jaffa Cake Eater", a turbaned, Middle-Eastern style character who rode a bicycle and surreptitiously stole and ate other people's Jaffa Cakes, prompting the catchphrase "There's Orangey!" He hosted Victor's Party for Granada. In 1979 he voiced Mr. Tumnus in the USA dubbed version of the 1979 animated adaptation of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as well as voice directing for the film. Later he voiced arch villain Texas Pete in the popular S4C animated TV series SuperTed (1982–84) and narrated several Fireman Sam audiobooks. In 1988 he appeared alongside Paul Schofield and Mary Steenburgen in The Attic, a World War Two drama about Anne Frank. In 1992, he voiced the King of the Rats in the British children's animated programme Tales of the Tooth Fairies (in the episode The Stolen Present) on BBC, produced by Welsh animation company Calon, formerly Siriol Productions. In 1995, he appeared in the "Finger" episode of the comedy series Bottom, with Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson, as Audrey the Maître d'hôtel.[9] He also starred in the 1999 DVD film Boobs in the Wood with Jim Davidson.

From 1999 to 2002, Spinetti played Max, the 'man of a thousand faces', in the children's TV programme Harry and the Wrinklies, which also starred Nick Robinson in the title role.

Appearances

Writing

Spinetti's poetry, notably Watchers Along the Mall (1963), and prose appeared in various publications. His memoir, Victor Spinetti Up Front...: His Strictly Confidential Autobiography, published in September 2006, is filled with anecdotes. In conversation with BBC Radio 2's Michael Ball, on his show broadcast on 7 September 2008, Spinetti revealed that Princess Margaret had been instrumental in securing the necessary censor permission for the first run of Oh, What A Lovely War!.

Personal life

Spinetti lived with his partner of forty-four years, Graham Curnow, who died in 1997. Curnow appeared in the 1959 British horror film Horrors of the Black Museum.[10]

Death

Spinetti had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in February 2011, after he collapsed onstage on Valentine's Day. He suffered a spinal fracture and discovered only by chance that he had a tumour. He was at first treated in London, but after being cared for by his sister and brother-in-law, he moved to the Velindre Cancer Centre in Whitchurch for radiotherapy treatment.[11][12] He died from the disease[13] at Monnow Vale Integrated Health and Social Care Facility in Monmouth on the morning of 19 June 2012. His funeral was conducted by Ajahn Khemadhammo.[14]

Tributes

Spinetti was visited shortly before his death by Barbara Windsor, who had co-starred with him in the West End production of Oh, What a Lovely War! Windsor said, "We were very close. He was another of my great friends from that era. He was such a great man. He was such a good actor because he took notice of people and used their characters. He portrayed them wonderfully, whatever he did."[6] Comedian Rob Brydon tweeted, "So sad Victor Spinetti has died. The funniest story teller I've ever met and a lovely warm man." Spinetti also received warm tributes from actor and singer Britt Ekland and fellow Welsh actor Siân Phillips, who told BBC Wales that she was shocked and saddened. Phillips added, "He was such a force of joy and vitality. When one saw him across a crowded room, one couldn't wait to get together with him and have a chat and a catch-up."[6]

Paul McCartney paid tribute to Spinetti on his website: "Victor was a fine man, a great pal and a fantastic actor and someone I am proud to have known for many years. His irreverent wit and exuberant personality will remain in my memory forever. I will miss his loyal friendship as will all the others who were lucky enough to know and love the wonderful Mr Spinetti."[15] At a memorial service for Spinetti, attended by McCartney, the Beatles song "In My Life" was sung by Michael Ball.[citation needed] Preston FM scheduled a tribute broadcast, for 22 June, of a previously unaired in-depth interview with Spinetti, recorded when he visited Blackpool in July 2010, in Paul and Lucy Breeze's Best Kept Secrets in Conversation.[16]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1958 Behind the Mask Minor Role Uncredited
1961 The Gentle Terror Joe
1963 Sparrows Can't Sing Arnold
1963 Stolen Hours Freddy Cadogan - Party Guest Uncredited
1964 Becket French Tailor Uncredited
1964 A Hard Day's Night T.V. Director
1965 Help! Foot
1965 The Wild Affair Quentin
1967 The Taming of the Shrew Hortensio
1967 Magical Mystery Tour Army Sergeant
1968 The Biggest Bundle of Them All Captain Giglio
1969 Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? Critic Sharpnose
1970 Start the Revolution Without Me Duke d'Escargot
1970 A Promise of Bed George
1970 Defeat of the Mafia Charles Agostino
1971 Under Milk Wood Mog Edwards
1973 Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World Professor Ribart
1974 The Little Prince The Historian
1975 The Great McGonagall Mr. Stewart / Second-Lieutenant Rotlo / Supposed John Brown / Gentleman / Revolutionary / Cardinal / Policeman
1975 The Return of the Pink Panther Hotel Concierge
1975 Dick Deadeye, or Duty Done Dick Deadeye Voice
1976 Emily Richard Walker
1976 Voyage of the Damned Dr. Erich Strauss
1977 Casanova & Co. The Prefect
1977 Hardcore Duncan
1986 Under the Cherry Moon The Jaded Three #1
1990 The Krays Mr. Lawson
1990 Romeo.Juliet[17] Tybalt / Benvolio Voice
1991 The Princess and the Goblin Glump Voice
1999 Julie and the Cadillacs Cyril Wise
1999 Dragon Tales Narrator (Audiobooks)

References

  1. ^ a b c "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  2. ^ Victor Spinetti – the man The Beatles loved. WalesOnline (15 September 2010). Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d Coveney, Michael (19 June 2012). "Victor Spinetti obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 September 2013. Victor Spinetti, who has died of cancer aged 82, was an outrageously talented Welsh actor and raconteur
  4. ^ Spinetti, Victor (30 July 2015). Up Front...: His Strictly Confidential Autobiography - Victor Spinetti - Google Books. ISBN 9781910232620. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  5. ^ Victor Spinetti. The Daily Telegraph. (19 June 2012). Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  6. ^ a b c "Victor Spinetti, actor and star of Beatles films, dies", BBC News, 19 June 2012
  7. ^ "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" – Victor Spinetti. Thebeatlescompleteonukulele.com. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  8. ^ Entertainer Spinetti to tour life story. The Stage. (30 August 2013). Retrieved 3 September 2013. Archived 12 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ ""Bottom" Finger (TV Episode 1995)". IMDb.com.
  10. ^ Graham Curnow (1930–1997). IMDb
  11. ^ TRIBUTES TO LARGER-THAN-LIFE STAR SPINETTI WHO'S DIED AT 82. WalesOnline.co.uk via Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2013-09-03.
    "Victor was a magnificent man, a wonderful man who was full of great stories... Liz Taylor and Richard Burton wanted him at their parties, The Beatles loved him – they wouldn't do a film without him."
  12. ^ Victor Spinetti. Beatlesbible.com. Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  13. ^ Actor Victor Spinetti loses his battle with prostate cancer, aged 82 at walesonline, 19 June 2012. Walesonline.co.uk (19 June 2012). Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  14. ^ 'The Monk Who Gave Up Acting With Laurence Olivier To Lead Buddhism In British Prisons'. HuffPost. 25 November 2014.
  15. ^ ""Victor Spinetti 1929 – 2012"". Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  16. ^ In Conversation: Victor Spinetti Special – Friday 7pm Archived 24 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Bestkeptsecrets.biz (21 June 2012). Retrieved 3 September 2013.
  17. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links