Ben Aris | |
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| Born | Benjamin Patrick Aris (1937-03-16)16 March 1937 London, England |
| Died | 4 September 2003(2003-09-04) (aged 66) |
| Years active | 1951–2002 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2, includingJonathan Aris |
Benjamin Patrick Aris (16 March 1937 – 4 September 2003) was an English actor who was best known for his parts inHi-de-Hi! andTo the Manor Born, and was also very active on stage. He was often cast as an eccentric, upper-class or upper-middle class man.
Benjamin Patrick Aris was born on 16 March 1937 inLondon, and following theSecond World War, he trained at theArts Educational School.[1]
At the age of 16, he joined a national tour of the showZip Goes a Million. He then did hisnational service in theBritish Army.[1]
After completing his national service, Aris appeared in many musicals and films, includingThe Plague of the Zombies,The Charge of the Light Brigade andif.....[1]On stage, Aris was in the 1960 production of the revue "One Over The Eight" at theDuke of York's Theatre in London.[2]
He also appeared inTony Richardson's 1969 production of "Hamlet" at London'sRoundhouse, itsNew York transfer to theLunt-Fontanne Theatre, and also itsfilm version the same year.[3][4][5]
His first television role was in the children's seriesJamie in 1971.[6] He also appeared inInvasion of the Dinosaurs, a 1974Doctor Who serial.[7] His other early television roles includedSome Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em,Sam and the River (1975),Crown Court,Wodehouse Playhouse andTarget.[8] During that time he also appeared in the filmsGet Carter,The Three Musketeers,Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World andJuggernaut.[5] He also worked several times for directorKen Russell, in filmsThe Music Lovers,Savage Messiah, andTommy, and in TV'sThe Rime of the Ancient Mariner andLady Chatterley.[9][5]
For three episodes, from 1980 to 1981, he played Mr Spalding inTo the Manor Born, and then in 1983, he portrayed Edmund Waller, one of Tom Lacey's friends at the court of Charles I, inBy the Sword Divided.[5][10] In 1984, he made his first appearance inHi-de-Hi! as Julian Dalrymple-Sykes, a dancer. He became a regular in 1986 and played the part until the show's end in 1988.[1] He also starred inBergerac,Agatha Christie's Poirot,You Rang, M'Lord? andBoon. As well as acting withPenelope Keith inTo the Manor Born, he also appeared with her inExecutive Stress andNo Job for a Lady.
One of the most memorable stage performances was in theWest End playing Geoffrey inStepping Out byRichard Harris. His final stage appearance was inThe Lady in the Van byAlan Bennett, oppositeDame Maggie Smith.[1] His final TV appearance was in the 2002 dramaReady. He died inSurrey in 2003 aged 66.[11] His sonJonathan Aris followed him into acting.
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