Bill Maynard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bill Maynard |
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| Birth name | Walter Frederick George Williams |
| Born | 8 October 1928 Heath End, Surrey, England |
| Died | 30 March 2018 (aged 89) Leicestershire, England |
| Medium | Actor, comedian |
| Nationality | British |
| Years active | 1953–2018 |
| Genres | Comedy, television |
| Spouse |
Muriel Linnett
(m. 1949; died 1983)Tonia Bern
(m. 1989; div. 1998) |
| Children | 2; including Maynard Williams |
| Notable works and roles | See below |
Walter Frederick George Williams (born 8 October 1928 – died 30 March 2018), known as Bill Maynard, was a famous English comedian and actor. He started his TV career in the 1950s. He was well-known for starring in popular British TV shows like Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt and The Gaffer in the 1970s and 1980s.
Bill Maynard also appeared in five Carry On movies. Later, from 1992 to 2000, he played Claude Jeremiah Greengrass in the long-running TV series Heartbeat. He even played the same character in the spin-off show The Royal from 2002 to 2003.
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Bill Maynard's Early Life and Career
Walter Williams began his career in the 1950s as a variety performer. This means he did many different types of acts, like comedy and singing. He chose the stage name Bill Maynard after seeing a billboard for "Maynard's Wine Gums," a popular sweet.
His first time on television was on 12 September 1953. For many years, he mostly performed live and on TV. He even took part in the British heat for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1957. He worked with Terry Scott on the TV series Great Scott - It's Maynard!. He also worked for Tyne Tees Television and BBC Radio Leicester.
In 1971, Bill Maynard started acting in TV plays. He worked with famous actors like Ronnie Barker. In 1974, he was surprised on the TV show This Is Your Life, which celebrates famous people.
He also wrote his autobiography, The Yo-Yo Man, in 1975. A year later, he got the main role in the comedy show Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt, which ran from 1976 to 1978. In 1981, he starred in another ITV comedy show called The Gaffer.
Bill Maynard's Film Roles
During the 1970s, Bill Maynard acted in several movies. He was in five of the funny Carry On films, including Carry On Matron (1972) and Carry On Dick (1974).
He also played Mr. Lea in all four Confessions movies. In 1976, he appeared in the film It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet.
Later Career and Health
In April 1992, Bill Maynard returned to TV in Heartbeat. He played a popular character named Claude Jeremiah Greengrass. The show was very successful, with many viewers.
He stayed on Heartbeat until December 2000. He had to leave the show due to health problems. However, he returned to acting in 2002. He played Claude Greengrass again in the spin-off series The Royal until 2003.
Bill Maynard also went back to radio in 2003 with his show Bill of Fare on BBC Radio Leicester. His career slowed down in his later years due to his age and health. His final TV appearance was in April 2018 on Pointless Celebrities.
Bill Maynard's Personal Life
Bill Maynard was born in Farnham, Surrey. His family later moved to Leicestershire. He went to Kibworth Beauchamp Grammar School. In his later life, he lived in Sapcote, Leicestershire.
He married Muriel Linnett in 1949, and they had two children. Muriel passed away in 1983. Bill Maynard was a vegetarian. His son, Martin Maynard Williams, is a musician.
In 1984, Bill Maynard ran for election as an independent candidate in Chesterfield. This was his only time trying to get into politics.
He married Tonia Bern in 1989, but they divorced in 1998.
In his later years, Bill Maynard had trouble moving around and often used a mobility scooter or wheelchair. He passed away in hospital on 30 March 2018, after falling and breaking his hip.
Television and Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Til Death Us Do Part | Bert | |
| 1969 | It All Goes to Show | Mike Sago | |
| 1970 | One More Time | Jenson | |
| Carry On Loving | Mr. Dreery | ||
| 1971 | A Hole Lot of Trouble | Bill | |
| Carry On Henry | Guy Fawkes | ||
| Carry On at Your Convenience | Fred Moore | ||
| 1972 | Carry On Matron | Freddy | |
| Four Dimensions of Greta | Big Danny | ||
| Bless This House | Oldham | ||
| Carry On Abroad | Mr. Fiddler | Scene cut | |
| 1973 | Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall | Sgt. Ellis | |
| Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width | Larkin | ||
| Steptoe and Son Ride Again | George | ||
| 1974 | Carry On Dick | Bodkin | |
| Confessions of a Window Cleaner | Mr. Lea | ||
| Man About the House | Chef | ||
| 1975 | Confessions of a Pop Performer | Mr. Lea | |
| 1976 | Robin and Marian | Mercadier | |
| Confessions of a Driving Instructor | Mr. Lea | ||
| It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet | Hinchcliffe | ||
| 1977 | Confessions from a Holiday Camp | Mr. Lea | |
| Sky Pirates | Charlie | ||
| 1981 | Dangerous Davies: The Last Detective | Mod Lewis | |
| 1982 | The Plague Dogs | Editor | Voice |
| 1990 | Oddball Hall | Copperthewaite | |
| 1991 | Hear My Song | Barry Haden | |
| 2016 | Speed Love | Radio DJ |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Pantomania: Babes in the Wood | Babe | TV film |
| 1960 | No Hiding Place | Vic Wilson | Episode: "The Head Case" |
| 1960 | You Too Can Have a Body | Chick Wade | TV film |
| 1969 | The Ugliest Girl in Town | Vladimir | Episode: "The Track Star" |
| 1970 | Coronation Street | Mickie Malone | Episode: #1.962 |
| 1970 | Up Pompeii! | Parcantus | Episode: "The Actors" |
| 1971 | ITV Sunday Night Theatre | Clarence Hubbard | Episode: "Paper Roses" |
| 1971 | Thirty-Minute Theatre | Zink | Episode: "Psychological Warfare" |
| 1972 | Sykes | Jim the Policeman | Episode: "Journey" |
| 1972 | Till Death Us Do Part | Bert | 2 episodes |
| 1973 | Comedy Playhouse | Frank Potter | Episode: "Elementary, My Dear Watson: The Strange Case of the Dead Solicitors" |
| 1973 | Play for Today | Harry | Episode: "Kisses at Fifty" |
| 1973 | Love Thy Neighbour | Police Sergeant | Episode: "The G.P.O." |
| 1973 | Seven of One | Councillor Todd | Episode: "Spanner's Eleven" |
| 1973 | Armchair Theatre | Reg Turnbull | Episode: "The Death of Glory" |
- Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt (Television, 1974–1978) – Selwyn Froggitt
- Father Brown: The Man With Two Beards (Television, 1974) - Mr. Carver
- The Life of Riley (Television, 1975) – Frank Riley
- The Sweeney "Supersnout" (Television, 1975) – Det. Chief Insp. Stephen Quirk
- Paradise Island (Television, 1977) - Rev. Alexander Goodwin
- Tales Of The Unexpected (1980) - Merv Pottinger
- The Gaffer (Television, 1981–1983) – Fred Moffatt
- Minder "The Second Time Around" (Television, 1984) - Barney Todd
- In Sickness and in Health (Television, 1985–1992) – Bert Luscombe
- Screen One: Filipina Dreamgirls (Television, 1991) – George Trout
- Heartbeat (Television, 1992–2000) (155 episodes) – Claude Jeremiah Greengrass
- Dalziel and Pascoe "Dialogues of the Dead" (2002) – Councillor Cyril Steel
- The Royal (Television, 2003) (seven episodes) – Claude Jeremiah Greengrass
- The Moorside (2017) – Cecil
