John George Norman Bird (30 October 1924 – 22 April 2005) was an English character actor.[2]
Norman Bird | |
|---|---|
 Bird in Cash on Demand (1961) | |
| Born | John George Norman Bird 30 October 1924[1] Coalville, Leicestershire, England |
| Died | 22 April 2005 (aged 80) Wolverhampton, England |
| Years active | 1951–1996 |
| Spouse |
Nona Blamire (m. 1953) |
| Children | 2 |
Early life edit
Bird was born in Coalville, Leicestershire, England.[3] A RADA graduate, he made his West End debut in Peter Brook's production of The Winter's Tale at the Phoenix Theatre in 1951.[4] He was also a member of the BBC's Radio Drama Company.[5] His first film appearance was as the foreman in An Inspector Calls (1954).[6]
Film career edit
He was a familiar face to British cinema audiences of the 1950s and 1960s, appearing in nearly 50 films such as The Angry Silence (1960), The League of Gentlemen (1960), Whistle Down the Wind (1961), Victim (1961) and Term of Trial (1962) with Laurence Olivier and The Hill with Sean Connery (1965).[7]
Television appearances edit
He had over 200 television appearances, notably as Mr Braithwaite in Worzel Gummidge (1979–81) and Mr Arrad in the Fawlty Towers episode "Waldorf Salad" (1979).[8][9] His long list of credits include Steptoe and Son, Till Death Us Do Part, Rising Damp, Ever Decreasing Circles, Yes Minister, To Serve Them All My Days, All Creatures Great and Small, Z-Cars, Public Eye, The Saint, Department S, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) and Boon.[10] In 1990 he appeared in Stay Lucky, with Dennis Waterman, which marked his 200th television appearance.[3] One of his last film appearances was as a taxi driver in Richard Attenborough's Shadowlands (1993).[11]
Personal life edit
At 16 he left school and spent six months working in an office before studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.[7] During the Second World War, he served with Royal Air Force, being demobbed in 1947.[7]
He had met his wife Nona Blamire (Joan Hood in radio's The Archers) in rep in Northampton. They married in 1953 and lived in Teddington for many years. In 1992 they moved to Bridgnorth, Shropshire, to be nearer to their two daughters and five grandchildren.[2]
Filmography edit
Film edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | An Inspector Calls | Foreman Jones-Collins | Uncredited |
| 1957 | A Woman of Property | Clerk of the court | TV film |
| 1960 | The Angry Silence | Roberts | |
| The League of Gentlemen | Captain Frank Weaver | ||
| Man in the Moon | Herbert | ||
| 1961 | The Secret Partner | Ralph Beldon | |
| Very Important Person | Travers, Senior British Officer | ||
| Whistle Down the Wind | Eddie | ||
| Victim | Harold Doe | ||
| Cash on Demand | Arthur Sanderson | ||
| 1962 | Night of the Eagle | Doctor | |
| Term of Trial | Mr. Taylor | ||
| In Search of the Castaways | Senior Yacht Guard | ||
| 1963 | The Mind Benders | Aubrey | |
| The Punch and Judy Man | Reginald Fletcher | ||
| August for the People | Mr. Bolt | TV film | |
| Maniac | Salon | ||
| The Cracksman | Policeman | ||
| 80,000 Suspects | Harold Davis | ||
| Bitter Harvest | Mr. Pitt | ||
| 1964 | Hot Enough for June | Employment Exchange Clerk | Uncredited |
| The Bargee | Albert Williams | ||
| The Beauty Jungle | Mr. Freeman | ||
| First Men in the Moon | Stuart | ||
| The Black Torment | Harris | ||
| 1965 | The Hill | Commandant | |
| 1966 | Sky West and Crooked | Cheeseman | |
| The Wrong Box | Clergyman | ||
| 1968 | A Dandy in Aspic | Copperfield | |
| The Limbo Line | John Chivers | ||
| 1969 | Oh! What a Lovely War | Training Sergeant | Uncredited |
| All at Sea | Mr. Danvers | ||
| Run a Crooked Mile | Sergeant Hooper | TV film | |
| 1970 | The Virgin and the Gypsy | Uncle Fred | |
| The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer | Alderman Poot | ||
| Put Out More Flags | Geoffrey Bentley | TV film | |
| 1971 | The Raging Moon | Dr. Matthews | |
| Please Sir! | Reynolds | ||
| Hands of the Ripper | Police Inspector | ||
| 1972 | Doomwatch | Brewer | |
| Young Winston | Party Chairman | ||
| Ooh... You Are Awful | Warder Burke | ||
| 1975 | King Arthur, the Young Warlord | Ambrose | Direct-to-video |
| 1976 | The Slipper and the Rose | Dress Shop Proprietor | |
| 1978 | The Medusa Touch | Major. Henry Morlar | |
| Margie and Me | Cheeseman | Short | |
| The Lord of the Rings | Bilbo | Voice role | |
| 1981 | Omen III: The Final Conflict | Dr. Philmore | |
| If You Go Down in the Woods Today | Doctor | TV film | |
| 1982 | A Voyage Round My Father | Ham | TV film |
| The Ghost Downstairs | Mr. Morris | TV film | |
| 1984 | This Office Life | Seeds | TV film |
| 1985 | On Your Way, Riley | Frank | TV film |
| 1993 | Shadowlands | Taxi Driver Witness |
Television edit
| Year | Series | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Whack-O! | S.A. Smallpiece | Series regular |
| 1957 | Kenilworth | Butterworth | 1 episode |
| 1958 | The Black Arrow | Landlord | Episode: "The Arrow Strikes" |
| The Diary of Samuel Pepys | Constable | Mini-series | |
| 1959 | The Eustace Diamonds | Hotel Manager | 1 episode |
| Emergency Ward 10 | Policeman | 1 episode | |
| 1960 | Probation Officer | Mr. Sprigett | 1 episode |
| ITV Playhouse | Auctioneer | Episode: "Independent Means" | |
| Boyd Q.C. | Mr. West | Episode: "The Time of Day" | |
| 1961 | Police Sergeant | Episode: "The Season of the Year" | |
| Hamlet | Gravedigger | Episode: "The Dread Command: The Readiness Is All" | |
| Coronation Street | Frank Jackson | 2 episodes | |
| Ghost Squad | The Gunsmith | Episode: "Assassin" | |
| The Pursuers | Clive | Episode: "The Accident" | |
| 1962 | ITV Playhouse | Second Old Man | Episode: "The Jokers" |
| Tom Rogers | Episode: "Nuncle" | ||
| Z-Cars | Smith | Episode: "Jail Break" | |
| ITV Play of the Week | George Bland | Episode: "A Lily in Little India" | |
| 1963 | BBC Sunday-Night Play | Arnold Ramussen | Episode: "Trial Run" |
| Maupassant | Cacheri | Episode: "The Inheritance" | |
| The Saint | George Hackett | Episode: "The Well Meaning Mayor" | |
| 1964 | The Protectors | Barnaby | Episode: "No Forwarding Address" |
| Drama 61-67 | Father | Episode: "The Close Prisoner" | |
| Mr. Pile | Episode: "The Brick Umbrella" | ||
| Thursday Theatre | Harry Lancaster | Episode: "The Cure for Love" | |
| Armchair Theatre | Charles Lincoln | Episode: "The Trial of Dr. Fancy" | |
| Gideon's Way | Superintendent Fred Lee | Episode: "To Catch a Tiger" | |
| Frankie Howerd | 1 episode | ||
| Z-Cars | Lowther | Episode: "A Place of Safety" | |
| 1965 | Frank Burroughs | Episode: "Checkmate" | |
| The Saint | Weems | Episode: "The Frightened Inn-Keeper" | |
| The Bed-Sit Girl | Episode: "The Air Hostess" | ||
| The Sullavan Brothers | Arthur Green | Episode: "Put Them Away for Keeps" | |
| It's Not Me, It's Them! | Mr. Partridge | Mini-series | |
| Here's Harry | Episode: "The Tonic" | ||
| Blackmail | Henry Cobb | Episode: "Cobb" | |
| The Avengers | Croft | Episode: "Silent Dust" | |
| No Hiding Place | Inspector Cartwright | Episode: "Pom-Pom" | |
| 1966 | Arthur Johnson | Episode: "The Killing" | |
| Armchair Theatre | Spooner | Episode: "The Walls Came Tumbling Down" | |
| Theatre 625 | William Oaks | Episode: "A Man Like That" | |
| Harry Worth | Fishwick | Episode: "Move Man Move" | |
| Mrs Thursday | Alfred Budge | Episode: "Honesty Is the Best Policy" | |
| Hugh and I | Episode: "Arabian Nights" | ||
| ITV Play of the Week | Ronald Bradshaw | Episode: "The First Thing You Think Of" | |
| Dr. McTaggart | Episode: "The Tormentors" | ||
| 1967 | Henry Williams | Episode: "Nice to Have You Back" | |
| Uncle George | Episode: "A Brand New Scrubbing Brush" | ||
| The Saint | Inspector Mitchell | Episode: "The Best Laid Schemes" | |
| The Baron | Inspector Macauley | Episode: "Roundabout" | |
| Z-Cars | Prebble | Episode: "Standard Procedure" | |
| Sanctuary | Bob Lord | Episode: "A Cup of Tea with the Fullers" | |
| Harry Worth | Mr. Varley | Episode: "What Ails You?" | |
| 1968 | Mr. Keenan | Episode: "Money to Burn" | |
| Dr. Swinson | Episode: "Match of the Day" | ||
| The Saint | Mr. Spode | Episode: "The Organisation Man" | |
| The Very Merry Widow | Mr. Jackson 1 and 2 | Episode: "Wonderful, Wonderful Copenhagen" | |
| Half Hour Story | Harry | Episode: "The Pub Fighter" | |
| 1969 | ITV Sunday Night Theatre | Father | Episode: "Takeover" |
| Adventure Weekly | Mr. Potts | Episode: "Take-Over" | |
| Department S | Drayton | Episode: "The Ghost of Mary Burnham" | |
| W. Somerset Maugham | Arthur Low | Episode: "A Casual Affair" | |
| Dixon of Dock Green | Harold Milton | Episode: "The Brimstone Man" | |
| Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) | Elliot | Episode: "But What a Sweet Little Room" | |
| 1970 | Armchair Theatre | Walter | Episode: "Up Among the Cuckoos" |
| The Mating Machine | Monty | Episode: "Flo and Monty and Henry... and Henry" | |
| Comedy Playhouse | Dad | Episode: "Mind Your Own Business" | |
| Steptoe and Son | Bank Manager | Episode: "Men of Property" | |
| Mr. Dryson | Episode: "Without Prejudice" | ||
| 1971 | Hadleigh | Knockholt | Episode: "A Quiet Place in the Country" |
| ITV Sunday Night Theatre | Walter | Episode: "The Wedding Gift" | |
| Budgie | Inspector Upton | Episode: "A Pair of Charlies" | |
| Paul Temple | Proud | Episode: "Paper Chase" | |
| Father, Dear Father | Trevor Couch | Episode: "The Naked Truth" | |
| The Guardians | Tom Henryson | Episode: "I Want You to Understand Me" | |
| Softly, Softly: Task Force | Samuel Tomkins | Episode: "Aberration" | |
| Suspicion | Harry Beardsley | Episode: "I Can See Your Lips Move" | |
| 1972 | Jason King | Detective Inspector Fields | Episode: "It's Too Bad About Auntie" |
| The Organization | Ken Grist | 2 episodes | |
| His and Hers | Post Office Man | Episode: "Interference" | |
| Love Thy Neighbour | Mr. Granger | Episode: "Clarky Leaves" | |
| Till Death Us Do Part | Landlord | Episode: "Holiday in Bournemouth" | |
| Thirty-Minute Theatre | Arthur Pendlebury | Episode: "Tonight We Meet Arthur Pendlebury" | |
| Turnbull's Finest Half-Hour | Harold Hudson | 1 episode | |
| Arthur of the Britons | Ambrose | Episode: "Arthur Is Dead" | |
| My Wife Next Door | Mr. Sweeting | Episode: "Joint Assignment" | |
| 1973 | Comedy Playhouse | Inspector Street | Episode: "Elementary, My Dear Watson: The Strange Case of the Dead Solicitors" |
| The Adventurer | Brooks | Episode: "Going, Going..." | |
| The Fenn Street Gang | Mr. Craven | Episode: "How to Handle a Woman" | |
| The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes | Inspector Trent | Episode: "The Looting of the Specie Room" | |
| Owen, M.D. | Harold Reynolds | Episode: "Water Under the Bridge" | |
| An Evening with Francis Howerd | 2 episodes | ||
| ITV Sunday Night Theatre | Stanley Nicholson | Episode: "Reckoning Day" | |
| Thirty Minutes Worth | 1 episode | ||
| Up the Workers | Sid Stubbins | ||
| The Adventures of Black Beauty | Rundle | Episode: "The Outcast" | |
| Armchair 30 | Agency Man | Episode: "Ross Evan's Story" | |
| 1974 | My Good Woman | George Stebbs | Episode: "Two of a Kind" |
| Bless This House | Vet | Episode: "Money Is the Root Of..." | |
| Marked Personal | Lionel Mottram | 2 episodes | |
| The Dick Emery Show | 2 episode | ||
| 1975 | Crown Court | Garfield Lawrence | Episode: "Saboteur: Part 1" |
| Public Eye | Arthur Biddle | Episode: "Lifer" | |
| Rising Damp | Vicar | Episode: "Things That Go Bump in the Night" | |
| 1976 | Happy Ever After | Mr. Fletcher | Episode: "June's Day in Bed" |
| Angels | Henry Rudolfs | Episode: "A Woman of Property" | |
| The Basil Brush Show | 1 episode | ||
| The Chiffy Kids | Farmer | Episode: "Pot Luck" | |
| CBS Children's Film Festival | Episode: "Chimpmates" | ||
| 1976-1977 | Yanks Go Home | Leonard Chambers | Series regular |
| 1977 | Two's Company | Mr. Bunn | Episode: "The Rubbish" |
| The Mike Reid Show | 3 episodes | ||
| Seven Faces of Woman | Ken | Episode: "She: Carol" | |
| Raffles | Sergeant Holly | Episode: "A Bad Night" | |
| Miss Jones and Son | Dad | 3 episodes | |
| Graham's Gang | Old Gentleman | Episode: "Camaraderie" | |
| 1978 | All Creatures Great and Small | Farmer Benson | Episode: "Attendant Problems" |
| Jackanory Playhouse | King | Episode: "The Princess Who Couldn't Laugh" | |
| Coronation Street | Joe Hibbert | 2 episodes | |
| Do You Remember? | Eddie | Episode: "The Bonus" | |
| Life Begins at Forty | Dr. Gardiner | Episode: "Alarms and Excursions" | |
| Return of the Saint | Morgan | Episode: "Assault Force" | |
| Everyday Maths | Mr. Brook | Episode: "Time and Table" | |
| 1979 | Fawlty Towers | Mr. Arrad | Episode: "Waldorf Salad" |
| Thomas & Sarah | Gilbert | 2 episodes | |
| The Glums | Office Manager | 1 episode | |
| Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson | Anthony Denham | Episode: "A Motive for Murder" | |
| 1979-1981 | Worzel Gummidge | Mr. Braithwaite | Series regular |
| 1980 | Take the High Road | Roger Primrose | |
| The Jim Davidson Show | 1 episode | ||
| All Creatures Great and Small | Rob Benson | Episode: "Alarms & Excursions" | |
| Hammer House of Horror | Basil | Episode: "The Thirteenth Reunion" | |
| To Serve Them All My Days | Alderman Blunt | Recurring role | |
| 1981 | Yes Minister | Brian Baker | Episode: "The Compassionate Society" |
| Misfits | Harold Forbes | Episode: "Happy Ever After" | |
| Juliet Bravo | Knowles | Episode: "A Private Place" | |
| Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years | Sir Maurice Hanley | Episode: "The Long Tide of Surrender" | |
| The Adventure Game | Captain Acteon | 1 episode | |
| 1982 | Legacy of Murder | Policeman | Episode: "Holy Smoke" |
| Break Point | Major Houghton-Jones | Mini-series | |
| 1983 | The Fourth Arm | Colonel Cole | 1 episode |
| The Gaffer | Town Clerk | Episode: "Council of War" | |
| 1984 | Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense | Henry Bircher | Episode: "Black Carrion" |
| 1985 | Up the Elephant and Round the Castle | Man from British Rail | Episode: "The Taste of Money" |
| One by One | Marcus Garnet | 2 episodes | |
| High & Dry | Frank Short | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| 1986 | The Practice | Cyril Fielding | 1 episode |
| Help! | Mr. Peabody | Episode: "A Grave Mistake" | |
| Lytton's Diary | Charles Adams | 2 episodes | |
| Buddy | Mr. Normington | 3 episodes | |
| 1987 | Ever Decreasing Circles | Man | Episode: "The Footpath" |
| 1989 | Woof! | Mayor | Episode: "Heroes" |
| 1990 | After Henry | Episode: "Party Politics" | |
| Stay Lucky | George | Episode: "Bigamy Blues" | |
| 1991 | Second Thoughts | Ted | Episode: "Found and Lost" |
| 1992 | Bookmark | Man on Bus | Episode: "Miss Pym's Day Out" |
| Screen One | Radley | Episode: "Born Kicking" | |
| Boon | Bob Wooley | Episode: "Love or Money" | |
| Kinsey | Roy | 2 episodes | |
| 1996 | Screen Two | Grandfather | Episode: "Crossing the Floor" |
| Spywatch | Mr. Jenkins | Series regular |
References edit
- ^ On Find My Past & Ancestry, he's down as Norman and John George N Bird with this date of birth and death information
- ^ a b "Norman Bird". 4 June 2005. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Norman Bird - Obituaries - The Stage". 13 June 2005.
- ^ "Norman Bird - Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
- ^ "Radio and audio book companies", in Lloyd Trott, ed., Actors and Performers Yearbook 2016, pp. 353-354
- ^ "Norman Bird". Archived from the original on 12 March 2016.
- ^ a b c McGillivray, David (1 June 2005). "Obituary: Norman Bird". The Guardian – via www.theguardian.com.
- ^ "Waldorf Salad (1979)". Archived from the original on 21 September 2017.
- ^ "Worzel Gummidge Christmas Special: A Cup O' Tea an' a Slice O' Cake (1980) - James Hill - Cast and Crew - AllMovie". AllMovie.
- ^ TV.com. "Norman Bird". TV.com.
- ^ "Norman Bird - Movies and Filmography - AllMovie". AllMovie.