Peter Jones (actor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Peter Jones
Born	Peter Geoffrey Francis Jones (1920-06-12)12 June 1920 Wem, Shropshire, England
Died	10 April 2000(2000-04-10) (aged 79) Westminster, London, England
Occupation	Actor, screenwriter, broadcaster
Years active	1936–2000
Spouse(s)	Jeri Sauvinet
Children	3

Peter Geoffrey Francis Jones (born June 12, 1920 – died April 10, 2000) was a talented English actor, writer for TV and radio, and a radio presenter. He was known for his clever wit and distinctive voice, especially on popular radio shows.

Peter Jones's Early Life and Acting Start

Peter Jones was born in Wem, a town in Shropshire, England. He went to Wem Grammar School and Ellesmere College.

He began acting at just 16 years old in Wolverhampton. After that, he performed in local theaters in East Anglia. In 1942, he appeared on the famous West End stage in London in a play called The Doctor's Dilemma. He also made his first film appearance that same year in Fanny by Gaslight.

Peter also helped write a play called The Party Spirit in 1954. This play was shown in the West End, a famous theater district in London.

Peter Jones on the Radio

Peter Jones became very well-known for his work on radio. From 1952 to 1955, he starred with Peter Ustinov in a BBC radio comedy called In All Directions. In the show, Peter and Ustinov played themselves, always searching for a fictional street in London. The humor came from the funny characters they met along the way, often played by themselves too. This show was special because it was mostly made up on the spot, or "improvised."

Two popular characters from the show were Morris and Dudley Grosvenor, two funny characters from East London. Their sketches always ended with a funny phrase like "Run for it Dudley!"

Another important radio role for Peter was playing Mervyn Bunter. This character was in the BBC Radio 4 adaptations of the Lord Peter Wimsey detective stories.

For 29 years, Peter was a regular guest on the popular panel game Just A Minute. He was loved for his dry, clever sense of humor.

He was also the voice of "The Book" in the original radio series of Douglas Adams' famous science fiction comedy, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The creators wanted someone with a "Peter Jonesy sort of voice," and eventually, they asked Peter himself! He also voiced "The Book" for the record album and the TV series. Peter later narrated Douglas Adams's radio series Last Chance to See, using a similar style.

After Peter's death, clips of his voice were used for a third Hitchhiker's Guide radio show. The clips were changed electronically, and the story was that "The Book" was getting an upgrade.

Peter also wrote and narrated J Kingston Platt's Showbiz Handbook for BBC Radio 4 in the 1980s. These were funny stories about an actor and producer working in British theater and film. The stories were partly based on Peter's own career.

Peter Jones on Television

On television, Peter Jones was best known for his main role as Mr. Fenner in the comedy series The Rag Trade (from 1961 to 1963 and again from 1977 to 1978).

He also appeared in many other British comedy shows. These included Beggar My Neighbour, The Goodies, and Whoops Apocalypse. He also acted in the courtroom drama Rumpole of the Bailey.

Peter also had roles in popular shows like Holby City, The Bill, Midsomer Murders, and Minder. He even appeared in two episodes of the spy series The Avengers.

From 1969 to 1971, Peter starred with Sheila Hancock in a sitcom called Mr Digby Darling. He also co-wrote and starred in another sitcom called Mr Big in 1977.

One of his last TV jobs before he passed away was narrating a Doctor Who documentary called Adventures in Space and Time.

Peter Jones in Films

Peter Jones appeared in several films throughout his career. Some of these include Private's Progress (1956) and School for Scoundrels (1960). In School for Scoundrels, he played his popular character Dudley Grosvenor, who was a used-car salesman.

He also featured in Just like a Woman (1967). Later, he appeared in the comedy film The Return of the Pink Panther (1975). One of his most famous film roles was in the Oscar-winning movie Chariots of Fire (1981).

Peter Jones's Personal Life

Peter Jones was married to Jeri Sauvinet, who was an American theater actress. She passed away in 1999, the year before Peter. They had three children together: a daughter named Selena, and two sons named Charles and Bill.

Peter Jones died peacefully in 2000 in Westminster, London. He was 79 years old.

Selected Filmography