Russ Abbot

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**Russ Abbot**
Russ Abbot
Born:	16 September 1947 Chester, England
Occupation:	Stand-up comedian, Actor, Musician

Russ Abbot, born Russell Roberts 16 September 1947 in Chester, England) is a musician, comedian, and actor.

He was the 5th of 6 sons born to Donald, who was English, and Elizabeth Roberts, who was Scottish.

As a drummer Abbot founded the Black Abbots, who signed their first record-contract in 1977. Later on he appeared as a comedian, winning five times the award as Funniest Man On Television.

From 1980, Abbot released some albums as a solo artist and played successfully in several TV series.

The Russ Abbot Show showed his talents as an all round entertainer and attracted millions of viewers. This show was very popular amongst younger viewers prompting 2 annuals to be published in 1982 and 1983. The annuals featured comic strips based on popular characters plus some publicity photos of Russ in a variety of guises.

After many years, Abbot bought the performing rights to his hit Atmosphere and refuses to allow it to be played on radio as he considers it to be a dire representation of his talents; however, many consider this to be a classic novelty hit (it spent no fewer than 2 months in the UK Top 20 in 1984).

He had a bad accident with hair plugs in the early 90's but no pictures exist of the dimple-era Abbot. He has now accepted his baldness and stopped wearing wigs/hats

Abbot's theatre roles include Alfred P. Doolittle in My Fair Lady and the narrator in The Rocky Horror Show. In 2004 he played the part of "Grandpa Potts" in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium.

In 1967, he married Tricia Simpson and he has children.

In 2001, he was named Pipe Smoker of the Year, while in 2003 his 'See You Jimmy' character came third in The Glasgow Herald's poll to find The Most Scottish Person In The World.