Bill Fraser
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bill Fraser | |
 in Doctor Who in 1980
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| Born | William Simpson Fraser June 5, 1908 Perth, Scotland, Scotland |
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| Died | September 9, 1987 (aged 79) Hertfordshire, England |
| Cause of death | Emphysema |
| Occupation | Comic actor, actor |
| Spouse | Pamela Cundell |
William Simpson "Bill" Fraser (b. 5 June 1908, Perth, Scotland - d. 9 September 1987) was a Scottish comedic and straight character actor on the British screen for many years.
Bill Fraser was educated at Strathallan School and began his career in a bank before moving on to acting. Before World War II he ran the Connaught Theatre in Worthing; when called up he served in a Royal Air Force Special Liaison Unit, reaching the rank of Flight Lieutenant. He served in the RAF SLU with Eric Sykes.
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 and well as Ripping Yarns, Foreign Affairs, The Corn is Green and Father, Dear Father.
He also appeared in the comedy films The Amorous Milkman and Doctor At Large; 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 defence barrister Horace Rumpole as "the Mad Bull".
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. In the early 80s he was in two series of a straight drama on BBC1, Flesh and Blood; his performance in its first episode of a industrialist sitting at the bedside of his dying wife was regarded by many as a tour de force.
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 and tobacconists 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).
[edit] External links
- Bill Fraser at the Internet Movie Database
- Bill Fraser at Find A Grave
- BBC Entry (not working at 23/04/2008)
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Fraser, Bill |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Fraser, William Simpson |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Comic actor, actor |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 1908-06-05 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Perth, Scotland |
| DATE OF DEATH | 1987-09-09 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Hertfordshire, England |
