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Henry McGee

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the American businessman and academic, seeHenry W. McGee.For the British politician, seeHenry McGhee.

Henry McGee
Born
Henry James Marris-McGee

(1928-05-14)14 May 1928
South Kensington,London,England
Died28 January 2006(2006-01-28)(aged 77)
Twickenham,London, England
Resting placeBrompton Cemetery,London
EducationStonyhurst College
OccupationActor
Years active1950–2003
Known forBenny Hill'sstraight man
Brompton Cemetery monument

Henry James Marris-McGee[1](14 May 1928 – 28 January 2006) was a British actor, best known asstraight mantoBenny Hillfor many years. McGee was also often the announcer onHill's TV programme,delivering the upbeat intro "Yes! It'sThe Benny Hill Show!".He was familiar to British children throughout the 1970s as" Mummy "in theSugar Puffscommercials, the catchphrase of which was "Tell them about the honey, Mummy".

Biography

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Born inSouth Kensington,London, and educated atStonyhurst College,McGee hoped to become a doctor, but the death of his father when he was 17 put financial strains on the family that ended his plans.[2]Having enjoyed acting as a boy, McGee decided to follow his mother's side of the family, which could trace its involvement in theatre back toKitty Clive,[3]and trained as an actor at theItalia Conti School.[4]

He went on to play supporting roles in numerous films and television series, includingThe Italian Job(1969),The SaintandThe Avengers.But it is for comedy roles that he is best remembered, primarily and most famously for his straight-man interviewer inThe Benny Hill Show.[5][6]He's also remembered by many as the 'mummy' of Honey Monster, a large, yellow, furry creature in advertisements for the breakfast cerealSugar Puffs.[7]

McGee played Two-Ton Ted in the video ofErnie (The Fastest Milkman in the West).[2]Other comedy roles included theholiday centremanager in the 1973 filmHoliday on the Buses,officious policemen inAdventures of a Taxi Driver(1976) andRevenge of the Pink Panther(1978), the TV presenter Harold Hump inCarry On Emmannuelle(1978), oppositeCharlie Drakein theATV/ITVsituation comedyThe Worker(1965–78), andThere Was An Englishman, An Irishman and a Scotsman,a BBC Scotland comedy series written by Lew Schwarz.[8]McGee was the Englishman, withHarry Towbas the Irishman andRoy Kinnearas the Scot. The show ran for one series in 1972. He also appeared in an episode ofRising Dampas a conman, Seymour.[9]In 2003, he appeared in the episode "The Miraculous Curing of Old Goff Helliwell" inLast of the Summer Wine.[10]

He had a long and successful stage career, starting at theOpen Air Theatre, Regent's Parkin 1950, subsequently receiving plaudits for deadpan delivery in such classic comedies asThe Ghost Train,Plunder,The Man Most Likely ToandMove Over, Mrs Markham.[3]

Personal life

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McGee had one daughter, Stephanie (born November 1963). He spent his last six months in anursing home,suffering fromAlzheimer's disease.[11]He is buried atBrompton Cemetery,London.[3]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1950 Seven Days to Noon Soldier Marching Next to Jackson Uncredited
1956 Sailor Beware! Milkman Uncredited
1965 Fanatic Rector Uncredited
1969 The Italian Job Tailor Uncredited
1973 Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World TV Announcer
1973 Holiday on the Buses Holiday Camp Manager
1974 The Cherry Picker Pilkington
1974 The Best of Benny Hill Various roles
1976 Adventures of a Taxi Driver Inspector Rogers
1977 Come Play with Me Deputy Prime Minister
1978 Revenge of the Pink Panther Officer Bardot
1978 Carry On Emmannuelle Harold Hump
1994 Asterix Conquers America Julius Caesar English version, Voice
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References

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  1. ^"Henry MARRIS-MCGEE – Deceased Estates – The Gazette".Retrieved18 April2016.
  2. ^ab"Henry McGee".The Independent.London. 2 February 2006.
  3. ^abc"Obituary: Henry McGee".The Telegraph.Associated Press. 1 February 2006.Retrieved22 July2012.
  4. ^Charles Vance, 'Obituaries: Henry McGee',The Stage,9 February 2006, p. 11
  5. ^"Henry McGee".aveleyman.com.
  6. ^"BFI Screenonline: Benny Hill Show, The (1969-89)".BFI Screenonline.
  7. ^"I've left you my money, honey".Evening Standard.London. 13 January 2007.
  8. ^"Henry McGee".British Film Institute. Archived fromthe originalon 20 July 2016.
  9. ^"Rising Damp – S2 – Episode 5: The Perfect Gentleman".Radio Times.
  10. ^"Last of the Summer Wine – S24 – Episode 6: The Miraculous Curing of Old Goff Helliwell".Radio Times.
  11. ^Barker, Dennis (3 February 2006)."Obituary: Henry McGee".The Guardian.
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