Stephen Lewis (actor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stephen Lewis
As Inspector Cyril Blake in On the Buses
Born	(1926-12-17)17 December 1926 London, England
Died	12 August 2015(2015-08-12) (aged 88) London, England
Resting place	St Patrick's Roman Catholic Cemetery, Leytonstone, London, England
Occupation	Actor comedian director screenwriter playwright
Years active	c. 1958–2007

Stephen Lewis was a talented English actor, comedian, and writer. He was born on December 17, 1926, and passed away on August 12, 2015. Many people remember him for playing Inspector "Blakey" in the TV show On the Buses. He also played Smiler in Last of the Summer Wine and Harry Lambert in Oh, Doctor Beeching!. Early in his career, he was sometimes known as Stephen Cato.

Stephen Lewis's Early Life

Stephen Lewis was born in Poplar, London, England. Before he became an actor, he had many different jobs. He worked as a bricklayer, helped electricians, and was a carpenter. He also joined the Merchant Navy, which meant he worked on ships.

One day, he was encouraged to see a play by a group called the Theatre Workshop. After the show, audience members could meet the actors. Stephen was invited to try out for a part. He got the role and decided to leave his life at sea to become an actor.

Stephen Lewis on Stage

Stephen Lewis first performed in London's famous West End theatre in 1958. This was for a play called The Hostage.

In 1960, he helped write a play called Sparrers Can't Sing. This play was later made into a film in 1963, also called Sparrows Can't Sing. Stephen Lewis acted in the film alongside famous actors like Barbara Windsor. He also worked with Bob Grant, who would later become his co-star in On the Buses.

For a while, Stephen used the name "Cato" for his stage work. But after writing Sparrows Can't Sing, his agent told him to use his real name, Stephen Lewis.

Stephen Lewis on Television

From 1969, Stephen Lewis starred in his most famous role as Inspector Cyril "Blakey" Blake. This was in the British TV comedy show On the Buses. Blakey was a grumpy bus inspector. The show was very popular and ran for 74 episodes.

On the Buses was so successful that it led to three movies:

• On the Buses (1971)
• Mutiny on the Buses (1972)
• Holiday on the Buses (1973)

Stephen Lewis also helped write 12 episodes of On the Buses with his co-star Bob Grant. It's interesting to know that Stephen was only 42 when the show started, but he was given heavy makeup to make him look much older.

After On the Buses, Stephen starred in a spin-off show called Don't Drink the Water (1974–1975). In this show, Blakey retired to Spain with his sister. Later, in the 1990s, Blakey sometimes appeared on the TV game show The Generation Game.

Stephen Lewis in Films

Stephen Lewis acted in many films throughout his career. Some of these include:

• A Prize of Arms (1962)
• Sparrows Can't Sing (1963), which he also helped write.
• Staircase (1969), where he acted with famous stars like Richard Burton.
• The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins (1971)
• The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977)
• Personal Services (1987)
• Out of Order (1987)
• The Krays (1990)

Later Television Roles

In 1988, Stephen Lewis started another long-running role. He played Clem "Smiler" Hemingway in the BBC comedy show Last of the Summer Wine. He played Smiler for 17 years, appearing in many episodes until 2007, when he had to leave due to his health.

In 1996, Stephen Lewis played Harry Lambert, a signalman, in the BBC comedy Oh, Doctor Beeching!. This show also became popular and ran for two more series. He also made guest appearances in other well-known TV shows like One Foot in the Grave and 2point4 Children.

Stephen Lewis's Passing

Stephen Lewis passed away on August 12, 2015, at the age of 88. He died in a nursing home in London.

Film and TV Shows

See also

In Spanish: Stephen Lewis (actor) para niños