Rodney Bewes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rodney Bewes
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![]() Rodney Bewes in 2004
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Born | Bingley, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
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27 November 1937
Died | 21 November 2017 |
(aged 79)
Occupation |
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Years active | 1952–2015 |
Spouse(s) |
Sylvia N. Tebbitt
(m. 1963, divorced)Daphne Black
(m. 1973; died 2015) |
Children | 4 |
Rodney Bewes (born 27 November 1937 – died 21 November 2017) was a well-known English actor and writer. He was most famous for playing the character Bob Ferris in the popular BBC TV show The Likely Lads (1964–66) and its follow-up, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? (1973–74). Later in his career, Rodney Bewes continued to act on stage.
Contents
Early Life and Acting Start
Rodney Bewes was born in Bingley, a town in Yorkshire, England. His father, Horace, worked for an electricity company, and his mother, Bessie, was a teacher. When he was young, Rodney often got sick with asthma and bronchitis. Because of this, his family moved to Luton for a few years.
Rodney became interested in acting at a young age. Just before his 13th birthday, he tried out for the main role in a TV show called Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School. He didn't get the part, but he did appear in two other early TV shows for the BBC in 1952: Mystery at Mountcliffe Chase and The Pickwick Papers. When he was 14, he moved to London to study acting at a special school connected to the RADA. After serving in the RAF for two years, he went on to study at RADA itself.
Becoming a Star Actor
Rodney Bewes started his acting career in theatre and soon got roles in TV dramas like Dixon of Dock Green (1962) and Z-Cars (1963). He also appeared in the 1963 film Billy Liar with his friend Tom Courtenay.
His big break came in 1964 when he was cast as Bob Ferris in The Likely Lads. This TV show was about two factory workers from Newcastle. Bob Ferris, played by Rodney, was the more ambitious friend, while Terry Collier (James Bolam) was his more relaxed friend. The show was very popular and ran for three series.
Between the two Likely Lads shows, Rodney Bewes also appeared in other TV series such as Man in a Suitcase (1967) and Father, Dear Father (1968). Many kids might remember him as "Mr Rodney" on The Basil Brush Show (1968–69). He even created and co-wrote his own TV comedy show called Dear Mother...Love Albert (1969–72).
Rodney Bewes and James Bolam reunited for the sequel to their hit show, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? (1973–74). This show was also very successful and included a Christmas special. The characters of Bob and Terry were so popular that their stories were also adapted for radio and a cinema film called The Likely Lads (1976).
Rodney Bewes also appeared in several films during this time, including Spring and Port Wine (1970) and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1972), where he played the Knave of Hearts. Later film roles included Jabberwocky (1977) and Unidentified Flying Oddball (1979). Fans of Doctor Who might remember his guest role in the 1984 episode Resurrection of the Daleks.
Later Career and Stage Work
Even though his TV appearances became less frequent in the mid-1980s, Rodney Bewes continued to be a busy stage actor. He performed in plays in London's West End, such as Middle-Age Spread and Funny Money.
In the 1990s and later, Rodney Bewes became well-known for his one-man stage shows. He toured extensively across the UK with his performances of Three Men in a Boat and Diary of a Nobody.
His final TV appearance was in 2009, when he played a retired bank manager named Edward Walton in an episode of the British TV series Heartbeat called Ties That Bind. In 2015, he performed an autobiographical show called An Audience with Rodney Bewes... Who? in Edinburgh.
Rodney Bewes also wrote a book about his life, called A Likely Story, which was published in 2005.
Death
Rodney Bewes passed away on 21 November 2017, just before his 80th birthday. He died at his home in Cadgwith, Cornwall. He is remembered by his daughter and three sons.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1962 | A Prize of Arms | Private Maynard | Uncredited |
We Joined the Navy | Recruitment interviewee | Uncredited | |
1963 | Heavens Above! | Milkfloat driver | Uncredited |
Billy Liar | Arthur Crabtree | ||
1964 | The Chase | George | TV film |
1965 | San Ferry Ann | Lover Boy | |
1968 | Decline and Fall... of a Birdwatcher | Arthur Potts | |
1969 | All Star Comedy Carnival | Albert Courtnay | TV film |
1970 | Spring and Port Wine | Harold Crompton | |
1972 | Alice's Adventures in Wonderland | Knave of Hearts | |
1973 | The Three Musketeers | Spy | |
1975 | Jonah and the Whale | Jonah | TV film |
1976 | The Likely Lads | Bob Ferris | |
1977 | Jabberwocky | The Other Squire | |
1979 | Saint Jack | Smale | |
Unidentified Flying Oddball | Clarence | ||
1980 | 'Tis Pity She's a ... | Bergetto | TV film |
The Wildcats of St Trinian's | Peregrine Butters | ||
1982 | East Lynne | Raymond Vane | TV film |
1993 | Come Snow, Come Blow | TV film |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1952 | Mystery at Mountcliffe Chase | Jeremy Nicholls | TV short |
The Pickwick Papers | Joe | 2 episodes | |
1961 | ITV Playhouse | Signals operator | Episode: "Private Potter" |
1962 | Dixon of Dock Green | PC Screen | Episode: "An Escort for Harry" |
Emergency Ward 10 | Roger Mayne | 1 episode | |
Armchair Theatre | Barman | Episode: "The Irish Boys" | |
1963 | Z-Cars | Sammy | Episode: "The Main Chance" |
Love Story | Smith | Episode: "The Wedding of Smith Seven-Nine" | |
Sierra Nine | Tom Batley | Episode: "The Q-Radiation" | |
The Plane Makers | Tim Ormiston | Episode: "Any More for the Skylark?" | |
First Night | Sam Towler | Episode: "The Road" | |
Pots | Episode: "Sticks" | ||
Drama 61-67 | Peter Morton | Episode: "Loop" | |
1964 | Trooper Tanner | Episode: "Across the Border" | |
Cluff | Jack Carson | Episode: "The Screeching Cat" | |
Six | George | Episode: "The Chase" | |
Christmas Night with the Stars | Bob Ferris | 1 episode | |
1964-1966 | The Likely Lads | Bob Ferris | Series regular |
1966 | Armchair Theatre | Neville Starkey | Episode: "The Night Before the Morning After" |
1966-1982 | Jackanory | Storyteller | Series regular |
1967 | Hicks and Stokes | Billy Hicks | TV short |
Man in a Suitcase | Tim Gormond | Episode: "The Bridge" | |
1968 | Virgin of the Secret Service | Rajah of Chundrapore | Episode: "The Rajah and the Suffragette" |
The Basil Brush Show | Mr. Rodney | Series regular | |
Father, Dear Father | Cyril | Episode: "It Won't Be a Stylish Marriage" | |
1969-1972 | Dear Mother...Love Albert | Albert Courtnay | Series regular |
1971 | Shirley's World | Ralph | Episode: "A Girl Like You" |
1973-1974 | Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? | Bob Ferris | Series regular |
1974 | Whodunnit? | Panellist | Episode: "Goodbye Sarge" |
1975 | Churchill's People | Bob Pott | Episode: "Mother India" |
1980 | Just Liz | Reg Last | Series regular |
1982 | Crown Court | Alistair Crichton | Episode: "Peanuts" |
BBC Play of the Month | Constable | Episode: "The Critic" | |
1984 | Doctor Who | Stien | Episode: "Resurrection of the Daleks" |
1985 | Summer Season | George | Episode: "Glamour Night" |
1986 | Hudson Frontier | Lord Herne | Mini-series |
1987 | The Adventures of a Lady | Lord Herne | Mini-series |
1993 | Spender | Norman Ellerson | Episode: "Kid" |
2002 | A Tribute to The Likely Lads | News vendor | TV short, cameo role |
2004 | Revolver | Jimmy Charles | 1 episode |
2009 | Heartbeat | Edward Walton | Episode: "Ties That Bind" |