Michael Bentine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Bentine
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| Born |
Michael James Bentin
26 January 1922 Watford, Hertfordshire, England
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| Died | 26 November 1996 (aged 74) London, England
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| Resting place | Randall's Park Crematorium, Leatherhead, Surrey, England |
| Education | Eton College |
| Occupation | Comedian, actor |
| Years active | 1940, 1946–1996 |
| Spouse(s) |
Marie A L Barradell
(m. 1941; div. 1947)Clementina Theresa Gadesden Stuart McCall
(m. 1949) |
Michael Bentine (born Michael James Bentin; 26 January 1922 – 26 November 1996) was a famous British comedian and actor. He was one of the first members of a very popular radio comedy show called The Goon Show. Michael was also known for his unique and funny TV shows.
Contents
Early Life and War Service
Michael Bentine was born in Watford, England. His father was from Peru, and his mother was British. Michael grew up in Folkestone, Kent. He went to Eton College, a well-known school.
Overcoming Challenges
When he was young, Michael had a stammer, which made it hard to speak smoothly. With help from a speech trainer, he learned to manage it. This helped him become interested in acting. He also learned to speak fluent Spanish and French.
Family Background
Michael's father was an early engineer who worked with airplanes. He even invented a special tool to help build aircraft.
World War II Experience
When World War II started, Michael wanted to join the military. He tried to join the RAF first. At first, he was not allowed because of his father's nationality.
He began his acting career in 1940. He performed in plays, including some by William Shakespeare. While acting, he was called to serve in the RAF.
A Serious Illness
During his RAF training, Michael got very sick. He was accidentally given a pure culture of typhoid instead of a vaccine. He was in a coma for six weeks. This illness damaged his eyesight, making him myopic (nearsighted).
Because he could no longer fly, he joined RAF Intelligence. He worked with MI9, a special unit. This unit helped resistance groups and prisoners escape.
Liberation of Bergen-Belsen
At the end of the war, Michael took part in a very important event. He helped liberate the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. This was a very difficult and sad experience.
Comedy Career
After the war, Michael decided to become a comedian. He worked at the Windmill Theatre, where he met Harry Secombe. Michael was known for his unusual and creative humor. He often used cartoons and animation in his acts.
The Goon Show
Michael Bentine helped create The Goon Show radio show. He worked with Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers, and Harry Secombe. He was part of the first 38 shows from 1951 to 1953. The show was very popular and made him famous.
He also appeared in a 1952 film based on the show, called Down Among the Z Men.
Television Shows
Michael Bentine also had a successful career in television.
The Bumblies
His first TV show was a children's series called The Bumblies. He created, designed, and wrote the show. It featured three small puppet creatures from outer space. They came to Earth to learn about children.
It's a Square World
From 1960 to 1964, he had a popular TV series called It's a Square World. This show won a BAFTA award in 1962. A famous part of the show was his imaginary flea circus. He used special effects to show tiny plays with invisible "fleas."
Michael Bentine's Potty Time
From 1974 to 1980, he created and presented Michael Bentine's Potty Time. This was another popular children's television program. He wrote, designed, and narrated the show.
Other Interests
Michael Bentine had many interesting hobbies and achievements outside of comedy.
Amazon Expedition
In 1968, Michael took part in a special trip. He was on the first hovercraft expedition up the Amazon River. This was a big adventure!
Awards and Recognition
In 1995, he received the CBE from Queen Elizabeth II. This award was for his great contributions to entertainment. He also received an award from Peru for his help after a big earthquake in 1970.
Special Skills
Michael was a very skilled pistol shot. He even helped start a special unit within the SAS Regiment. This unit was for fighting terrorism. He was the first non-SAS person to fire a gun in their special training house.
Unexplained Phenomena
Michael was very interested in parapsychology, which is the study of unexplained mental abilities or events. He and his family researched many mysterious topics. He wrote books about these interests, like The Door Marked Summer. He was also the president of a group that studied these phenomena.
He even appeared on Patrick Moore's BBC show The Sky at Night with Arthur C. Clarke. They talked about how science fiction ideas were becoming real.
Family Life
Michael Bentine was married twice. He had a daughter, Elaine, with his first wife, Marie Barradell.
In 1949, he married his second wife, Clementina Stuart. She was a dancer with the Royal Ballet. They had four children together: Marylla, Stuart, Richard, and Serena.
Sadly, two of his daughters, Elaine and Marylla, passed away from cancer in the 1980s. His elder son, Stuart, died in a plane crash in 1971. Michael investigated the accident and wrote a report about air safety.
From 1975 until his death, he and his wife spent their winters in Palm Springs, California. Michael Bentine passed away in 1996 from prostate cancer at age 74.
Programmes
Some of the TV shows Michael Bentine appeared in were:
- The Goon Show (1951–1952)
- The Bumblies (1954)
- After Hours (1958–1959)
- It's a Square World (1960–1964)
- The Golden Silents (1969–1970)
- Michael Bentine's Potty Time (1972)
- The Sky at Night (1977-1979)
Film
Michael Bentine also acted in several films:
- Down Among the Z Men (1952)
- Raising a Riot (1955)
- The Sandwich Man (1966)
- Rentadick (1972)
Books
Michael Bentine wrote many books, including novels, comedies, and non-fiction. Some of his books about his own life are:
- The Long Banana Skin (1975)
- The Door Marked Summer (1981)
- The Reluctant Jester (1992)
He also wrote books about his interests in unexplained phenomena:
- Doors of The Mind (1984)
- Open Your Mind (1990)
And some of his fiction and humour books:
- Square Games (1966)
- The Potty Treasure Island (1973)
- The Potty Khyber Pass (1974)
- Lords of The Levels (1986)
See also
In Spanish: Michael Bentine para niños
