Tony Britton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tony Britton
Portrait taken by Allan Warren in 1972
Born	Anthony Edward Lowry Britton 9 June 1924 Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
Died	22 December 2019(2019-12-22) (aged 95)
Years active	1952–2019
Spouse(s)	Ruth Hawkins (m. 1948; divorced) Eva Castle ​ ​ (m. 1962; died 2008)​
Children	Fern Britton Jasper Britton Cherry (Hawkins) Britton
Awards	Broadcasting Press Guild Award for Best Actor 1975 The Nearly Man

Anthony Edward Lowry Britton (born June 9, 1924 – died December 22, 2019) was a famous English actor. He appeared in many movies, like The Day of the Jackal. He was also in popular TV shows called sitcoms, which are funny shows about everyday life. Some of his well-known sitcoms were Don't Wait Up and Robin's Nest.

Tony Britton was the father of three children who also became well-known. His daughter, Fern Britton, is a TV presenter. His other daughter, Cherry Britton, is a scriptwriter. His son, Jasper Britton, followed in his footsteps and became an actor too.

Tony Britton's Early Life and Acting Journey

Where was Tony Britton born?

Tony Britton was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, on June 9, 1924. His family lived above a place called the Trocadero public house. His parents were Doris Marguerite and Edward Leslie Britton.

How did Tony Britton start acting?

Tony went to school in Birmingham and then in Gloucestershire. During the Second World War, he served in the Army. He also worked as an estate agent and in a factory that made airplanes.

After the war, he joined a group that performed plays for fun in Weston-super-Mare. He enjoyed it so much that he decided to become a professional actor. He performed on famous stages like the Old Vic and with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Tony Britton's Career in Movies and TV Shows

What movies did Tony Britton appear in?

Tony Britton started appearing in British movies in the 1950s. Some of his notable films include Operation Amsterdam (1959), Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971), and The Day of the Jackal (1973). He was a talented actor and even won an award in 1975. This was the Broadcasting Press Guild Award for Best Actor for his role in the show The Nearly Man.

What TV shows was Tony Britton in?

One of the most important parts of his career was starring in the BBC sitcom Don't Wait Up. He was in this show from 1983 to 1990, alongside actors Nigel Havers and Dinah Sheridan. He also appeared in other popular sitcoms like ...And Mother Makes Five and Father, Dear Father. He played the character James Nicholls in Robin's Nest.

In 1977, a TV show called This Is Your Life surprised him. The host, Eamonn Andrews, surprised him outside a famous London restaurant.

Tony Britton's Stage Performances

Even later in his life, Tony Britton continued to act on stage. In 2013, he performed in a special show of William Shakespeare's play King Lear at the Old Vic in London. He played the character of the Earl of Gloucester.

Tony Britton's Family Life

Tony Britton was married twice. With his first wife, Ruth Hawkins, he had two daughters: Cherry Britton and Fern Britton. Cherry married children's TV presenter Brian Cant. Fern is married to chef Phil Vickery.

His second wife was Eva Castle Britton, who was a Danish sculptor. She was also part of the wartime Danish resistance. They had one son together, who is the actor Jasper Britton.

Tony Britton passed away on December 22, 2019, at the age of 95.

Tony Britton's Films

• Waterfront (1950) as Deck-Hand
• Cage of Gold (1950) as Nicky
• Salute the Toff (1952) as Draycott
• The Man who Stroked Cats (1955) as Tom Meredith (short film)
• Loser Takes All (1956) as Tony
• The Birthday Present (1957) as Simon Scott
• Behind the Mask (1958) as Philip Selwood
• The Heart of a Man (1959) as Tony Carlisle
• Operation Amsterdam (1959) as Major Dillon
• The Rough and the Smooth (1959) as Mike Thompson
• The Last Winter (1960) as Stephen Burton
• Suspect (1960) as Robert Marriott
• The Break (1963) as Greg Parker
• Dr. Syn Alias the Scarecrow (1963) as Simon Bates
• There's a Girl in My Soup (1970) as Andrew Hunter
• Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971) as George Harding
• Mr. Forbush and the Penguins (1971) as George Dewport
• The Day of the Jackal (1973) as Superintendent Brian Thomas
• Night Watch (1973) as Tony
• The People That Time Forgot (1977) as Captain Lawton
• Agatha (1979) as William Collins
• Countdown to War (1989) as Sir Nevile Henderson
• Run for Your Wife (2012) as Man on Bus (his last film role)

Tony Britton's Television Shows

• Melissa (1964)
• The Saint (1968)
• Marked Personal (1974)
• The Nearly Man (1975)
• ...And Mother Makes Five (1975)
• Robin's Nest (1977–1981)
• Don't Wait Up (1983–1990)
• Strangers and Brothers (1984)
• Don't Tell Father (1992)
• The Royal (2006)