Eric Sykes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Eric Sykes
Sykes, c.1955
Born	(1923-05-04)4 May 1923 Oldham, Lancashire, England
Died	4 July 2012(2012-07-04) (aged 89) Esher, Surrey, England
Medium	Television, radio
Years active	1947–2010
Spouse	Edith Milbrandt ​ (m. 1952)​
Children	4
Notable works and roles	Sykes, The Goon Show, The Plank, Teletubbies

Eric Sykes CBE (born 4 May 1923 – died 4 July 2012) was a famous English writer, comedian, actor, and director. He worked in radio, on stage, and in films for over 50 years. Eric Sykes often wrote for and performed with other well-known comedians like Tony Hancock, Spike Milligan, and Tommy Cooper.

He first became famous in the 1950s for his radio work, especially for helping to write The Goon Show. In the early 1960s, he became a TV star. He appeared with Hattie Jacques in several popular BBC comedy shows.

Early Life and Beginnings

Eric Sykes was born in Oldham, England, on 4 May 1923. His mother passed away when he was very young. His father worked in a cotton mill. When Eric was two, his father remarried, and he gained a half-brother. Eric went to school in Oldham.

During the Second World War, Eric joined the Royal Air Force. He became a wireless operator. While serving, he met other servicemen like Denis Norden. They worked together to put on entertainment shows for the troops. In 1945, Eric and his friends visited a nearby prison camp that had just been freed. They helped organize food for the people there.

After the war, Eric moved to London to try to become an entertainer. He struggled at first, but then he met an old friend, Bill Fraser. Bill helped him get started writing comedy scripts. Soon, Eric was in demand as a comedy writer. He worked on popular radio shows like Educating Archie and Variety Bandbox. This is where he first met Hattie Jacques.

Moving to Television

Eric Sykes started writing for television in 1948. By the early 1950s, he began to work more and more in TV. He wrote many episodes and special shows for the BBC. He also made his first movie appearance in Orders Are Orders (1954). This film also featured other famous comedians like Tony Hancock and Peter Sellers.

Around 1953, Eric shared an office with Spike Milligan. They later started a writers' agency together called Associated London Scripts. In 1954, Eric and Spike began writing scripts for The Goon Show. This helped Spike with his busy workload. They wrote many episodes together. Eric also wrote a special Goon Show for Christmas in 1955.

In 1955, Eric wrote and performed in a BBC Christmas show called Pantomania. He also signed a contract with a new TV company, ATV, but kept working for the BBC too.

Comedy on Screen

In 1956, Eric performed and wrote for The Idiot Weekly, Price 2d. This was one of the first attempts to bring the humor of The Goon Show to television. It starred Peter Sellers. Eric also had a small role in the film Charley Moon. From 1956 to 1957, he wrote for and appeared in The Tony Hancock Show, working again with Hattie Jacques.

Eric started to have hearing problems around this time. He eventually lost most of his hearing but learned to lip-read. This helped him continue his acting career. In 1957 and 1958, he wrote two shows for Peter Sellers called Eric Sykes Presents Peter Sellers and The Peter Sellers Show. In 1959, Eric wrote and directed a BBC special called Gala Opening. He also had a small part in the film Tommy the Toreador.

Becoming a TV Star

Sykes and a... and The Plank

In the 1960s, Eric Sykes and Hattie Jacques became stars of their own BBC TV sitcom called Sykes and a.... Eric created the show with writer Johnny Speight. In the show, Eric played a clumsy, accident-prone bachelor named Eric Sykes. He lived with his unmarried twin sister Harriet, played by Hattie Jacques. Other regular characters included Deryck Guyler as Constable Turnbull and Richard Wattis as their snobby neighbor.

The first series of Sykes and a... was a big hit in 1960. Eric and Hattie became one of Britain's most loved comedy duos. Eric wrote most of the later episodes himself. Nine short seasons of the show were made between 1960 and 1965.

One of Eric's most famous creations, a silent comedy routine called The Plank, first appeared in an episode of Sykes and a... in 1964.

Film Roles and Stage Tours

In 1962, Eric Sykes had his first main film role in the comedy Village of Daughters. He also appeared in Kill or Cure with Terry-Thomas.

In 1965, Eric made the final series of Sykes and a... and appeared in three major films. These included Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, The Liquidator, and Rotten to the Core.

In 1967, Eric expanded The Plank routine into a 45-minute silent color film. It featured many famous comedians like Tommy Cooper and Hattie Jacques. This film was later remade in 1978. Also in 1967, Eric and his friend Jimmy Edwards started touring with a play called Big Bad Mouse. They performed this show on and off until 1975, touring the UK and even Australia.

Eric also appeared in the TV special Sykes Versus ITV in 1967. In 1968, he had a supporting role in the Western film Shalako, starring Sean Connery and Brigitte Bardot. In 1969, he co-starred with Spike Milligan in the TV sitcom Curry and Chips. This show caused some complaints and was cancelled after six episodes. He also had a small film role in Monte Carlo or Bust! in 1969.

Later Career

Return to Television

In 1972, the BBC brought back the Sykes and a... series under the new title Sykes. They made 68 color episodes between 1972 and 1979. Many of these were new versions of older scripts. One episode, Sykes and a Stranger, featured Peter Sellers in his last TV role.

In 1973, Eric had a small role in the thriller film Theatre of Blood. He also wrote and starred in the TV special Eric Sykes Shows a Few of Our Favourite Things in 1977. He wrote the script for a TV version of Charley's Aunt that year too. The third version of The Plank was made for TV in 1979.

1980s and Beyond

In the 1980s, Eric Sykes wrote and appeared in two TV specials for Thames Television: The Likes of Sykes and Rhubarb Rhubarb. Rhubarb Rhubarb was a remake of his 1969 short film and featured many of his old friends. It was his last screen appearance with Hattie Jacques. In 1981, Eric wrote, directed, and starred in the comedy film If You Go Down in the Woods Today.

In 1982, Eric played the Chief Constable in the comedy film The Boys in Blue. He also made two more silent comedy films for Thames TV: It's Your Move (1982) and Mr. H. Is Late (1988). In 1984, he played the Genie in the children's film Gabrielle and the Doodleman.

In 1985, he played the Mad Hatter in the TV show Alice in Wonderland. In 1986, he appeared in an episode of the Sherlock Holmes TV series. Eric toured Australia with the play Run for Your Wife from 1987 to 1988. In 1989, he starred in the ITV comedy The Nineteenth Hole, but it only ran for one season.

Later Roles

In 1994, Eric Sykes appeared in a documentary series about the London Palladium. From 1997, he provided narration for the BBC children's TV series Teletubbies. His voice announced "Teletubbies!" and was heard on the show's theme song. He also voiced The Scary Lion in a Teletubbies special. In 1998, Eric appeared in an episode of the TV series Dinnerladies.

In 2000, Eric appeared in the BBC mini-series Gormenghast. In 2001, he had a serious role in the film The Others, starring Nicole Kidman. In 2005, he played Frank Bryce in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire.

In 2007, he appeared in Last of the Summer Wine, New Tricks, and My Family. He also had a small part in the film Son of Rambow. His final acting role was in an episode of Agatha Christie's Poirot in 2010.

Eric Sykes also wrote several books, including his autobiography, If I Don't Write It, Nobody Else Will, published in 2005.

Personal Life

Eric Sykes became partially deaf as an adult. His hearing problems started during the Second World War. He learned to lip-read to help him continue his work. He also became partially sighted later in life and was registered as blind. He supported the Macular Disease Society, which helps people with eye conditions.

He married Edith Eleanore Milbrandt on 14 February 1952. They had three daughters and one son. They were married for 60 years before Eric passed away.

In the 1970s, Eric and Jimmy Edwards performed for troops in Rhodesia.

Eric Sykes received several honors for his work. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1986. He was then promoted to Commander (CBE) in 2005 for his services to drama. He was also an honorary president of the Goon Show Preservation Society. Eric was a fan of the football club Oldham Athletic.

Death

A memorial plaque for Eric Sykes in St Paul's Church in Covent Garden.

Eric Sykes passed away on 4 July 2012, at the age of 89. He died at his home in Esher, Surrey, after a short illness. His family was with him. There is a memorial plaque for him at St Paul's Church in Covent Garden, London.

Honours and Awards

• 1961 Guild of TV Producers and Directors' Lifetime Achievement Award
• 1964 BBC Television Personality of the Year
• 1980 Pye Colour TV Award
• 1980 The Golden Rose of Montreux (for The Plank)
• 1985 The 25th Golden Rose of Montreux
• 1986 OBE
• 1988 Freedom of the City of London
• 1992 Lifetime Achievement Award from Writers' Guild of Great Britain
• 1992 Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Comedy Awards
• 1998 Honorary Fellowship of the University of Lancaster
• 1998 Eric Morecambe Award from Comic Heritage
• 2001 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grand Order of Water Rats
• 2001 Bernard Delfont Award for outstanding contribution to show business from the Variety Club of Great Britain
• 2002 Oldie of the Year
• 2004 CBE
• 2009 Aardman Slapstick Visual Comedy Award for his outstanding contribution to visual comedy

Film and Television

Films he created and appeared in

• The Plank (1967) as Smaller Workman
• Rhubarb (1969 short) as Insp. Rhubarb
• The Plank (1979 TV short)
• Rhubarb Rhubarb (1980) as Police Inspector / Groom
• If You Go Down in the Woods Today (1981) as Mr. Pangbourne
• It's Your Move (1982 TV short) as Head Removal Man
• Mr. H Is Late (1988 TV short) as Senior undertaker

Television series he created and appeared in

• Sykes and a... (1960–1965) as Himself
• Sykes (1972–1979) as Himself

Other acting roles

Records

• "Dr Kildare"/"Bedtime Story" (Y7092, 7-inch single, Decca Records 1962) with Hattie Jacques
• Eric and Hattie and Things (LK 4507, LP, Decca Records 1962) with Hattie Jacques

See also

In Spanish: Eric Sykes para niños