Stanley Baxter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stanley Baxter
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Baxter during the height of his career
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| Born |
Stanley Livingstone Baxter
24 May 1926 Glasgow, Scotland
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| Died | 11 December 2025 (aged 99) Northwood, London, England
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| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1930s–2025 |
| Spouse(s) |
Moira Robertson
(m. 1951; died 1997) |
| Awards | British Comedy Awards 1997 Lifetime Achievement Award Oldie Camper of the Year, 2008 BAFTA for Light Entertainment Performance, (1960, 1975) |
Stanley Livingstone Baxter (born 24 May 1926 – died 11 December 2025) was a famous Scottish actor, comedian, and writer. He was also a talented impressionist, meaning he was great at copying the voices and mannerisms of other people.
Stanley Baxter started acting when he was a child on the BBC. He became very well-known for his funny TV shows in Britain. Some of his most popular shows included The Stanley Baxter Show, The Stanley Baxter Picture Show, and The Stanley Baxter Series. He also starred in a children's show called Mr Majeika. Besides acting, Baxter wrote several books that were inspired by his hometown, Glasgow.
Many people consider Stanley Baxter one of the most important figures in British comedy. His TV shows, especially in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, were very popular. They often featured amazing costumes, clever jokes, and his incredible ability to pretend to be different characters. His shows attracted huge audiences, sometimes more than 14 million viewers! People loved his creativity and how ambitious his shows were.
Contents
Stanley Baxter: A Comedy Legend
Early Life and First Steps in Acting
Stanley Baxter was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on 24 May 1926. His father was an insurance manager. Stanley went to Hillhead High School in Glasgow. His mother helped him learn about acting for the stage.
He began his acting journey as a child. He appeared on the local version of the BBC's Children's Hour radio program. During World War II, he worked in mining for a short time. After that, he joined the British Army's entertainment group. This group helped soldiers develop their performing skills. He worked with other future stars like Kenneth Williams and Peter Vaughan.
After the war, Stanley returned to Glasgow. He performed on stage for three years at the Citizens' Theatre. He also became popular on the radio with Jimmy Logan. Soon, he was invited to star in pantomimes at the Theatre Royal. Pantomimes are fun, musical plays often performed around Christmas. He also performed in popular variety shows at the Alhambra Theatre. In 1959, he moved to London to work in television.
Stanley Baxter was a big hit in Scottish pantomimes. He often performed at the King's Theatre in Glasgow. He continued to entertain audiences there until he retired from pantomime in 1992. He often shared the stage with other beloved Scottish stars like Jimmy Logan and Una McLean.
A Star on Radio
In the 1960s, Stanley Baxter had his own show on BBC Radio Scotland. He returned to radio in 1994. He played the famous writer Noël Coward in a play called Marvellous Party. He also read stories like Whisky Galore for BBC Radio. He was so good that he performed all the different character voices himself!
In 1975, he even did funny radio advertisements for Opel Cars. He pretended to be a "Dangerous little Bend in the Road" and a "Multi Storey Car Park."
After taking a break, Stanley Baxter came back to radio in 2004. He starred in a series of funny radio shows for BBC Radio 4. These shows were so popular that he made more series, like The Stanley Baxter Playhouse. He also worked with actor Richard Briers on a series called Two Pipe Problems.
Television Comedy Shows
Stanley Baxter was famous for his amazing impressions of well-known people. One of his most popular impressions was of The Queen. He often called her 'the Duchess of Brendagh' in his shows.
Famous Impressions and Specials
His show, The Stanley Baxter Show, was on BBC One from 1963 to 1971. Then, The Stanley Baxter Picture Show aired on ITV from 1972 to 1975. He also had The Stanley Baxter Series in 1981. He created eight special one-hour TV shows between 1973 and 1986. These specials were known for their high quality and clever humor.
Early TV Appearances
Stanley Baxter was part of one of the very first broadcasts of STV. This was a new TV channel that started on 31 August 1957. He appeared in a show called This Is Scotland. It was a live entertainment show celebrating the launch of Scotland's first independent TV channel. He performed funny sketches, showing off his skills from the stage. This show helped introduce him to a wider TV audience in Scotland.
Children's TV Role
Stanley Baxter also guest-starred in an episode of The Goodies. Later, he took on the main role in Mr Majeika. This was a children's show based on books by Humphrey Carpenter. Stanley played a magic teacher who was expelled from a wizard land for failing his exams. He once said that he took this role for financial reasons after his big hour-long shows were cancelled.
In 1977, Stanley Baxter appeared in Bing Crosby's last Christmas TV special. He played many different characters, including a butler and a cook. He even played the ghost of Bob Hope's court jester ancestor in a funny sketch. After retiring in 1990, he returned for a special Christmas show on ITV in 2008. This show featured old clips and new comments from comedians about his influence.
Film Roles
Stanley Baxter also appeared in several films. These included Geordie (1955), Very Important Person (1961), and The Fast Lady (1962). He also starred in Crooks Anonymous (1962) and Father Came Too! (1963). He often worked alongside actor James Robertson Justice in these comedies. Later, he lent his voice to the animated movie The Thief and the Cobbler (1995).
While he was most famous for his TV and stage work, his film roles were notable. He often played funny supporting characters. These roles allowed him to show off his talent for different accents and physical comedy. Film historians say his movie appearances captured his unique stage and radio skills for the big screen.
Books About Glasgow
Stanley Baxter wrote several books. These books were based on the unique language and humor of Glasgow. He developed this style in his famous "Parliamo Glasgow" comedy sketch.
- Bedside Book of Glasgow Humour
- Parliamo Glasgow Omnibus
- Let's Parliamo Glasgow Again – Merrorapattur
- Stanley Baxter's Suburban Shocker : Featuring Rosemary Morningside and the Garrulous Glaswegian Mr. Ballhead
His Lasting Legacy
Stanley Baxter's performances were special because he could play so many different characters. He was famous for his bold impressions, like those of the Pope and Queen Elizabeth II. He also made people laugh by exploring the Glaswegian dialect in his "Parliamo Glasgow" routines. These sketches were not just funny; they also helped expand what comedy could be on TV in the UK.
Many actors and comedians, both from his time and today, say Stanley Baxter was a huge inspiration. They called him a "giant of Scottish entertainment." People praised his cleverness, warmth, and how inspiring his work was. First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, said that Baxter brought "incredible joy to generations" of viewers.
Beyond television, Stanley Baxter's influence reached theatre and pantomime. He was a beloved performer there for many years. He also made important contributions to radio and film. He received many honors for his work. These included a lifetime achievement award at the British Comedy Awards. He also won the BAFTA Scotland Outstanding Contribution to Film and Television Award. These awards show his long-lasting impact on entertainment.
His unique mix of high-quality productions, clever ideas, and versatile characters is still important in British comedy. His work is remembered through old shows and documentaries. A BBC Scotland documentary called *Being Stanley Baxter* explores his life and career.
Personal Life
Stanley Baxter grew up in a tenement building in the West End of Glasgow. He lived there from age five until he married actress Moira Robertson. He was 26 years old when they married in 1951. Later, they lived in Highgate, North London. They were married for 46 years. Moira passed away in 1997.
Stanley Baxter passed away on 11 December 2025. He was 99 years old. He had been living at Denville Hall, a retirement home for actors, since 2023.
Awards and Recognition
Stanley Baxter received several important awards for his talent:
- BAFTA Award for Light Entertainment Artist (1960)
- BAFTA Award for Light Entertainment Performance (1975) for the Stanley Baxter Moving Picture Show
- BAFTA Scotland Award for Outstanding Contribution (2020)
- Lifetime Achievement Award (British Comedy Awards) (1997)
- Oldie Camper of the Year (2008) – This award was from The Oldie magazine. It recognized him for continuing to delight audiences with his original comedy.
He was offered an OBE (Order of the British Empire) but chose not to accept it.
Where to Watch His Shows
Many of Stanley Baxter's popular shows are available on DVD. His six hour-long ITV specials were released in 2005. They were part of The Stanley Baxter Collection. In 2006, another DVD set, The Stanley Baxter Series & Picture Show, came out. It included his half-hour shows for ITV. In 2008, a big five-disc DVD box set called The Stanley Baxter Television Set was released. This set included many of his ITV series and specials. It also featured two of his films, The Fast Lady and Father Came Too!.
Stanley Baxter's Work
Television Series
- The Stanley Baxter Show (BBC, 1963–71)
- Baxter On... (BBC, 1964)
- Time For Baxter (BBC Scotland, 1972)
- The Stanley Baxter Picture Show (LWT, 1972)
- The Stanley Baxter Series (LWT, 1981)
Television Specials
- The Stanley Baxter Big Picture Show (LWT, 1973)
- The Stanley Baxter Scots Picture Show (STV, 1974)
- The Stanley Baxter Moving Picture Show (LWT, 1974)
- The Best of Baxter (LWT, 1974)
- The Stanley Baxter Show Part III (LWT, 1975)
- Stanley Baxter's Christmas Box (LWT, 1976)
- Stanley Baxter's Greatest Hits (LWT, 1977)
- Stanley Baxter on Television (LWT, 1979)
- The Stanley Baxter Hour (LWT, 1982)
- Stanley Baxter's Christmas Hamper (BBC, 1985)
- Stanley Baxter's Television Annual (BBC, 1986)
- Stanley Baxter is Back (C4, 1995)
- Stanley Baxter in Reel Terms (C4, 1996)
- Stanley Baxter in Person (Carlton, 1998)
- Stanley Baxter Now and Then (ITV, 2008)
Other TV Appearances
- Shop Window (BBC, 1952)
- This is Scotland (STV, 1957)
- On The Bright Side (BBC, 1960)
- Comedy Playhouse: "Lunch in the Park" (BBC, 1961)
- Espionage (BBC, 1963)
- Wednesday Play: "The Confidence Course" (BBC, 1965)
- Christmas Night with the Stars (BBC, 1970)
- The Goodies (BBC, 1971)
- A Grand Tour (STV, 1974)
- Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas (CBS/ITC Entertainment, 1977)
- Mr Majeika (Television South, 1988–90)
- Rab C. Nesbitt (BBC, 1991)
- Arabian Knight (Animation, 1995, Voice Only)
- Meeow (Animation, 2000, Voice Only)
- The Unforgettable...Kenneth Williams (Carlton, 2001)
- The Sketch Show Story (BBC, 2001)
- EX:SThis is Stanley Baxter (BBC, 2001)
- Return of the Goodies (BBC, 2005)
- The Story of Light Entertainment (BBC, 2006)
- Comedy Map of Britain (BBC, 2007)
- Happy Birthday BAFTA (2007)
- The Comedy Christmas (2007)
- Artwork Scotland:When Alan Cumming met Stanley Baxter (2010)
- The Many Faces of Stanley Baxter (2013)
- Scottish Television Hogmanay shows (1980s and 1990s)
- Road To Londonderry
- The Undiscovered Kenneth Williams (Associated-Rediffusion/Sky Arts, 2018)
- Comedy National Treasures: Stanley Baxter (Associated-Rediffusion/Channel 5, 2019)
Films
- Geordie (1955)
- Very Important Person (Rank, 1961)
- Crooks Anonymous (1962)
- The Fast Lady (1962)
- Father Came Too! (Rank, 1963)
- Joey Boy (1965)
- The Thief and the Cobbler (Animation, Voice Only, 1993)
