Brian Glover (2 April 1934 – 24 July 1997) was an English actor and writer. He worked as a teacher and professional wrestler before commencing an acting career which included films, many roles on British television and work on the stage. His film appearances include '' Kes'' (1969), '' An American Werewolf in London'' (1981) and '' Alien 3'' (1992). Described by '' The New York Times'' as a "robust

character actor A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to b ...

" who played "gruff but likable roles", he had a "string of roles playing tough guys and criminals". He once said, "You play to your strengths in this game, and my strength is as a bald-headed, rough-looking Yorkshireman". Glover was also known as the voice of the Tetley tea commercials. '' The Independent'' described him upon his death as "one of Britain's best-loved actors".

Early life and wrestling career

Glover was born at the Women's Hospital, Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire and he lived in Sheffield until

1937 Events January * January 1 – Anastasio Somoza García becomes President of Nicaragua. * January 5 – Water levels begin to rise in the Ohio River in the United States, leading to the Ohio River flood of 1937, which continues into Fe ...

when his parents moved to

Lundwood Lundwood is a village in Barnsley in South Yorkshire, England. History Lying about three miles east-north-east of Barnsley town centre, Lundwood takes its name from the Lund Wood, the substantially wooded portion of the area of the old manor o ...

near

Barnsley Barnsley () is a market town in South Yorkshire, England. As the main settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley and the fourth largest settlement in South Yorkshire. In Barnsley, the population was 96,888 while the wider Borough has ...

. His father, Charles Glover, was a wrestler, performing as "the Red Devil". He attended

Barnsley Grammar School Barnsley () is a market town in South Yorkshire, England. As the main settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley and the fourth largest settlement in South Yorkshire. In Barnsley, the population was 96,888 while the wider Borough h ...

and the University of Sheffield, where he supplemented his student grant with appearances as a professional wrestler, going under the ring name "Leon Arras the Man From Paris". He adopted that name from a wrestler who didn't turn up to a match one night, for whom Glover stood in. His wrestling style incorporated a lot of comedy, including the catchphrases "ask 'im, ref" and "'ow about that then". In 1954 he married his first wife Elaine Foster, and became a teacher at the same Barnsley school where he had been a pupil. He taught English and French from 1954 until 1970, some of it at Longcar Central School, Barnsley, where he met Barry Hines who was also teaching there. He managed to combine this with regular performances as "Leon Arras", whose appearances included bouts on '' World of Sport'', and in Paris, Milan, Zurich and Barcelona.

Acting career

Glover's first acting job came playing Mr Sugden, the comically overbearing sports teacher in Ken Loach's film '' Kes'' (a job offered to him when Barry Hines, who wrote the film, suggested him to the director). Although untrained, Glover proved to be a skilled and flexible character actor, using techniques learnt during his wrestling career. His large bald head, stocky build, and distinctive voice, with his Yorkshire accent, garnered him many roles as tough guys and criminals. He played Bottom in ''

A Midsummer Night's Dream ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a comedy written by William Shakespeare 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One subplot involves a conflict amon ...

'' (BBC TV, 1981) and had a recurring role in the classic sitcom ''

Porridge Porridge is a food made by heating or boiling ground, crushed or chopped starchy plants, typically grain, in milk or water. It is often cooked or served with added flavourings such as sugar, honey, (dried) fruit or syrup to make a sweet cereal, ...

'' as dim-witted prison inmate Cyril Heslop who, when accused of being illiterate, utters the memorable line "I read a book once! Green, it was." He played Quilp in '' The Old Curiosity Shop'', and lent his voice to a number of animated characters, including the "gaffer" of the " Tetley Tea Folk" in a long-running series of television advertisements for Tetley tea, the voice behind the advertising slogan "Bread wi' nowt taken out" for

Allinson Allinson is a brand of bread and of flour made by Allied Bakeries being owned by Associated British Foods History Dr Thomas Allinson was born in the Hulme district of Manchester in 1858. He trained as a medical doctor in Edinburgh, graduating ...

bread, and the voice of "Big Pig", the mascot for the long-running '' Now That's What I Call Music!'' album series, appearing on the TV adverts for '' Now 3'', '' Now 4'' and '' Now 5''. He also appeared in '' An American Werewolf in London'', '' The First Great Train Robbery'', '' Jabberwocky'', '' Alien 3'', '' Leon the Pig Farmer'' and as General Douglas in a Bollywood hit '' 1942: A Love Story''. He appeared seven times in ''

Play for Today ''Play for Today'' is a British television anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC1 from 1970 to 1984. During the run, more than three hundred programmes, featuring original television plays, and adaptations of stage ...

'', in three of them as part of a recurring trio of Yorkshiremen: ''The Fishing Party'', ''Shakespeare or Bust'' and ''Three for the Fancy''. Glover's performance in ''Kes'' led to parts at the Royal Court Theatre, London, notably in Lindsay Anderson's '' The Changing Room'' (1971). A season with Britain's

Royal Shakespeare Company The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs over 1,000 staff and produces around 20 productions a year. The RSC plays regularly in London, St ...

followed, where his roles included Charles the wrestler (and, drawing on his wrestling experience, the fight arranger) in ''

As You Like It ''As You Like It'' is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 and first published in the First Folio in 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wilton House in 1603 has b ...

'', and a robust Peter in ''

Romeo and Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetim ...

''. For the

Royal National Theatre The Royal National Theatre in London, commonly known as the National Theatre (NT), is one of the United Kingdom's three most prominent publicly funded performing arts venues, alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Opera House. I ...

he appeared in '' The Mysteries'' (as God, creating the world with the help of a real fork-lift truck), '' Saint Joan'' and '' Don Quixote''. In the film '' Brannigan'' he claimed to have lost the only fight in his acting career, fighting

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed The Duke or Duke Wayne, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood's Gol ...

. His performance in ''The Mysteries'' secured additional work in the commercial theatre. ''

The Canterbury Tales ''The Canterbury Tales'' ( enm, Tales of Caunterbury) is a collection of twenty-four stories that runs to over 17,000 lines written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400. It is widely regarded as Chaucer's ''Masterpiece, ...

'' ("Chaucer wi' nowt taken owt")( West End) was followed by a return to television and the ''

'' series, both as writer and performer and, in turn, more screen roles. Glover wrote a horror themed episode of ''Theatre Box'' called ''Death Angel'', which aired in 1981. He went on to play Lugg, the endearing rogue manservant to Albert Campion in the series '' Campion'', and the role of a crook, Griffiths, in the ''

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the u ...

'' story ''

Attack of the Cybermen ''Attack of the Cybermen'' is the first serial of the 22nd season of the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'', which was first broadcast in two weekly parts on 5 and 12 January 1985. It was credited to the pseudonymous autho ...

'' in 1985. He played Edouard Dindon in the original London cast of '' La Cage aux Folles''. In 1991 he starred in the second episode of '' Bottom'', in the episode " Gas", as the perpetually angry neighbour Mr Rottweiler. At the end of his life he acted in John Godber's rugby league comedy ''

Up 'n' Under ''Up 'n' Under'' is a comedy by English playwright John Godber, first staged at the Hull Truck Theatre in 1984. It won The Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy that same year. The sequel, ''Up 'n' Under II'', followed in 1985. Plot It fo ...

'' (1998). He was also the voice for the UNO Upholstery TV adverts in 1995 and 1996. Glover also wrote over 20 plays and short films. In 1982 he was a guest presenter in series six of '' Friday Night Saturday Morning'', a late-night BBC chat show. BrianGloverBrompton

Personal life

Glover was married twice, secondly to television producer Tara Prem, the daughter of TV actor Bakhshi Prem, on 2 October 1976. He had two children, one daughter from his first marriage and one son from his second marriage. In September 1996, Glover developed a

brain tumour A brain tumor occurs when abnormal cells form within the brain. There are two main types of tumors: malignant tumors and benign (non-cancerous) tumors. These can be further classified as primary tumors, which start within the brain, and secondary ...

and underwent an operation for it. The tumour was removed and it appeared he had made a full recovery but it returned in the summer of 1997 and Glover died in his sleep in a London hospital on 24 July 1997. He was buried in Brompton Cemetery, London on 30 July 1997.

Film and television credits

* '' Kes'' (1969) as Mr Sugden * '' On the House'' (1971, TV series) as Bagley * '' Paul Temple'' (1971, TV series) as Waites * '' Joy'' (1972, TV movie) as Extra * ''

Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' is an English soap opera created by Granada Television and shown on ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres around a cobbled, terraced street in Weatherfield, a fictional town based on inner-city Salford. Origi ...

'' (1972, soap opera) as Fred Henshaw * '' Sez Les'' (1972, TV series) * ''A Day Out'' (1972, TV movie) as Boothroyd * ''The Fishing Party'' (1972,

) as Art * ‘’ The Frighteners’’ (1972), ep.4 ‘The Minder’ * '' Thirty-Minute Theatre'' (1973, TV series) as The Guard * '' Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?'' (1973, sitcom) as Flint * ''

The Regiment The Special Air Service (SAS) is a special forces unit of the British Army. It was founded as a regiment in 1941 by David Stirling and in 1950, it was reconstituted as a corps. The unit specialises in a number of roles including counter-terro ...

'' (1973, TV series) as Sergeant Dyke * '' O Lucky Man!'' (1973) as Plantation foreman / Bassett (Power station guard) * '' The Protectors'' (1973, TV series) as Allen * ''Shakespeare or Bust'' (1973,

) as Art * ''You'll Never Walk Alone'' (1974, TV short) as Maurice Pouncey * ''

'' (1974, sitcom) as Heslop * '' Centre Play'' (1974, TV series) as Nobby * ''Three for the Fancy'' (1974,

) as Art * ''

The Sweeney ''The Sweeney'' is a 1970s British television police drama focusing on two members of the Flying Squad, a branch of the Metropolitan Police specialising in tackling armed robbery and violent crime in London. It stars John Thaw as Detective Ins ...

'' (1975, TV series) as Moose * ''

Not On Your Nellie ''Not On Your Nellie'' is a British sitcom that ran from 1974 until 1975. It starred veteran actress Hylda Baker as Nellie Pickersgill, a Bolton woman who moves to London to help run her ailing father's Chelsea pub. Seventeen episodes of the se ...

'' (1975, TV series) .... Battling Bill * '' Dixon of Dock Green'' (1975, TV series) ... Chuck Windell * '' Brannigan'' (1975) .... Jimmy-the-Bet * ''

Quiller Quiller is a fictional character created by English novelist Elleston Trevor. Quiller, whose one-word name is a pseudonym, works as a spy, and he is the hero of a series of 19 Cold War thrillers written under the pseudonym Adam Hall, and beca ...

'' (1975, TV series) .... Sergeant * '' Mister Quilp'' (1975) .... Furnaceman * '' Trial by Combat'' (1976) .... Sidney Gore * ''

Sweeney! ''Sweeney!'' is a 1977 British action crime drama film and extension of the ITV television series ''The Sweeney'' which aired on ITV from 1975 to 1978. The film did well enough at the box office that a sequel, ''Sweeney 2'', was released in cine ...

'' (1977) .... Mac * '' Joseph Andrews'' (1977) .... Gaoler * '' Jabberwocky'' (1977) .... Armourer * '' Secret Army'' (1977, TV series) .... Corporal Emil Schnorr * '' The First Great Train Robbery'' (1978) .... Captain Jimmy * '' Absolution'' (1978) .... First Policeman * '' The Famous Five'' (1978) .... Tiger Dan, circus clown * '' Sounding Brass'' (1980, TV series) .... Horace Gilbert Beswick * '' Minder'' (1980, TV series) .... Yorkie * '' An American Werewolf in London'' (1981) .... Chess Player * ''

'' (1981, TV movie) .... Nick Bottom * '' Britannia Hospital'' (1982) .... Painter: The Workers * ''

Red Monarch ''Red Monarch'' is a 1983 British television film starring Colin Blakely as Joseph Stalin. It is directed by Jack Gold and features David Suchet as Lavrentiy Beria and David Threlfall as Stalin's son Vasily. ''Red Monarch'' is a comedy based o ...

'' (1983, TV movie) ....

Khrushchev Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev (– 11 September 1971) was the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964 and Premier of the Soviet Union, chairm ...

* '' Ordeal by Innocence'' (1984) .... Executioner * '' The Company of Wolves'' (1984) .... Amorous Boy's Father * '' Last of the Summer Wine'' (1985, sitcom) .... Oggie Buttercluff * ''

'' (1985, serial: ''

'') .... Griffiths * ''

Lost Empires ''Lost Empires'' is a 1986 television miniseries adaptation of J. B. Priestley's 1965 novel of the same name and starred Colin Firth, John Castle and Laurence Olivier. Produced by Granada Television, it was shown as a serial, and premiered o ...

'' (1986, TV mini-series) .... Tommy Beamish * ''

To Kill a Priest ''To Kill a Priest'' is a 1988 drama film directed by Agnieszka Holland. The film tells a story based on the murder, under the Polish communist regime, of priest Jerzy Popiełuszko. It stars Christopher Lambert as a fictionalized version of Popie ...

'' (1988) .... Judge * '' All Creatures Great and Small'' (1989, TV series) ... Mr Dawson * '' Campion'' (1989–1990, TV series) .... Magersfontein Lugg * '' Bottom'' (1991, TV series) .... Mr. Rottweiler * '' Kafka'' (1991) .... Castle Henchman * '' Alien 3'' (1992) .... Harold Andrews * '' Leon the Pig Farmer'' (1992) .... Brian Chadwick * '' The Bill'' (1993, TV series) .... Ken Farley * '' Prince of Jutland'' (1994) .... Caedman * '' Anna Lee'' (1994, TV series) .... Selwyn Price * '' 1942: A Love Story'' (1994) .... General Douglas * ''

Rumble Rumble or Rumbling may refer to: Sounds and vibrations * Rumble (noise), a form of low frequency noise * Rumble, a haptic feedback vibration feature in video game controllers * Rumbling, a quality of a heart murmur * Stomach rumble, or borbory ...

'' (1995) .... Johnny Pecs * ''Bob's Weekend'' (1996) .... The Boss * '' Snow White: A Tale of Terror'' (1997) .... Lars * ''

'' (1998) .... Jack, Doreen's father * '' Stiff Upper Lips'' (1998) .... Eric (final film role)

References

External links

*
BiographyBrian Glover at the National Portrait Gallery, London
{{DEFAULTSORT:Glover, Brian 1934 births 1997 deaths 20th-century English male actors Actors from Barnsley Alumni of the University of Sheffield Burials at Brompton Cemetery Deaths from brain cancer in England Neurological disease deaths in England English male film actors English male professional wrestlers English male television actors Male actors from Sheffield Male actors from Yorkshire Sportspeople from Sheffield