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Richard Briers

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Richard Briers
CBE
Briers in 2009
Born
Richard David Briers

(1934-01-14)14 January 1934
Raynes Park,Surrey,England
Died17 February 2013(2013-02-17)(aged 79)
Bedford Park,London,England
Resting placeMortlake Crematorium,London, England
OccupationActor
Years active1958–2013
Spouse
​
​
(m.1956)​
Children2, includingLucy

Richard David BriersCBE(14 January 1934 – 17 February 2013) was an English actor whose five-decade career encompassed film,radio,stageandtelevision.

Briers first came to prominence as George Starling inMarriage Lines(1961–66), but it was a few years later, when he narratedRoobarb(1974–76) andNoah and Nelly in... SkylArk(1976–77) and played Tom Good in theBBCsitcomThe Good Life(1975–78), that he became a household name. He starred as Martin inEver Decreasing Circles(1984–89), and had a leading role as Hector inMonarch of the Glen(2000–05). From the late 1980s, withKenneth Branaghas director, he performed Shakespearean roles inHenry V(1989),Much Ado About Nothing(1993),Hamlet(1996) andAs You Like It(2006).

Early life

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Briers was born on 14 January 1934 inRaynes Park,Surrey,[1]the son of Joseph Benjamin Briers (1901–1980) and his second wife[2]Morna Phyllis (1909–1992), daughter of Frederick Richardson, of theIndian Civil Service.[3][4]He was the first cousin once removed of actorTerry-Thomas(Terry-Thomas was his father's cousin).[5]He spent his childhood at Raynes Park in a flat, Number 2 Pepys Court, behind the now demolished Rialto cinema, and later atGuildford.[6]His father, Joseph Briers, was the son of astockbroker,of a family of Middlesextenant farmers;a gregarious and popular man, he contended with a nervous disposition, and drifted between jobs, spending most of his life as a bookmaker but also working as, amongst other things, anestate agent's clerk and a factory worker for anair filtermanufacturer, as well as being a gifted amateur singer who attended classes at theGuildhall School of Music and Drama.[7]His mother, Morna Briers, was a concert pianist and a drama and music teacher, and a member ofEquity,who wished for a showbusiness career, having acted in her youth. The couple had met when Joseph Briers asked Morna to stand in for his regular pianist for a performance; by this time his first marriage had collapsed and six months later they had entered a relationship.[2]The family occasionally received money from a wealthy relation, and Briers's maternal grandparents paid for his education, despite not being particularly well-off, and having lived in slightly reduced circumstances in India before returning to England and coming to live at Wimbledon.[7][5]

Briers attendedRokeby SchoolinKingston-upon-Thames,Surrey, and, having failed the examination forKing's College School,the Ridgeway School inWimbledon,[5]which he left at the age of 16 without any formal qualifications.[6]

Early career

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Briers's first job was a clerical post with aLondoncable manufacturer, and for a short time he went to evening classes to qualify in electrical engineering, but soon left and became a filing clerk.[6]

Aged 18, Briers was called up for two years'national servicein theRAF,during which he was a filing clerk atRAF Northwood,[8]where he met futureGeorge and MildredactorBrian Murphy.Murphy introduced Briers, who had been interested in acting since the age of 14, to the Dramatic Society at theBorough Polytechnic Institute,nowLondon South Bank University,where he performed in several productions.

When he left the RAF, Briers studied atRADA,which he attended from 1954 to 1956.[6]Placed in a class with bothPeter O'TooleandAlbert Finney,Briers later credited academy director John Fernald with nurturing his talent.[9]Graduating from RADA with a silver medal,[10]he won a scholarship with the Liverpool Repertory Company, and after 15 months moved to theBelgrade TheatreinCoventryfor 6 months. He made hisWest Enddebut in theDuke of York's Theatre1959 production ofGilt And GingerbreadbyLionel Hale.[9][11]

Television career

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In 1961, Briers was cast in the leading role inMarriage Lines(1961–66), withPrunella Scalesplaying the role of his wife. In between the pilot and the series itself, Briers appeared inBrothers in Law(from the book byHenry Cecil) as callow barrister Roger Thursby in 1962. He was cast in this role by adaptorsFrank MuirandDenis Norden,who had seen him in the West End.

His other early appearances includedThe Seven Faces of Jim(1961) withJimmy Edwards,Dixon of Dock Green(1962), a production ofNoël Coward'sHay Fever(1968) and the storyteller in several episodes ofJackanory(1969).[12]In 1970, he starred in the Ben Travers farce "Rookery Nook", shown on the BBC. In the 1980s he played several Shakespearean roles, includingTwelfth Night.[13]

Briers was a subject ofThis Is Your Lifeon two occasions, in May 1972[14]and March 1994.[15]

In a role specifically written for him byJohn Esmonde and Bob Larbey,Briers was cast in the lead role inThe Good Life(1975–78), playing Tom Good, adraughtsmanwho decides, on his 40th birthday, to give up his job and try his hand atself-sufficiency,with the support of his wife Barbara, played byFelicity Kendal.Briers persuaded the producers to cast his friendPaul Eddington,a fellow council member ofEquity,in the role of Jerry.[10]An enormously successful series, the last episode in 1978 was performed in front of QueenElizabeth II.In 1977, he starred with hisThe Good Lifeco-starPenelope Keithin the televised version ofAlan Ayckbourn's trilogyThe Norman Conquests.[9]He also starred as Ralph in 13 episodes ofThe Other One(1977–79) withMichael Gambon.[16]

During the 1980s and 1990s, Briers had leading roles in several television shows, includingGoodbye, Mr Kent(1982), a rare failure also featuringHannah Gordon;the lead role of Martin Bryce inEver Decreasing Circles(1984–89); and as Godfrey Spry in the BBC comedy dramaIf You See God, Tell Him(1993). He also starred inAll in Good Faith(1985),Tales of the Unexpectedas Albert Dobson (in episode 9/4 "The Verger" – 1988), and the first episode ofMr. Bean(1990) as Mr. Sprout. In 1987, he appeared as the principal villain in theDoctor WhoserialParadise Towers,a performance which was described byRadio Timeswriter Patrick Mulkern as Briers's "career low".[17]In 1995, he played the character Tony Fairfax in the BBC comedyDown to Earth.In theInspector Morseepisode "Death is Now My Neighbour",he played the evil master of Lonsdale College, Sir Clixby Bream.[18]

During the 2000s, Briers was the curmudgeonly and extravagant father Hector MacDonald in the BBC television programmeMonarch of the Glen(2000–05), appearing in series 1, 2, 3 and 7.[19]Also in the 2000s, specifically 2006, he appeared in an episode ofNew Tricksentitled Old Dogs playing a character called James Farlow.[20]

Stage work

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Briers spent much of his career in the theatre, including appearances in plays byShakespeareandGeorge Bernard Shaw.In 1967, one of his earliest successes was playing alongsideMichael HordernandCelia Johnsonin the London production of Alan Ayckbourn'sRelatively Speaking.[6]

After a long career in television sitcom, and looking to expand his career, his daughter Lucy took him toStratford-upon-Avonto watchKenneth BranaghinHenry V.[21]After meeting Branagh backstage after the performance, Branagh offered Briers the role ofMalvolioin theRenaissance Theatre Companyproduction ofTwelfth Night.[9]Briers joined the company, and went on to play title parts inKing LearandUncle Vanya.Briers also appeared in many of Branagh's films, includingHenry V(1989, as Bardolph),Much Ado About Nothing(1993, as Signor Leonato) andHamlet(1996, asPolonius). The theatre production ofTwelfth Night(1988) was adapted for television, with Briers reprising his role as Malvolio.[22]

In 2010, Briers played in theRoyal National Theatrerevival ofDion Boucicault'sLondon Assurance,alongsideSimon Russell BealeandFiona Shaw.A performance of this was broadcast live to cinemas round the world as part of theNT Live!programme.[23]He also played the character of Captain Bluntschli, inGeorge Bernard Shaw's playArms and the Man.

Film

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Briers made his film début in the British feature filmBottoms Up(1960).[9]He then took parts inMurder She Said(1961),The Girl on the Boat(1962),A Matter of WHO(1962),The V.I.P.s(1963); andRaquel Welch's spy spoofFathom(1967).[9]

He later appeared inMichael Winner'sA Chorus of Disapproval(1988) and the filmUnconditional Love(2002), as well as the Kenneth Branagh adaptation ofMuch Ado About Nothing(1993), in which he played the role of Leonato.[9]In 1997 he played the Archbishop of Canterbury, a minor role in the filmSpice World.His last film wasCockneys vs Zombies(2012).[21]

Radio and voice work

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He was a familiarvoice actor.Briersnarratedthe animated children's TV programmeRoobarb(1974). Originally shown on BBC1 just before the eveningnews,each five-minute cartoon was written byGrange Calveleyand produced byBob Godfrey.He was the original narrator and voice actor for all the characters in theNoddy(1975) TV series based on theEnid Blytoncharacter,[9]and then another series with Godfrey,Noah and Nelly in... SkylArk(1976). He also provided the voice of Fiver in the animated film adaptation ofWatership Down(1978). In 1990 Briers provided the narration and voiced all the characters in the five-minute animated seriesCoconutsabout a monkey, a king lion and a parrot who lived on a tropical island. The series ran for ten episodes and first aired onITVon 23 April 1990. In the 1990s, he voiced the part of Mouse, oppositeAlan Bennett's Mole in the TV seriesMouse and Mole,based on books by Joyce Dunbar andJames Mayhew.He latterly starred alongsideNeil MorrisseyinBob the Builder(2005) as Bob's Dad, Robert to his credit. As well as performing all 12 of Fiona Waters' stories on the 1995Stories For Bedtimebook foraudio cassette,he recorded all 4 of the seasonalPercy the Park Keeperstories for a grandCDrelease based on the books byNick Butterworth,creating memorable voices for all of the animal characters as well as Percy the Park Keeper himself. Briers also featured in the television series adaptation ofWatership Down(1999–2001), this time voicing a series exclusive character called Captain Broom, and was one of the very few actors who stayed for all three series.

His work in radio included playing Dr. Simon Sparrow inBBC Radio 4's adaptions ofRichard Gordon'sDoctor in the HouseandDoctor at Large(1968), and a retired thespian in a series of six plays withStanley BaxterTwo Pipe Problems(2008), and later the playNot Talking,commissioned forBBC Radio 3byMike Bartlett.In 1986 he narrated Radio 4'sOh, yes it is!,a history of pantomime written by Gerald Frow. Between 1973 and 1981, Briers playedBertie Woosterin the radio seriesWhat Ho! JeeveswithMichael HordernasJeeves.[24]

Briers narrated numerous commercials, including adverts for theMidland Bankin which he was the voice of the company's Griffin symbol. Between 1984 and 1986 he made a series of commercials for theFord Sierradone in a sitcom style portraying the Sierra as "one of the family".[9]Briers narrated thepublic information filmFrances the Firefly,about the dangers of playing withmatches,firstly in the mid 1990s when first made, and then in the early 2000s when re-made by the Governmentfire safetycampaign Fire Kills. He also recorded the voice of asatnavspecifically designed for senior citizens inBBC 2's TV ShowTop Gear,Series 19, episode 5, which aired only a week after his death. PresenterJeremy Clarksonpaid a brief tribute to his memory at the end of the episode.[25]

Later career

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After 1990, he appeared inLovejoy,Inspector Morse,Midsomer Murders"Death's Shadow"as Stephen Wentworth in 1999,Doctors,New Tricks,Kingdom,andIf You See God, Tell Him.Richard Briers starred as Hector in the first three series ofMonarch of the Glenfrom 2000 to 2002 (and as a guest in series 7 in 2005), a role which saw him return to the limelight. He contributed "Sonnet 55"to the 2002compilation album,When Love Speaks,which features famous actors and musicians interpreting Shakespeare'ssonnetsand play excerpts. In 2005, he appeared alongsideKevin WhatelyinDad,a TV Film made byBBC Walesexploring issues ofelder abuse.In 2006, he made an appearance in an episode ofExtras,and portrayed the servant Adam in Kenneth Branagh's 2006 Shakespeare adaptation,As You Like It.He made a cameo appearance as a dying recluse in the 2008Torchwoodepisode "A Day in the Death".[26]In 2009 he appeared in Agatha Christie's Marple "Why didn't they ask Evans?" as Wilson.

On 17 December 2000, Briers was the guest onBBC Radio 4'sDesert Island Discs.Among his musical choices were "Di quella pira" fromIl trovatorebyGiuseppe Verdi,"I Feel A Song Coming On" byAl Jolsonand "On the Sunny Side of the Street"byLouis Armstrong.His favourite piece was the Organ Concerto in F major "The Cuckoo and the Nightingale" byGeorge Frideric Handel.[27]

Personal life

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Briers metAnn Davieswhile both were at Liverpool Rep. Davies was employed as a stage manager, and had acted on television and in films from the mid-1950s. Soon after meeting, he borrowed £5 from his mother, bought an engagement ring and they were married within six months.[6]They had two daughters, one of whom,Lucy,is also an actress; Kate[11](or Katie) has worked in stage management,[28]and is a primary school teacher.[29]

Briers and his friendPaul Eddingtonshared a similar sense of humour, and knew each other before being cast inThe Good Life.After Eddington was diagnosed withskin cancer,Briers accepted a role opposite him inDavid Storey's playHomein 1994, agreeing to take on all of the publicity interviews to allow Eddington time for his treatment. At Eddington's memorial service, Briers read both fromCymbelineand Wodehouse; he later read chapters from Eddington's autobiography onBBC Radio 4.[10]

In 2014, BBC Radio 4 broadcastMemories of a Cad,an affectionate comedy drama byRoy Smilesabout the relationship betweenTerry-Thomasand Briers, played byMartin JarvisandAlistair McGowanrespectively. Set in 1984 when he had suffered fromParkinson's diseasefor many years, Terry-Thomas is delighted by the visit to his home in Ibiza of the much younger Briers, whom he recognises from television, and who proves to be his first cousin once removed. Briers cheers him up by recalling the career the film-star has long forgotten.[30]It was re-broadcast in 2016.

As a result of Terry-Thomas's Parkinson's, Briers became President ofParkinson's UK.[31]He also helped to launch aSense, The National Deafblind and Rubella Associationcampaign. Briers was also a non-medical patron of the TOFS (Tracheo-Oesophageal FistulaSupport) charity, which supports children and the families of children born unable to swallow.[32]

Interviewed byThe Daily Telegraphin 2008, Briers admitted that, while on holiday, he enjoyed being recognised, saying, "I'm gregarious by nature, so I love chatting to people. It really cheers me up."[33]

Briers was a keen visitor of Britain's historic churches, and visited over one hundred for his bookEnglish Country Churches,which was published in 1988. From his national service in the RAF, he was a supporter for a national memorial forRAF Bomber Command.[34]

Briers was appointedOBEin 1989, and CBE in 2003.[35]

Declining health and death

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According to his daughter Lucy, he quit smoking in 2001 immediately after a routine chest X-ray suggested he would otherwise soon be in a wheelchair.[29]He was diagnosed withemphysemain 2007.[36]

Briers died at his home inBedford Park, London,on 17 February 2013[28]ofchronic obstructive pulmonary disease.[29]His funeral was held at the local church ofSt Michael and All AngelsinChiswickon 6 March 2013.[37]

Tributes

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The BBC referred to Richard Briers as "one of Britain's best-loved actors".[9]SirKenneth Branaghpaid tribute to him, saying, "He was a national treasure, a great actor and a wonderful man. He was greatly loved and he is deeply missed."[38][39]

Briers's agent, Christopher Farrar, said: "Richard was a wonderful man, a consummate professional and an absolute joy to work alongside. Following his recent discussion of his battle with emphysema, I know he was incredibly touched by the strength of support expressed by friends and the public."[40][41]

Fellow television starPenelope Keithsaid, "He was always courteous, always generous and always self-deprecating" adding, "He was also such a clever actor that he made you feel secure. You believed he was who he was portraying on the screen or on the stage... I just think of Richard and smile."[42]

Writing inThe Guardian,criticMichael Coveneydescribed Briers as "always the most modest and self-deprecating of actors, and the sweetest of men," and noted: "Although he excelled in the plays of Alan Ayckbourn, and became a national figure in his television sitcoms of the 1970s and 80s, notablyThe Good Life,he could mine hidden depths on stage, giving notable performances inIbsen,Chekhovand, for Kenneth Branagh's Renaissance company,Shakespeare."[11]

On 30 March 2013,BBC Twobroadcast a one-hour long review of Briers's life and career, with tributes from many friends and colleagues.[43]

Ever Increasing Wonder

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On Christmas Day 2013,[44]BBC Radio 4 Extrabroadcast a day of tribute to Briers titled "Ever Increasing Wonder",[45]with a variety of his BBC Radio recordings, many of them introduced by those who knew him and worked with him. Guest speakers included:Prunella Scales,Stephen Fry,Michael Chaplin,Alan Bennett,Michael Ball,Kenneth Branagh,Ed Harrisas well as Briers's widowAnn Daviesand their daughters.

Radio

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Selected filmography

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Film

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Television

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References

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  1. ^Coveney, Michael (18 February 2013)."Richard Briers obituary".The Guardian.Retrieved14 January2023.
  2. ^abHogg 2018,pp. 12–13.
  3. ^Hogg 2018,p. 10.
  4. ^"Richard Briers Biography".Filmreference.com.Retrieved18 February2013.
  5. ^abc"Richard Briers Obituary".The Daily Telegraph.18 February 2013.Retrieved23 February2013.
  6. ^abcdef"A Celebration of The Good Life". Orion Books. 2000.
  7. ^abHogg 2018,pp. 13–15.
  8. ^"Richard Briers, Honorary Vice President".Parkinson's UK. Archived fromthe originalon 17 May 2012.Retrieved18 February2013.
  9. ^abcdefghij"Obituary: Richard Briers".BBC News.18 February 2013.Retrieved18 February2013.
  10. ^abc"How We Met; Patricia Eddington and Richard Briers".The Independent.London. 8 December 1996.Retrieved18 February2013.
  11. ^abcGoveney, Michael (23 February 2013)."Richard Briers obituary".The Guardian.Retrieved18 February2013.
  12. ^Hogg 2018,pp. 158–159.
  13. ^Hogg 2018,pp. 263–266.
  14. ^"Richard Briers".IMDb. 3 May 1972.
  15. ^Hogg 2018,pp. 36, 169.
  16. ^Hogg 2018,pp. 268–269.
  17. ^Mulkern, Patrick."Doctor Who: Paradise Towers".Radio Times.Retrieved16 June2013.
  18. ^"Richard Briers' TV hits".The Daily Telegraph.London. 18 February 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 21 February 2013.Retrieved18 February2013.
  19. ^Hogg 2018,pp. 310–311.
  20. ^New Tricks - Old Dogs - James Farlow
  21. ^abHeritage, Stuart (8 November 2012)."Richard Briers on Cockneys Vs Zombies".The Guardian.London.Retrieved18 February2013.
  22. ^Billington, Michael(18 February 2013)."Richard Briers was a potent presence on stage, as well as in The Good Life".The Guardian.Retrieved18 February2013.
  23. ^Briers, Shaw and Russell Beale Lead National Spring Season,OfficialLondonTheatre.com, 13 November 2009,retrieved31 October2017
  24. ^Taves, Brian.P.G. Wodehouse And Hollywood: Screenwriting, Satires And Adaptations,Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, 2006, p.128
  25. ^"Episode 5, Series 19, Top Gear – BBC Two".BBC.Briers also briefly provided a voice-over for'Top-UP TV'commercials – a digital TV service in the UK, following the collapse of ITV Digital/On Digital, with the catchphrase 'Fancy a top up?' in Briers's inimitable vocal style.
  26. ^"A new face for Torchwood and a new look for Martha".BBC Press Office. 15 August 2007.Retrieved18 February2013.
  27. ^"Richard Briers, Desert Island Discs – BBC Radio 4".BBC.
  28. ^abDowell, Ben (18 February 2013)."The Good Life's Richard Briers dies at 79".Guardian UK.Retrieved18 February2013.
  29. ^abcPaton, Maureen (2 November 2013)."Lucy Briers: 'Emphysema robbed my father of his laughter'".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved2 July2022.
  30. ^Afternoon Drama: Memories of a Cad.BBC Radio 4,30 December 2014.
  31. ^Parkinson's annual report 2003
  32. ^"Patrons".Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula Support.Retrieved18 February2013.
  33. ^"Richard Briers's heaven and hell".The Daily Telegraph.London. 26 November 2008.Retrieved19 February2013.
  34. ^"Poignant interview with Richard Briers, supporter of Bomber Command".ITV.com.Retrieved18 February2013.
  35. ^"Richard Briers' classic".BBC News.13 June 2003.
  36. ^Paton, Maureen (2 November 2013)."Lucy Briers: 'Emphysema robbed my father of his laughter'".The Telegraph.Retrieved27 February2024.
  37. ^Hogg 2018,pp. 333.
  38. ^"Veteran British actor Richard Briers dies aged 79".ABC News.Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 18 February 2013.Retrieved18 February2013.
  39. ^"Richard Briers: The Good Life star dies aged 79".The Daily Telegraph.London. 18 February 2013.Retrieved19 February2013.
  40. ^""Richard Briers dies aged 79" at ".The Stage.Retrieved19 February2013.
  41. ^Battersby, Matilda (18 February 2013)."The Good Life actor Richard Briers dies aged 79 after battle with lung disease".The Independent.London.Retrieved19 February2013.
  42. ^Philipson, Alice (19 February 2013)."Richard Briers was 'laughing and joking' right up until his death, says fellow Good Life star Penelope Keith".The Daily Telegraph.London.Retrieved19 February2013.
  43. ^"Richard Briers: A Tribute".BBC. 2013.Retrieved30 March2013.
  44. ^"BBC Radio 4 Extra – Schedules, Wednesday 25 December 2013".BBC.
  45. ^"Ever Increasing Wonder – Remembering Richard Briers".The Radio 4 Blog.24 December 2013.

Bibliography

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  • Hogg, James (2018).More than Just a Good Life: The Authorised Biography of Richard Briers.Little, Brown.ISBN978-1-4721-2922-2.
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