Bobby Knutt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bobby Knutt
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Knutt in character as Eddie Dawson from the comedy TV series Benidorm
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| Born |
Robert Andrew Wass
25 November 1945 Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England
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| Died | 25 September 2017 (aged 71) Southern France
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| Occupation | Actor, comedian |
| Years active | 1961–2017 |
| Television | Coronation Street (1980–1983) Emmerdale (1995–1997, 2004) Benidorm (2016–2018) |
| Spouse(s) |
Donna Hartley
(m. 1986; died 2013) |
| Children | 4 |
Robert Andrew Wass (born 25 November 1945 – died 25 September 2017), known as Bobby Knutt, was a famous English actor and comedian. He was well-known for his roles in popular TV shows. These included playing Albert Dingle in the soap opera Emmerdale. He also appeared in the film Coast to Coast with Lenny Henry. Later in his career, he played Eddie Dawson in the TV comedy Benidorm.
Before becoming widely known, he was in another TV soap opera, Coronation Street. From 1980 to 1983, he played the character Ron Sykes. Bobby Knutt was married to athlete Donna Hartley from 1986 until she passed away in 2013. He died on 25 September 2017 while on holiday in Southern France. His very last TV appearance was in the tenth series of Benidorm.
Becoming a Performer
Bobby Knutt was born in Sheffield, England. When he was 12, he passed an important school exam. He then went to Abbeydale Grammar School in Sheffield.
He started performing as a singer in 1961, while still at school. He was part of a group called Bob Andrews and the Questors. In 1963, he joined another group called the Whirlwinds. A year later, in 1964, he formed a comedy duo called Pee & Knutt. However, his partner decided not to become a professional performer.
Bobby Knutt's Career
In 1965, Bobby Knutt began performing on his own. He became one of the youngest professional comedians in the country.
He first became famous across the UK from his appearances on TV shows. These included The Comedians and The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club. He then got a main role in the BBC show The Price of Coal (1977). This show was directed by Ken Loach. This role helped him move from just stand-up comedy into acting.
Bobby Knutt acted in many British TV comedies and dramas. Some of these popular shows were Last of the Summer Wine, Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, and All Creatures Great & Small. He also appeared in Our Friends in the North and Heartbeat. In Heartbeat, he played a wrestling promoter named Pat Starr.
He had important roles in several soap operas. He played Albert Dingle in Emmerdale. In Coronation Street, he was Ron Sykes, a garage owner. His final acting role was playing Eddie Dawson in the comedy series Benidorm.
Bobby Knutt also performed in many pantomimes. He had regular roles in 14 pantomimes in Sheffield at the Crucible and Lyceum theatres. He wrote two books about his life. His first book, Eyup Knutty, came out in 2008. The second, Eyup Again, was published in 2010. He also worked as a comedian on cruise ships. He even provided the voice for "Gaffer" in the Tetley Tea TV advertisements. In 2012, he had an injury that affected his arm. This meant he could no longer play the guitar, which was a part of his live shows. Because of this, he stopped performing live but continued acting.
His Family Life
Bobby Knutt was married to Donna Hartley-Wass. Donna was a talented athlete. She won a bronze medal in the 4 × 400 meter relay at the 1980 Olympic Games. They were married on 20 January 1986. Donna passed away in 2013.
His Passing
On 25 September 2017, Bobby Knutt was on holiday in the south of France. He had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital. He passed away at the age of 71.
