Bill Fraser
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Bill Fraser (5 June 1908 - 9 September 1987) was a Scottish comedic and straight character actor on the British screen for many years.
Bill was born William Simpson Fraser in Perth and started acting before World War II but was called up and served in a Royal Air Force Special Liaison Unit, reaching the rank of Flight Lieutenant. He servied in the RAF SLU with Eric Sykes.
He was acknowledged to have given the actor Peter Cushing, his first stage job.
His earliest television appearance was on The Tony Hancock Show in 1956, after which he became a regular actor on Hancock's Half Hour. He then joined The Army Game as Sgt Claude Snudge, which led to a TV spin-off called Bootsie and Snudge. Later comedic roles included parts in the TV dramatisation of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾, Ripping Yarns, and Father, Dear Father. He also appeared in the comedy film The Amorous Milkman; the big screen version of Love Thy Neighbour; and the Frankie Howerd trilogy Up Pompeii, Up the Front, and Up the Chastity Belt.
He had a recurring role on Rumpole of the Bailey as Judge Roger Bullingham, an unsympathetic judge privately known to defense barrister Horace Rumpole as "the Mad Bull".
Bill Fraser's straight parts included appearances on The Professionals and The Avengers. He also starred in the Doctor Who story Meglos in 1980, and appeared in the spin-off show K-9 and Company the following year.
He appeared as Mr Micawber in the TV dramatisation of David Copperfield in 1966; and his last role was as Mr Casby in the 1988 screened production of Little Dorrit.
During those periods when Bill was not acting, he ran a small sweetshop at Ilford Lane in Ilford, Essex.
He died from emphysema in Hertfordshire, aged 79, leaving a widow, the actress Pamela Cundell (whom he had married in 1981).
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