Barry Cryer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barry Cryer |
|
|---|---|
Cryer during a recording of You'll Have Had Your Tea for BBC Radio 4 in 2006
|
|
| Birth name | Barry Charles Cryer |
| Born | 23 March 1935 Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 25 January 2022 (aged 86) Harrow, London, England |
| Spouse |
Theresa Donovan
(m. 1962) |
| Children | 4 |
| Notable works and roles | I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue (1972–2022) |
Barry Charles Cryer OBE was a much-loved English writer, comedian, and actor. He was born on March 23, 1935, and passed away on January 25, 2022. Barry Cryer was famous for performing on stage, radio, and television. He also wrote jokes and scripts for many well-known comedians. These included famous duos like Morecambe and Wise and The Two Ronnies. He also wrote for Tommy Cooper, Les Dawson, and Dave Allen.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps
Barry Charles Cryer was born in Leeds, England, on March 23, 1935. His father, John Cryer, was an accountant who sadly passed away when Barry was only five years old. Barry went to Leeds Grammar School. After that, he started studying English literature at the University of Leeds.
However, Barry later joked that he was a "university dropout." He said he spent more time in the bar and chasing girls than studying. His first-year results showed this, and he left university.
Starting a Comedy Career
Barry Cryer began his career as a writer for a local stage group in Leeds. After performing in a university show, he got a chance to work for a week at the Leeds City Varieties theatre. This theatre was home to The Good Old Days, a very popular TV show.
After leaving university, Barry moved to London. He faced a challenge early on: he had severe eczema, a skin condition, which led to him being in the hospital many times. Because of this, he decided that performing might not be a steady job. So, he chose to focus more on writing comedy.
Writing for Famous Shows
Barry's first writing jobs were for The Jimmy Logan Show. He then became the main writer for Danny La Rue's London nightclub. There, he was noticed by David Frost, a famous TV presenter. This led Barry to join the writing team for The Frost Report from 1966 to 1967. Other writers on that team included John Cleese and Graham Chapman, who later became part of Monty Python.
Working with David Frost helped Barry become a well-known comedy writer in the 1970s. He often worked with Graham Chapman before Monty Python started. They wrote about 50 TV shows together. These included Doctor in the House and several shows for Ronnie Corbett. Barry also helped write for The Two Ronnies, a very popular comedy show.
Working with Comedy Legends
Barry Cryer loved to write with a partner. This way, if he ran out of ideas, he always had someone to help. In the 1970s, his regular writing partner was John Junkin. Together, they even wrote some parts of The Morecambe and Wise Show when their usual writer was busy. Barry often played the role of Ernie Wise to Junkin's Eric Morecambe.
Even though he focused on writing, Barry still enjoyed performing. He was part of the BBC radio series Hello, Cheeky! with Tim Brooke-Taylor and John Junkin. In this show, they would tell jokes back and forth. He also hosted the TV game show Jokers Wild from 1969 to 1974.
Back to Performing
As new comedians started writing their own material, Barry Cryer decided to perform more himself. He toured with other comedians, including Willie Rushton. After Rushton passed away, Barry continued touring with his own shows.
One of Barry Cryer's most famous roles was as a panelist on the BBC radio comedy show I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue. This show started in 1972, and Barry was a part of it for many years. He also wrote and starred in You'll Have Had Your Tea with Graeme Garden.
Barry wrote an autobiography called You Won't Believe This But.... He also wrote a book of funny stories called Pigs Can Fly. He toured the UK with shows like Barry Cryer: The First Farewell Tour and Barry Cryer: Still Alive. He was also a popular speaker at events.
In 1987, Barry was a guest on the BBC Radio 4 show Desert Island Discs. On this show, guests choose the music they would take with them if they were stranded on a desert island.
Since 2018, his show Comedy Legends with Barry Cryer has been on Sky Arts. In this program, Barry pays tribute to famous comedians like Tommy Cooper and Bob Hope.
In 2021, Barry Cryer received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Music Hall Society for his amazing contributions to comedy.
Personal Life and Legacy
Barry Cryer married Theresa Donovan, a singer and dancer known as Terry, in 1962. Barry shared that meeting Terry helped him recover from his eczema. He said he was only in the hospital once more after they met. They had four children: three sons and one daughter. They also had seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Barry Cryer was honored with the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2001 for his services to comedy. This is a special award given in the UK. He also received honorary doctorates from Leeds Metropolitan University and the University of Leeds.
Barry Cryer passed away on January 25, 2022, at the age of 86. A special event was held at a pub he often visited to remember him. A mural with photos of Barry and some of his famous jokes was unveiled there by his wife.
Books by Barry Cryer
- You Won't Believe This But...: An Autobiography of Sorts (1996)
- Pigs Can Fly (2003)
- Butterfly Brain (2009)
- Barry Cryer Comedy Scrapbook (with Philip Porter) (2009)
- Mrs Hudson's Diaries: A View from the Landing at 221B (with Bob Cryer) (2012)
See also
In Spanish: Barry Cryer para niños
