Brian Hall (actor)
Brian Hall | |
|---|---|
| Born | Brian Charles Hall 20 November 1937 Brighton, East Sussex, England |
| Died | 17 September 1997 (aged 59) Worthing, West Sussex, England |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1971–1994 |
| Spouse | Marlene Hall |
Brian Charles Hall (20 November 1937 – 17 September 1997) was an English actor perhaps best known for his role in the British sitcom Fawlty Towers where he played the hotel chef Terry.
Career
Hall was probably most familiar playing hard-boiled tough guy Cockney roles: his role as the amiable chef Terry in Fawlty Towers was an enjoyable casting against type. He played leading roles in police drama Softly, Softly: Taskforce (1971–1972), crime drama McVicar (1980), and sitcom You Must Be The Husband (1987). He also had several guest-starring roles in The Professionals, The Long Good Friday, The Bill, The Sweeney and Minder in Series 1 episode You Gotta Have Friends.
As well as Fawlty Towers, Hall had a string of movie and TV roles, including playing bodyguard to Bob Hoskins in the gangster film The Long Good Friday.
Personal life
Hall died in September 1997, aged 59, after a three-year battle with cancer.
John Cleese told of his sadness after his fellow Fawlty Towers star had died, saying, "I am very upset. I was particularly fond of Brian and had several conversations with him this year" (1997). "I admire profoundly the way in which he dealt with the cancer. I do not know where he found the strength." A year before his death, Hall told The Mirror: "Cancer is a bully and I hate bullies. This old boy cancer will get about as much change out of me as all the other bullies I've met - nothing." One of Hall's closest friends, Billy Murray, also paid tribute. He said: "Brian and I grew up in the East End together. "He was one of the most likeable, down- to-earth guys you could wish to meet and he confronted this terrible illness with the bravery and humour he showed throughout his life."[citation needed]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Adolf Hitler - My Part in His Downfall | MP Sergeant | |
| 1973 | Yellow Dog | Bertrum | |
| 1974 | Confessions of a Window Cleaner | 2nd Removal Man | |
| 1975 | The Land That Time Forgot | Schwartz | |
| 1975 | Sweeney 2 | Haughton | |
| 1980 | Sweet William | ||
| McVicar | Terry Stokes | ||
| The Long Good Friday | Alan | ||
| 1981 | Break in the sun | Stepfather | |
| 1991 | The Grass Arena | George |
External links
- Brian Hall at IMDb