Chris Harris (actor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chris Harris
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Harris in 2010
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| Born | 14 December 1942 Bridgwater, Somerset, England
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| Died | (aged 71) Portishead, Somerset, England
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| Occupation | Actor, director, writer |
| Known for | Pantomime |
| Television | Into the Labyrinth |
Chris Harris (born December 14, 1942 – died April 30, 2014) was a talented English actor, director, and writer. He was well-known for his work in British TV shows like Into the Labyrinth. He also had a very successful career in pantomime, which is a type of musical play often performed around Christmas. In pantomimes, he played the funny "pantomime dame" character. He also directed and wrote many shows for famous theatres like the Bristol Old Vic and the Theatre Royal, Bath. Chris Harris lived in Portishead, England.
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Chris Harris: Actor, Director, Writer
Chris Harris was born in Bridgwater, Somerset, England. He loved drama and studied it at the Rose Bruford College. After college, he joined a "rep" company, which means he acted in many different plays with the same group of actors. This led him to spend two years with the famous Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company.
His Amazing Training
Chris Harris traveled to learn more about acting and theatre. He studied at the Jacques Lecoq's L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq in Paris, France. He also learned from Ladislav Fialka's Pantomime Company in Prague. For a short time, he even trained at the Moscow State Circus School!
In 1966, he performed in his very first pantomime show. This was at the Salisbury Playhouse and he acted alongside Stephanie Cole. From 1976 until he passed away, Chris Harris performed his own funny one-man shows all over the world.
A Teacher and Opera Director
Chris Harris was also a regular guest teacher at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He was once a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, a very famous theatre group. He even helped direct an opera called Griselda for the Buxton Festival. He also appeared in two TV shows in the Netherlands with members of the Welsh National Opera.
For nine years, until 2000, Chris Harris was busy writing, directing, and starring in pantomimes for the Bristol Old Vic. After that, he did the same for the Theatre Royal, Bath. He truly loved bringing these fun shows to life!
On TV and Radio
Chris Harris appeared in several television and radio shows.
Television Shows
- Hey Look That's Me – 1976-1984
- The Rocking Horse Winner – 1977
- Into the Labyrinth – 1982
- Chasing Rainbows – A Nation and Its Music – 1986
Radio Shows
- The Chris Harris Road Show, on BBC Radio Bristol
- The Birds
- Hiawatha
- Harvey Angel
His Own Stage Shows
Chris Harris created and performed many of his own one-man stage shows. These were often funny and entertaining.
- Kemp's Jig
- That's The Way To Do It!
- Ally Sloper's Half Holiday
- Beemaster
- 'Arris Music 'All
- A Night At The Pantomime
Books by Chris Harris
Chris Harris also wrote or helped write several books. Many of them were about pantomime!
- Will Kemp, Shakespeare's Forgotten Clown (1983)
- The Alphabet of Pantomime: There be Nothing Like a Dame (2000)
- Cinderella (2002)
- Aladdin (2002)
- Jack and the Beanstalk (2002)
- Mother Goose (2002)
- Babes in the Wood (2002)
- Dick Whittington (2002)
His Passing
Chris Harris passed away on April 30, 2014, at the age of 71.
