Frank Barrie

Frank Barrie (born 19 September 1936) is a British stage and television actor. He made his acting debut in 1959 in a production of Henry IV, Part 2 at the York Theatre Royal. He proved to be a successful Shakespearean actor throughout his career. More recently, he starred in Lunch with Marlene, a 2008 tribute to Noël Coward and Marlene Dietrich and in 2010 was cast as Edward Bishop a choir master.

Biography

Frank Barrie was born in Scarborough, North Riding of Yorkshire on 19 September 1936 to Arthur and Annie Smith. He attended Archbishop Holgate's School and the University of Hull in Hull. He married Maryann Lloyd.^[1]

Career

Frank Barrie made his first stage appearance in 1959 in the role of Mouldy in Henry IV, Part 2, at the York Theatre Royal. He performed with the Bristol Old Vic company from 1965 through 1969, performing in the title roles of Oedipus Rex and Richard II. The company toured Europe and North America in 1972 with Barrie portraying Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet and Lucio in Measure for Measure. Barrie made his New York theatre debut with the company at the New York City Center on 14 March 1967. Barrie has performed at a number of major venues in his acting career, including the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park, the Northcott Theatre, the Greenwich Theatre, and the Theatre Royal Haymarket.^[1] Barrie has also performed on television, including such shows as Softly, Softly, Special Branch, On Giant's Shoulders and Queen of Swords.^[2]

In the early 1980s, Barrie had a world record of 12 consecutive standing ovations at the Twelfth Night Theatre, Brisbane in 1982, for Macready, a one-man show he had written and which subsequently toured to 65 countries. For this performance he was nominated Best Actor in the London critics Plays and Players awards.

In 2008, Barrie was cast as Noël Coward in the original London production of Lunch with Marlene, a play about the friendship between Coward and fellow acting legend Marlene Dietrich. The production received "rave reviews",^[3] with the casting of Barrie as Coward being described as "impeccable" by The Stage.^[4]

He has appeared on BBC's EastEnders as Edward Bishop in 2010 and 2011 where he played the part of the local choir master and makes friends with Dot Branning (June Brown)

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