Latest news with #MrBenn
STV News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- STV News
Ray Brooks, voice of Mr Benn, dies aged 86
English actor Ray Brooks has died at the age of 86 after a short illness. Brooks was best known for narrating the 1970s children's TV show Mr Benn and for his role in EastEnders playing Joe Macer, who killed his wife Pauline Fowler. The actor died peacefully on Saturday with his loved ones at his bedside, according to a statement shared by his family with the BBC. The statement also revealed that Brooks had spent the last few years living with dementia. BBC/EastEnders Ray Brooks played Joe Macer in EastEnders. BBC/EastEnders Brooks' sons, Will and Tom, said: 'His three true loves were family (he also had a daughter Emma, who died in 2003), Fulham Football Club, and spending time in Brighton, where he was born.' The cartoon Mr Benn, narrated by Brooks, follows the character who enters a magical costume shop and travels to new places based on the costumes he wears. Despite the cartoon only releasing 13 episodes, it became well known for generations of children as episodes were repeated twice a year for more than 21 years. Brooks went on to appear in a host of different primetime television shows including ITV's Coronation Street, in which he played Norman Philips. He also starred in the BBC comedy drama Big Deal, which followed gambler Robbie Box as he tried to make a living by betting while also trying to maintain his relationship with Jan, played by Sharon Duce. Brooks earned himself a number of film credits, including a role in The Knack… And How To Get It, which won the 1965 Palme D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. A year later he starred in Ken Loach's Cathy Come Home, which documented the impact of Britain's housing shortage in the late 1960s. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Wales Online
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
EastEnders, Coronation Street and children's TV legend dies, aged 86
EastEnders, Coronation Street and children's TV legend dies, aged 86 Brooks earned himself a number of film credits Ray Brooks narrated Mr Benn English actor Ray Brooks has died at the age of 86 after a short illness. Brooks was best known for narrating the 1970s children's TV show Mr Benn and for his role in EastEnders playing Joe Macer, who killed his wife Pauline Fowler. The actor died peacefully on Saturday with his loved ones at his bedside, according to a statement shared by his family with the BBC. The statement also revealed that Brooks had spent the last few years living with dementia. Brooks' sons, Will and Tom, said: 'His three true loves were family (he also had a daughter Emma, who died in 2003), Fulham Football Club, and spending time in Brighton, where he was born.' The cartoon Mr Benn, narrated by Brooks, follows the character who enters a magical costume shop and travels to new places based on the costumes he wears. Ray Brooks and Janet Key appearing together in television series 'Running Wild' (Photo by Fox Photos/) Despite the cartoon only releasing 13 episodes, it became well known for generations of children as episodes were repeated twice a year for more than 21 years. Article continues below Brooks went on to appear in a host of different primetime television shows including ITV's Coronation Street, in which he played Norman Philips. He also starred in the BBC comedy drama Big Deal, which followed gambler Robbie Box as he tried to make a living by betting while also trying to maintain his relationship with Jan, played by Sharon Duce. Brooks earned himself a number of film credits, including a role in The Knack… And How To Get It, which won the 1965 Palme D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. A year later he starred in Ken Loach's Cathy Come Home, which documented the impact of Britain's housing shortage in the late 1960s.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Actor Ray Brooks, voice of Mr Benn, dies aged 86
TV actor Ray Brooks, who starred in some of the UK's best-known programmes in a career spanning five decades, has died aged 86. Brooks narrated the classic 1970s children's show Mr Benn and played the male lead in the ground-breaking 1960s BBC drama Cathy Come Home. He also starred in primetime 1980s programmes Big Deal, in which he played loveable rogue gambler Robbie Box, and Running Wild, as the comic lead Max Wild. Brooks also became one of few actors to appear in both Coronation Street and EastEnders. He played Norman Philips in the ITV soap in the 1960s, and arrived in Albert Square 40 years later to portray Joe Macer, who infamously murdered his wife Pauline Fowler. He died on Saturday after a short illness, his family told the BBC. In a statement, the actor's sons Will and Tom said their dad thought he was best known for Mr Benn, "with people continually asking him to say the catchphrase 'as if by magic!'". The cartoon followed Mr Benn who, through dressing up in a magical costume shop, found himself in a new adventure every episode. Brooks's sons added: "Although only 13 episodes were made, they were repeated twice a year for 21 years." The list of TV shows in which Brooks appeared in the 1960s and 1970s reads like a run-down of the British small screen's biggest hits of the era. They included roles in Danger Man, Dixon of Dock Green, Emergency-Ward 10, The Avengers, Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) and Z Cars. He also had a number of film successes, including in the 1965 film The Knack... and How to Get It, which won the Palme D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. He played Georgio, the waiter in the crumbling hotel, in Carry On Abroad in 1972, and also appeared in the 1966 Dr Who movie Daleks' Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D. Brooks also enjoyed appearances in the theatre, including Alan Ayckbourn's Absent Friends alongside Richard Briers, Peter Bowles and Phyllida Law. He also starred opposite Felicity Kendal in Tom Stoppard's On The Razzle. His most acclaimed role came early in his career when he played Reg in the gritty BBC TV play Cathy Come Home, which chronicled Britain's housing shortage in the late 1960s. Directed by Ken Loach and filmed in a documentary style, it followed a young couple's struggle with homelessness. It is regularly cited as one of the most influential TV broadcasts of all time. But arguably Brooks's biggest mainstream successes came in the 1980s, with two successive primetime leading roles. In Big Deal, his character Robbie Box seeks to make a living playing poker and betting on horses and dogs - while trying to keep his relationship together with his partner Jan, played by Sharon Duce. The fast-talking Londoner became one of TV's best-loved working-class characters in an era of Del Boy Trotter and Arthur Daley Duce went on to appear in an episode of Running Wild, Brooks's next big hit - where he switched channels to ITV for a sitcom about a former Teddy Boy going through a mid-life crisis. His popular partnership with Duce was revived by the BBC in 1992's Growing Pains, which saw the pair play a couple who become foster parents. Throughout his career his unmistakeable voice saw him land several roles as narrator, including the beloved children's show Mr Benn, The Pickwick Papers and 30 episodes reading the stories to young viewers in Jackanory. He also voiced thousands of adverts for companies including Guinness, Whiskas, Marmite and R Whites Lemonade. Nonetheless, his sons said Brooks "shunned the limelight" in real life. They said: "His three true loves were family [he also had a daughter Emma, who died in 2003], Fulham Football Club, and spending time in Brighton, where he was born. He was among the celebrity Fulham fans who fought against the club's proposed merger with QPR in the 1980s - and son Will recalled that Brooks even wore a "Save Fulham" badge during an interview on Wogan at the time. The family revealed that he had spent the last few years living with dementia but died peacefully on Saturday with his family at his bedside.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Mr Benn' star Ray Brooks passes away at the age of 86
Trigger warning: This article contains references to an individual's death . Legendary British actor Ray Brooks, celebrated for his iconic voice work in the beloved children's series 'Mr Benn' and his powerful performances in groundbreaking films like 'Cathy Come Home', has passed away at the age of 86. The news of his death was confirmed by his family in a statement. Brooks' career spanned decades, leaving an lasting mark on British television and cinema with his versatile talent and distinctive presence. Read on to know more. Ray Brooks passes away Ray Brooks passed away on August 9 at the age of 86, as confirmed by the beloved actor's family from a BBC report. The report shared that the actor passed away peacefully on Saturday and was surrounded by friends and family. The reason for his demise has been shared to be a short illness. The 'Big Deal' star had been in the last stages of dementia in the past few years. More on the iconic star, the late Ray Brooks Ray Brooks was a force to be reckoned with, with a career spanning over five decades, featuring in a wide range of projects. His career in the TV industry first started in the 60s, when he starred in the mini-series titled 'The Secret Kingdom and Julius Caesar'. Later on, he went on to work in other TV shows; however, his breakthrough role that helped him rise to fame came with his feature on the popular dramedy show, 'Taxi!'. Another one of his popular roles came around the same time when he starred in the show 'Coronation Street'. 1965 brought forth another wave of fame as he starred in the film 'The Knack … and How to Get It'. He featured in the film alongside big names such as Rita Tushingham, Donal Donnelly and Michael Crawford, and was heavily praised for his acting at the time. His recent titular role came with the British soap opera 'EastEnders', where he worked around the mid-2000s. Some of his other works include, but are not limited to, 'Death of an Expert Witness', 'Two People, Jackanory', 'A Thinking Man as Hero', 'Oranges and Lemons', 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland', and many others. He is survived by his children, Emma Brooks, Tom Brooks, and Will Brooks, as well as his wife, Sadie Brooks.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ray Brooks, voice of Mr Benn, dead at 86
TV actor Ray Brooks, who starred in some of the UK's best-known shows, has died aged 86. In a career spanning five decades, Brooks narrated the classic 1970s children's show Mr Benn, and played the male lead in the ground-breaking 1960s BBC drama Cathy Come Home. He also starred in primetime 1980s programmes Big Deal, in which he played loveable rogue gambler Robbie Box, and Running Wild, as the comic lead Max Wild. Brooks also became one of a handful of actors to appear in both Coronation Street and EastEnders. He played Norman Philips in the ITV soap in the 1960s, and arrived in Albert Square 40 years later to portray Joe Macer, who infamously murdered his wife, Pauline Fowler. He died on Saturday after a short illness, his family told the BBC. In a statement, the actor's sons, Will and Tom, said their dad believed he was best known for Mr Benn, with people continually asking him to say the catchphrase "As if by magic!". The cartoon followed Mr Benn, who, by dressing up in a magical costume shop, found himself in a new adventure every episode. Brooks's sons added: "Although only 13 episodes were made, they were repeated twice a year for 21 years."
