Paul Eddington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Eddington
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| Born | 18 June 1927 St John's Wood, London, England
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| Died | 4 November 1995 (aged 68) Southwark, London, England
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1940s–1995 |
| Spouse(s) |
Patricia Scott
(m. 1952) |
| Children | 4 |
Paul Clark Eddington (born June 18, 1927 – died November 4, 1995) was a famous English actor. He is best known for playing Jerry Leadbetter in the TV show The Good Life. He also played the politician Jim Hacker in the popular sitcom Yes Minister and its follow-up, Yes, Prime Minister.
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Paul Eddington's Early Life
Paul Eddington was born in London, England. His parents were Albert Clark Eddington and Frances Mary Roberts. He grew up in an area called St John's Wood.
His family were Quakers. Quakers are a religious group known for their peaceful beliefs. Paul's father was deeply affected by World War I. This made Paul a pacifist for his whole life. A pacifist is someone who believes that all violence is wrong.
Paul went to Sibford School in Oxfordshire. In 1952, he married Patricia Scott. They had four children together.
Paul Eddington's Acting Career
Paul Eddington started acting when he was a teenager. This was during World War II. He worked for ENSA, which was a group that entertained soldiers.
He later worked for a theatre company in Sheffield. In 1956, he got his first big TV role. He played a policeman named PC Tom Carr in Dixon of Dock Green. Later that year, he joined the cast of The Adventures of Robin Hood. He played different small characters at first. Then, in the fourth season, he played Will Scarlet.
Paul appeared in many other TV shows during the 1960s and 1970s. These included The Avengers and The Prisoner. He also had a role in the movie The Devil Rides Out in 1968.
Becoming a Household Name
Even though Paul Eddington acted for many years, he became really famous in his late forties. This was because of his role in The Good Life. This TV show, called a sitcom, first aired in 1975.
In The Good Life, Paul played Jerry Leadbetter. Jerry was a neighbor to the main characters. His wife, Margo, was played by Penelope Keith. Their characters were originally small parts. But they soon became very important to the show's success.
Paul's fame grew even more when he played Jim Hacker in Yes Minister. This comedy series ran from 1980 to 1984. He continued the role in Yes, Prime Minister from 1986 to 1988. These shows were about the funny side of British politics.
Paul was nominated four times for a BAFTA award for his acting in Yes Minister. A BAFTA is a very important award for TV and film in the UK. However, he lost to his co-star, Nigel Hawthorne, each time.
Later Acting Roles
In 1987, Paul Eddington acted in a play called H.M.S. Pinafore in Australia. His last roles included playing a property developer in an episode of Minder. He also appeared with his Good Life co-star Felicity Kendal in The Camomile Lawn in 1992.
He also voiced Badger in The Adventures of Mole. In 1995, he played Justice Shallow in a BBC TV version of Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1 and Henry IV, Part 2. He also reunited with another Good Life co-star, Richard Briers, in a play called Home in 1994.
Paul Eddington also read parts of Sir Winston Churchill's book for a BBC Radio series. He passed away while the series was still being made.
Awards and Recognition
Paul Eddington was honored for his acting career. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1987. This is a special award given by the British monarch.
Paul Eddington's Final Years and Death
Paul Eddington's book about his life, called So Far, So Good, was published in 1995. Just five days before he passed away, he appeared on a TV show called Face to Face. On the show, he talked about his life, his acting career, and his illness.
Paul had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer when he was 28 years old. This type of cancer is called mycosis fungoides. He and his family kept his illness private for over 40 years. It only became public in 1994. This was when people noticed changes in his skin and hair. Paul then explained his condition.
Paul Eddington passed away in London on November 4, 1995. He was 68 years old. He had been married to his wife, Patricia, for 43 years. They had three sons and one daughter.
