His most successful roles in the former camp were as Richard DeVere in To the Manor Born (1979-81), one of Britain's most-watched sitcoms, and The Irish RM from ...
Alarmed when a BBC producer predicted he would never act in drama again now that he was classified as a sitcom performer, he came up with the idea for ITV’s Lytton’s Diary (1983-86), wittily scripted by Ray Connolly, with Bowles playing a suave newspaper gossip columnist somewhat based on Nigel Dempster of the Daily Mail. That led to the offer of The Irish RM and Bowles subsequently alternated drama and comedy on TV and stage. Penelope Keith’s Audrey fforbes-Hamilton, though, considered herself a real lady, while regarding DeVere, who outbid Audrey for her late husband’s country estate at auction, as a false gentleman, exposing him as the child of Czech-Polish émigré parents, his name anglicised to help his supermarket business. Bowles’s career benefited from the friendships between three men of theatre: Sir Peter Hall, Harold Pinter and Simon Gray. Gray’s TV film Running Late (1992), with Bowles as an egotistical TV talkshow host whose life unravels during a London day, was so admired by Hall that he cast the actor in a sequence of eight revivals from 1993, including Terence Rattigan’s Separate Tables, Noël Coward’s Hay Fever (with Judi Dench) and, in 2011, Sheridan’s The Rivals, opposite Penelope Keith, with whom he had also reunited in a 2007 one-off special episode of To the Manor Born. With his income from TV, Bowles bought the film rights to Gangster No 1 when he accepted the part on stage, although it was not enough to allow him to reprise the role in the 2000 movie version (the role went to Malcolm McDowell). Like another comedy from the same era, Only Fools and Horses, the show was a reflection of the disruptions to the English class system by the recently elected Margaret Thatcher, a shopkeeper’s daughter who had poshed up her voice but was committed to social mobility. To the Manor Born had been commissioned as another vehicle for the high snobbery that had made Keith famous as Margo in The Good Life on the BBC (1975-78). Ironically, Bowles had turned down the part of Jerry, Margo’s husband, which made a star of Paul Eddington. Some actors who reject a hit never get a second chance, but To the Manor Born meant Bowles achieved national recognisability just a few years later.
Peter Bowles played self-made businessman Richard DeVere in classic sitcom To The Manor Born alongside actress Penelope Keith.
It was terrific," he said previously. Bowles' upbringing was far from glamourous. At its height, the BBC sitcom commanded audiences of 20 million. It was new to me. Growing up, his father was a valet and chauffeur to one of the sons of the Earl of Sandwich, his mother a nanny employed by the heir of the Duke of Argyll in Scotland. The son of a chauffeur and nanny, Bowles was born in London in 1936, growing up in Nottingham.
He was best known for his role in the BBC sitcom starring alongside Dame Penelope Keith.
It was terrific,” he said previously. It was new to me. He played villains in several TV series, including The Avengers and The Saint, but it was with a moustache in To The Manor Born, co-starring Dame Penelope and commanding audiences of 20 million, that he became most well known for.
ROBERT HARDMAN: Peter Bowles - who has died of cancer at the age of 85 - remained resolutely devoted to the stage and to his family in equal measure.
He was best known for his role in the BBC sitcom starring alongside Dame Penelope Keith. | ITV News London.
It was terrific,” he said previously. It was new to me. He played villains in several TV series, including The Avengers and The Saint, but it was with a moustache in To The Manor Born, co-starring Dame Penelope and commanding audiences of 20 million, that he became most well known for.
He was best known for his role in the BBC sitcom starring alongside Dame Penelope Keith.
It was terrific,” he said previously. It was new to me. I didn’t realise there were two worlds. Bowles was best known for his role as Richard DeVere in the BBC sitcom which aired from 1979 to 1981, starring as the self-made businessman alongside Dame Penelope Keith, with the pair reprising their roles in a 2007 special. Bowles was best known for his role as Richard DeVere in the BBC sitcom which aired from 1979 to 1981, starring as the self-made businessman alongside Dame Penelope Keith, with the pair reprising their roles in a 2007 special. To The Manor Born star Peter Bowles has died from cancer at the age of 85.
Peter Bowles has died aged 85. The 'To The Manor Born' actor – best known for his role as self-made businessman Richard DeVere in the classic BBC sitcom ...
(sic)" He appeared on 'To The Manor Born' from 1979 to 1981, while he and Keith reprised their roles for a 2007 special. He continued to work on stage and screen, become a household name in the role of DeVere.
Peter Bowles, an English television actor, has died aged 85. The To the Manor Born actor appeared in hundreds of film, TV and theatre productions over the ...
In 1991, Bowles went to the BBC with an idea for a dramatic film - Running Late. The To the Manor Born actor appeared in hundreds of film, TV and theatre productions over the course of his career. Upon leaving RADA, he was told that he would never play an Englishman because of his swarthy looks - and in his early career, he did usually play foreign, villains.
The actor starred in the BBC hit from 1979 to 1981, playing Richard DeVere alongside Penelope Keith in the sitcom, which had audiences of 20m-plus for all ...
He played the self-made businessman alongside Dame Penelope Keith, with the pair revisiting their roles in a 2007 special.
He recently starred alongside Jenna Coleman in the popular ITV series Victoria, playing the role of the Duke of Wellington. Bowles was married to actress Susan Bennett and the couple had three children. Throughout his career, he featured in many films including 1970’s Eyewitness, 1995’s The Steal, 2005’s Colour Me Kubrick, and 2008’s The Bank Job. He also starred in BBC Two series Murder in 2016, which delved into the psyches of everyone involved in a murder case through testimony delivered straight to camera by each character. “He leaves his wife of over 60 years, Sue, and their three children Guy, Adam and Sasha.” Born in London in 1936, he grew up in Nottingham and won a scholarship to the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) before cutting his teeth on stage with the Old Vic Company. He played villains in several TV series, including The Avengers and The Saint, but it was with a moustache in To The Manor Born, co-starring Dame Penelope and commanding audiences of 20 million, that he became most well known for. “Starting his career at the Old Vic Theatre in 1956, he starred in 45 theatrical productions ending at the age of 81 in The Exorcist at the Phoenix Theatre. “He worked consistently on stage and screen, becoming a household name on TV as the archetypal English gent in To The Manor Born, Only When I Laugh, The Bounder and Lytton’s Diary, which he devised himself. Peter also starred in different programmes including Holby City, Agatha Christie's Poirot and more recently he played the Duke of Wellington in royal drama Victoria. The sad news was confirmed in a statement to the PA news agency which read: “The actor Peter Bowles has sadly passed away at the age of 85 from cancer. He played the self-made businessman alongside Dame Penelope Keith, with the pair revisiting their roles in a 2007 special.
The actor's death was confirmed by his agent who wrote: “The actor Peter Bowles has sadly passed away at the age of 85 from cancer. He leaves his wife of over ...
Loved him in To The Manor Born, Lytton’s Diary & The Bounder. Sad news.” On Twitter, Piers Morgan paid tribute to Bowles. He wrote: RIP Peter Bowles, 85. He leaves his wife of over 60 years, Sue, and their three children Guy, Adam and Sasha.”
Actor played Richard DeVere in BBC comedy series alongside Penelope Keith from 1979 to 1981.
I chose one of the plays and turned the sitcom down.”When he was offered a second opportunity to play Keith’s onscreen spouse, he made sure he took the chance – having to overrule his agent, who’d initially turned down the role due to a clash with his appearances in ITV series Rumpole of the Bailey. “I was determined not to pass up a second chance of playing her husband”, he said, after having to personally convince TV executives that he could do both TV jobs.Eventually, he would become so successful as a comic actor that it started to impact on his theatre work. Tribute was also paid by Vikings: Valhalla star David Oakes, who appeared with Bowles in ITV series Victoria, saying: “He was a true gentleman to work with, and took real class with him wherever he trod.”Very sorry to hear of the passing of Peter Bowles. As well as having the best title for any autobiography, he was a true gentlemen to work with, and took real class with him wherever he trod. Born in London in 1936, he grew up in Nottingham and won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada) before cutting his teeth on stage with the Old Vic Company in 1956, eventually going on to star in 45 theatrical productions, ending at the age of 81 in The Exorcist at the Phoenix theatre.He played villains in several TV series, including The Avengers and The Saint, but it was with a moustache in To the Manor Born, co-starring Keith and commanding audiences of 20 million, that he was most well known for.His role as DeVere came in his 40s, having previously turned down a role in The Good Life, in which Keith also starred.“I hadn’t worked in the theatre for over a decade. It was terrific,” he said.After appearing in amateur plays in Nottingham, when he won his Rada scholarship, he lost his northern accent and was thrown into a melting pot of talent with peers including Alan Bates, Peter O’Toole and Siân Phillips, and he shared a flat with fellow student Albert Finney.He was reunited with Keith in a regional tour of Richard Sheridan’s The Rivals, directed by Sir Peter Hall, in 2010.Throughout his career, he featured in many films including 1970’s Eyewitness, 1995’s The Steal, 2005’s Colour Me Kubrick, and 2008’s The Bank Job.He also starred in BBC Two series Murder in 2016, which delved into the psyches of everyone involved in a murder case through testimony delivered straight to camera by each character.He recently starred alongside Jenna Coleman in the popular ITV series Victoria, playing the role of the Duke of Wellington.Bowles was married to actor Susan Bennett and the couple had three children. Peter Bowles, star of TV sitcom To the Manor Born, dies at 85Actor played Richard DeVere in BBC comedy series alongside Penelope Keith from 1979 to 1981 Peter Bowles with co-star Penelope Keith on location at Cricket House, Cricket St Thomas, Somerset, during filming of To the Manor Born in 1981. I found it very odd and frustrating.”Growing up, his parents were servants of nobility – his father was a valet and chauffeur to one of the sons of the Earl of Sandwich, his mother a nanny employed by the heir of the Duke of Argyll in Scotland.Peter Bowles in a production of Terence Rattigan’s play The Browning Version at the Theatre Royal in Bath. Photograph: Robbie Jack/Corbis/Getty ImagesDuring the second world war his father worked as an engineer at Rolls-Royce and when Bowles was six the family moved to one of the poorest working-class districts of Nottingham. Their house had an outside toilet and no bath.“We were in a Coronation Street environment but everyone was extremely friendly and there were lots of kids. In desperation, I went to church and prayed for a role,” he told the Guardian. “The next day I was sent scripts for two plays and a sitcom called The Good Life, in which I was wanted to play the role of Jerry Leadbetter, Penelope Keith’s husband. He also played an important part in the original production of Gangster No.1 - on and off stage.— Robin Ince 💙 (@robinince) March 17, 2022 Speaking about his success in sitcoms in 2010, he said: “If you have a great popular TV success, particularly in comedy, people don’t think you can act on stage.“People thought I was just a sitcom actor and the BBC told me I’d never work in drama again. Photograph: PAPeter Bowles with co-star Penelope Keith on location at Cricket House, Cricket St Thomas, Somerset, during filming of To the Manor Born in 1981. He was best known for his role as Richard DeVere in the BBC sitcom, which aired from 1979 to 1981, starring alongside Dame Penelope Keith, with the pair reprising their roles in a 2007 special.A statement to the PA news agency said: “The actor Peter Bowles has sadly passed away at the age of 85 from cancer.“He worked consistently on stage and screen, becoming a household name on TV as the archetypal English gent in To the Manor Born, Only When I Laugh, The Bounder and Lytton’s Diary, which he devised himself.“He leaves his wife of over 60 years, Sue, and their three children Guy, Adam and Sasha.”Bowles’ role in To the Manor Born is what catapulted him to fame, with the series regularly attracting TV audiences of 20 million. Photograph: PATo the Manor Born star Peter Bowles has died from cancer at the age of 85.
Peter died after a battle with cancer, it was shared earlier today. The actor, who graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, has had a long career on ...
Mark Labbett says The Chase USA dropped him for 'no reason' He starred in the BBC show from 1979 until 1981 as the businessman. Peter died after a battle with cancer, it was shared earlier today. The news was confirmed earlier today by his agent Gavin Barker.
He was best known for his role in the BBC sitcom starring alongside Dame Penelope Keith.
It was terrific,” he said previously. It was new to me. I didn’t realise there were two worlds. Bowles was best known for his role as Richard DeVere in the BBC sitcom which aired from 1979 to 1981, starring as the self-made businessman alongside Dame Penelope Keith, with the pair reprising their roles in a 2007 special. Bowles was best known for his role as Richard DeVere in the BBC sitcom which aired from 1979 to 1981, starring as the self-made businessman alongside Dame Penelope Keith, with the pair reprising their roles in a 2007 special. To The Manor Born star Peter Bowles has died from cancer at the age of 85.
British actor Peter Bowles has died at the age of 85.The English actor of stage and screen was most famous for his starring role in BBC sitcom To The.
Barker said: "The actor Peter Bowles has sadly passed away at the age of 85 from cancer. Born in London in 1936, Peter Bowles began his career starring in Shakespeare plays with the Old Vic Company in 1956. PETER Bowles has died at the age of 85.
TO The Manor Born star Peter Bowles has died aged 85 after battling cancer.The actor played Richard DeVere in the BBC sitcom between 1979 and 1981.He.
It was new to me. His dad was a valet and chauffeur to one of the sons of the Earl of Sandwich, while his mum was nanny to the heir of the Duke of Argyll in Scotland. “I didn’t realise there were two worlds. He also starred in BBC Two series Murder in 2016 and recently appeared alongside Jenna Coleman in the popular ITV series Victoria. He had roles as a villain in TV shows including The Avengers and The Saint. “He worked consistently on stage and screen, becoming a household name on TV as the archetypal English gent in To The Manor Born, Only When I Laugh, The Bounder and Lytton’s Diary, which he devised himself.
British actor Peter Bowles has died at the age of 85.The English actor of stage and screen was most famous for his starring role in BBC sitcom To The.
Barker said: "The actor Peter Bowles has sadly passed away at the age of 85 from cancer. Born in London in 1936, Peter Bowles began his career starring in Shakespeare plays with the Old Vic Company in 1956. PETER Bowles has died at the age of 85.
He was best known for his role in the BBC sitcom starring alongside Dame Penelope Keith.
It was terrific,” he said previously. It was new to me. I didn’t realise there were two worlds. Bowles was best known for his role as Richard DeVere in the BBC sitcom which aired from 1979 to 1981, starring as the self-made businessman alongside Dame Penelope Keith, with the pair reprising their roles in a 2007 special. Bowles was best known for his role as Richard DeVere in the BBC sitcom which aired from 1979 to 1981, starring as the self-made businessman alongside Dame Penelope Keith, with the pair reprising their roles in a 2007 special. To The Manor Born star Peter Bowles has died from cancer at the age of 85.
To The Manor Born star Peter Bowles has died at the age of 85.
Bowles and Keith reprised their roles for a one-off 25th anniversary special in 2007. To The Manor Born focused on the once wealthy Audrey fforbes-Hamilton, played by Penelope Keith, who is forced to sell her stately home to supermarket owner Richard DeVere. The comedy launched in 1979 and soon became such a hit that it was watched by over 20 million viewers at its peak. Gaining roles in comedy films such as Three Hats For Lisa and The Assassination Bureau Limited from the 1960s, Bowles would go on to become a sitcom star during the latter [y]1970s[/y], with popular series such as Only When I Laugh, The Bounder, The Irish R. M. and Executive Stress to his name.
Veteran stage and screen actor who starred in the popular BBC TV sitcom To the Manor Born.
Bowles, who collected British art and kept fit, he said, with “physical jerks”, was voted the Variety Club’s ITV personality of the year in 1984 and awarded an honorary doctorate by Nottingham Trent University in 2002. He even resumed mild hostilities with Penelope Keith in a Hall revival of Sheridan’s The Rivals at the Haymarket in 2011; while Keith fired off her malapropisms imperiously, he glided elegantly around the stage in sleek grey silks as a forbiddingly dyspeptic, rakish Sir Anthony Absolute. There was a slight tailing off in his last stage appearance as Father Merrin in a pointless but ingeniously staged version of The Exorcist at the Phoenix theatre in 2017. The ripples of resentment, compromise and green shoots of affection were the fuel of two brilliant comic performances; while Keith had already achieved national stardom in The Good Life – Bowles had turned down the role taken in that series by Paul Eddington – this was his moment, and he seized it with relish. The schlock horror of the 1973 movie and Bowles’s own decent performance were all upstaged by the overwhelming, pre-recorded voice of Ian McKellen as the Demon. When Gaskill was appointed an associate director at the new National Theatre by Laurence Olivier, Bowles begged Gaskill to take him with other Royal Court actors, such as Joan Plowright, Robert Stephens and Colin Blakely, but Gaskill refused. He often paraded his charm as a veil for true menace or nastiness, as well as spivvery, and there was always a hint of phoniness around the smooth-talking self-assurance.
He was best known for his role in the BBC sitcom starring alongside Dame Penelope Keith.
It was terrific,” he said previously. It was new to me. I didn’t realise there were two worlds. Bowles was best known for his role as Richard DeVere in the BBC sitcom which aired from 1979 to 1981, starring as the self-made businessman alongside Dame Penelope Keith, with the pair reprising their roles in a 2007 special. Bowles was best known for his role as Richard DeVere in the BBC sitcom which aired from 1979 to 1981, starring as the self-made businessman alongside Dame Penelope Keith, with the pair reprising their roles in a 2007 special. To The Manor Born star Peter Bowles has died from cancer at the age of 85.
Bowles was best known for his role as Richard DeVere in the BBC sitcom which aired from 1979 to 1981, starring as the self-made businessman alongside Dame ...
He recently starred alongside Jenna Coleman in the popular ITV series Victoria, playing the role of the Duke of Wellington. Bowles was married to actress Susan Bennett and the couple had three children. After appearing in amateur plays in Nottingham, when he won his Rada scholarship, he lost his northern accent and was thrown into a melting pot of talent with his peers including names like Alan Bates, Peter O’Toole and Sian Phillips, and he shared a flat with fellow student Albert Finney. He was reunited with Dame Penelope in a regional tour of Sheridan’s The Rivals, directed by Sir Peter Hall, in 2010. He played villains in several TV series, including The Avengers and The Saint, but it was with a moustache in To The Manor Born, co-starring Dame Penelope and commanding audiences of 20 million, that he became most well known for. His role as DeVere came in his 40s but his other TV credits include such shows as Only When I Laugh, Lytton’s Diary, The Bounder and Perfect Scoundrels, with reports also saying he had previously turned down a role in The Good Life. Speaking about his success in sitcoms, he told the PA news agency in 2010: “If you have a great popular TV success, particularly in comedy, people don’t think you can act on stage. A statement to the PA news agency said: “The actor Peter Bowles has sadly passed away at the age of 85 from cancer. Thank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow meTo The Manor Born star Peter Bowles has died from cancer at the age of 85.